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EmailLessons from 2020 and a new word for the new year
Posted Jan 8 2021 in About Jen, Word for the year, Word of the year, Writers Life, Writing Community, Writing craft
In the past few weeks, I’ve read many posts celebrating the end of 2020. From celebrities to ordinary people, the last year was one that many of us were glad to see the end of. I too have been thinking about 2020 and, in looking ahead to 2021, how to take learning from last year […]
Read More...Looking back and moving forward
Posted Jan 10 2020 in About Jen, Family, Word for the year, Word of the year
For me, 2019 wasn’t a wonderful year. Although it had happy moments (my trip to England in July was a special highlight), there were many more months when life was stressful and difficult in both my writing and personal lives. As such, scrolling through recent annual highlight reels posted on social media (many of which […]
Read More...A year to cultivate
Posted Jan 11 2019 in About Jen, Cultivate, Family, Friendship, Word for the year
In the past few weeks, my social media feeds have been dotted with posts from those who have chosen a particular word to guide them through 2019. I’ve chosen a ‘word for the year’ since 2014 (read more here), and because I don’t usually make resolutions (and never in January), choosing a special word to […]
Read More...A world of kindness
Posted Dec 21 2018 in About Jen, Back Home at Firefly Lake, Firefly Lake, Kindness, Publishing, Summer on Firefly Lake, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, Wishing Tree, Word for the year
Several weeks ago, and to celebrate the first birthday of Back Home at Firefly Lake, I offered a giveaway on my Facebook author page. For a chance to win a signed paperback and holiday ornament, I asked my readers to leave a comment about a random act of kindness they’d either given or received. With […]
Read More...Courage…and “learning to dance in the rain”
Posted Jan 19 2018 in About Jen, England, Family, History, New beginnings, Word for the year
If you read my first blog of 2018, you know that the word I’ve chosen to guide me this year is “courage.” Like all of us, my life has had its ups and downs. It’s through troubles, though, that I’ve found hope and inspiration to help me live courageously and grow. Since much of that […]
Read More...Resolutions for a new year: “With a Little Help From My Friends”
Posted Jan 5 2018 in England, Kate Field, New beginnings, Susanna Bavin, Word for the year, Writing
Now that the holidays are over, and it’s time to look ahead to the New Year, I’ve decided to devote this first blog of 2018 to resolutions—not just mine, but also those of three good friends from across The Pond. Tara Greaves, Kate Field and Susanna Bavin are all fellow-writers, but the resolutions we’ve made […]
Read More...Thank you to my readers…and a giveaway to celebrate kindness
Posted Apr 7 2017 in About Jen, Authors, Back Home at Firefly Lake, Firefly Lake, Gratitude, Summer on Firefly Lake, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, Word for the year
It’s been a little over two months since The Cottage at Firefly Lake was published. In that time, many of you have taken my story into your lives and hearts. Thank you for buying my book and asking for it in stores. Thank you for asking your local library to order it. And thank you […]
Read More...“A cup of kindness”— how a memory inspired my word for 2017
Posted Jan 13 2017 in About Jen, Kindness, Word for the year
If you read my blog regularly, you know that I choose a “word for the year.” Sometimes it’s an easy choice and, as the new year turns, I’m anticipating how to incorporate my word as a guiding principle in everyday life. Other years, and as was the case as 2016 limped to a close, it’s […]
Read More...Thank you…
Posted Dec 30 2016 in About Jen, Back Home at Firefly Lake, Friendship, Gratitude, New beginnings, Summer on Firefly Lake, The Cottage at Firefly Lake, Word for the year
The week between Christmas and New Year is a punctuation mark at the end of the year. For me, it’s a lull before launching headlong into the blank calendar pages to come. In a year that’s been more surreal (dictionary company Merriam-Webster’s word for 2016) than sparkly, I’m ending it with a different kind of […]
Read More...Hope, love and the meaning of life in a Christmas cactus
Posted Dec 16 2016 in About Jen, Christmas, Family, Friendship, Gratitude, Word for the year
The past year has been difficult for many of us, and my word of the year, “gratitude,” has taken on a poignancy I could never have anticipated when I chose it last January. In some ways, I’ll be grateful to see the end of 2016 for it’s been a year of turbulence and loss both […]
Read More...The Latest News
- Jan 04, 2021: Check out my contribution to “3 Goals Every Writer Should Make in the New Year!,” an essay by Sweta Vikram in Brevity Magazine
- Nov 06, 2020: Guest post for Writers First: Why Work with a Writing Coach?
- Oct 30, 2020: Interview with North Grenville Writers Circle for Ontario Public Library Week 2020 (YouTube video)
- Oct 27, 2020: Interview with The Writer’s Pet about my dog, animals in my fiction & ‘A Wish in Irish Falls’
- Oct 22, 2020: Author interview: Chatting with Ruby Moone on the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) blog about ‘A Wish in Irish Falls’
- Oct 13, 2020: Finding Your Writing Voice: Guest Post for Frost Magazine
- Aug 07, 2020: Friday Night Drinks with A Little Book Problem: Chatting about writing,books & life
- Aug 06, 2020: New book news: ‘A Wish in Irish Falls’ releases September 16 & is now available for pre-order
- May 01, 2020: Reading (and Writing) for Hope, Comfort & Happy Ever After: Guest post for Women Writers, Women’s Books
- Apr 22, 2020: Author Q&A: Chatting with Anita Kushwaha about ‘The Wishing Tree in Irish Falls,’ favourite authors, lockdown life & more