On the Docket: The Deadly Sister by Eliot Schrefer Source: Won from Amy Reads Genre: Young Adult, Mystery Publisher’s Plot Blurb: Abby Goodwin has always covered for her sister. Maya’s screw ups started out ordinary enough: Broken curfews. Failed classes. Hanging out with the wrong crowd. But now Maya’s been accused of murder. And Abby’s … Continue reading »
As you may have noticed, my posts have become a little sporadic. I promise there’s a good reason I’ve neglected my reading commitments. Not only have I been writing a chapter a day of my novel for the past couple of weeks, but I’ve gone and done it folks! I’ve signed up for a fitness … Continue reading »
Long live the indie bookstore! Does this look like a bookstore to you? No? How about this? Tough crowd. Hmmm… I wonder where I’m going wrong? While attending MARCOM, a professional development conference produced by leaders in communications, I heard the most outrageous statement: “bookstores are the most ridiculous idea ever”. Can you believe that? … Continue reading »
(Photo Credit) Whenever I feel the need for a mental pick-me-up, there are three blogs I consult: Chris Guillebeau’s The Art of Non-Conformity, Jenny Blake’s Life After College, and Todd Henry’s The Accidental Creative. Each blogger provides a distinct set of tips, prompts and advice for anyone who is struggling to develop a fulfilling, creative career. … Continue reading »
Chapter 45: The Vendetta Bertuccio begins his story by explaining that his brother was killed during the French Revolution, and that when he confronted the procurer du roi, Gerard de Villefort, he simply dismissed the death and refused to acknowledge the violence. Villefort insists that “Every revolution has its catastrophes”, and that Bertuccio’s brother was … Continue reading »
Have you experienced this before? Even after two years of blogging, I’m still very naive about SEO and Google search terms. I’m always amazed by the key words that people use to find my blog.
Is it just me, or are a lot of indie bookstores closing? I just read the May issue of Ottawa Magazine, in which the demise of neighbourhood favourite Nicholas Hoare Bookstore was mourned by journalist Phil Jenkins. Apparently, the combination of high rent and the sudden influx of e-book popularity was responsible for the closure. … Continue reading »
It’s difficult to analyze the expression on her face, the redhead glancing coyly from the cover of Tara McPherson’s Lost Constellations. Her hair is wet and plastered to her pale, almost blue skin. The futuristic landscape that surrounds her is populated with secret faces and sharp teeth. The redhead is looking somewhere we can’t see, … Continue reading »
Have you ever wondered what it takes to start and complete a novel? The dedication and commitment it requires to stay consistent is part of the battle, a struggle that Nerys Parry obviously handles very well. Her debut novel, Man & Other Natural Disasters, was a finalist for the Colophon Prize and tied for seventh in the Giller Prize … Continue reading »
Sandra Nicholls describes her new novel, And the Seas Shall Turn to Lemonade, as an “uplifting romp through the unlikely relationship between two academic misfits and a crackpot scheme to establish a commune based on the theories of social philosopher Charles Fourier.” Intrigued? Of course you are! Winner of the Archibald Lampman Award for her second book of poetry, … Continue reading »
Last week, I was in la-la land. No, not Los Angeles, but Disney World! I felt like a six year old again! Not only was I able to escape crappy Ontario weather (which, I was told, included a surprise April snowfall) but I also enjoyed the company of Ariel, Princess Jasmine, and Mickey Mouse. Along … Continue reading »
