You can’t go wrong with books and old friends. Frieda Wishinsky and I after her book launch last night, Keep Our World Green is published by Orca. And even better, Orca’s books are 20% off @bolenbooks during the month of September. Happy 50th anniversary Bolen’s! What a great way to celebrate!

What a lovely evening of authors and illustrators introducing new books. Thank you @orcabook and @bolenbooks for an engaging evening. Caught up with lovely friends, @friedawishinsky and, of course, came away with a new pile of books!

Finally getting to my September book club book. Yikes! Can’t believe if us most September!

We have much to celebrate in Canada, including some amazing writers! One of my favourites is Brian Doyle. Known for tackling tough subjects with humour, his MG & YA books are poignant, funny & absolutely brilliant. Happy 90th Brian Doyle. You are a national treasure. Pick up one of his books today.

Are you passionate about kid’s books? Do you have a kid’s book manuscript looking for a home? I have published multiple books with Orca. They are opened for submissions until the end of the month, and are they are wonderful Canadian publisher! Check out their website for more info. Good luck!

My grandson gets his outfit ready for the morning! Being a pirate is serious business!

So yesterday was our 7th wedding anniversary, but neither of us remembered. We may be slightly forgetful, but we continue to be very happy together. Happy Tuesday, wishing all of you well.

A Pod of Orcas, A Seaside Counting Book. I still ❤️ the artwork by Kirsti Waklin & appreciate publisher, Gail Winskill’s skill at producing memorable books(she now runs Pajama Press). So lucky to share planet earth with orcas, these amazing mammal of the sea. #worldorcaday

Happy Canada Day! Happy to live in a country where we value immigrants & education, consider health care a right, celebrate kindness, & care for our neighbours no matter what their skin colour, faith or who they love. In Canada, we strive to live up to these ideals. 🇨🇦

My grandson gets a hit. Don’t you just love their pink & blue summer baseball uniforms? I do and I also love that they’re sponsored by a local breast cancer awareness group. Cuz everyone knows someone impacted by breast cancer. #breastcancerawareness🎀

Current read, American Mermaid by Julia Langbein…what would happen if a broke teacher’s first novel took off and became wildly popular. And what if Hollywood came knocking!? Only halfway through it,but am finding it a smart, funny, and quite thought-provoking read so far.

I was 18 when I first read this book. I wished I would have known about my body sooner, but ‘vagina’ was a word I hadn’t heard of & I had no idea what a menstrual cycle was until I began mine. So thankful for Norma Swenson who gave my generation the gift of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Books open doors!

In the nostalgic department, an old friend’s daughter sent a photo of one of my board books, What’s That Sound on the Farm, saying how much her baby loved it! Sure wish Fitzhenry & Whiteside would bring it back into print. I am always being asked about it!

…my rose garden and rose close-ups to ease tension about tanks being unloaded in LA.

Current read. Like Mother, Like Daughter by Susan Rieger. Do I like it? It’s complicated. Looking forward to discussing this one at book club next month! One thing I really do like about it is that it sure makes you think about your own mother/daughter relationships!

I have a new news & social media strategy…I’m following Susan Juby’s blood-pressure-lowering technique. If Trump or his ilk do something crazy or horrible, I will pivot to scrolling photos of cute dogs, pretty flowers or serene forests. Here is Karl dog’s response to the word “walk.” Your welcome!

Ferrying…love the west coast.

Pender Island’s first annual festival of story, writing & literature, Tapestry of Words, is coming up at the end of May. So excited to be included! Festival presenters books available through local indie bookseller, Talisman Books & Gallery. #tapestryofwords #penderisland #ptarmiganarts #orcabooks

5 year old baseball…hard to tell what sport you are watching, but it’s hilarious!

These three! Proud to be their mum! Happy Mother’s Day to the mums and to all the aunties and caregivers everywhere. So happy to live in Canada where women can choose but are not forced into motherhood.

This is a lovely letter from a mum in Malawi who just discovered Jessie’s Island, & made my day! #writinglife

In honor of #indiebookstores tomorrow! Check out you your local indie bookstore. You’ll be happy you did😉

Since the US has cut funding to so many in need, Grandmothers4Africa and the Stephen Lewis Foundation are more important than ever. Check out this rummage sale/fundraiser for a win for you and a way to help others in need.

To Canadians who want to know more about Mark Carney and his view for Canada’s future, listen to this podcast…Really glad I did. Well worth your time. You will have to copy and paste the link below into your browser youtu.be/V11qNDDElZw?...

A record breaking number of voters line up for advance pols this weekend in Canada’s election. It’s a strong response against Trump’s tariffs. Voters want a leader that will protect our country from financial aggression through counter tariffs and stronger ties with Europe. #canadastrong

If a Bumblebee Lands on Your Toe is a new, lyrical new picture book by B.C. author, Cynthia Mackey, with exquisite illustrations by Vikki Zhang. Playful suggestions help little ones calm fears & feel confident when encountering the unexpected in nature. Will appeal to kids & their adults.

