Pennsylvania podcast

I had a fun and far-reaching discussion yesterday with Kim Lengling in Pennsylvania for her podcast Let Fear Bounce. We talked about my novel Small Reckonings, re-released by Shadowpaw Press earlier this spring. She wanted to know about the in-progress sequel, and what goes into writing a novel with ties to the first book but has to stand on its own two feet for readers who are new to the story. She asked about how the original novel came to be; we talked writing and how we do it, how we get published, and the painful waiting game we endure to get there. She’s an author, too. We talked disability issues. We talked about elderly parents in long-term care. She’s a refreshing, open conversationalist; we laughed a lot, had a lot in common, and our time together went by in a flash. I’ll post the link when it’s live.

Talking writerly stuff

So much fun to finally meet Lori Hahnel from Calgary, a writer I’ve know for some time but we’d never met in person. Until she came to Saskatoon last week for a McNally Robinson author reading with another author, Astrid Blodgett, hosted by Kate O’Gorman. Lori’s new novel, Flicker, appears on the CBC’s list of books to read. Find her here. You’ll see more Saskatchewan writers in that list, too. Lori and I, along with Leona Theis, were shortlisted for the 2021 inaugural Glengarry Book Award. Following the McNally reading, Lori and I spent a couple of hours on Saturday at D’Lish in my neighbourhood and yakked like we’ve known each other for years. I find that about the writing community; we are all connected. In fact, Kate and I shared a podium for the John V. Hicks Award back in 2022. That’s us below, along with literary bigs dee Hobsbawn-Smith and Dave Margoshes.

Hallowed holiday

Our favourite night of the year. A few ghostly and ghoulish images from our house on Tuesday night. Earlier in the day, we spotted a customer who apparently had been waiting a loooong time for takeout at D’Lish, our neighbourhood cafe. About 200 + trick or treaters this year. Only two cried. And if an adorable 3-year-old cries at the sight of a dead bride, it’s never a good idea to lean down close and say, “You’re a pretty mermaid!” I know that now. Thanks to our neighbour Tanice, sporting a gorgeous Dia de los Muertos face (with toque?), for delivering “poison” for us to round out the evening after clean-up! Jim’s job was hauling pumpkins to our green bin the next morning