My rating for 2025 so far? One out of five stars. Mainly because this year has, to date, meant I’ve been under the weather off and on since just before the calendar changed. I’m talking cough, cold, headaches, and unrelenting fatigue. Which isn’t conducive to writing. And which means this post is shorter than usual. On the plus side, though, it includes a couple of big announcements. Let’s get to them!
Asleep/Awake
My first chapbook, Asleep/Awake, published by Stripes Literary Magazine, is available now. I’m happy to offer this small collection of poems as a gift to my readers. Reviews encouraged and appreciated!
Every download and every review helps my visibility as an author. Thank you for your support!
And if you’re inspired to share this chapbook with someone who might enjoy it, please do.
Paris, Revisted
🚨 Cover reveal!! 🚨
Paris is the City of Love, so it was kind of perfect unveiling the beautiful new cover for Provenance Unknown on Valentine’s Day, right? 💋
Say “oui” to a story about local history, archives, family secrets, an old French diary, a charming but infuriating Frenchman, and fun and frivolity in Paris! Coming March 18 from She Rises Studios.
A few months ago, someone reached out to me about my October blog post (“Cheers”) which included a section on local artist Sophie Pemberton (1869-1959) and her painting, “Rejection.” We connected over art—specifically the Parisian scene from the mid-1800s to about 1900—and we’ve been corresponding ever since. (I love this development so much.)
His father, Crowell Sexton, wrote The Girls of Montmartre after retiring in the 1980s, and it shares profiles of women artists and models working in Montmartre in the last half of the 19th century. I was sent a copy and honestly couldn’t put it down, devouring it in only two days.
Now you can enjoy it, too, thanks to my new virtual friend. I’m excited to share this with my fellow Paris/art/history fans. If after you’ve read it you’d like to share your thoughts, feel free to send them to me via my Contact page and I will forward them on.
I learned a lot from this book! I hope you love it as much as I did.
Fingers crossed I’ll be back to my wordy ways in March. As always, thanks for reading. Merci!
Sonia
At the Irish Times pub in Victoria, British Columbia, February 2025.
When Christmas was in sight, I was already run down and dragging my sorry carcass (since early November, really) to the holiday and some much needed time off. And once I’d gotten through all the events in the calendar leading up to and including Christmas Day, plus another one that had to be rescheduled for just after, then I could enjoy an extended period of writing, and some fun, too. Oh, I had grand plans! Knock out a few chapters in my current work-in-progress, for starters. Go out with friends. Visit the From Warhol to Banksyexhibit at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.Ride the free Ferris wheel in Centennial Square, the whole place lit up at night.
Except that nagging little something in my throat, the something I thought I’d staved off (and I guess I did, a few times) finally got me and there were a thousand knives in there, stabbing me until I lost my voice for a couple of days. They left after that, replaced with coughing. And more coughing. And more coughing still. Which only really let up the day before going back to work.
And I was forced to cancel every single one of my plans.
I did get a couple of short pieces done, but for the most part, I had to convalesce. A mandated break was exactly what I needed, I suppose, even though I didn’t love it.
Maybe stopping is actually getting back to our nature of hibernating during winter. Taking things slower. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
If your 2025 didn’t start off the way you envisioned, take heart that although you’re not where you want to be, you’re where you need to be.
Fairytale
Weekend plans to the Mainland in late December didn’t happen due to bad weather and ferry cancellations, but I made the best of it and went to Craigdarroch Castle in Victoria. It’s such a great place to visit, especially during the holiday season. Have a look at the Christmas table setting!
Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria, British Columbia. (Author photo)
Take Two
Did you know that a lot of Hallmarkmovies are filmed in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley? The sets at Martini Town are open over the holidays, and it’s like stepping into one of the charming small towns from the screen.
(The first go-around, scheduled for before Christmas, was upended due to wild weather and ferry cancellations, so the re-do came after Boxing Day—right before I got sick).
Sitting on the “brownstone” steps at Martini Town (movie set).
Feedback
If you’re ever in doubt about reaching out to an author about how their work has touched you in some way, DON’T BE. Believe me when I say it makes our day!
I received the loveliest comment on my December blog post/newsletter, and it was such a nice way to head into the holidays. 🥹
Tree of Life
I received the most amazing surprise gift in the post from my friend, fellow Osoyoos hometown girl and author Cristal Macor and her family company Humdinger Designs. This handcrafted piece of metalwork is absolutely stunning (the photo doesn’t do it justice) and it will look amazing in my writing space. I’m blown away.
(Even though Cristal and I grew up in the same town, we only connected and got to know each other in the last couple of years. I’m grateful that writing brought us together.)
Update: Here’s how it looks in my writing space!
Blast from the Past
Here’s a fun blast from the past: a 1996 tourism promo video for my hometown that recently re-emerged. (Great timing, since I have a book coming out sometime this year inspired by my time as Miss Osoyoos 1996-1997.) I love that this video captures the town as it was in my teenage years. 💕
Also, see if you can spot me at the 10:50 mark!
Stay Stripy
If you’ve been following my posts, you already know I’m excited for my first poetry book, coming February 25 from Stripes Literary Magazine, (watch for a cover reveal coming soon).
I would love, love to have you as part of my team! Sign up for a free advance copy of Asleep/Awake to read and review:
Reviews help both me as the author, and Stripes as the publisher — and they don’t have to be long. We appreciate the support!
Mail Call
My contributor copies of the December issue of Rivanna Review finally arrived. (Originally delayed by postal strike.) It includes my book review of Homing: Instincts of a Rustbelt Feminist by Sherrie Flick.
I’m so glad to have discovered Art Explora and the opportunities they offer to learn more about art. I’m happy to share that I’ve completed their history of art certificate, validated by Sorbonne Université, and am looking forward to doing more classes.
