I’m leaning on my Irish and Scottish lineage to celebrate the Celtic New Year, which began at sunset on October 31st. A time to give thanks for the harvest and welcome the season ahead. It’s a nice theme for this newsletter.
There’s been a plentiful harvest of literary festivals this fall. Community celebrations of readers, writers, artists, brought together by book-loving visionaries and volunteers. I traveled south to Word on the Street in Lethbridge and north to Words in the Park in Sherwood Park for Alberta Culture Days.
Whistler Independent Book Awards
I was over-the (harvest)-moon excited when Separation Anxiety was shortlisted for an inaugural Whistler Independent Book Award in the non-fiction category.
Winners were announced at the Whistler Writers Festival on October 13-16, the same dates (darn it!) that I was 9000 kilometers away in China. Check out these blog posts for more photos:
Winner! Whistler Independent Book Awards
Whistler Independent Book Awards
Writeshops
Even though the days are getting colder and the nights longer, we have more time to think, reflect, gather memories and seed intentions.
In that spirit, I’m pleased to introduce Writeshops — writing workshops that are more play than work — that invite you to explore the possibilities in your own writing.
Through a variety of writing “nudges,” you are encouraged to simply be in the present moment: to write where you are. The silence of these writing sessions is balanced with helpful hints, lively discussions and an exchange of wonderful stories.
Writeshop spaces are always inspiring, often surprising. Cafés, bookstores, libraries, living rooms. Any place there is a table to gather around and room to roam on a page. I will travel to right where you are!
Read about my recent Gift of Story writeshops:
Pandora’s Boox & Tea, Olds
Second Cup Café, Southpointe Common, Red Deer
Final Note
In the stillness of this new season, I’ll be working on a new story that Separation Anxiety has seeded.
By the time those “Daydream” tulip bulbs I just planted in my garden are green shoots poking through the last skiff of snow, I’m hoping there’s the beginnings of a book on these pages.
In the meantime, sending you warm November wishes,
~ Miji