"Cats and Dogs in Space" Released

A project I've had in the works for awhile,  a speculative poetry collection titled Cats and Dogs in Space, has been released by Hiraeth Publishing. Available in ebook and paperback formats, Cats and Dogs in Space includes poems inspired by news stories, myths and legends, and the antics of the many dogs (and a few cats) that have tracked their paw prints through my life.

 

As the book's blurb suggests, there's some humour blended in: 

 

Cats in lab coats, running experiments on us. Robot dogs roaming Mars. Space-faring canines who mistake alien vessels for fetch toys. There are just some of the images you’ll find in here. With inspiration from myths, news stories, nursery rhymes, personal experience, and a lifelong interest in science fiction, the poems are written in a variety of styles for your reading enjoyment.

 

Reaching from the distant past to the far future, and points in between, Cats and Dogs in Space invites you to have some fun re-imagining man’s best friend—and whatever it is that cats call themselves.

 

When we beamed the book to the future, here’s what readers had to say:

 

“Purrfectly delightful! Enjoyable for readers of any stripe. Some of these poems are enough to make a cat laugh!” Festus, ship’s cat aboard the Silver Starr Spaceliner Frederika. 

 

“Meaty as a prime rib bone, and just as much fun to chew on! I’d give it two thumbs up—if I had opposable thumbs . . . ” Pepper, K-9 Operative, Galactic Space Services

 

Here's hoping that people have as much fun reading it as I did writing it . . . 

 

 

February 2025 Update: Celebrating Donkeys, and More

I was pleased and surprised when I checked my mail and found a copy of Donkey Drabbles: Very Short Stories About the Long Ears We Love, reformatted and re-issued from the original. Donkey Drabbles was a project put together by The Donkey Sanctuary of Canada, which invited volunteers, staff, and friends (I fall into the latter category) to submit “drabbles,” or 100-word pieces, about the donkeys. 

I contributed a drabble titled “Grooming Danny,” which recounted my experiences with one particular donkey during a visit to the Sanctuary on one of the Open Days. The reformatted book is larger than the original, and attractively laid out. The book is available through the Sanctuary’s Long Ears Boutique, which can be browsed online.

Recent Publications

Cartoons:
“Getting Older,” posted on Little Old Lady Comedy, January 21, 2025, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/getting-older

“Tortoise and Hare,” posted on Little Old Lady Comedy, January 7, 2025, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/tortoise-and-hare

Nonfiction:
“Visiting Strange Futures Through Compact Storytelling,” an interview with Stewart C Baker, author of The Butterfly Disjunct and Other Stories, published on Interstellar Flight Magazine, January 17, 2025, https://magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/visiting-strange-futures-through-compact-storytelling-51fdf55d99b7

Reviews:
Chrystia: From Peace River to Parliament Hill, by Catherine Tsalikis, posted on The Seaboard Review, January 20, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/chrystia-from-peace-river-to-parliament-hill

“Feeling Stuck? Dan Heath’s Reset Offers Help,” a review of Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working, by Dan Heath, The Seaboard Review, posted January 27, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/reset-by-dan-heath

The Infinite Heist, by Stephen Graham King, posted on Amazing Stories: Clubhouse January 13, 2025, https://amazingstories.com/2025/01/clubhouse-guest-review-the-infinite-heist-by-stephen-graham-king/

“McDonald’s Memoir Reflects on the Power of Yes,” a review of Just Say Yes by Bob McDonald, appeared on The Miramichi Reader site January 12, 2025, https://miramichireader.ca/2025/01/mcdonalds-memoir-reflects-on-the-power-of-yes/

“Selecky Helps Writers Fine-Tune Their Mindset: Story is a State of Mind,” a review of Story is a State of Mind by Sarah Selecky, published on The Seaboard Review Substack site, January 6, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/story-is-a-state-of-mind-sarah-selecky

Starter Villain, by John Scalzi, posted on Goodreads, January 16, 2025, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7221930499

The Storm of Progress, by Wade Rowland, The Seaboard Review, posted January 13, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-storm-of-progress-by-wade-rowland

“Through the Portal Offers Hope Amid Dystopia,” a review of Through the Portal: Tales from a Hopeful Dystopia, edited by Nina Munteanu and Lynn Hutchinson Lee, posted on The Seaboard Review, January 13, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/through-the-portal-stories

What I’m Working On
For my own writing, I’ve declared 2025 as “the year of nonfiction.” Book reviews, news stories, articles, and a couple of projects I’ve had on the back burner will be the focus, though I’ll still work on the occasional poem or fiction piece.

