Back spasm results in a lot of hours on the couch with a heating pad, and when my eyeballs get tired of reading, it’s movie time. Tech Support and I tried to watch Highlander (1986), a fantasy about a ... Read More
Every autumn, monarch butterflies make an amazing journey. They fly from their summer homes in the northeastern United States all the way to Mexico. The trip takes two whole months, and it is dangerous. But if they make it, monarchs ... Read More
In 2000, I was lucky enough to spend six weeks in various parts of Europe. My travel buddy, now answering to the name “husband,” was confused by the fact that, while I’ve never been religious in a traditional sense, ... Read More
Is Throwback Thursday still a thing, or am I totally behind the trend (as always)? Either way, here’s another piece pulled from the depths of my hard drive – an essay I wrote about the most embarrassing moment of ... Read More
It was Science Literacy Week last week, a Canada wide celebration of science and science books. *emerges from whirlwind* *plucks twigs from hair* *empties biscuit crumbs from pockets* *collapses in heap* I visited one school and three branches ... Read More
I’m at Word on the Street today, at the Halifax Central Library. If you’re in town, come check out this amazing free literary festival. I’ll be reading at 2pm in the BMO Community Room. Stop by and say hello! ... Read More
Earlier this week, Kristen Lamb wrote a blog post about the fashion industry’s unwillingness to believe that 90% of women are not, in fact, waif-thin teenagers. Every woman I know has a story about the time she tried to ... Read More
So apparently this happened, and I totally missed it: Did anyone see it? I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings, but the IMDB ratings are not favourable. Would love opinions from people I trust. Read More
Well, it’s that time of year again. The time when proud kindergardeners and tearful parents say goodbye. The time of new clothes and annual teeth cleanings, and mattresses piled up outside of college dorms. The time when my schedule goes ... Read More
If you had any exposure to the Rio Olympics at all, you probably noticed the giant hickeys several athletes – most notably Michael Phelps – were flaunting all over their events. Attacks by enormous octopodi? Nope. Cupping bruises. If ... Read More
Due to an unfortunate incident with a spilled glass of iced tea, I had to buy a new laptop. Is it just me, or is the hardest part of setting up a new computer figuring out what to name ... Read More
When I gave up a career in science to be a starving artist, I knew, without doubt or reservation, that I was doing the right thing. I also knew it was a thing that would be difficult, if ... Read More
What’s the most trouble your book love has gotten you into? An out-of-control TBR pile? A spouse or parent wondering where all your money has gone? A concussion from walking into a street lamp while reading? Mine happened when ... Read More
I’ve blogged before about the importance of fact checking sources when researching nonfiction for kids. This post is about a slightly different research challenge that, in the age of the internet, is becoming a huge problem. I sometimes teach ... Read More
Is anyone else getting a little tired of superhero movies? With the exception of next year’s Wonder Woman, which not only looks awesome, but puts a female hero in a starring role, I am getting pretty burnt out on the ... Read More
If we’re Facebook friends,* you may recall that last week, I dumped a full glass of iced tea over the keyboard of my laptop. This act of clumsiness must have offended the ghost of Steve Jobs in some way, ... Read More
Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge? It was quite possibly one of the weirdest things to ever go viral, but it raised a TON of money in support of ALS research. Which was awesome, because ALS, better known as Lou ... Read More
Calling all writer friends! Have you read Joseph Campbell’s Hero With a Thousand Faces and Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey yet? If not, you should get on that. Mythic structure is a good starting point for novels, especially fantasies, but both authors ... Read More