Nov 13, 2024 | My Stories, Reviews
I was intrigued by the way Rogers spun and wove images of leaving, attaching them to place, people, relationships, to states of being, and even to the person she once was.
Rogers and I have had similar yet different journeys. After living in Hong Kong and mainland China for more than two decades she left those new homes and returned to Canada. I always wonder what motivates others, like me, to live in different countries. I also wonder what really motivated me to return to Canada, three decades (France, England, Australia) after I first left.
Jun 21, 2024 | My Stories, Suicide Prevention/Awareness
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I flew to Vancouver for my first suicide prevention conference. I certainly didn’t expect a dance party. I was apprehensive. What if this conference was just too much for me to handle? If you’re thinking the same thing, here’s what it was really like at the conference. I felt validated and empowered to make change. And yes, there was dancing!
May 24, 2024 | My Stories, Suicide Prevention/Awareness
Since 1987, when my teenage brother died by suicide, I didn’t talk openly about him or his death to protect myself because in the beginning when I did tell people, some of them pummelled me with horrible chastising words. I don’t need to share those words with you here. If you are like me, a suicide loss survivor or a person with lived experience of suicide, you know what I mean.
Mar 21, 2020 | My Stories
On Saturday my husband and daughter went out to get some groceries in Toronto, Canada. After several hours they returned without hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, rice, potatoes, or toilet paper. Not one for panic buying, I hadn’t stocked up. “We can...
Apr 24, 2018 | My Stories
The Brevity Magazine’s Nonfiction Blog today published a piece I wrote about vicarious trauma and how it affects me and other writers. I believe it’s something writers need to discuss openly: that way we can share concrete helpful advice to help all of...
Apr 11, 2018 | My Stories
Have you got a manuscript that’s finished and you can’t figure out how to get the attention of agents or publishers, or are you wondering what to do to get people to take your writing seriously? Being a writer isn’t easy. No one seems to want to pay...
Mar 17, 2018 | My Stories
Or, things I would tell my younger writer self (if only she would have listened) When I look back on my young writer self as a child or teenager, and later as a young adult in my 20s and 30s, I see a lot of wasted energy and time. To put it bluntly I lacked...
Sep 21, 2017 | My Stories
I’ve been trying to figure out what to call my husband when I write. ‘My husband’ is too boring, ‘spouse’ too formal, and ‘partner’ too practical (plus one wrong letter and it’s spell-checked into parent, which could...
Sep 16, 2017 | My Stories
Spinal surgery is serious stuff and it’s important you get your rehabilitation right. This plan may not be for everyone so you should check with your spouse first and your surgeon second. That’s what my husband did and now I’m sharing his very own...
Sep 12, 2017 | My Stories
Last week one of my friends called. “Um, can I suggest something about your writing?” “Sure,” I say. “I’m not precious about my writing, You can say anything.” Well I may be a little sensitive about it but I also want to hear...
