Autumn often feels like more of the start of a new year than the actual calendar New Year. In Victoria, we’ve suddenly shifted from months of hot, dry weather (which I love but which isn’t great for wildfire risk) to rain and rare thunder and lightning. And even though there’s still more summer to go, I’m already feeling nostalgic for visits to the ocean and get-togethers with family and friends. Strings of lights under the gazebo and around our propane fire pit area. (I realize we can use these all year, but the rain and cold will make it less appealing.) Wearing dresses and sandals every day — I’m not digging this whole pants and closed shoe situation. At all. You get the idea. Give me more of the Mediterranean vibe I channeled all season.
So, if you’re sensing some nostalgia in this post, now you know why.
Music To My Ears
Summer evening, great tunes! On August 15, I enjoyed the District of Saanich Music in the Park.
Shoutout to Quadra Cedar Hill Community Association for handing out postcards and promoting Provenance Unknown. The book features the park, its beloved pink elephant statue, and neighbourhood and local history!
More Library Love
Thanks, Medicine Hat Public Library! I love seeing my book on your shelves. 📚 💕
(I’m still looking to be added to more library systems, so please use the “Suggest a Title” option to help make that happen!)
And if you have a library card you likely have access to Hoopla, which gives you instant access to millions of audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and more for free.
The ebook version of Provenance Unknown is there too! (If it doesn’t show up in your library’s specific offerings, then ask them to make it available. 😃)
WIP (The Right One)
A young person in my life tells me that to kids these days, WIP means your new ride. Playing with language is fun, but I think I’m going to stick with the writing meaning of “Work in Progress.”
I think (?) I mentioned last month that this summer I made a huge pivot from what I thought was going to be book #3 to a completely different one. This was 100% the right move, because in addition to creating a mood board and working cover that I love (essential parts of drafting 😆), I’m already more than a quarter of the way through the writing! It’s such a different story and style than my previous two, but I’m so excited about where it’s going. 22,000 words down, 53,000 to go!
AWW
There’s the cute kind of AWW, and the awe-some (see what I did there?), writing critique group kind! In the past month, the Archivists Who Write group celebrated two member achievements.
It’s such an awesome feeling holding my friend Emily Lonie’s book Corben and the Crow Commute in my hands. You can purchase it from Amazon.
A beautiful, poignant new piece by my friend Sylvia Stopforth has been published in The Ex-Puritan.
page showing Sylvia Stopforth’s work.
Please show both of them your support by reading/sharing/buying their work.
The AWW group gets a shoutout in the latest Archives Association of British Columbia newsletter (Summer 2023, Vol. 25, No. 1) — the AABC has published my article as this issue’s Archivist Spotlight!
Holding On To The Season
Easy there, Pumpkin Spice. Like I said before, Summer’s not officially over yet, and there’s never a bad time for a beach read. Now’s the time to pick up Provenace Unknown and dream about Paris. If you already have: thank you ☺️.
If you can spare a minute, I would really appreciate a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Happy reading and happy travels! ☀️
Pack Your Bags
I got word a few nights ago that my book is going on a mystery adventure for two weeks! I literally know nothing about where it’s heading other than NOT to Paris, so I’m looking forward to photo updates along the way. (Update: the first stop was Montreal. Then it made it to the Azores, Porto, and Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹, the homeland of my family 😭 !)
Any guesses as to where it’s going next? You can follow its travels on my Facebook page or Instagram story highlights.
Time After Time
To be clear, I’m not anti-any-season-that-isn’t-summer — and I’ll prove it. The fact is, seasons cycle through. As much as I love the dresses and sandals, there’s a lot to be said for cozy throws, cooler weather, and a good book. (And maybe a glass of wine. 🍷) Especially when you can share the experience with others.
Want to dig into a lighter story with layers? Would you love an escape to Paris through the pages? This autumn, I’ll be available to speak to your book club! If your group chooses to read and discuss Provenance Unknown, let me know and I would be happy to attend a meeting (in person if local, or virtually) to chat and answer questions. As a bonus, I’ll throw in one copy of the book for local groups. Cheers/Santé!
Sprouting
Provenance Unknown is now listed on Booksprout! That means it’s available for download for qualified reviewers — join over 190,000 other users who are already reading and reviewing great books. Sign up is free and easy with a Facebook or Amazon account, or by email address.
Find free review copies from your favorite authors (including me 😃)!
Dialogue
Pinhole Poetry, which previously published my poem “some things maybe”, has announced that their next issue will be out October 13! Not only is it filled with beautiful poetry, it’s also got their new series ‘DIALOGUE’ featuring pinhole photographs by Jan Hinderson with poems in response. I’m excited to have a piece included in the ‘DIALOGUE’ series.
Mark your calendars!
Les Bouquinistes (Movie Edition)
I’ve been re-reading parts of Provenance Unknown to pick out an excerpt to be published in a literary magazine next year (more to come on that in 2024), and it got me thinking about Paris movies again. I don’t watch movies often, so when I do, I want to make it worth my while.
My favourite Paris films — in no particular order, because I flip-flop between first and second choice — are:
- Amélie
- Midnight in Paris
I do remember enjoying French Kiss with Meg Ryan back in the day, but it’s been so long that I can’t recall much about it now. So looking towards my next France fix, I’m considering Before Sunset. But I’m more than open to other options.
Do you have any romantic, fun, Paris film recommendations for me? Send them along so I can check them out and potentially include them in future posts.
As always, thanks for reading. Merci!
Sonia
Sonia Nicholson 