Coming Soon
My flash story “Stealing Time” will be published on Havok February 4. “Stealing Time” will be free for viewing on February 4^th only on the Havok site. I also have work scheduled to appear in the February 2025 issues of Spaceports and Spidersilk and Scifaikuest.

 

 

January 2025 Update: A Chance to Hit Reset

A new year brings a new opportunity to hit “reset.” While I don’t engage in “resolutions” per se, for the past few years I’ve started out with a set of goals for the year. For my writing activities, this includes targets for submissions and acceptances of various types of writing (poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, and book reviews) as well as any projects I’m considering, such as submitting short story collections or working on a nonfiction book (both of which might be in the mix for 2025).
 
For my nonwriting activities, it’s a chance to review what’s important to me and how I plan to achieve it, like staying healthy (which in turn means certain types of activities, like regular exercise, are important). This year’s non-writing focus items will include gardening (so fresh, organically grown vegetables are available), exercise (which our dog, shown at top left, is all too happy to support when he’s not napping), and activities to help bolster brain health.
 
On a different note, after pondering for awhile, I’ve finally joined Bluesky. Looking forward to an additional way to connect with other writers, and to let people know what I’ve been up to. So far, so good!
 
Recent Publications
Fiction:
“The Mitten Caper,” Havok, “Remember December,” December 23, 2024.
 
Nonfiction:
“Exploring the Future, Close to Home,” interview with Timothy S. Johnston, published on Interstellar Flight Magazine, December 2, 2024, https://magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/exploring-the-future-close-to-home-230bbe392295

“Outlook brightens for Humane Society, help still needed,” Simcoe Advocate, December 19, 2024, https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate

Poetry:
“Sometimes Size Matters,” Solstitia, Issue 2, Creepy Crawlies, December 21, 2024, https://www.fictionfanspodcast.com/solstitia
 
Reviews:
Lost and Found, by Jane Glatt, The Seaboard Review, posted December 1, 2024, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/lost-and-found-jane-glatt
 
The Rainfall Market, by You Yeong-Gwang, posted on Goodreads December 8, 2024, https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7067293483
 
“Small-Town Gays and Triple Axels: A Review of I Hate Parties by Jes Battis,” Plenitude Magazine, December 19, 2024, https://plenitudemagazine.ca/small-town-gays-and-triple-axels-a-review-of-i-hate-parties-by-jes-battis/
 
What I’m Working On
As usual, I have several book reviews lined up. I’ll also work in some time for short stories and poems. January also tends to be a busy month for making various venues aware of work published in 2024, for consideration for anthologies and/or awards.
 
Coming Soon
I have a number of reviews pending publication, so some of those will undoubtedly make an appearance through January.
 
 

Wheels of Progress, and Can*Con

In the month of November, my short story “Wheels of Progress” was published in Microcosm Publishing’s This Is Your Bike on Plants: Fantastical Feminist Stories of Bicycling, Gardens, and Growth. The publisher’s site describes the anthology by saying, “Lovers of cli-fi, solarpunk, hopepunk, and feminist bicycle science fiction will all find something to love here.” Ever since reviewing Bikes and Rockets, one of the books in Microcosm’s Bikes in Space series, I’ve loved this series, and I’m honoured to be included for the second time in one of the Bikes in Space anthologies.
 
