Hit the Ground Running.

Start off with a bang. All the cliches for the New Year.

It’s not what I was expecting at all.

You know that feeling, when things are shifting around you, and you’re being pushed in a specific direction? Deep down it’s right—what you were meant to do. What you’ve always wanted. And it’s close, so close. But when you find yourself swept up in that momentum, the panic comes. You want to put on the brakes. Slow down.

That’s how I felt as I started writing this update. Excited, but scared. (Life’s thrown some curveballs since then, but nevertheless …)

Things are happening

2023 began with an acceptance … and then another one.

I’ll send links in a future post once the pieces have been published. Watch for my flash fiction, “Through the Looking Glass,” in Issue 3 (“After”) of For Page and Screen. It’s a short story about the day in March 2020 after the world shut down, based on my own experience.

If poetry—especially the visual variety—is your thing, check out Poetry As Promised. They hand-make each page of the magazine! Believe it or not, my poem “crown shyness” was written, submitted, and accepted on the same day. Can’t wait to see the visual magic they’ll do with it for the Valentine’s Month issue.

More surprises: I was asked by Rivanna Review to write another travel article for them, (forthcoming March 1, Issue 7). While last time I introduced readers to my hometown of Osoyoos, British Columbia, this time I explore my adult home, “Victoria: City of Gardens”—and the historical context around why we’re so obsessed with flowers, planting, and growing here.

Over on social media (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram), I’m doing a #FrenchFriday feature. With Provenance Unknown coming out March 28, I’ve decided that between now and then I’ll post a photo every week from my own adventures in Paris. I’m already a few weeks in, but here’s the photo from my first instalment.

There’s more to come, too.

After asking in a couple of Facebook groups, I found two different people going to Paris this spring willing to take a copy of Provenance Unknown with them. (In March, pre-publication; and April.) They’ll get photos of it all over the city—think travelling gnome, but with a book. Can’t wait to see (and share!) the pics.

In the process of searching for a willing traveller, I made new friends, including a kindred spirit who not only ordered a copy of their own and followed links to my article in Inspirelle, but also sent me the nicest response I’ve ever received to my writing. (You know who you are.) If you’ve ever thought about reaching out to an author because their work resonated with you in some way, don’t hesitate. It means a lot—trust me.

And from now through March, I’ll be featured in a number of blog posts including the Association of Canadian Archivists “Archivist Authors” series, and Canadian author Alan Hudson’s South Branch Scribbler. Others are awaiting confirmation. Given how busy I am these days, I’ll likely be surprised (in a good way) when some of these come out.

I’ve received a lot of support on my publishing journey, so I’d love to find a small way to pay it forward. Are you an author with a new or new-ish Paris-related book? Or have you read a good one? Send your recommendations my way so I can share them on future blog posts and/or my social media channels. (Preferred genres: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit, Women’s Fiction, Memoir, Travel.)

As always, thanks for reading! Merci!