Blog
Senses of Christmas
There’s a sticky note on the wall facing my desk. On it I’ve written the five senses–smell, taste, see, hear and feel–as a reminder to include sensory details in the scenes I write. Christmas is perhaps the most sensory of Christian festivals. So in the spirit of the...
Setting goals and celebrating success
Holiday party season is here. It’s the time when families, friends and co-workers celebrate the year that’s passed, and anticipate the one ahead. It’s also the time of year when I reflect on my writing goals and plan for the next twelve months. I take stock of what...
Finding home in Hong Kong
Those of you who follow me on Twitter know I’ve been in Asia for my day job for the past two weeks. First in Kuala Lumpur, then Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s moniker is "Asia’s World City". For someone like me, who grew up on the Canadian prairies and has no Chinese...
Remembrance and remembering
November is a month of remembrance. Many Christian religions mark All Souls’ Day on 2 November. It’s a time to pray for the dead, especially family members. The All Souls’ service I attended this year helped me grieve the loss of a friend. Remembrance Sunday in the...
For my daughter…and all women
Women make up the majority of romance readers and writers. Most of those diagnosed with breast cancer are women too. They are our grandmothers, mothers and aunts. They are our sisters, daughters and nieces. And they are our wives and cousins, friends and colleagues....
Giving thanks
Although Thanksgiving isn't celebrated in England, Canadian Thanksgiving, marked this year on October 13, has always been a turning point in my year. A time to stop and reflect, gather with family and friends and give thanks for what the past twelve months have...
We can (not) do it all
As a teenager, I had an image of my adult self. I wanted a job where I carried a briefcase and wore a suit. The message I’d received was girls could do it all – have a successful career, happy family life and an immaculate home too. I was reminded recently of the...
Talking about trucks
I grew up with pickup trucks. Mud-spattered farm trucks with hay on the floorboards, camping trucks with a Coleman stove and cooler stashed in the back and small-town trucks, washed and polished for Saturday night dates and tailgate parties. I also grew up with one...
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...
Photo by Robin Spencer, Spencer Studio