(I’ve always been an art fan, but have recently rediscovered my appreciation for it, as evidenced by the books on my reading pile of late.)
This month’s feature book is a recent thrift store find that I finally had the time to get into. It’s a long, long read, so be warned. But so far, it doesn’t feel long at all. In fact, it’s as fascinating as its subject. For example, did you know that the famous painter born in the 1400s was vegetarian? Or that curiosity drove his various interests, from designing theatre sets and costumes, to investigating water hydraulics?
Here’s the official description:
Based on thousands of pages from Leonardo da Vinci’s astonishing notebooks and new discoveries about his life and work, Walter Isaacson “deftly reveals an intimate Leonardo” (San Francisco Chronicle) in a narrative that connects his art to his science. He shows how Leonardo’s genius was based on skills we can improve in ourselves, such as passionate curiosity, careful observation, and an imagination so playful that it flirted with fantasy.
He produced the two most famous paintings in history, The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. With a passion that sometimes became obsessive, he pursued innovative studies of anatomy, fossils, birds, the heart, flying machines, botany, geology, and weaponry. He explored the math of optics, showed how light rays strike the cornea, and produced illusions of changing perspectives in The Last Supper. His ability to stand at the crossroads of the humanities and the sciences, made iconic by his drawing of Vitruvian Man, made him history’s most creative genius.
In the “luminous” (Daily Beast) Leonardo da Vinci, Isaacson describes how Leonardo’s delight at combining diverse passions remains the ultimate recipe for creativity. So, too, does his ease at being a bit of a misfit: illegitimate, gay, vegetarian, left-handed, easily distracted, and at times heretical. His life should remind us of the importance to be imaginative and, like talented rebels in any era, to think different. Here, da Vinci “comes to life in all his remarkable brilliance and oddity in Walter Isaacson’s ambitious new biography…a vigorous, insightful portrait” (The Washington Post).
It’s funny (or not?) how quickly life can swing between dark and light, depression and elation, stress and relaxation, failure and success. Many of us ride this rollercoaster — November/December has certainly been a ride for me. But the holidays are difficult for many people, and feelings of loneliness, or confusion, or being unloved, aren’t usually cured with the flip of a switch. What’s been built up over years might take years to unravel, and it’s easy to give up and get stuck in a black pit of emotion. The harder you try to claw your way out, the farther you fall.
Maybe sometimes the answer isn’t clawing.
Maybe sometimes the answer is stillness.
Because stillness and mindfulness go together, and both can help us reset, or at least give us a few much needed moments of peace.
When I needed to clear my head, I made my way to a tree light-up at a local outdoor shopping centre. I had just read a post from @ jaytheauthor on Threads where he quoted a stranger he’d met in Brussels:
If you find a cafe in a busy area and spend ten hours sitting in the same spot, you will see so much more of the city than you would walking around all day. When you are still, the city moves around you. When you are moving, you move around the city. It’s easier to notice little details when the city moves around you.
And the insight was probably meant to apply to travel only, but somehow I came to the conclusion it’s more far reaching than that. After all, if stillness can transform a visit to a new city, then perhaps it could do the same for state of mind in general. Especially during a busy, dark, stressful, confusing season (of year, or of life, or both).
So I went to the light up, and the advice was true. I observed my surroundings in a completely new way. A calm way. A happy way. I noticed details I’d never noticed before. And rather than feeling lonely, I felt … alive.
While there, I took notes on my phone. Just some of those ordinary, beautiful details. And they became a poem, which literally took shape (as you’ll see) within a day or two.
It’s my gift to you, my readers. Wishing you light and love and stillness this season.
Agent News
November 30 was an ✨ exciting ✨ publishing weekend, to say the least. Here’s a teaser … (hint: I’m signing something in these photos!)
📣📣📣 I’m thrilled (and honestly, more than a little stunned) to announce I’m now represented by the fabulousRachel McMillan, literary agent. 📣📣📣
Rachel GOT my book, and me, from the beginning. She’s enthusiastic, hard working, kind, Canadian (a lovely bonus), and a breath of fresh air. We’re going to make a great team, and I can’t wait to get started!
And There’s More
It’s hard to top my big news, but I’m happy to share that I have a micro chapbook of poetry coming out in February with Stripes Literary Magazine! More to come on this in the new year.
I also contributed a book review to the December edition (Issue 14) of Rivanna Review on Homing: Instincts of a Rustbelt Feminist, by Sherri Flick. Copies available through their website.
(If you’re in Canada like I am, though, you’ll have to wait until after the mail gets fully moving again to receive your physical copy.)
Interested in archives content? I’ve got you covered there as well with an article on the power of nostalgia called “Back in the Day: Nostalgia as a Tool for Archives”. Find it in the Winter 2024 Archives Association of British Columbia newsletter (Also, it was nice to be asked to contribute to this issue!)
Finally, Humankind Zine has included my poem “viso” in their Issue 5: Tasting Memories. I wrote this one quite a while ago and it just hadn’t found the right publication, but this theme was the perfect fit.
End of an Era
I was beyond lucky to have experienced the last Taylor SwiftEras Tour show in Vancouver on December 8 at BC Place Stadium. I’m not a fan of huge crowds (I’m originally a small town girl, after all), but the concert was truly magical. Memories were definitely made.
And here’s another Hemingway quote. I just finished reading-reading this book, and I’m so glad I now have my own copy. Highly recommend!
Les Bouquinistes: TV Edition
L’Art du Crime (The Art of Crime)
I stumbled on this show somewhat by accident, when I had run out of new episodes of my regular television programs. Of course I turned to my local library, landing on L’Art du Crime on the Hoopla app. I mean, art and art history? Mystery and intrigue? Set in Paris? It sold itself. What I didn’t realize until I streamed the first episode was that this is actually a French language production, with English subtitles. Major bonus! And an excellent opportunity reawaken that part of my brain. (I don’t get to use my French nearly often enough.)
