September 2022 Update

“Where has the summer gone” sounds so cliché, but that doesn’t lessen how true that statement feels this particular year. Already, students are preparing to return to school, the leaves in the deciduous trees are starting to turn, and birds are gathering in anticipation of a voyage south.

Recent Publications
Poetry:
“Cats Of the Future” and “Unexpected,” Utopia Science Fiction, August/September 2022, https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/product-page/august-september-2022

“The Cycle Repeats,” Scifaikuest August 2022 online, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest-online

“En Vacances in Quebec City” and “Watching Softball,” Paddler Press, Vol. 5, Summer Fare, August 2022, https://paddlerpress.ca/?post_type=product&p=504&preview=true

[if an infinite number] and “New York, New Reality,” Scifaikuest August 2022 print, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/scifaikuest-august-2022-edited-by-t-santitoro

“Now You’re Gone,” “Without Her,” and “To The Robin, Building a Nest in My Eavestrough,” Samjoko, Summer 2022, https://www.samjokomagazine.com/nowyouregone-lisatimpf

In August, a review of In Days to Come, my speculative poetry collection, was posted on The Future Fire web site: http://reviews.futurefire.net/2022/08/timpf-in-days-to-come.html#more

Reviews:
A Life Spent Listening, by Hassan Khalili, published on the Miramichi Reader site August 28, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/a-life-spent-listening-by-hassan-khalili/

The Messy Lives of Book People, by Phaedra Patrick, published on the Miramichi Reader site August 31, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/the-messy-lives-of-book-people-by-phaedra-patrick/ 

Resonance: Essays on the Craft and Life of Writing, edited by Andrew Chesham and Laura Farina, published on The Miramichi Reader site August 20, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/resonance-essays-on-the-craft-and-life-of-writing-edited-by-andrew-chesham-and-laura-farina/

State of Terror by Hilary Rodham Clinton and Louise Penny, published on the Miramichi Reader site August 2, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/08/state-of-terror-by-hillary-rodham-clinton-and-louise-penny/

Short Stories:
“The Chienchat Conundrum,” published as a reprint in Professor Feiff's Compleat Pocket Guide to Xenobiology for the Galactic Traveller, JayHenge Publishing, https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0B97YTX6X

What I’m Working On
In August, I got back to working on short stories, while continuing to chip away at my book review to-do list. I’m expecting much the same trend will continue in September, as I have developed a few story ideas in response to submission calls for speculative fiction stories.

 

August 2022 Update

It’s always nice to get exposure for your work, and in July, Sandra Lindow posted a lovely review of In Days to Come on the SpecPo blog, link below: https://specpo.wordpress.com/2022/07/08/in-days-to-come-a-review/
 
Also, one of my poems was published in a short collection, Cocoa Cabin, by Pearl Pirie back in 2014. Pearl has been catching up with authors she had worked with in the past, and her follow-up with me is posted at the following link:
https://pearlpirie.com/checking-in-with-lisa-timpf/
 
Recent Publications
Poetry:
“What Awaits,” Polar Borealis Issue 22, July 2022, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/POLAR-BOREALIS-22-July-2022.pdf

[time jump to Noah’s era], Star*Line 45.3, Summer 2002

[canine deity], Spaceports and Spidersilk, June 2022, Hiraeth Publishing

Reviews:
Bad Actors: Second Pi in the Face, by Ira Nayman, The Miramichi Reader, July 4, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/07/bad-actors-second-pi-in-the-face-by-ira-nayman/
 
From Your Hostess at the T&A Museum, by Kathleen Balma, Star*Line 45.3, Summer 2022
 
What I’m Working On
I’m putting together a collection of nature-related poetry for a submission call that ends in August. I’m also finishing off some book reviews. On the writing side, I’m working my way through The Ode Less Travelled by Stephen Fry. This book was recommended by a member of SF Canada, and I’m finding it very helpful.
 
Coming Soon
Several poems and one short story are scheduled to come out in August. More on those as they get published.
 

