The Artist's Way + library treasures + Louise Penny
May I recommend
The book, The Artist’s Way.
I am not one for books on writing or creativity, because I am not good at adhering to their instructions. I get instantly impatient in the introduction and then panicked at the steps I’m meant to follow. I do not have an efficient writing process and I would like to be more productive, but I feel literally itchy when I try to break down my story or my characters into “beats” or find the “third rail”.
This is not because I am a great artist who shatters the mold and follows her muse. I can’t plan out my writing in the same way that I can’t read a recipe through before I start cooking and how I get enraged when my Pickleball instructor (yeah THAT’s happening) gives us a lot of pre-play instruction… in most things that I do, I just want to GET ON WITH IT, without a lot of palaver up front.
That being said, the one book on writing (but it works for any creative pursuit from pottery to modern dance) that I swear by is The Artist’s Way. It was written in the 1970s and definitely has a “Joy of Sex” seventies-hippy-bushy-pubic-hair-I am-going-to-serve-you-cookies-but-but-they’re-going-to-have-carob-instead-of-chocolate-chips vibe to it. That might be the reason I love it.
The book is a 12-week program about shaking off your creative hangups, tapping into your inner voice and finding joy and fun in whatever creative endeavour you want to pursue. At its heart are a couple of practices — Morning Pages — where you get up and spend 10 minutes writing longhand first thing in the morning and Artist’s Dates - where you take yourself out to a museum, or a walk or something that is just for you that refills your soul. There are a ton of other exercises and readings and it’s filled with inspirational quotes. It’s actually fun to do this program and Julie Cameron guides you in a very judgemental way.
It’s the thing that kickstarted me into writing The Honeybee Emeralds after I’d had a long creative drought and I’ve returned to it a couple of times. Because this book is old and has been around forever, you’ll often see it in used books stores, garage sales and every library has a couple of copies… Pick yourself up one if you’re at all curious — Low risk, potentially high reward.
What’s left behind in library books
Librarian finds love notes, doodles in books
A librarian in California collects and publicizes the little notes, drawing and lists that people leave behind in library books and the results are charming and intriguing.
In her 20 years as a librarian, Sharon McKellar has unearthed all kinds of left-behind personal items — from doodles to recipes to old photographs — nestled between the pages of returned library books. She carefully removes them and reads them, then she scans and uploads them to the library’s website after scrubbing any personal identifying information.
Jessica Fletcher defeats Charles Manson
Angela Lansbury once rescued her daughter from Charles Manson’s clutches
Sad news about her death, but in case there was any doubt that Angela Lansbury was cool.
After Lansbury and her husband Peter Shaw discovered Battara had been financing the Mansons and using drugs, they cut off her credit cards. But according to Lansbury, it wasn’t until the family “upped sticks” and moved to County Cork, Ireland—leaving the country entirely—that things really began to turn around for Battara and her brother Anthony.
“Certainly, I have no doubt we would have lost one or both of our two if they hadn’t been removed to a completely different milieu, the simplicity of life in Ireland,” Lansbury recalls. “We were so very, very lucky we spotted what was happening just in time.”
What are you afraid of?
Ten phobias and what they reveal about society
What I find fascinating about phobias is that they can be about the most benign thing, but that that fear is shared by others… Many people are anxious at the sight of groups of holes, or buttons or clowns… Why do we, as a society decide something is scary?
At the turn of the 20th century, many Inuit men in Greenland abandoned the kayaks in which they hunted seals, having become paralysed with fear out at sea. In some coastal districts, more than one in 10 of the adult males had “kayak phobia”, a serious problem in a colony that, since the decline of whaling, had become dependent on seal hunting.
Book News
Knowlton Literary Festival I’ve had such an incredible time at this literary festival. Heard from great writers, including journalists Jon Tattrie and André Picard, incredible poets like Liana Cusmano, Rachel McCrum and novelists like Kathleen Winter and Maurice Crossfield.
I was lucky enough to be in conversation with Louise Penny and it was wonderful! Did I produce a lot of back sweat? Yes! Was she a kind and perceptive interviewer who put me at my ease, said nice things about my book and led a truly fun conversation about creativity, inspiration and MURDER? Also yes.
Definitely a career highlight!
I somehow didn’t get any decent photos with her, but here’s a blurry one my wonderful sister took. I made Louise Penny laugh!
If you’re reading this on Sunday morning and are in the Knowlton area, it’s not too late to get out and hear Martha Wainright speak (and possibly play some music!) and David A. Robertson. This little festival gets GREAT speakers!
I’m taking part in a FOURTEEN book giveaway. You can enter here - U.S entries only — sorry!
Trick or treat! One lucky reader will win fourteen author-signed paperbacks perfect for spooky season! We've got something for every taste: thrillers, paranormal romance, horror, and mainstream with ghosts. Over $200 value!
Super easy entry -- all you have to do is enter your email and you're in. Bonus points for following authors on BookBub, and for sharing on your social feeds
CBC All in a Day Bookclub Honeybee Emeralds has been chosen to be the next CBC Book All in a Day Bookclub, which is quite exciting. It means listeners across Ottawa will be reading Honeybee and we’ll have a big party in early November to celebrate the book at talk about it. Date and venue are TBD but should be coming soon!
In Conversation with Bianca Marais November 22, 6:30 pm. Perfect Books, Ottawa. Bianca hosts the incredible podcast, The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which if you are even the teeniest bit interested in writing as a hobby/career is a MUST LISTEN. She’s a great writer and her latest book, The Witches of Moonshyne Manor is about a coven of modern day witches and is a cross between Golden Girls and Practical Magic. She and I are going to chat about her book, her podcast and how she finds the time to do it all. I can’t wait. This is free, so if you’re in Ottawa, MARK YOUR CALENDARS.
Maple Leaf Leaf Ottawa Mystery Conference December 3, 2022. This is a virtual mini-conference featuring Ottawa-based mystery authors, but it’s open to the WORLD. Early-bird registration is only $15 and I’m very excited to be moderating a panel on cozy mysteries. I have never been in CHARGE before and am planning to go mad with power. You can register HERE .
TikTok
How did women pee in olden times?
A match of ice hockey
Importance of keeping your footing
The little girl went on a journey
I was not expecting Leonard Cohen!
Bear on a trampoline
Just play it cool…
She’ll get terrible lonesome
I have looked into the abyss to see what Hell hath wrought
Minty Biscuits
Rocket Ship
Keep him busy
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