I was completely hooked before the end of the first episode and have been binging seasons ever since, still working to catch up.
Hoopla describes the series like this:
He’s clueless about art and she’s phobic without him. But together, Captain Verlay and Florence manage to solve high-profile art crimes in the heart of Paris.
Find it here, or check your favourite streaming service.
I’ve written before about the volunteer work I do with the Superheroes of Victoria, and how when I put on one of the costumes, I feel transformed. I am transformed. And I think most of my fellow volunteers feel the same way. But a good friend once told me that the mask doesn’t hide who we are; rather, it allows us to show our true selves. (I wrote a micro-poem about this.)
Since Halloween, when I donned my upgraded Dr. Jillian Holtzmann, Ghostbuster, costume, I’ve been thinking more about the invisible masks we wear in our everyday lives. Which costumes are most freeing? Which characters do we gravitate to most, and what do they have in common? Most importantly, what does that reveal about ourselves?
These questions are a small part of getting to know self. But you know what else helps with this journey of discovery? Looking at the people you spend your time with. Because, as I read recently in a meme (not the best source of information, I know, but sometimes there are nuggets like this one): if everyone around you is neurodivergent, you probably are, too.
In other words, birds of a feather and all that.
Have Book, Will Travel (to Pittsburgh)
View of downtown Pittsburgh. (Photo submitted)
(It isn’t actually me in Pittsburgh, but my book!) A first edition of Provenance Unknown recently took a trip to the Steel City. From the looks of it, the view of downtown was pretty spectacular.
Thanks to the reader for sharing. I always love seeing where my book has travelled. ✈️
Prologue
Hopefully a teaser before before good news to be announced next month, but after nearly giving up writing altogether less than a month ago, I had a wild day on the publishing front — wild in the most wonderful, positive, and validating way. 😭 Stay tuned!
Rainbow, November 2024. (Author photo)
Best of Both Worlds
On November 25, I had the opportunity to give a talk to a middle school writing club about creating setting, using archives / museums as inspiration, and this may be the best crossover ever.
And what makes it even better is that my grade 8 English teacher is the one who invited me!
I would love to do more of this. (Know any teachers who might be interested in a speaker, either in person or virtually?)
Some Positivity For The Road
Thoughts by author.
Les Bouquinistes – Movie Edition
Yes, it’s Hallmark, and some people equate that with cheesy. But I just watched this movie after stumbling across it (obviously the Eiffel Tower meant I had to see it) and now I’m grinning like a fool and wishing I could watch it again for the first time.
Interested? Read more about her pen pal and maybe stream it!
My October 1st day trip to Vancouver felt like a fever dream by that evening. (Which may have had something to do with getting up at 3:30 in the morning!) Although I made the trek from Victoria across the strait for an appointment, there was time for some fun including stops at Gucci, The Little Cafe on Robson, Hello Kitty Cafe, and wrapping things up at Notch8 Restaurant & Bar in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. (The pink cocktail pictured above, from the “Pre-Prohibition” menu, is called the Lavender Corpse Reviver, and it packs more of a punch than I realized.) What a day! See more photos
Also, this voyage included four different modes of transportation: car, ferry, bus, and SkyTrain. Gotta get the most out of the experience, right?
At the Hello Kitty Cafe, Vancouver.
October’s been a time for celebrating and remembering: the little things, maybe some bigger things, the people in our lives, the people who leave us too soon. But it’s also been a time of doubt and rejection. These are the ups and downs of being a creative, (as you’ll see from the rest of the October recap).
Nostalgia
My poem “Neighbourhood Revisited” was the October 2 feature poem on The Daily Verse! Thank you to The Wise Owl magazine for selecting my work to be part of the Nostalgia theme.
Tunes
Did you know there’s a YouTube playlist, carefully curated with a song for each chapter, for Provenance Unknown? (It’s been a while since I shared this tidbit and I know I have some new followers and readers 😃.)
Ooh La La
How did I get so lucky as to receive this Frenchy gift this month? 🤩 An indulgent rainbow of macarons from Ladurée is the perfect end to a week!
Writer Humour (But Also, Truth)
This is how my writing’s shaping up this month 😆
Speaking of Writer Challenges
“The Blue Cape” – portrait by Mabel May, ca. 1940, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. (Author photo)
On a serious note, I had a particularly tough week all around in mid-October, including on the writing/publishing front, but I found inspiration in spades at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, including works by Victoria, British Columbia artists Emily Carr and Sophie Pemberton, the Group of Seven (Lawren S. Harris, Tom Thomson), James Wilson Morrice, Clarence Gagnon, Vera Weatherbie, Mary Hamilton, Joe Plaskett, Mabel May, and Thomas Sidney Cooper, plus a visit to the Asian Art gallery. Will definitely be back! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This painting by Sophie Pemberton, called “Rejection”, is a reassuring reminder that even the greats struggled.
I love this blurb about it on the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria interpretive panel:
“Victoria-born artist Sophie Pemberton (1869 – 1959) is recognized today as the first artist from British Columbia to receive international attention and a trailblazer among Canadian women artists. She had works accepted and hung in highly competitive English and European exhibitions as a young woman in the 1890s, including the Paris Salon and the Royal Academy in London. However her efforts were not always met with success. One of the paintings shown here, Rejected, depicts the artist sitting in her own home, slumped in a chair, looking dejectedly towards a painting that had been submitted to, and rejected from, the 1898 annual exhibition of the Royal Academy in London. This is an extremely important and personal work by the artist and in terms of subject, is completely unique within Canadian art history.”
And, happily, a day or two after my visit, my creativity decided to reappear. After a long creative drought, I’m suddenly about halfway through writing chapter two of my next novel. This feels wild after being on the verge of quitting writing altogether. All this to say, there’s hope! (That’s something worth raising a glass to.)