So many talented authors, illustrators & yes, publishers live & work in BC. Here is a small sample of books by BC authors & illustrators that I have pulled out of my library to share with you on BC Book Day! Thank you for supporting us! What would we do without out you! #bcbookday

When I had young family, I made bread every day. I love everything about it, from kneading the dough, to the yeasty smell that fills the house, to the deliciousness of a wam slice with butter…this loaf is made with spelt, hemp hearts, flax & olive oil…when you’re stuck on a story…

Recent book club read, More Or Less Maddy, by Lisa Genova. It was not my fav., but was great for a discussion about mental health. The take-away is that we use language carelessly. For example you never say “he is cancer,” but we do say “he is manic.” People are not their disease! #mentalhealthreads

Celebrate International Children’s Book Day by hitting up the library or your favourite Indie bookstore to enjoy some reading time with your littles. 📚#internationalchildrensbookday

Just discovered! My 5 year old grandson loves The Flying Furballs Series by Donovan Bixley. This is the one we are currently reading aloud, but there are lots of them! Older kids will enjoy reading them independently. Check out your local indie bookseller or your library.

The One And Only Question, by Norma Charles & Andrea Charles, with art by Ken Daley, is one of those picture books that really packs a gut punch. The first day at a new school can be filled with anxiety. What if the big question is “What will he do if they call him the N-word?” Highly Recommended!

The Blue Canoe is a perfect spring break warm up to paddling season and, it’s part of Amazon’s spring sale! Starts March 25. For non-Amazon shoppers, check out your local indie booksellers, or your local library.

Had the most wonderful school visit at Torquay Elementary School for their “stay-in-and-read” celebration prior to spring break. They chose This is the Dog & The Blue Canoe from my book bag. They wore pj’s & clutched stuffies & & turned the class into a reading centre. Such fun!

Buckle up! This will be a bumpy ride! Until our neighbours to the south come to their senses, I am buying Canadian and I hope you are too!

The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith. My bookclub read for March. Disturbing by most definitely thought provoking. Some scenes are unforgettable. Not sure what to think. Thoughts anyone?

Like most other creators in Canada, I am so thankful for the support from @canada.council through the Public Lending Rights Program. And thank you to all of the libraries and librarians across this wonderful land of ours who purchase our books. Where would we be without you!

I have been fortunate to live here in the west coat and regularly see pods of orcas in local waters. But, if you don’t live near a coastal environment, you can still enjoy A Pod of Orcas in book form…art by Kristi Wakelin. #worldwhaleday #picturebooks

Love & respect are universal needs no matter the colour of your skin, what god you worship , which political party you belong to, or what your family looks like. Some in the US have forgotten this. We hope they find their way back to values that once made them great. For now, Karl dog & I send love.

For my American friends… youtube.com/shorts/DNKCW...

Baby it’s cold outside here on the west coast! A perfect time to curl up with a good mystery! I hadn’t read any of Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie novels. I like her writing & more books in the series. And, I liked the title…Started Early, Took My Dog. I’ll let you know how it goes. #mysterybook

Sorry to my American family and friends, but Canadians are tired of being bullied by a small-minded, ignorant man who treats dictators better than friends. I won’t be purchasing American products. I am shopping locally and I hope my fellow Canadians will as well. #buycanadian

#GIVEAWAY To celebrate the launch of #PictureBooksEh 2025 we’re giving away manuscript crits and PBs! Details on website (link above). To enter: 1. follow @picturebookseh.bsky.social 2. like + re-post this post (extra entry for tagging a friend) 3. Winners ann. Feb. 10 at 9 am #kidlit #cankidlit

I share this belief with Martin Luther King Jr. that “the appalling silence of the good people is as serious as the vitriolic words of bad people.” Tomorrow, I will be celebrating my b-day & the wise words of this good man who spoke out for justice and freedom. I could never support Trump.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick. Imagine if we all knew how long a life we would live. Would it change your life’s direction? And what about our society? It isn’t perfect, but I love that the author poses big questions and makes you think. #recommendedfiction

I fell in love with John when I was 18. We had wonderful adventures together, had 3 lovely daughters, worked hard, and had a good life. His was cut far too short 25 years ago. I am grateful for the time we had, but some days, I just miss him. Days like today are hard.

@susanjuby.bsky.social good to see you here. Meta is sounding more like X, which is both sad and scary. I hate to think of leaving friends I made on FB and IN behind, but it may come to that. At least some are migrating here.

My word for the year is perspective. I know my strengths, but sometimes lose sight of them. I know & love that writing is a lifetime endeavour. I know that publishing is a business that inches forward. I know that my contributions are valuable. In 2025, I will try to remember to look up more often.

From my garden to you…the last roses of 2024. May 2025 be a kinder, more gentle year for us all.