Thinking about the residents and visitors currently enduring the heat wave in Paris, while I reminisce about my own experiences during the canicule last month. (Plus, I share my usual writing/publishing updates, and a Portuguese Canadian book recommendation) sonianicholson.com/2026/06/26/s...

As congregations shrink, US nuns create landmark archive to preserve their stories www.globalsistersreport.org/congregation...

My May update comes to you from Paris, incomplete and likely influenced by the oppressive heat wave that’s descended upon the city. I hope you enjoy this teaser of week one: sonianicholson.com/2026/05/25/l...

📣📣 Event Announcement! 📣📣 I’m so, so excited to share that I’ll be part of the Parksville Museum’s new Storyteller Festival! Looking forward to connecting with folks from central Vancouver Island. Info and tickets: www.eventbrite.ca/e/workshop-f...

If there’s a place to launch a new phase of life, Paris is it. Celebrating my birthday while I’m there will be a delightful bonus. Extra points for standing in front of a Monet that day. What I’ve been up to, and what’s on the way: sonianicholson.com/2026/04/28/l...

Saving local news also means saving the archives www.poynter.org/reporting-ed...

‪Do you work with a #literarymagazine #publishing in Canada? Launching a new #litmag? Recently closed & want to share your story? We're a new organization that supports all #litmags at all stages. We meet via Slack and monthly online. Baseline sector survey underway! Contact us via the website.

Art is everywhere, if we look for it. If we’re open to it. Unobtrusive, or big and bold. Sanctioned or a surprise. And we’re art, too. But just like the beauty and creativity in the real world, sometimes it’s hard to see it in ourselves. All my March musings: sonianicholson.com/2026/03/27/e...

I’m going to allow myself a moment to feel proud of bringing the first issue of this new lit mag, Andorinha Press, into the world. But I’m also humbled by the trust people placed in me. I hope to continue supporting creatives and their work. andorinhapress.wordpress.com/2026/03/20/i...

The theme for The WiseOwl’s The Daily Verse for March is “Cartographies of the Self.” This theme invites poets to explore the inner terrain — the landscapes of memory, identity, fracture, and becoming. I’m pleased to share my poem was accepted! www.dailyversethewiseowl.art (scroll down on page)

The February blog’s out a few days early because I wanted to share a new book festival in #yyj coming up this weekend (with a workshop from yours truly). Get the details on that and all the rest of the goings-on this (spring-like) month: sonianicholson.com/2026/02/23/b...

Historians hope to uncover stories behind teen's World War One autograph book bbc.com/news/article...

Storytelling Workshop Master Class coming up from @saa-official.bsky.social archivesaware.archivists.org/2026/02/04/s...

I forgot to get photos from my @victoriags.org workshop on Saturday, but this screen grab says it all. My goal when talking about writing your family history? To present you with resources and options you might not have considered. To get you thinking outside the box!

January’s been a good month for me as a writer, and based on what’s coming down the pipe, 2026 overall is looking like a period of increased creativity, connection, and confidence. Lots of positive things going on! Get the scoop: sonianicholson.com/2026/01/26/o...

Still time to register for this hybrid event!

Who says the archives experience is limited to an archives itself? This summer, I spent a sunny afternoon exploring local places with the aim of linking historical documents and stories from the past with modern locations. (1/4)

My first writing credits of the year! TWO new poems out in the world today, courtesy of ManicWorld Magazine. manicworldmagazine.com/sonia-nichol...

Entered my 100-word story to @welkinprize.bsky.social just under the wire, then found out there were 1000+ submissions! Would that have stopped me, had I known? No. Will I make the long list? Also probably no. Still, I'm grateful for the opportunity, and for the nudge to start the year off writing!

We do have a chance, when the calendar page turns, at a fresh start. There are no guarantees, of course. There never are. But we can hope, and do our best to make the next year better than the last. sonianicholson.com/2025/12/30/a...

I feel honoured to be amongst such excellent company in the new issue of BC History! Pick up a copy to read all the articles, including my piece “Ship of Sins” about the ship Heather Bell. The vessel brought more than foodstuffs when it arrived in #yyj in 1860! 🧐 www.bchistory.ca/Sys/Store/Pr...

Thank you for sharing!