Les Bouquinistes — Halloween Edition
Did you know that Victoria is considered one of Canada’s most haunted cities?
I just finished reading this booklet published by the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria, and it’s a great primer on some of the area’s spooky tales. (There are plenty more stories to discover!)
👻 👻 👻
If you’re in the Victoria area, the Society offers Walking History Tours every Sunday afternoon at 2 pm (except January — click here for current schedule); Ghost Walks in October; and field trips, workshops, and lectures.
For more local, ghosty reads for Halloween, give these a go:
Summer’s over, but I’m having trouble letting it go. I’m still wearing dresses, and a fun pair of Keds (the right foot shoe features a bright pink flamingo) as long as the weather allows. This year, summer also meant the start of my new phase of solo adventures — finding my way out of a writing rut by getting out and experiencing something new.
On August 24, that meant checking out Victoria’s first ever Caribbean Festival, put on by i-Land Fest – YYJ Carnival. How could I not be inspired by the bright costumes and energetic music representing the countries and peoples of the Caribbean? Thanks to the organizers for making this event happen and bringing the greater community together. Looking forward to the next one!
And speaking of travelling without leaving home, the James Bay neighbourhood here in Victoria felt very French on August 31. It’s the closest I can get to Paris for now, but I’ll take it! And I got to meet up with a Parisian-Canadian author and writer ☺️.
What a dream (and a lot of fun!) meeting and hanging out with Lily Heise! If you’re looking to fill your craving for all things Paris, check out her books and articles on her website.
Inspiration
During my walk through James Bay, I had just been talking about my next book (set in Sicily) and the nerves, struggles, and doubts that have been holding me back from writing it. Then I found this book in a curbside giveaway pile.
Does this count as a sign? 😳
Side, Side Gig
Lately, I’ve had a few people ask me about editing services. So, by popular demand, I’m officially open to clients! (Limited numbers at a time, to ensure focused, dedicated attention.) I now offer copy and line editing, publicist services, and archives services — I am an archives professional with over 15 years of experience. See the new Services page of my website for more information, plus some lovely testimonials from clients I’ve worked with recently.
And Just For Fun
I spent waaay too long one evening creating themed highlights on Instagram. I’m choosing to lump this under author marketing, haha. It counts, right? My Instagram story themes now include Vintage, Paris, Words (quotes, poems, and musings that inspire me), New Friends (as I meet authors and others in the publishing world and beyond), and Book Travel, which chronicles the adventures my book has had without me! Find them on my Instagram profile page.
Change in Plans
Just when I thought I was ready to get to work on that Sicily novel …
I’ve now been asked to write two different articles! Actually, I think deadlines are exactly what I need right now. 😃 I’ll share the links once the articles have been published, so stay tuned.
Why, yes, my article is going well. Thanks for asking. 🐶 😂 (Can you spot the second dog?)
Les Bouquinistes
In honour of meeting Lily Heise, this month’s feature book is her first novel, Je T’Aime, Me Neither.
Is Paris really the eternal City of Love? Dumped suddenly by her Parisian boyfriend, sultry expat Lily is left wondering if je t’aime still exists. Instead of crying into her glass of wine, she decides to heal her bruised ego and quash her romantic doubts with a carefree summer fling . . . or as the French call it: une aventure.
Supported by her faithful friends and trusty Saint Amour wine, Lily embarks on her presumably easy quest. Little does she know what—or whom—this adventure has in store! Rather than guide her into the arms of a perfect summer amoureux, the sexy streets of Paris lead her from one impossible candidate to another: disappearing foxy Frenchmen, unavailable Latino heartthrobs, overly-mysterious world travelers, mistress-hunting married men, and not-so-single amnesiacs—oh la la!
As her amorous mishaps accumulate, Lily gradually re-evaluates her strategy. But will her good intentions be enough to lead her to the right homme . . . one who might last out the summer—and maybe even beyond? Or will she continue to get embroiled in more mésaventure? This novelized memoir tells the tantalizingly true romantic odyssey of a 21st-Century young woman caught in the mire of desires—which is only intensified by the passion of Paris.
Old Haynes Barn, Osoyoos, British Columbia, August 2024. (Author photo)
Not working on books for a while is scarily, seductively addictive. Wait, did I say that in the last post? If I did, I blame it on my sun-muddled brain. As I write this, I’m on a trip/vacation home to Osoyoos, in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley — our own Napa of the North. And thankfully, minus the wildfires of last year. (Although this area is unscathed this time around, I’m thinking of the other areas affected.)
This week has consisted of days of lazing on the beach, reading Paris-based romance novels, and reading. Basking in my parents’ beautiful back yard in the sauna-like heat. (I’m loving it!) Writing poetry like it’s coming out of my pores.
Don’t get me wrong: the real world’s trying to get me. Apparently a girl can’t take a week off without some responsibility or other chasing her down. Ugh. But with only a day and a half left, I’ve chosen to keep basking until I head home. All that other stuff? It can wait.
One of my poems this week is called “The art of doing nothing,” and I’m taking my own words to heart.
How’s your summer going? What are you going to do to make the most of what’s left of August?
Thrifting
Speaking of reading, I’m pretty happy with my pre-trip thrift store book finds, if I do say so myself. 📚 Great options for my vacation. See the Paris titles I came home with.
A Year of Summer
On August 1, I met with the team from Okanagan Publishing House in Kelowna, and I’m so excited that things are moving full steam ahead with my next novel, A Year of Summer. Release date coming soon!
Meeting with the Okanagan Publishing House team.
Fan Love
So, not only did I get to meet The ADHD Witch in person and sign her copy of Provenance Unknown, but she also brought me handmade, gorgeous gifts from her shop! (Those bat earrings 🦇 👀). She’s an awesome, lovely, and talented person, so be sure to check out her spooky, witchy, gothy, nerdy, and fandom jewelry on her Instagram page.
