Archive for

Aren’t Best Friend Visits the Best?

Posted on July 14, 2016

We met in 1961, in February as I recall. The glamorous, dark-haired young woman from Sorel and her beautiful blonde sister arrived at our sedate high school and nothing was ever the same again. My best friend then and now. We are so different, but so much similar. Scorpio and Libra. Hub and Jess share the same birthday, which was a tremendously good omen. Sure, she wore the dull grey pleated uniform and ugly maroon blazer that we had, but my God, I can still remember her style and confidence.She was one of the few people I know who could stare down the nuns. Her hair secured in that saucy French roll looked sexy instead of demure. Pale pink lipstick. Snapping dark eyes and…

+Read more

Categories: Emotions, Modern life

Creativity, like July, is Hot

Posted on July 6, 2016

Last week, I received an email telling me that I’d made it to the first round for the 2016 Catherine Contest sponsored by the Toronto Romance Writers. Boy, did that feel good, especially since most of the comments from judges were so positive. I had a few days to clean up my entry, so I hit the keyboard, edited, added more conflict then sent it off with a much shorter synopsis. Scary, but exciting. I also entered a contest sponsored by the New Jersey Romance Writers. Two weeks ago, I sent in a story to the Canadian Authors Association Vancouver 2016 Story Contest. My creative brain is on fire. I’m on a roll, but time is passing and I have to be. In June I…

+Read more

Categories: Argument, What I'm Doing, writing

True North Strong & Free

Posted on June 30, 2016

Oh, Canada. One hundred and forty-nine years young, and we’re still working to get it right. Yes, I’m a ‘homer’. Third generation and proud of it. No matter what the words of the national anthem say, and even if we don’t always leap to attention with our hands pressed tight over our hearts when the first notes sound, we love our country in a quiet, polite, Canadian way. There is so much to be thankful for!

+Read more

Categories: Canada

Tongue in cheek commentary on the impact of social media

Posted on June 24, 2016

The Guardian newspaper, always thought-provoking, posted a short commercial that illustrates the impact of social media on ‘news’. They used the fable of the Three Little Pigs in a 21st century setting. Of more interest is how the focus of the story shifts as events unfold. [embedplusvideo height=”640″ width=”880″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/28RBjhD” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/3xIgq13mX3A?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=3xIgq13mX3A&width=880&height=640&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep6526″ /] Given what’s happening with the U.S. elections and now, in Europe with Brexit, we are constantly bombarded by the views of talking heads in suits as well as instant internet experts. Some of them are so wrong it’s laughable. Based on the shocking swings we’ve seen in ‘popularity’ of American candidates, it’s the doomsayers who shade the truth and monger fear who are the most dangerous, in my view. Take…

+Read more

Categories: Argument

Rock The Vault: Celebrating The Urban & Rural Setting Thesaurus Duo

Posted on June 17, 2016

There’s nothing better than getting lost within the story world within minutes of starting a book. And as writers, this is what we’re striving to do: pull the reader in, pull them down deep into the words, make them feel like they are experiencing the story right alongside the hero or heroine. A big part of achieving this is showing the character’s surroundings in a way that is textured and rich, delivering this description through a filter of emotion and mood. It means we have to be careful with each word we choose, and describe the setting in such a way that each sight, sound, taste, texture, and smell comes alive for readers. This is no easy task, especially since it is so easy…

+Read more

Categories: writing