At the start of November, I attended Can*Con in Ottawa, Ontario. It was my first convention, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. There were lots of interesting topics during the presentation sessions (I had a hard time choosing for some time slots) and the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some people I’d only communicated with through email and the Science Fiction Canada list-serve or via email was great. Attending a writers’ conference was a great experience, one that I’d recommend. I really appreciated the candor and the information-sharing from the panelists, and the thought and effort put in by the panel moderators, who did a good job of preparing questions to spark discussion. I came home with a ton of notes, and also ended up with some additions to my to-read list.
 
Recent Publications
Fiction:
“Just Fooling,” Electric Spec, Volume 19, Issue 4, November 30, 2024, https://www.electricspec.com/Volume19/Issue4/timpf.nov24.html
 
“The Memory of Flowers,” Havok, Fantasy Friday, posted November 22, 2024.
 
“Wheels of Progress,” This Is Your Bike on Plants: Fantastical Feminist Stories of Bicycling, Gardens, and Growth, Microcosm Publishing, November 12, 2024, https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/books/54159?srsltid=AfmBOoq818x4ErxDRkIC0BXFsxzUa4huE2Ki6-bzPSlKY8y6M1qJWgcX
 
“Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf,” Havok, Mystery Monday, posted November 11, 2024.
 
Nonfiction:
“Alzheimer’s Society is There to Help,” Simcoe Advocate, November 7, 2024, https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate

“Bursary recipients present research at NFN meeting,” Simcoe Advocate, November 21, 2024
 
“Lynnwood Arts Celebrates 50^th Anniversary,” Simcoe Advocate, November 21, 2024

Poetry:
“Stacking Firewood,” Paddler Press Volume 12: Warmth, December 1, 2024, https://paddlerpress.ca/product/volume-12-warmth/
 
“[summer getaway]”, Spaceports and Spidersilk, Hiraeth Publishing, October 2024, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-october-2024

Reviews:
Anatomical Venus, by Courtney Bates-Hardy, The Miramichi Reader, posted October 17, 2024, https://miramichireader.ca/2024/10/anatomical-venus-by-courtney-bates-hardy/
 
Other Maps, by Rebecca Morris, The Seaboard Review, November 3, 2024, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/other-maps-by-rebecca-morris
 
“The Grey Wolf Continues Tradition of Excellence,” a review of Louise Penny’s The Grey Wolf, The Seaboard Review, posted November 13, 2024, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-grey-wolf-louise-penny
 
You Don’t Have to Quit: 20 Science-Based Strategies to Help Your Loved One Drink Less, by Maureen Palmer with Mike Pond, The Miramichi Reader, posted November 14, 2024, https://miramichireader.ca/2024/11/you-dont-have-to-quit-by-maureen-palmer/

What I’m Working On
Through November and into December, I’m mainly focused on nonfiction, particularly book reviews.
 
Good Books I’ve Read Lately
I recently read Derek Künsken’s The House of Saints—a worthy follow-up to The House of Styx. In this series, Künsken depicts colonies in the skies of Venus, composed mainly of people of Quebecois descent. Intriguing, inventive, and with compelling descriptions of the Venus sky-scapes. Also read an advance copy of Green to Grey: An Environmental Anthology. My review of that will likely be coming out between February and April 2025. Finished Jes Battis’ poetry collection I Hate Parties. I couldn’t resist, with that title . . . Review completed, and will post where it appears in a subsequent blog. Finished Jane Glatt’s Lost and Found, and likewise have a review that will be posted. Lots of great reads out there!
 
Coming Soon
My interview with Timothy S. Johnston, author of the Rise of Oceania series, is scheduled to appear in Interstellar Flight Magazine December 2. A short story titled “The Mitten Caper” will be published in Havok December 23. Another Frank the Pig Detective story, “The Mitten Caper” will be free to read on the Havok site December 23 only.
 

November 2024 update

Each year, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association hands out the Rhysling Awards, which are voted on by members, based on the speculative poems nominated and selected for that year’s Rhysling Anthology.
 
I’m honoured that my poem “The Day We All Died, a Little,” first published in Radon 5, received third-place honours in the Short Poem category. I always consider it a privilege to be nominated for the Anthology, let alone receiving an award. There were many excellent poems included in the 2025 Rhysling Anthology, which I would heartily recommend to lovers of speculative poetry.
 