Sooo cool to connect in the real world!
Coming Soon
I had a great meeting this month with She Rises Studios! They’re the publisher who purchased Sands Press (my first publisher). Watch for exciting Provenance Unknown news coming soon. 😃
Les Bouquinistes
Hey, BookBub — you missed one!
Recently, BookBub put out their ultimate list of books set in Paris. I’ll definitely be adding some titles to my reading list, but I think Provenance Unknown, with its fun and frivolity in Paris, could make the cut here. Just sayin’ 😉
But for now …
Thanks to Inspirelle for recommending this month’s book on their social media back in May. I’ve been waiting to share it with you! I haven’t been able to read it yet, though, so if you have, please reply with your review and let me know what you thought.
From the bestselling author of The Lost Vintage, a rare and dazzling portrait of Jacqueline Bouvier’s college year abroad in postwar Paris, an intimate and electrifying story of love and betrayal, and the coming-of-age of an American icon – before the world knew her as Jackie.
In September 1949 Jacqueline Bouvier arrives in postwar Paris to begin her junior year abroad. She’s twenty years old, socially poised but financially precarious, and all too aware of her mother’s expectations that she make a brilliant match. Before relenting to family pressure, she has one year to herself far away from sleepy Vassar College and the rigid social circles of New York, a year to explore and absorb the luminous beauty of the City of Light. Jacqueline is immediately catapulted into an intoxicating new world of champagne and châteaux, art and avant-garde theater, cafés and jazz clubs. She strikes up a romance with a talented young writer who shares her love of literature and passion for culture – even though her mother would think him most unsuitable.
But beneath the glitter and rush, France is a fragile place still haunted by the Occupation. Jacqueline lives in a rambling apartment with a widowed countess and her daughters, all of whom suffered as part of the French Resistance just a few years before. In the aftermath of World War II, Paris has become a nest of spies, and suspicion, deception, and betrayal lurk around every corner. Jacqueline is stunned to watch the rise of communism – anathema in America, but an active movement in France – never guessing she is witnessing the beginning of the political environment that will shape the rest of her life—and that of her future husband.
Evocative, sensitive, and rich in historic detail, Jacqueline in Paris portrays the origin story of an American icon. Ann Mah brilliantly imagines the intellectual and aesthetic awakening of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, and illuminates how France would prove to be her one true love, and one of the greatest influences on her life.
Turns out, when you’re between books, the writing break is scarily addictive.
Sometimes that’s exactly what you need. To get out into the fresh air and sunshine and, you know, live. Because how else are you going to recharge those writing batteries?
Besides, I’ve decided I need to get out more. Or to just get out at all. I miss the arts, and culture, and history. The real stuff out there, not the ideas I transfer from my imagination to my screen via a flashing cursor.
And the biggest realization? That I can give myself permission to experience arts, culture, and history on my own — I don’t need to wait for someone to go with me, (though having company has its own perks).
With this in mind, I made my first foray into solo travel (gotta ease into the idea) by making my way to downtown Victoria for the Mexican Festival on July 13.
Folklore dancers at the Mexican Festival in Victoria, 13 July 2024. (Author photo)
I couldn’t have asked for better weather, a better experience, a better … anything, really. Following the music (and the tantalizing smells wafting from the vendors of authentic Mexican street food) to Ship’s Point was the best idea I’d had in a long time. Picture an open air venue on the harbour, filled with tents and people and a chihuahua or two. Add folklore dancing and mariachi harmonies and a 16-piece band. Now make all the people dance. And smile.
Pure. Magic. So much so that it inspired a poem I’m in love with. I’m going to be submitting it for publication, so I hope to be able to share it in the coming months.
Made in Canada
On the eve of Canada Day, I was walking through Indigo Mayfair with a friend, telling her how one day I wanted to see my books on a feature table, and about 30 seconds later I found this. 🤯
What a great way to celebrate the holiday!
Heading Out
Now that Rutledge Park in Saanich (a municipality within Greater Victoria) has had a big upgrade and is teeming with people again, I thought it was a good time to top its little free library up with Provenance Unknown postcards. (It is, after all, a key setting in the book.) Find the park and pink elephant in the pages!
You can watch a short, fun video of my little excursion here.
A Room of My Own: Update
With the last accent piece — William Morris print curtains — in place, I can finally, officially unveil my new writing study. I may never leave this room again…
In honour of the Summer Olympic Games 2024 in Paris beginning on July 26, here are a couple of pics from my past adventures in the city of my heart. (And my book’s adventures there without me.)
Thanks to social media, I recently connected with best-selling local author MaryAnn Clarke Scott and we met up for coffee! She was so generous in sharing her publishing experience and her time with me, and I very much appreciate it.
Sometimes social media’s a great place.
One of her books is a fun romance set in the south of France:
A giant with a heart of gold, a formidable talent, and crippling insecurity. A charming teacher who’s comfortable in two cultures, yet yearning for home. And the firebrand of a high-risk adventurer who crashes into their world, upsetting their expectations. How complicated could it get?
She welcomes any risk, as long as it doesn’t involve her own carefully guarded heart. Adrenaline junkie, Niki Ballantyne is a risk-taker at work and at play. Haunted by guilt over her brother’s tragic death, she’s devoted to saving others in trouble.While on an adventure holiday in the south of France, she meets handsome and charming traveller Luc and his shy friend, the gentle giant Didier. Helping the bullied blacksmith win the love of another woman is not a typical rescue project for Niki, but she’s driven by compassion for her lonely new friend. Bittersweet memories of her brother’s life compel Niki to stay and support the star-crossed giant.
