A heat wave signals more than hot temperatures. It means a surge in violent crime. Rising temperatures increase the rates of homicides, sexual offences and assaults. Riots and uprisings also tend to take place during summer. This is borne out by research conducted in a number of countries. Twitter online hate speech also increases during… Continue reading Beware the Heat Wave
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Dandelions
The sunny flower we love to hate “I have lost my smile, but don’t worry. The dandelion has it.”- Nhat Hanh We should leave them for the bees but still…. They take over. We feel obliged to dig them out! Poison them! Pour hot water or vinegar on them! But they’re so much more than… Continue reading Dandelions
Memories Lost… and Found
How does it feel to wake up injured and needing help, but you can’t remember who you are or how you got there? It happens more often than you might think, though the stories don’t usually make international headlines. A recent case intrigued me. A woman was found, bloodied and injured on an island in… Continue reading Memories Lost… and Found
Rain
Living on Vancouver Island or the ‘Wet Coast’ as I do, it’s no surprise that rain features in my stories. People who read my upcoming books are going to notice a common thread – a lot of bad weather. A critique group partner once said, shivering, “Gawd, can you write rain. I feel like I’m… Continue reading Rain
The Creative Cauldron
“I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.” – Edward Allan Poe I’ve been on hiatus from my current completed manuscript. In my little world, this is necessary. I need to take a complete break from it and get busy with something else. So busy that I stop thinking about my characters and… Continue reading The Creative Cauldron
The Late Bloomer
“There is nothing better in life than being a late bloomer. Success can happen at any time and at any age. You can have a spiritual awakening and discover a new side of yourself. And best of all, love can happen at any age.” – Salma Hayek, Actress “It is never too late to be… Continue reading The Late Bloomer
Midsummer in Latvia – Līgo
Līgo All over Europe, the ancient pagan midsummer celebrations continue to take place. In Latvia, St. John’s Day (Jāņi), or Līgo may be the most important celebration of the year. It runs overnight from June 23rd to the 24th. If they can, Latvians take to the woods, fields and beaches to celebrate by staying up… Continue reading Midsummer in Latvia – Līgo
Creative, tough, tenacious – Freya Stark
Zest for life I might never have learned about Freya but for a book sale where I stumbled on her autobiography, Traveller’s Prelude 1893-1927. It’s an astonishing document of her experiences up to her mid thirties. Freya Stark had a fascinating life. She was an explorer and wrote more than two dozen travel books about… Continue reading Creative, tough, tenacious – Freya Stark
The Creative Journey
My last post about Mary Delany has made me think about creativity in general and creative block in particular. It appears that Mary, during the dark years of her first marriage, didn’t completely abandon her creativity. When she was forced to nurse and read to her ailing husband, she continued to sew and paint, if… Continue reading The Creative Journey
Art meets craft meets science ca. 1770’s – Meet Mary Delany
Life can be hard Transport yourself back to England, early 1700’s. You’re growing up in a fairly well-off family and getting an education, which was huge then. You’re bright – a natural with needlework, scissor work and painting. There’s an expectation that you will become a ‘maid of honour’ in the royal household…. but the… Continue reading Art meets craft meets science ca. 1770’s – Meet Mary Delany