July 2022 Update

June seems to have gone by in a flash. Between strawberry picking, gardening, and a couple of road trips, not as much writing time as some months, but that’s the norm for me once the weather gets nicer. 

Recent Publications

Poetry:
“The Cool Neighours,” Polar Starlight, Issue 6, June 2022, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/POLAR-STARLIGHT-6-June-2022.pdf

“The New Old West” and “Detained,” Scifaikuest May 2022 print, Hiraeth Publishing 

Reviews:
In the Writers’ Words: Conversations with Ten Canadian Poets, by Laurence Hutchman, published June 6, 2022, on the Miramichi Reader site.
https://miramichireader.ca/2022/06/in-the-writers-words-conversations-with-ten-canadian-poets-volume-ii-by-laurence-hutchman/

Short Stories:
“The Switch,” New Myths Issue 59, June 2022. This is one of my “Quicksilver and Pepper” stories about a futuristic AI-enhanced cat and his canine sidekick fighting crime on behalf of the Galactic Space Service. Available for free at  https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-issue-59/issue-59-stories/the-switch

What I’m Working On
I’m still working on a number of book reviews, so that’s my main focus at present.

Coming Soon
Several poems are due for publication in July and August.

 

 

June 2022 Update

May seemed to come and go in a hurry. Perhaps that’s because, in our area at least, the weather was more conducive for outdoor work. Right now, the trees in our area are coming into full leaf—always one of the most beautiful times of the year.

Recent Publications
Poetry:
“Another Virtual Meeting,” “The Changing Face of Fear,” “Dogs of the 2080s,” “Strange New Worlds,” and “New Home, New Hope,” Eccentric Orbits Volume 3, Dimensionfold Publishing, https://www.amazon.ca/Eccentric-Orbits-Anthology-Science-Fiction/dp/1989940447/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

“Infinite Monkey Theorem, Revisited,” “It Must Be More,” “Separate and Apart,” “They Sent the Old,” “Wanted: Another Terrestrial Planet,” Illumen, Spring 2022, Hiraeth Publishing,  https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-spring-2022-edited-by-tyree-campbell

“[sunlight refracts]” and “Some Things We’re Meant to Leave Behind,” Scifaikuest May 2022 online, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest-online

Reviews:
The Sisters Sputnik, by Terri Favro, published on The Miramichi Reader website May 5, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/05/the-sisters-sputnik-by-terri-favro/

All the Seas of the World, by Guy Gavriel Kay, published on The Miramichi Reader website May 23, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/05/all-the-seas-of-the-world-by-guy-gavriel-kay/ Inspired by Renaissance culture, All the Seas of the World is a fitting follow-up to A Brightness Long Ago.

What I’m Working On
Having recently completed an on-line course through the local library on writing for magazines, I’ve been in a creative non-fiction mood this past month, and this will likely carry over into June. I’m also continuing to chip away at my book review list.

 

May 2022 Update

During the month of April, I attempted the challenge of writing at least one poem per day. Mission accomplished, with 38 completed and 27 already sent out to various markets. I was a little hesitant to take this on, after feeling like I’d experienced a bit of burn-out after NaNoWriMo, but I found the poetry challenge a less demanding/draining.

Recent Publications
Poetry:
“First Contact,” published in Eye to the Telescope Issue 44: Notional Ekphrastic, April 15, 2022, https://eyetothetelescope.com/ 

“First Canoe Trip,” Parks and Points Poetry 2022, published April 30, 2022, https://www.parksandpoints.com/poetry-2022-/first-canoe-trip

Reviews:
Extraordinary Canadians: Stories from the Heart of our Nation, by Peter Mansbridge, with Mark Bulgutch, posted on the Miramichi Reader web site April 11, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/04/extraordinary-canadians-by-peter-mansbridge/ 

Lucy and Bonbon: A Novel, by Don LePan, posted on the Miramichi Reader web site, April 18, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/04/lucy-and-bonbon-by-don-lepan/

What I’m Working On
I’ve been taking advantage of some free online courses offered through our public library, and delivered by a third party provider. I completed one on writing a non-fiction book, thinking that I’d like to someday use the research I compiled for my never-quite-completed Master’s thesis on women’s field hockey in Nova Scotia. I’m now taking a course on writing for magazines. The latter has already sparked a partly-outlined idea which should be ready for send-out in May. Both courses were excellent, and it was clear that the instructors knew their stuff. Lots of helpful information.