Their forged affair is perfectly safe. There’s no risk of getting emotionally involved, but teaching him about intimacy comes with consequences, and lessons to be learned.Particularly when it comes to Luc. On the cusp of a life-altering decision, Luc is drawn to daredevil Niki, though she upends his carefully laid plans for a perfect future. Despite instant chemistry and a powerful connection, Niki pushes him away. But when a sudden emergency brings Luc to her rescue, the way he sees her vulnerability scares her more than anything. Now she has to decide if the last thing she ever wanted might be exactly what she needs.
With that, I’m off for a bit of a holiday — I found a copy of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days in my neighbourhood little free library and I think it will make a great addition to my vacation.
Northern lights in Victoria, British Columbia, May 2024. (Author photo)
Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? And by plan, I mean a series of beautiful, random events you may or may not have ever imagined. Or if you did, considered highly unlikely. Events like a once-in-a-lifetime viewing of aurora borealis in your little corner of the world, a place you’d never expect to see waves of green and pink (enhanced through the phone, but nevertheless stunning) dance across the sky.
Or more practical pleasant surprises like the completion of another manuscript — I’m surprised each time — and jumping back into the querying trenches. Receiving an agent like on a pitch event, which is an invitation to submit because they’re interested enough to want to see more. Waking up to a full request from another agent in your inbox.
Things are happening. I can’t say why that is, or why I feel a coming together in my life. Maybe the timing’s finally right. Maybe my hustling hard is starting to pay off. Maybe I’m just lucky.
I don’t take any of these wins for granted. When it comes to the publishing world, I’m conscious of paying it back. My writing motto (and really, my motto for life) is Using my words for good, and it continues to guide my decisions. In addition to putting words to paper and screen to get my stories in the world, I’ve focused of late on supporting other authors. In welcoming requests to share my experience, such as it is, I’ve felt more fulfilled than if I’d kept my journey to myself. And I’ve made new friends along the way.
So, I may or may not have had a crazy idea to start a secret literary salon and anyways, tonight I have secret plans … 🤐
(If no one shows up this time around, I’m going to be consuming a LOT of cheese.)
Update: I ate a lot of cheese, but it was also an amazing first gathering! Planning another one for mid-July.
No Big Deal …
… I just totally forgot to mention last time that I’ve finished the draft of my next novel. 🙈 (As I’m sure you’ve already figured out from the intro above.) I can’t believe I’ve managed to write an entire book. I really do say this every time, but I mean it.
Originally I had a completely different book in mind, but when I finished outlining it, I went meh and put it away. Something was missing. Luckily, an unexpected story knocked at my door and demanded to be told. I’ve already got some nibbles from agents. Fingers crossed!
Pretty in pink: Saanich preps historic pachyderm for park’s grand reopening Primed and ready Rutley’s ready for closeups. The much-photographed pink elephant in Rutledge Park completes a transformation from its old chipped-concrete pachyderm this week.
Rutley’s almost ready for closeups after a glow-up as part of upgrades to the Saanich park where it resides.
The park officially reopened yesterday (June 24), and I’ll be stopping by as soon as I can to check it out.
The Celebration Continues
The community is still celebrating the 2024 Emerging Local Authors Collection. Thank you for including Provenance Unknown in this year’s group!
Congratulations to our 2024 Emerging Local Authors! We were thrilled to celebrate with you at the launch event earlier this month. For those who couldn’t attend, we’ve created a video to commemorate this special occasion, along with an album of photos from the day.
Print books from the Collection are now on display in the Central Branch rotunda and can be placed on hold for pickup at any branch. Ebooks are available online through BiblioBoard with unlimited borrowing.
Northern Exposure
A few months ago, I was featured in the first issue (Vol. 1, No. 1) of The North Ink, a new Canadian literary magazine, and all issues are now available online.
Look for me in the “Sneak Peeks of Upcoming Publications” and “Author Spotlight” sections.
Past and Present
Congratulations to my friend and local Victoria authorValerie Green on the launch of the fourth and final book of The McBride Chronicles, Tomorrow.
This historical fiction saga is set primarily in Victoria, British Columbia, so it’s only fitting the launch took place in the Bard & Banker pub, opened in 1885 as the Bank of British Columbia. Its most notable employee was the Bard of the Yukon himself, Robert Service.
The books are published by Hancock House and available through your favourite retailers. Locally, Munro’s Books, which had a representative on hand at the launch to sell copies, is a great source!
(My small gift to Valerie on the occasion was to create a reel of the event.)
Anyone Can Be A Superhero
I’ve had other poetry published (and much more written) over the years, but this is my first micro-poem. Thanks to Fresh Out: An Arts and Poetry Collective for putting it out there.
I’d like to dedicate it to a group I work with, the Superheroes of Victoria, in honour of their upcoming 15th anniversary celebration. Anyone can be a superhero! 💕 🦸♀️
The Sound of Paris (Music to my Ears)
When music-focused Syncopation Litreached out to me a few months ago to ask whether I’d be interested in including an excerpt from Provenance Unknown in Volume 3, Issue 2: Paris, I was thrilled. Um, yes! And I knew just the scenes to choose. I hope you’ll agree.
To end on a light note: I found the perfect wallet for an author with a book about Paris and archives … (What do you think?)
Thank you to author Julie Liddell Whitehead for suggesting this month’s Paris book feature! I’d seen posts about it and was totally intrigued, but then I got distracted and it went out of my mind. I’m grateful for the reminder — I can’t wait to read it when it comes out in August!
From Amazon:
An epic survival-thriller about four teens who get lost in the Paris catacombs for days—a gripping and propulsive story of love, danger, betrayal, and hope… even when all seems lost.
“Tense and fast-moving, with a unique setting and compelling characters, Under the Surface is Diana Urban’s best yet.”—Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
Ruby is terrified to cave to her feelings for Sean and risk him crushing her heart.
Sean is pumped to spend a week with Ruby in Paris on their senior class trip, and he’ll wait however long until she’s ready to take things further.