In other highlights, I recently finished reading AJ Hackwith’s speculative novel Toto, which revisits the Wizard of Oz from the viewpoint of Dorothy’s feisty terrier. As anyone familiar with Hackwith’s Hell’s Library series might expect, Toto provides novel and interesting takes on old favourites, while adding new elements to the mix. I’ve submitted a review to a publication, and will let you know when the review gets published.
 
Recent Publications
Cartoons:
“First Day on the Job,” Little Old Lady Comedy, October 1, 2024, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/first-day-on-the-job
 
Fiction:
“Curiosity,” Interstellar Archives drabble anthology, Hiraeth Publishing, September, 2024.
 
Nonfiction:
“Fair Gardening and Homecraft Displays Impress,” Simcoe Advocate, October 24, 2024, Grant Haven News, https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate

Poetry:
“As for the Spoon,” Dreams & Nightmares 128, September 2024, https://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/
 
“Canoeing on a Day…,” “Canoeing on Perry Lake,” “Fallen Tree, Algonquin Park,” “Oceanside Camping in New Brunswick,” and “Springtime, Awenda Provincial Park,” published in Firelight & Footprints, Poetry From the Canoe and Campsite, Paddler Press, September 2024, https://paddlerpress.ca/product/firelight-footprints-poetry-from-the-canoe-and-campsite/
 
“Fantastic Yoga Sessions,” “Isn't Technology Wonderful,” and “A Touch of Home,” Eccentric Orbits 5, Dimensionfold Publishing, October 2024, https://dimensionfold.com/catalog/poetry-books/eccentric-orbits/
 
“[no pleading or parental scolding],” runner-up, Saturday Evening Post, July/August 2024 Limerick Laughs contest, posted October 28, 2024, https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2024/10/july-august-2024-limerick-laughs-winner-and-runners-up/
 
“Time’s a Lousy Tipper,” Star*Line 47.4, Fall 2024, October 2024.
 
“Robin’s Rest,” Eye to the Telescope 54, Outlaws, edited by Melissa Ridley Elmes, October, 2024, https://eyetothetelescope.com/

Reviews:
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer, by Maxie Dara, The Seaboard Review, October 4, 2024, https://theseaboardreview.substack.com/p/a-grim-reapers-guide-to-catching-a-killer
 
Necessary Poisons, by Andrea Blythe. Edited by Holly Walrath, Star*Line 47.4, Fall 2024, October 2024.
 
“New Book Makes Hope Swinimer’s Story Available to Young Readers,” The Seaboard Review, October 27, 2024, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/new-book-makes-hope-swinimers-story
 
“Two Nature-Related Books Worth Checking Out,” Lotus Newsletter, Norfolk Field Naturalists, October 2024.
 
The Wedding, by Gurjinder Basran, posted on The Miramichi Reader site, October 1, 2024, https://miramichireader.ca/2024/10/the-wedding-by-gurjinder-basran/
 
Wheeling, Yet Not Free, by Alan Katerinsky, Star*Line 47.4, Fall 2024, October 2024.
 
What I’m Working On
I’ve been continuing a focus on nonfiction pieces through the month of October, and that will likely carry over into November.
 
Coming Soon
I have two stories accepted for the November issues of Havok, “Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf” (scheduled to go live November 11) and “The Memory of Flowers” (scheduled for November 22). While Havok subscribers have access to all the stories, stories are available for viewing by the general public on the day of publication, at https://gohavok.com/.
 
 

October 2024 Update: Going To the Dogs

A flash fiction story of mine titled “To Every Dog His Day” recently appeared in To The Dogs: 31 Very Short Stories About Man's Best Friend from Altitude Press (cover is at left), hence the title of this month’s blog post. As a fellow writer noted, I’ve had some success with dog- and cat-themed writing, which seems to come naturally. 

I say, if it works, do it, and I’m grateful for the existence of themed anthologies and magazine issues like To the Dogs to send my work to.

