Sadly, there was no pretty picture this year, though I did read a few physical books. But here’s what I read and enjoyed on my vacation. FIction: The Last True Gentleman on the Planet Earth by David Keyes. I’m not objective about this one, as David is a dear friend. But this is a wonderful […]

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The heat continues and it has managed to sap a good deal of my motivation to do much more than read, lie under the fan, and watch Youtube videos. On the positive side: wrote 5,000 words in July. went to the museum for a safely-masked visit of two excellent new exhibits. had lunch on a […]

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“What dreadful hot weather we have! It keeps me in a constant state of inelegance.” Jane Austen called it. I hate the heat and humidity of Toronto summer weather. I’m only grateful I’m not in B.C., where heat records are falling like nine pins. It’s not the time to be reading a book about climate […]

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I managed a lot of reading over the last three months, some of it frothy, some of it scientific, some of it unexpected. I know, I should have been writing, but c’est la vie. Here are some of the memorable ones. A fine selection of rock memoirs, including LAST CHANCE TEXACO by Rickie Lee Jones […]

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I usually alternate monthly writing goals between actual writing and planning/plotting projects. April was Camp Nanowrimo and I managed my goal of 10,000 words – but it became clear I needed to make some decisions. May therefore became “brainstorm and decide” month. Some of the questions on the table included: What exactly is the religion? […]

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I’ve gone on a lot of walks over the last year. I’ve got several regular routes, some of which involve the alleyways of garages that are common in my area. In my perambulations, I’ve discovered that there’s lots of interesting art on garage doors and back fences. I decided to assemble some of my favourite […]

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This post has been on my ‘to do’ list for a while but I just kept pushing it out, because my level of productivity has rapidly declined since my working days. These days, if I manage to go for a walk, meditate, and knock one thing off my list, I consider it a good day. […]

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A long list of questions, things to research or brainstorm, somewhat fewer words than when you started, and far fewer answers than you’d hoped for. April was editing month and I actually printed out all 243 words of my main WIP (aka The Witch Novel) in hopes of getting a new perspective. Some thoughts: this […]

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If 2019 was the year of the sore hip (arthitic degeneration, muscle tear, cortisone shots, PRP treatment), then 2021 is shaping up as the year of the sore shoulder. A few months ago, I was out for my regular walk when my left shoulder, upper arm, and pectoral muscles started to hurt. I thought this […]

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The French production of LUPIN on Netflix puts a fresh spin on an old story. If watching gentleman thief Assane Diop’s adventures have whet your appetite for the original, might I recommend the gorgeous new edition just released by my good friends at The House Of Pomegranates Press. As you can see, the cover has […]

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