But when Ruby’s best friend sneaks out the first night to meet a mysterious French boy, Ruby goes after her with two classmates, but caves to another temptation: attending mystery boy’s exclusive party in the Paris catacombs, the intricate web of tunnels beneath the city, home to six million long-dead Parisians. Only they never reach the party.
Underground, as something sinister chases them, they get lost in the endless maze of bones, uncovering dark secrets about the catacombs…..and each other. And if they can’t find a way out, they’ll die in the dark beneath the City of Light.
Aboveground, Sean races to find the girl he loves as a media frenzy over the four missing teens begins.
From award-winning author and rising YA star Diana Urban comes a twisty tale of four teens lost in the dark beneath the City of Light and the race to find them.
May began with a quick weekend getaway to one of my favourite places: Parksville, on Vancouver Island. It’s paradise. Honestly. I would be happy to spend the rest of my days there, strolling the cute downtown core and taking long, long walks on the sandy beach.
Peace and quiet were definitely the name of the game during my stay in a forest cottage a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean. And when I say this place is paradise, I mean like animated Disney movie style. Case in point: a chubby squirrel tapped at the sliding door, then held its little paws up in the ultimate I’m-so-sweet pose while a bird joined it to add to the effect. (Snow White must be the owner of the place, I swear.) After hanging out for a while, the squirrel went around to the back and tried the other door.
Now, I know better than to feed wildlife. Sorry, friend. No nuts for you. My overactive imagination told me the squirrel liked my company and would visit each day. But when I didn’t give in to its cuteness, it moved on to try its hand at another cabin, never to return.
Sometimes the best gifts are the ones we give ourselves. 🥰 I finally have author business cards, with a matching pen for good measure, (perfect for book signing!)
Pen at the Ready
And speaking of book signing …
I’m just a lowly local author hawking my wares. Kudos to the staff at Indigo Mayfair for making me feel so supported at my book signing event on May 18! I made some sales and had a great time chatting with people. Until next time! ✌️
When I saw the listing for this Paris-themed book set for young people come across my in-box, I knew I wanted to feature it this month!
Offered by the renowned Shakespeare and Company book store in Paris (who isn’t paying me for promotion, for the record, though I’d love to work for them), this fun collection of books will transport young readers to Paris, from its secret backstreets to the winding tunnels beneath the city. Join school trips to the Louvre Museum, and play with Gaby and his friends in their local neighbourhood, before racing across the city with a pair of spies investigating murder and secrets. All books are either standalone titles or the first in a series, and are suitable for ages 9 years old and up.
The Adventures in Paris bundle includes:
*Peril In Paris by Katherine Woodfine
*A Hundred Million Francs by Paul Berna
*The Mona Lisa Mystery by Pat Hutchins
*Boy Underground by Isabelle Marinov
If you do check out any of the books in this collection, let me know! They may be aimed at young readers, but I wouldn’t mind digging into them myself.
I bought the S.S. Getaway (my kayak) late in the season last year and was only able to take it out twice before the weather turned, so I’ve been itching to get out on the water again. The weather app on my phone was getting a daily workout as I checked the forecast way more than is probably healthy, waiting for a day with a comfortable temperature, lots of sun, and minimal wind.
We’re spoiled in this part of the world; the local tourism bureau hosts an annual flower count in February or March strictly so we can brag while the rest of Canada is under snow. (In fact, the day I took this photo, I think Calgary was buried after a storm.)
Still, this day couldn’t come soon enough. I think you can see why:
I still haven’t figured out a good way to deal with all the sand afterwards — if you have any tips and tricks, let me know, because my car is still full of it — but I don’t care. This new hobby not only gets me away from screens for a couple of hours (okay, other than taking the photo), but it also takes me outside my comfort zone because I’m not a water person. I like to look at it, of course. Be near it. Listen to the steady rhythm of the waves against the beach. But I’m not a swimmer.
Safety is a serious matter, and I’ve made sure to have all the right gear. I don’t go into deep water, either — it’s comforting to be able to see down to the bottom and know I can stand if I fall off. But slowly, I’m learning to try new things, one paddle at a time.
The Big Leagues
“When spring comes to Paris the humblest mortal alive must feel that he dwells in paradise.” (Henry Miller)
If you’re in the Victoria, British Columbia area, I’ll be signing copies of my Paris romance, Provenance Unknown, on Saturday, May 18 at the Indigo store in Mayfair Shopping Centre. (Note: originally to be held in April, this event had to be rescheduled due to book stock challenges.) Drop in any time between noon and 3 pm to chat, purchase a copy, and get a taste of Paris right here in Victoria.
Celebration
My debut novel was released one year ago, on March 28, 2023, (with the book launch party hosted by Roundhouse Cafe in Saanich on April 2). It’s been a heck of a ride.
I’m grateful for the support I’ve received from my publisher Sands Press (She Rises Studios), family, friends, strangers, and readers. Publishing is not an easy road, so having people behind you makes all the difference.
I’m especially remembering the book cover cake my mom and sister surprised me with. 🥹
Book Club Dreams
I’ve said it before, but I would love to connect with a book club looking for a sweet romance-with-layers read. (Honestly, I’d be so excited to be a virtual guest author for a group!)
If you’re keen to read and chat about Paris, archives, old diaries, and family secrets, I’ve got you!
(Here’s me at a library talk I did back in November.)
Pass It On
A writer who attended that library talk reached out to ask if she could pick my brain with some publishing questions. We met up, and honestly, it warmed my little author heart. I don’t know which of us was more excited: her, because I agreed to meet; or me, for being asked. Then it happened again with another local writer I met on social media!
Yes, publishing is a brutal industry with a lot of competition. But at the same time, it’s better to share the love.
