While I'm not really blogging anymore, I couldn't resist making a list of my Fave 15 of 2015 reads and sharing them here. For those of you interested in what else I read, you can click here. A few notes about the list. First, there are more middle grade novels than...

For years almost the only thing I posted on my blog was writing-related. Then a while ago, I stopped updating regularly, and occasionally posted something of interest to me or a bit of personal news. I am guessing because of the lack of updates, and the fact my most...

I was just thinking that four or five people out there in the world might wonder if I ever planned to blog again. So I thought, "Why not?" The main reason I haven't been around is because I've taken 2015 off from writing new books, and I've switched it up a bit....

I don't really blog that much anymore, but I thought it was time, lest you think I'd disappeared. In a way, I kind of have. I don't think I can really say why yet, but let's just say that I might've recently received 85 Canadian middle grade novels which I might be in...

This year, I read 100 books. Usually, I tell you my favourites. This year, I'll just show you what I read and you can decide what looks good. Happy Reading in 2015! Red River Raging Draper, Penny * The Rosie Effect (Don Tillman #2) Simsion, Graeme Five, Six, Seven,...

Last year, I was part of the Teen Book Club at the library, but teens have so much homework, it was always hard for them to add another book to their workload, even if it was a fun read. So this year, the new librarian and I talked it over and decided to try a Teen...

Hi all! Not really into blogging much anymore, but I thought I'd just put this little tidbit up for now. Last year, for the first time ever, I tried National Novel Writing Month and ended up with 50k words that I eventually threw away, but not until I'd mined the...

What you may not know is I fancy myself a pretty good cook. I almost never post recipes on this blog because it's supposed to be about writing, but heck, I almost never blog so why not break a rule? Anyway, it's pretty cold here, even for Canada, -8C when I went for...

I saw in the trades that author Zilpha Keatley Snyder passed away. I have a soft spot for her although I've read very few of her books because they're scary, dark, and definitely not my thing. If you know me, you're probably surprised I've read anything by her. But...

I don't make many blog posts these days. Mostly because I blogged for a long time and I've pretty much said what I want to say about writing, but today, I'm feeling inspired. Or, if not exactly inspired, then fired up? Last night, I listened to an interview with a...

Today, my husband and I became Canadian citizens. We've been landed immigrants (kind of like a green card in the US) for seven years, but now we're really, truly Canadians. Here we are with the judge and the requisite Mountie. I have to say it was a very moving...

Seven years ago, my husband and I took the pledge not to buy bottled water anymore. Except for a rare emergency, we've stuck to it, packing along our water bottles and keeping a gallon or two in the truck for refills when we're out and about. I think I can honestly...

Tomorrow, 1st July (see how I wrote it the Canadian way-the number first-instead of July 1st?), is Canada Day. While we haven't received our official letter, it seems very likely due to the fact that they've scheduled Canadian Citizenship Swearing In Ceremonies in our...

The wonderful Wanda Collins Johnson, friend, writer, and critique group member, has asked me if I'd participate in a Blog Hop on the writing process. I can never turn down her smiling face. So here are my answers. I'm not actually going to tag anyone (yes, I'm...

At the risk of you all stopping by my blog and mistaking it for a literary obituary page, I do feel I must post something about the author Mary Stewart who just passed away at the age of 97. For years, I've been a big fan of hers, my favourite is by far The Ivy Tree...

Those of you who have read this blog over the years already know how much I adore the author John Rowe Townsend. It's with sadness that I type these words: John passed away last weekend, at the age of 91. It has been eight years since I visited with him and his wife...

An important piece about the internet, writing, reading, and words by my friend Joelle Charbonneau over at Do Some Damage. Take a couple of minutes and read it. She knows what she's talking about.