Keep Swimming

An abbreviated August update because, as I’m sure you know and as I’ve experienced in the past couple of weeks, plans can be disrupted with little notice. I’ll explain. But first, summer.

Paddling

On the water, yes, but this time also in Paddler Press. There’s so much talent in Issue 9: Grace Notes, and I’m honoured that my poem, “desire/path”, was selected. I was inspired to write it when I learned it takes as few as 15 trips over the same area to create a new pathway. These unofficial pedestrian routes aren’t necessary, but rather reflect a shared, unspoken desire.

Read online, or order a hard copy to support this Canadian literary magazine.

Humankind

Also in acceptance news, I was happy to learn that a poem of mine that’s seen its fair share of rejections has finally found the right fit.

“viso” will be included in Humankind Zine’s “Tasting Memories” issue, due out soon. (I’ll share the direct link in the next newsletter.)

Humankind Zine is dedicated to the exploration and celebration of what it truly means to be human through different mediums of art.

By providing a platform for creatives, we strive to have viewers and artists connect with each other to form a sense of unity and community. Our goal is to confront the unimaginable, deliberate the unintentional, and elevate the voices of those typically unheard.

Humankind Zine website

Closer

There are two types of closer on my mind lately: becoming closer to each other (as Humankind Zine strives to facilitate); and getting closer to goals.

One of my (many) author goals has been to see Provenance Unknown in as many libraries as possible; and specifically, in places with which I have a connection.

Patrons of Penticton Public Library: the Provenance Unknown ebook is now available to you through Hoopla! One step closer to having physical copies of my book in the South Okanagan, where I grew up. 💕

Out of the Sun …

And speaking of my home turf, I spent a couple of hours of my vacation/visit home to Osoyoos writing in Okanagan Regional Library’s Mission Branch in Kelowna. Gorgeous space, friendly staff. The only thing that would make it better is having my book on the shelves 😁.

… Into the Fire

Back to disrupted plans. Shortly after that Kelowna day trip, things went off the rails while I was still staying with my parents in Osoyoos. If you watched the news at all on or immediately following July 29, you’ll probably already know what I’m going to write about here.

What began about mid-day as a puff of smoke across the Canada-US border in Oroville, Washington became, by nightfall, an inferno.

Unfortunately, it really was a story of the wind. The steady gusts fanned the flames and, through the course of the afternoon, across the border and kilometres northward. The speed at which the wildfire moved was, to be frank, shocking. Let me show you.

Having grown up there, fires weren’t new to me. However, this was the first time I had been under evacuation alert, the alarm for which came wailing through our phones at 11:30 that night. We packed up our essentials and stacked them at the front door, just in case. Unlike others, we were lucky and were able to remain. It was a sleepless night for all. (If you’d like to see my photo and video montage of the day, you can view it on Instagram; or go back through my posts on X for the sequence of events as I watched them unfold.)

I shared updates online throughout, and soon various media outlets reached out to me. In the end I did four interviews. 😱 They went well (I think), and doing them was my way of helping in some way. Sharing information is in my wheelhouse. Here’s the interview list, if you’re wondering:

• Global BC Morning Show (Vancouver) – 30 July 2023
• Vancouver Sun/Province Newspaper – 30 July 2023
• Chek News (Victoria) – 31 July 2023
• CHED Radio (Edmonton), Shaye Ganam Show – 1 August 2023

I’m happy to report that thanks to the excellent work of fire crew, no structures were lost and no one was hurt. I think I can safely say that the whole community of Osoyoos is grateful.

The Plans We Make

We make plans — like vacations, or novels — with the best of intentions. But as I’ve been reminded, plans change.

I’ve hinted before that my next book was to be an Italy-based story involving olive oil. When I did, I swear I meant it. But even the best-laid plans can be waylaid, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

My planning and writing process has changed with each book, and that’s playing out more than ever this time around. Firstly, instead of working on the novel I’ve spent months plotting, I wrote a synopsis for, and basically figured out, a completely different book. And in only a few hours instead of months. 😳 I’m so conflicted!

It’s funny how inspiration works…

I’ve finished the first three chapters, except they’re half the length so there will be more than before. This book has an energy, and the story’s taking over, demanding to be written. I’ve decided to ride the wave.

I swear the books and characters decide how it’s going, rather than the author. Doesn’t matter if I have a formula or not … 🤷‍♀️

The lesson here? Keep swimming.

Les Bouquinistes (Canadian Edition)

My friend and fellow Archivists Who Write Critique Group member Emily Lonie’s first book is out! It’s a lovely middle grade story based on Vancouver’s famous and well-documented “crow commute”, and I’m excited to share it here with you.

CORBEN AND THE CROW COMMUTE introduces a cheeky young crow, his family, and the creatures he encounters when, bored with his life, he decides to strike out on his own. In this action-packed middle grade adventure story, Corben makes friends with an articulate seagull, a hyperactive squirrel, and a playful brood of bunnies. But when he finds himself in serious trouble, he learns just how important family and community can be.

Here’s the blurb from the back:

Corben Crow craves adventure but his parents just don’t get it. They want him to grow up and join the crow commute like all the other crows. After a big fight with his father, Corben sets off alone to find adventure in the big city. Along the way, he meets new friends (some feathered and some furry) who show him the wonders of the world beyond the crow commute. But adventure might not be all it’s cracked up to be. When an old enemy darkens the sky, will Corben be able to find his way home again?

I’ve ordered my copy! You can get yours on Amazon. (And don’t forget to leave a review after you’ve read it.)

As always, thanks for reading. Merci!

Sonia