Recently, in Vancouver, British Columbia, we became aware, once again, of the cracks in mental health services. They failed to help those in need and they failed to protect the…
The Cracks in Mental Health Services
Celebrating ‘A Cry from the Deep’ with a Sale on its 10th Anniversary
My Debut Book Launch It was a dark and stormy night in October, 2014, when I launched A Cry from the Deep, my debut novel, at the local library in Campbell…
My Early Reading Life
A walk down memory lane, to my early reading life. My reading appetite was fuelled by more than books.
A Treasured Icon
When I recently visited the Ukrainian museum in Toronto to see Sacred Straw, the exhibit of icons reminded me of a treasured icon of the Virgin Mary hanging on our…
Who Are We Without the Language of Our Ancestors?
Yes, indeed, who are we without the language of our ancestors? A Lesson on Identity I was reminded of the importance of language on a recent cruise to Alaska. The…
Visiting Poland, Ukraine’s Friend
Visitng Poland, Ukraine’s friend, was uppermost in my mind, when we booked a fourteen-day bus tour through Central Europe. After three long years of being super vigilant, due to Covid…
The Milk of Human Kindness
I just finished reading John Steinbeck’s masterpiece, The Grapes of Wrath. An astounding story. Told from an omniscient point of view, the reader follows the Joad family from Oklahoma, where…
The Incredible Power of Don Quixote
On our recent trip to Guanajauto, Mexico, I learned about the incredible power of Don Quixote, a novel by Miguel de Cervantes. It soothed one man so much that he…
An Author Finds Inspiration in a Door
An author looks for inspiration everywhere. I found it in a door. Alexander Graham Bell said, ” When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so…
The Hunt for the Right Book Cover
So much rides on the right book cover. Most of us have heard the expression: You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. True enough, but if it’s appealing you’ll…