Recent Publications

Articles:
“Addiction, Family, and Political Intrigue,” An Interview with Susan Forest, Author of the Addicted to Heaven Series, published in Interstellar Flight Magazine, September 16, 2024, https://magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/addiction-family-and-political-intrigue-e1108b0a5ac0

“Biologist shines light on Norfolk’s ‘secretive’ wildlife,” Simcoe Advocate, Grant Haven News, September 26, 2024. https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate (see downloadable version of newspaper).

“Reception kicks off Norfolk Studio Tour exhibition,” Simcoe Advocate, Grant Haven News, September 26, 2024. https://www.granthaven.com/simcoe-advocate (see downloadable version of newspaper).

Poetry:
“We’re Back,” Polar Starlight, Issue 16, August/September 2024, published September 2, 2024, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/POLAR-STARLIGHT-16-August-September-2024.pdf
 
Reviews:
Game On: How Sports Media Grew Up, Sold Out, and Got Personal With Billions of Fans, by David Bockino, posted on the Sports Literature Association book review site, August 14, 2024, https://sportliteratureassociation.wordpress.com/2024/08/14/game-on-how-sports-media-grew-up-sold-out-and-got-personal-with-billions-of-fans-by-david-bockino/
 
Living With Dementia: The Collected Columns of Darce Fardy, posted on The Seaboard Review web site, September 23, 2024, https://theseaboardreview.substack.com/p/living-with-dementia-darce-fardy
 
Short Stories:
“Fallback,” published in Yabblins: 2, Gypsum Sound Tales, September 24, 2024.
 
“To Every Dog His Day,” To The Dogs: 31 Very Short Stories About Man's Best Friend, Altitude Press, published September 27, 2024.

What I’m Working On
Nonfiction has been my focus for the most part during the past month, though I am working on some other pieces as time permits.
 
Coming Soon
I recently read Maxie Dara’s fantasy/cozy mystery A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer. The “Grim Reaper” of the title is a woman named Kathy Valence, one of many soul collectors who work for a corporation known as S. C. Y. T. H. E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences). Dara’s book was original, suspenseful, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, a great read for fans of fantasy/mystery stories. I’ll post a link to the review once it’s been published.
 

I have a story titled “Wheels of Progress” in Microcosm Publishing’s This Is Your Bike on Plants: Fantastical Feminist Stories of Bicycling, Gardens, and Growth, coming soon. Kickstarter link is: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/microcosmpublishing/this-is-your-bike-on-plants-feminist-sci-fi-rooted-in-hope
 

 

September 2024 Update: Better Writing Weather Ahead

Summer is drawing to a close, but Mother Nature did provide some highlights in August. The butterfly bush had lots of visitors throughout the month, and the sunflowers drew goldfinches, chipmunks, and squirrels. The pollinators did their work faithfully in the garden, which is starting to wind down. Usually, the return of cooler weather means rejuvenation of writing activities, which is a good thing, since I have a number of projects on the go.
 
Recent Publications
Poetry:
“Spammers,” Little Old Lady Comedy, posted August 24, 2024, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/spammers

Reviews:
Autokrator, by Emily A. Weedon, published on The Seaboard Review, August 24, 2024, https://theseaboardreview.substack.com/p/autokrator-by-emily-a-weedon
 
O Canada Crosswords Book 25, by Gwen Sjogren, published on The Miramichi Reader August 24, 2024, https://miramichireader.ca/2024/08/plenty-of-solving-fun-in-o-canada-crosswords-book-25/
 
Articles:
“Family Matters: Family Relationships in Three Recent Speculative Novels,” Heartlines Spec, Summer 2024, https://www.heartlines-spec.com/family-matters-by-lisa-timpf/
 
What I’m Working On
I still have a number of reviews and articles in process. I’m also reading Robert McKee’s Story: Style, Structure, Substance, and the Principles of Screenwriting. Though the title references screenwriting, I think many of the insights apply to fiction as well. Sometimes it feels discouraging because there’s no way I can remember everything McKee says, but his book made some concepts click for me that I ran across in other places but didn’t really “get” until now.