A stitch in time

My mom was a knitter. The gentle click of her knitting needles was as much a part of my childhood as the books we shared, her chocolate chip cookies and the touch of her hand soothing all manner of ailments.  She was descended from a long line of knitters and crafters...

I know I’m in Canada when…

I’m in Canada this month, reconnecting with special people and places, thinking about where I come from and how it influences my writing. I know I’m in Canada when I… Glimpse my dad in my cousin’s face, my grandmother in the blue of his daughter’s eyes. Watch the...

Living history, remembering WWI

In the UK, we’re preparing to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.  For most of us, August 1914 is many lifetimes away. Yet, I’m fortunate to have a connection with one of those lifetimes. It’s part of the web of family and...

Making memories at the RNA conference 2014

Last weekend, I attended the conference of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) held on the beautiful, rural campus of Harper Adams University near Telford, England.  Learning about craft From sessions on taking control of plot and using setting more effectively,...