I picked up my pace a bit, though I’m definitely not breaking any records this year. I had several DNF (did not get past the first page or two), which is rare for me. Those shall remain unnamed. Still, here are some of the notable things I read between April and June. FICTION Kalpa Imperial, […]

[Read more →]

I’m not good at titles. More precisely, I’m not good at finding them quickly and easily. I actually like the titles for all my stories and novels quite a bit, but discovering them was a struggle. I usually find my titles in songs or poems. I’ve been writing the thing I call “The Witch Novel” […]

[Read more →]

I felt like I started the year rather more slowly than I usually do on the reading front. Not sure why – it certainly wasn’t that I was spending the time writing. I had more DNF so far in 2026 than I do over the course of most years. Anyway, here’s the usual quick wrap-up. […]

[Read more →]

I made another thing. It look a long time, but I finished my first pseudo-kawandi piece created around a fish kite image from a piece of Japanese fabric. Other elements include: old table runners, several dresses, obi fabric from Japan, and an old decorative pillow case. I’ve now started on the second one, featuring a […]

[Read more →]

Two weeks ago, my flamenco teacher, Elena Mamais (known as Elena La Comadre) died. Last week, her family, friends, and students buried her. I think she would have appreciated the aesthetic of the scene: the white snow coating the trees at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, the black coats of the mourners, the red flowers we threw […]

[Read more →]

I read a total of (roughly) 136 books this year, of which 43% were non-fiction. My audiobook count went up a bit this year, driven partially by what version was available through the Toronto Public Library and partially because I went to Spain and wanted to be able to look at scenery while still reading! […]

[Read more →]

I’ve had a little flurry of emails from ‘book marketing specialists’ offering to feature my novels in their special book club communities. The emails are clearly written by AI and describe my novels in the most glowing terms. Too bad it’s all a scam, because I would definitely use parts of these as promotional material! […]

[Read more →]

COLD HILLSIDE is on sale from all the usual Ebook spots in the US, Canada, and Great Britain today. In other news, almost through the first whirl of estate stuff. I’m trying to get back into the writing groove by doing a daily word prompt. So far, there have been some words right up my […]

[Read more →]

On October 27th, my father died. He was 91, in good health the month before, and then gone. He went in the best way possible under the circumstances. He was at peace and said repeatedly that he was grateful for the life he had been given and had no regrets. We were able to spend […]

[Read more →]

I contributed to the BookDNA.com ‘Best Books I read in 2025″ again this year. I enjoy the process of reviewing all my reading, and the fact that you can include old books (sometimes really old books) gives it a wider range than the usual “Best of 2025” lists. Check here see what I chose. And […]

[Read more →]