It’s me! (I hate that the default thumbnail shows me with my mouth open, haha) youtube.com/shorts/-dMm0...

Is it just me, or has Nov been weird? And felt like six months instead of one? Doesn’t it seem like everyone you know is feeling down, overwhelmed, confused? But even though it may not always feel like it now, better days — the sunny hours — are coming. sonianicholson.com/2025/11/26/t...

Issue 5.2 from Stripes Literary Magazine explores silence, memory, and creative resilience through original poems, visual art, and a heartfelt tribute. It feels good to have work published with them once again. Available now in paperback, or read it online: stripesliterarymagazine.weebly.com

Happy birthday to Claude Monet, whom I’m spending a lot of time with as I work on my next book! 👨‍🎨

Things on my mind this month: Gratitude. The paths we take and the ones we left behind that still make us wonder, What if? Choices. Colours. How we see the world, and others, and ourselves. The parts of our lives we show people. The parts we hide. Oct updates: sonianicholson.com/2025/10/29/h...

New poetry coming in November with Stripes Literary Magazine!

As part of research for my archives+storytelling workshop for @victoriags.org in Jan, I’m looking for examples of strong but simple storytelling by GLAM institutions & family historians. Blog? Podcast? Website? Something different? Send them my way! www.victoriags.org/content.aspx...

Checking out locations for the Victoria portion of my current novel. I’m thinking this would also make a great writing spot!

As part of research for my Jan archives+storytelling workshop, I’m looking for examples of strong but simple storytelling in GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, museums) institutions. Blog? Podcast? Website? Something different? Send them my way! I’d love to share them with workshop participants.

This poem was inspired by the film Bonnard: Pierre and Marthe, which explores the relationship between Post-Impressionist French painter Pierre Bonnard and his model/muse/partner/wife Marthe. Thank you to @pinholepoetry.bsky.social for including it in the current issue! pinholepoetry.ca/13935-2/

📣 📣 Archives resource alert! Archive Basics from The National Archives, UK includes “resources for those new to the sector, or those who may not be archive professionals – such as members of community archives and owners of private collections.” www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archives-sec...

A Vancouver Historian’s Family Letters Offer Insights Into the First World War montecristomagazine.com/community/va...

Received a rejection for a writing-related something I wanted so badly and which seemed to be the perfect fit. Really, really hurts and makes me question everything about myself as a writer, (at least, for the duration of this pity party). Send emotional support memes.

Wrote the first few pages of my next novel and that feeling of starting something fresh and new is like some kind of drug, I swear.

Didn’t work on my book during today’s writing timeslot, but I did get about 2/3 of my archives + storytelling workshop presentation drafted. 😅 Does that count?

It’s true what they say: time flies. Or more accurately, it speeds by like a rocket. Anyone else wondering where September went? I’m still here, even when I’ve gone quiet. And there will be more exciting voyages to come. Hope you’ll stick around for the ride. sonianicholson.com/2025/09/24/t...

Want to support a Canadian author today? (👋 🇨🇦 🙋‍♀️) Share a photo of a Canadian book you love with the hashtags #canadianbook and #OLDay. It would mean a lot!

📣 📣 Attention fellow history/archives/genealogy nerds! Here’s the full listing to date of @victoriags.org’s new season. Check out all the workshops, seminars, heritage history hours, and other events on offer (including one by yours truly on January 31) victoriags.org/content.aspx...

We're so excited for upcoming workshop from Sonia so we can also talk about her latest fictional novel for all #genealogy lovers, Provenance Unknown.

A friend sent this article to me with the note “when you turn 86 I expect to read about you opening a book store for emerging writers 🙂” and I can’t tell you how much I needed that today. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

So … this is happening! Join my archives + storytelling workshop January 31 for the @victoriags.org — in person or online, registration open: victoriags.org/content.aspx...

Turns out when you visit the university library on an August evening — well in advance of classes starting — to do book research, you not only get an amazing pick of resources, but you also have the place to yourself.

Yesterday, I received the Stripes Literary Magazine e-newsletter and it reminded me it's been 5 months since my chapbook Asleep/Awake hit the world 💕 Their suggested activity for the week is to read and review it, so if you're so inclined, here's the link: tinyurl.com/5cayjv3c