July 2020 Update

Recent Publications
A limerick titled [with the lockdown] was selected as one of the ten winning entries for On the Premises mini-contest #45. This contest called for limericks about “how you feel about life today” in the midst of the pandemic. You can find my entry along with the other selected poems at: https://onthepremises.com/minis/mini_45/

A poem titled “Do Androids Dream, Indeed” appeared in Polar Borealis, Issue 15, June 2020:

http://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/POLAR-BOREALIS-15-June-2020.pdf

My review of Edward M. Langille's The Story of Lillian Burke was published in the Miramichi Reader online June 13, 2020. This story details the life and times of an American woman whose connection with Alexander Graham Bell's family brought her to Cape Breton on visits. It was here that she helped to establish a rug hooking home industry for the women of Chéticamp, Nova Scotia, providing a much-appreciated way of bringing cash income into their homes. A link to the review is below:

https://miramichireader.ca/2020/06/the-story-of-lillian-burke-by-edward-m-langille/

My review of Guy Gavriel Kay’s A Brightness Long Ago was included in Speculative North.

Reviews of The Truth About Snails by J.D. DeHart (Red Dashboard LLC, 2014) and The Gates of Never by Deborah L. Davitt (Finishing Line Press, October 2019) were posted on the Star*Line reviews site, and excerpts will be included in Star*Line Issue 43.3. A review of War written by Alessandro Manzetti and Marge Simon and illustrated by Stefano Cardoselli (Crystal Lake Publishing, 2018) will also appear in Star*Line 43.3, as well as ultimately appearing in full form on the online reviews site. To see the reviews online, click on the year of publication and search or scroll to the appropriate review. Link to the reviews site is below:

https://www.sfpoetry.com/sl/slreviews.html

What I’m Working On
I still have several short stories in process; trying to make progress as time permits. Also working through commitments for two additional poetry book reviews, and just received a copy of Wounded Hearts: Memories of the Halifax Protestant Orphans’ Home by Lois Legge for review.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2020 Update

After complaining about the cold weather for most of May, the heat came with a vengeance in the third week of the month. Most of the trees are out in leaf now, even the late-starting oaks, and the modest vegetable garden we opted for this year is on its way—spring garlic, sweet onions, tomatoes, squash, and cucumbers among the offerings.

Recent Publications
Two poems, “Cardinal” and [online grocery order], were published online at quatrain.fish.

I also posted a review of Jack Campbell’s military thriller Ascendant on Goodreads around mid-month. Enjoyable book with characters I could root for in a worthy cause.

What I’m Working On
Still working on speculative fiction pieces, the odd poem, and book reviews—some speculative, some non-spec; some prose, some poetry. I am also working my way through the advice and the exercises in James Scott Bell’s book Plot and Structure. The more I delve into these topics, the more it feels like one step forward, two back with my writing, though I have faith that it will all work out in the long run. Oh, and just for fun, since the local library was offering on-line courses for free (not sure if they do this all the time, or just for the pandemic) I signed up for a drawing course, since I have some ideas for cartoons and want to improve my skills. So far, I've learned a lot!

Coming Soon
Though I’ve sent out a few poems during the past month, I've been mainly focussed on working on in-process speculative fiction pieces. Hoping to continue that progress in June.

My review of Guy Gavriel Kay’s A Brightness Long Ago will also be appearing in Speculative North in the near future.