Theme song of the year 2023

Image: YouTube video screenshot photo of the band Queen, posing together for a photo. Hey again. So, this week I nailed down my theme song for 2023. At first, I was thinking more in terms of some kind of “fight” song, but I chose instead to go with something that felt more like resilience. Hope.Continue reading “Theme song of the year 2023”

Book blurb for fun: They Don’t Run Red Trains Anymore

Image: The cover of Heidi Von Palleske’s They Don’t Run Red Trains Anymore. A painting of a woman in an evening gown, who appears to be clawing her own eyes out, a trickle of blood streaming down her right cheek. Ancient architecture in the background, with light and shadow playing across the interior space. PaintingContinue reading “Book blurb for fun: They Don’t Run Red Trains Anymore”

Word of the year 2022

Image: The word “kindness” carved into a river rock, on a bed of river rocks. Photo by Allihays on Dreamstime. Several years back, I was inspired by Boss Lady Mondays co-host Lisa Humber to start choosing a word to live by for the year. For a couple of years, my word was LOVE—in the senseContinue reading “Word of the year 2022”

It was a very year

Image: A rollercoaster. Photo by Pedro Velasco on Unsplash. As we gradually wrap up 2021 and celebrate the holidays, I’ve been taking stock of the past year. The good, the bad and the ugly. The holiday is both very different and much the same this year; we now have vaccines, but with the emergence ofContinue reading “It was a very year”

Book blurbs for fun: Why I Was Late

Why I Was Late book cover, design by Emmie Tsumura, in collaboration with author Charlie Petch. Illustrated images of wrestlers, everyday objects, clothing, a dog, an outstretched hand, a saw. I recently added a book blurbs page to the blog, as I realized it’s another creative pursuit that I really enjoy and wanted to share.Continue reading “Book blurbs for fun: Why I Was Late”

Interview: Erin Jones

Photo of Erin Jones by David Fitzpatrick. Erin Jones is a writer, actor, playwright and emerging director who has performed in theatre and independent films across the GTA. After debuting her first play, Lovingly Yours, Olive in the Next Stage Community Booster Series at Toronto Fringe, she returns to this year’s digital festival with herContinue reading “Interview: Erin Jones”

Love in the time of COVID

Image: A heart-shaped stone on top of green, white and blue beach glass, set against a red background. Photo by the blogger. So this weekend, it’s Valentine’s Day on Sunday—and, for some of us, it’s also the Family Day long weekend. And, whether you celebrate either of these or not, you can’t deny that there’sContinue reading “Love in the time of COVID”

Safe & happy holidays

And, suddenly, it’s December. It’s Winter Solstice today, and the final weeks of the holiday season are unfolding unlike any other before. Many of us are in, or about to go into, lockdown. Favourite holiday traditions, family gatherings, shopping and outings have had to be cancelled or rearranged to follow public health protocols and localContinue reading “Safe & happy holidays”

A sneak peek at Heather Babcock’s debut novel Filthy Sugar

Heather Babcock photo by Astrid Monge. Filthy Sugar cover design by Val Fullard.   Two years ago, I had the honour and pleasure of getting a sneak peek at Heather Babcock’s debut novel Filthy Sugar after she approached me to give it a read and write a review blurb. Published by Inanna Publications, it’s setContinue reading “A sneak peek at Heather Babcock’s debut novel Filthy Sugar”

Saying goodbye to the youth of Ireland in the lyrical, hopeful, entertaining Many Young Men of Twenty

Foreground: James Phelan, Tina McCulloch, Emmet Leahy and William Laxamana. Background: Martin McGuane. Set design by Tim O’Connell and Sean Treacy. Costume design by Bernadette Hunt. Lighting design by Karlos Griffith. Photo by Gregory Breen. The Toronto Irish Players take us to a time of desperate hope and dreams, leaving and staying behind, with itsContinue reading “Saying goodbye to the youth of Ireland in the lyrical, hopeful, entertaining Many Young Men of Twenty”