At Last
Thanks to everyone who suggested Provenance Unknown, my dream of seeing my book on the shelves of the library system I grew up in is finally coming true! Two copies are now on order with Okanagan Regional Library and will be available soon. 🙌
Thank you, thank you, thank you. 🙏
Upon Further Review
Apparently my book is listed on StoryGraph! If you’ve switched from Goodreads for tracking and rating your reads, you can find and review Provenance Unknown here:
Recently, I was playing around with my author logo, which originally was a somewhat hastily put-together design that I didn’t really use for anything. (And in case you don’t know, authors have a habit of getting really creative with things other than writing when we’re supposed to be writing!) So in the end, I came up with this fun new visual that better reflects my archives side, which has such an influence on my work. While I was at it, I refreshed some other website elements.
There’s something so satisfying about spring cleaning, am I right?
‘It’s about dreams and taking chances. Missed opportunities and mistakes. Loss and sacrifice. But above all, it is about love. The kind of love that survives time, distance… even death. The kind of love I wish for you.’
Finding the one is only the beginning…
1954. Zara is fifteen the first time she meets Leon. During a power cut in a small French museum, the two spend one short hour in the dark talking about their love for art, Monet, and Paris. Neither knows what the other looks like. Both know their lives will never be the same.
1963. In Paris, Leon no longer believes he will ever find the girl he lost that night. After dreaming about him for years, Zara thinks she has already found him. When they meet at an exhibition, they don’t recognize each other – yet the way they feel is so familiar…
Over the course of twenty years, Zara and Leon are destined to fall in love again and again. But will they ever find a way to be together?
The magical new love story of 2020, perfect for hopeless romantics and fans of One Day and The Notebook.
Garry Oak meadow at sunset, March 2024. (Author photo)
This month started and ended with trees.
When I was growing up, I swore I would never do any kind of job involving trees. Why? Because both my parents had tree-related careers, so the talk around the dinner table, or on family road trips, often landed on the subject. “Look at those over there. Pine beetle damage. [Or some disease affecting evergreens.]” Yes Mom, very interesting. Or Dad would talk about pruning the apples, or express concerns for the cherries because of recent hail. All valid points, and quite important and useful information when you live in a province full of forest and orchards.
Except when you’re a kid, they’re kind of boring.
I wish I’d paid more attention. These days, it would be fair to say I’m in my Tree Era. From planting an oak tree out front through our municipality’s boulevard tree program, to planting (hoarding) apples, peaches, and figs in the back yard, to getting out for walks in a Garry Oak meadow to clear my head, you could say I’m hooked. Or, grounded? Rooted? I’m working on it, anyway.
One of life’s great ironies is not appreciating things at the time. The clarity comes much later, when you look back. When you see how seemingly innocuous parts of your early years were quietly working their magic inside you all this time, in spite of your childish protests.
Trees are much wiser than I am. But I’d like to think I’m catching up.
I’ve just returned from a week-long vacation to the Kootenay Region of British Columbia, with the main sights being cows, mountains, and lots and lots of forest. Endless forest. And despite generally being immune to the charms of these views because I was born and raised here, I’m starting to see them the way visitors must.
The forest for the trees.
Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, March 2024. (Author photo)
A Room of One’s Own
The “lengths” to which writers will go to set up the perfect creative space. Honestly, I’m impressed my clown car was up to the task.
Progress is coming along on my new writing study. (Watch for a full room reveal soon!) Now I just need time to actually use it. 🙄
A few of my readers have mentioned that they took Provenance Unknown on vacation. Something to consider if you’re heading off for Spring Break or another trip and are looking for a beach read. 🏖️ ☀️
Book review on Amazon Canada.
But Then This Happened
The day after the high of the positive review, I received a rejection that gutted me. Now, as an author, I’ve received more rejections than I can count. But this one really, really hurt.
The program and application related to my culture and identity as a first-generation Canadian of Portuguese descent. At my lowest, I thought, If I can’t make it as finalist where I check all the boxes, then what hope is there for other residencies/awards/publications I might go for? That was emotional me, though. After a day of wallowing, which included indulging in a couple of things, I’ve come out the other side. Heck, I might even apply for something else.
Writers are nothing if not suckers for punishment.
Post-rejection meal. (Author photo)
On This Day
Every chapter in Provenance Unknown begins with a (translated) excerpt from a French diary rediscovered by main character Michele in the archives. The diary sends her on a journey from the West Coast of Canada to Paris, France! As it happens, there’s a March entry.
I’m thinking of sharing more entries as the dates come up. What do you think?
Now a museum, the store was built in 1896 and is completely intact with all its original furnishings and fixtures. Such an inspiration to me both as an archivist and an author. (In my work-in-progress, it just so happens that the main character rescues certain types of antiques. She would love that cash register!)
Okanagan Author explores day with boy and his dragon
A local author’s split-second concern for a lonely young boy has been brought to life in a new children’s book from Okanagan Publishing House.
“Billy and The Dragon” was penned by Kelowna author Sally Quon and illustrated by local artist Billie Blue.
Quon, who’s disabled, was inspired to write the book after spotting a child walking alone one day and being overcome with concern.
“I was thinking, ‘Why was the child alone? Where were his parents?’ My head was filled with all the terrible things that could happen to a child by themselves. That is, until I remembered that my own childhood was full of such moments – moments during which my imagination flourished,” recalled Quon in a press release.
“Almost immediately, my thoughts turned to all of the interesting things that could happen!”
The full-colour, 24-page book is available at most local retailers and online at: OkanganPublishingHouse.ca.
As always, thanks for reading. Merci!
Sonia
Interior, Deer Park Diner, Kimberley, BC, March 2024. (Author photo)
![Graphic: My motto is “Using my words for good” and I try to live that every single day. Keep writing. Keep using your words, written and spoken, to make the world a better place. Be a beacon of light in the darkness. [Words by Sonia Nicholson]](https://sonianicholson.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/img_2125-1.jpg?w=1024)
Sonia Nicholson 