Blog
Tax season: Not “the most wonderful time of the year”
As I write this post, I'm surrounded by bits of paper covering both my desk and home office floor. Why? It’s tax season in Canada, and with a filing deadline of April 30, the pressure is on. When I wasn’t self-employed, tax season, although still involving some work,...
For the love of old books
As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved and collected old books, especially those for children. The gorgeous covers. The thick paper, sometimes with foxing (age-related browning). The scent of old binding. The faded inscriptions in elegant cursive writing. Yes, I'm...
Making a book cover & why I have “cover love” for “The Hero Next Door”
Earlier this week, I shared the gorgeous cover for my next Jen Gilroy book, The Hero Next Door (first in my Strawberry Pond miniseries for Harlequin Heartwarming), with newsletter subscribers. This new cover might be my favourite of my Harlequin books so far. However,...
A marvelous March mini break
Last week, I left Tech Guy and Floppy Ears at home to spend a four-day weekend with my dear sister-cousin. She had a work conference in downtown Toronto, Canada and invited me to join her. While she was in daytime meetings, I enjoyed a lovely hotel, savoured city life...
Celebrating my overflowing TBR pile ~ Can you relate?
My name is Jen, and I have too many books, physical and electronic, in my TBR (to be read) pile! That’s partly because as an author I read widely to learn, improve my writing craft, research topics I'm writing about and keep up-to-date with what’s popular in different...
The best-laid Valentine’s plans…What could go wrong?
Although I write romance, I’m more about romancing the everyday than going all out for Valentine’s. However, since a Covid Christmas and New Year meant we couldn’t spend the holiday season at our lake house, Tech Guy and I were looking forward to going to that special...
Some of my favourite things
Following the holiday season, January seems like the longest and dreariest month of the year to me. However, in the past few weeks, focusing on small joys close to home has been cheering. The Sound of Music was my late mother’s favourite musical, and we often watched...
A very Covid new year: Choosing to ‘rewind’ on 2025
Happy New Year…or not! As those who follow my author Facebook page know, I haven’t had the best start to 2025. A very Covid new year I rang in the new year with Covid and spent most of the holiday season either unwell myself or caring for sick family. I’m behind with...
My happy holiday season bucket list
It’s December and although part of me doesn’t know where 2024 has gone (shouldn’t it still be early September?!), we’re now in the midst of what for many is the holiday season. After a busy year in life and writing, I’m set for a slower-paced December complete with a...
Photo by Robin Spencer, Spencer Studio