Coming Soon
I’ve had a review of Guy Gavriel Kay’s All the Seas of the World accepted, and expect to see the review posted by end of May. More details next month. All the Seas of the World was a worthy successor to A Brightness Long Ago, engrossing and interesting. 

Next month should also see some items appearing in the May issue of Scifaikuest.
 

April 2022 Update

My book of speculative haibun poetry, In Days to Come, has been released by Hiraeth Publishing, and is available their web site: https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-gallery. In Days to Come contains new poems as well as poems previously published in venues like Star*Line, Illumen, Contemporary Haibun Online, and Scifaikuest. Topics broached include sports, dogs, encounters with aliens, space exploration, and a tongue-in-cheek take on what really happens on zombie night at the ball park. I’m grateful to Firefly and Fox Bookstore in Simcoe, Ontario for carrying this book as well as my collection of creative non-fiction and poetry, A Trail That Twines.
 
Recent Publications
Short Stories:
“Last Dance,” Shelter of Daylight, Hiraeth Publishing, Winter 2022. A Quicksilver and Pepper story.
 
“Mission to Galavia,” The Martian Wave, March 2022. A follow-up story to “In Other Words,” which originally appeared in CBAY Books’ One Thousand Words for War.

Poetry:
“Comedy Night at the Magic Cafe,” Spaceports and Spidersilk, Hiraeth Publishing, February 2022, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/spaceports-spidersilk-february-2022-edited-by-marcie-lynn-tentchoff
 
Reviews:
Matters of Time: An Outliers Anthology, posted on The Miramichi Reader web site February 28, 2022. https://miramichireader.ca/2022/02/matters-of-time-an-outliers-anthology/
 
L.M. Montgomery and Gender, edited by E. Holly Pike and Laura M. Robinson, posted on The Miramichi Reader web site March 7, 2022. https://miramichireader.ca/2022/03/l-m-montgomery-and-gender-by-e-holly-pike-and-laura-m-robinson/
 
Evan F. Moore and Jashvina Shah, Game Misconduct: Hockey’s Toxic Culture and How to Fix It, Sports Literature Association website, Book Reviews, posted March 31, 2022: https://sportliteratureassociation.wordpress.com/2022/03/31/game-misconduct-hockeys-toxic-culture-and-how-to-fix-it-by-evan-moore/
 
What I’m Working On
I’ve switched gears to working on some non-fiction projects, as well as continuing to work on book reviews.
 

March 2022 Update

Recent Publications

Poetry:
poem, spec, “light years from Earth,” Failed Haiku, Vol 7 Issue 74, https://www.haikuhut.com/FailedHaikuIssue74.pdf

Reviews:
Trenchcoats, Towers, and Trolls: Cyberpunk Fairy Tales, edited by Rhonda Parrish, posted on The Future Fire web site February 7, 2022: http://reviews.futurefire.net/2022/02/parrish-trenchcoats-towers-and-trolls.html#more. Though I wasn’t familiar with cyberpunk before reading this collection, I really enjoyed it. Some creative and interesting stories, and a consistent high quality throughout the book.

Dancing with Robots: The 29 Strategies for Success in the Age of AI and Automation, by Bill Bishop, posted on The Miramichi Reader web site February 21, 2022, https://miramichireader.ca/2022/02/dancing-with-robots-by-bill-bishop/.

What I’m Working On
I’m still working on a number of reviews, both fiction and non-fiction. After being stalled for a bit, I’ve kick-started my fiction writing again, thanks to a free online course through the public library that helped me with some of my story structure and plotting struggles.