{"id":5995,"date":"2022-12-22T20:11:26","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T04:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/?p=5995"},"modified":"2022-12-23T09:41:14","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T17:41:14","slug":"year-end-musings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2022\/writing\/year-end-musings\/","title":{"rendered":"Year-End Musings"},"content":{"rendered":"

With year-end musings occupying my daily thoughts, I decided to write a blog post. And I’m writing it, while so much of Canada and the USA are dealing with fierce winter storms and dashed holiday plans. But back to my musings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

February<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

February was a terrible month. It was the month Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, the home of Robert’s and my ancestors. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Flag of Ukraine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When I began writing Sunflowers Under Fire<\/strong>,<\/a> <\/em>the first book of my baba Lukia Mazurets’s story, I had to research World War One, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the civil wars that followed. I thought with all the wonderful developments in Ukraine in the past two decades, violent unrest was over. But it was not to be. I grieved a lot, and the grief isn’t over. As a writer, immersing myself in my grandmother and mother’s life in that part of the world, I can’t help but feel a heavy sadness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

June<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Despite the covid fears, we managed to get away this past summer to Europe, which I’ve written about on my blog posts Visting Poland, Ukraine’s Friend<\/strong><\/a> and The Power of Miracle Icons<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Diego Matamoros<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But the highlight of our trip across the pond was seeing our son-in-law, Diego Matamoros play Gloucester in King Lear at the Globe in London. <\/a> <\/strong>We managed to see two performances before we headed home to Vancouver Island. For more on his brilliant career, click here<\/strong>.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

October<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Then, there was the world premiere of Grandson’s second feature film, The Banality, at Newport Beach Film Festival, and the launch of Paper Roses on Stony Mountain<\/em><\/strong>, <\/a>the third and last book of Lukia’s Family Saga series, which included Lilacs in the Dust Bowl<\/strong>.<\/em> Both the premiere and the launch went well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

December<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Since the book launch, I’ve revisited poems on my computer and started a new short story for a short story collection I’m working on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I’ve been musing about a sequel to A Cry from the Deep<\/strong>. <\/em>I would love to write a follow-up novel. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"year-end<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Did you see the stellar review of A Cry from the Deep <\/em>I recently received from Australian book reviewer, Cindy Spears?<\/strong><\/a> She’s a dynamite reviewer with amazing credentials and the fact she LOVED the book warmed me all over. Just in time for the deep freeze that Vancouver Island, where I live, found itself in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then I received more good news. A fabulous literary review journal, The Miramichi Reader<\/em>, posted its year-end review of the best fiction fror 202<\/strong>2<\/a>, and the list includes my novel, Paper Roses on Stony Mountain. <\/strong><\/em>I’m thrilled, naturally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas and Hanukkah Tidings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Robert and I have been preparing for our daughter Robyn and family’s visit this Christmas. But as I write this post, the airlines and airports are a mess. And now we’ve heard, two days before Christmas, that they won’t be coming at all. They can’t get a flight out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So I had a good cry. But then I think, we have to count our blessings. Our family is healthy and warm and not in a war zone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert (since he discovered his Ashkenazi Jewish DNA five years ago) and I have been celebrating Hanukkah and as usual, will be celebrating Christma with at least with one daughter and family. We’re trying to remain positive. That someow the airlines will defy the weather and magically transport our other daughter and family here to the island in time for the festivities.. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

So, Happy Hanukkah to all who enjoy this festive time of year. And a Merry Christmas to those who celebrate this wondrous time. Hope you and yours have a safe and joyous time. We pray for Peace in Ukraine, peace and good will for all men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy New Year! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With year-end musings occupying my daily thoughts, I decided to write a blog post. And I’m writing it, while so much of Canada and the USA are dealing with fierce… <\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[744,88,4],"tags":[609,78,1193,1192,1172,1021,387,5],"class_list":["post-5995","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-life","category-writing","tag-a-cry-from-the-deep","tag-diana-stevan","tag-diego-matamoros","tag-lilacs-in-the-dsut-bowl","tag-paper-roses-on-stony-mountain","tag-sunflowers-under-fire","tag-ukraine","tag-writing-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Merry-Christmas.jpg?fit=600%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1LuVB-1yH","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3177,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2017\/life\/musings-about-the-irish\/","url_meta":{"origin":5995,"position":0},"title":"Musings About The Irish","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"14 \u0411\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437\u043d\u044f, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As St. Patrick\u2019s Day comes around again, I think about the Irish and their beautiful country. Half my debut novel, A Cry From The Deep, is set in Ireland, from Galway to Donegal to be specific. Years back, my husband and I spent a month touring around the country, starting\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Travel"","block_context":{"text":"Travel","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/travel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Irish","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/P1020054.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/P1020054.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/P1020054.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/P1020054.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/P1020054.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3466,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2017\/uncategorized\/musings-about-immigrants-at-pier-21\/","url_meta":{"origin":5995,"position":1},"title":"Musings About Immigrants at Pier 21","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"8 \u041b\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u043f\u0430\u0434\u0430, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, Robert and I toured the Maritimes. We went there to see our granddaughter, who\u2019s attending Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. That city is also home to Pier 21 (Canada's Ellis Island) and the Immigration museum that shows the immigrant\u2019s experience when they land in Canada. It was a\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"pier 21","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/pier-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/pier-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/pier-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/pier-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/pier-21.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5747,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2022\/uncategorized\/visiting-poland-ukraines-friend\/","url_meta":{"origin":5995,"position":2},"title":"Visiting Poland, Ukraine’s Friend","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"2 \u0421\u0435\u0440\u043f\u043d\u044f, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"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 regulations and health concerns, it was wonderful to get out into the world again. No, we didn't travel by Sleigh!\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sleigh-photo.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sleigh-photo.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/sleigh-photo.jpg?fit=640%2C480&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1583,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2014\/uncategorized\/ukraine-and-the-russian-bully\/","url_meta":{"origin":5995,"position":3},"title":"Ukraine and the Russian Bully","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"15 \u0411\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437\u043d\u044f, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Ordinarily, I wouldn't be using my blog to write about politics in the Ukraine, but what is happening there is very dear to my heart. My grandparents and parents came from there and I\u2019ve been spending the last two years writing my baba's story. For those of you who haven\u2019t\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"from www.infoplease.com","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/mukraine-300x291.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6322,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2023\/writing\/wrapping-up-writing\/","url_meta":{"origin":5995,"position":4},"title":"Wrapping Up Writing","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"20 \u0413\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u044f, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Year-end is a good time for wrapping up writing and more. With holiday celebrations in full swing, there's too much going on to concentrate on finishing a work-in-progress, or starting a new one. I find writing breaks useful, a time for reflection. My thoughts about story never stop, but while\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"wrap up writing","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1c24164d-0d94-37f5-6ba0-91696063643e.jpg?fit=500%2C353&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3133,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2017\/writing\/a-writer-takes-stock-in-february\/","url_meta":{"origin":5995,"position":5},"title":"A Writer Takes Stock In February","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"23 \u041b\u044e\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"As a writer, I've enjoyed February so far, even though the early weeks brought some disappointment. It was a rough winter by Pacific Coast standards. We normally get little snow, but this year the big snow dumps did some damage. We were lucky though to get away with just a\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/crocus.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/crocus.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/crocus.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/crocus.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/crocus.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5995"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5995\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6022,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5995\/revisions\/6022"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}