June 2026 Update

Recently, I got word that one of my stories, “The Quest for a Good Night’s Sleep," was selected for Havok Publishing's annual anthology. “The Quest for a Good Night’s Sleep” was first published in one of the Wacky Wednesday posts in April.

 

Recent Publications

Cartoons:

“If Cats Played Hockey,” Little Old Lady Comedy, May 25, 2026, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/3hg12pzh3ou9ajvym83o35p97caog1

Fiction:

“Just Like Old Times,” Shelter of Daylight, May 2026, Hiraeth Publishing.

 

“A Sestina for Silvertongue,” Havok Publishing, Techno Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

 

Poetry:

“The Trees Take a Stand,” “Nations Agree to Work Together for Space Exploration Without Exploitation” “Laika the Greeter,” Sublimation, Volume 3, Issue 1, Walking the Path to Utopia, Island of Wak-Wak, May 9, 2026.

Reviews:

Bluenose Bluebirds: Nova Scotia’s Military Nurses in the Great War, by Brian Douglas Tennyson, The Seaboard Review of Books, May 18, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/bluenose-bluebirds-by-brian-douglas-tennyson

 

Earthen: Stories, by Katherine Koller, The Seaboard Review of Books, May 11, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/earthen-stories-by-katherine-koller

 

Expendable, by James Alan Gardner, published as a guest post on Timothy S. Johnston’s Life After Gateway, May 28, 2026, https://timothysjohnston.com/guest-post-sf-writer-lisa-timpf-reviews-james-alan-gardners-expendable/

 

The Life Impossible, by Matt Haig, published as a “Hot Take” in The Seaboard Review of Books May 7, 2026 newsletter, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-seaboard-review-of-books-thursday-may-7-2026

 

The Mobile Ruin: The Everyday Life of the Berlin Wall, edited by Blake Fitzpatrick and Vid Ingelevics, The Seaboard Review of Books, May 7, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-mobile-ruin-berlin-wall

 

Social Perspectives on Death and Dying (Fourth Edition), by Jeanette A. Auger and Kerstin Roger, with contributions from Zohreh BayatRizi, Rita Giancola, Audrey Medwayosh, and Catherine White, The Seaboard Review of Books, May 25, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/social-perspectives-on-death-and-dying-fourth-edition

 

A Vacation for Victory: An Illustrated History of the Women’s Land Army in Canada, written by Kelsey M. Lonie, The Seaboard Review of Books, May 25, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/a-vacation-for-victory-by-kelsey-m-lonie

 

We Burned So Bright, TJ Klune, Shoreline of Infinity, May 2026, https://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/we-burned-so-bright-by-tj-klune/

 

When the Game Changes: Losing My Mum and Finding Myself, by Evanka Osmak (with Katherine Rutherford), The Seaboard Review of Books, May 4, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/when-the-game-changes-by-evanka-osmak

 

What I’m Working On

I still have some reviews on the go, as well as some article ideas in process.

 

Coming Soon

My flash fiction piece “Horsepower” will appear on Havok Publishing’s site June 2, 2026. It’s available for free viewing that day only.

 

Also, as a heads up: submissions will be open July 1 to August 31, 2026 for an anthology I am co-editing with Colleen Anderson and Paula Johanson. This project has a working title of Slapshots in Space and Magical Marathons: A Speculative Sports Anthology, and invites contributors to re-examine sports through space opera, near- or far-future science fiction, alternative worlds, time travel, magical realism, fantasy, or other lenses that fall under the umbrella of speculative fiction. Both poetry and fiction will be included, and more details about the call will be available soon.

 

 

May 2026 Update

 

I was grateful to be listed on the Aurora Award ballot in the “Best poem/Song” category for my poem “At the Spaceport Bar,” which appeared in Polar Starlight Issue 17. It’s the first time one of my individual works has been on the ballot. Also included on the Aurora Awards ballot is an anthology that I’ve been included in, Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction: Volume Three. Edited Stephen Kotowych and published by Ansible Press, this anthology includes my poem “As Twilight Approaches.” The anthology is on the ballot in the Best Related Work category.

And, a shout-out to Tyche Books, as the cover of Starship Librarians is on the ballot in the Best Cover Art/Interior Illustration category. Starship Librarians includes my short story “The Space Librarians’ Code,” and I loved the cover art by Lorna Antoniazzi. In the Best Fan Writing and Publication, Polar Starlight issues 17-20 is on the ballot. I’ve had the privilege to have a few of my poems appear in Polar Starlight. Best of luck to all those who made the ballot.

 

Recent Publications

Fiction:

“The Quest for a Good Night’s Sleep,” Havok Publishing, April 22, 2026.

 

Nonfiction:

“Nature talk explores the state of Canada’s birds,” Simcoe Advocate, April 23, 2026.

 

“Norfolk Roller Derby celebrates 10^th anniversary,” “Researcher discusses the mysteries of bat migration,” Simcoe Advocate, April 9, 2026.

Poetry:

“Green,” Lotus Newsletter April 2026, Norfolk Field Naturalists, https://norfolknature.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/April-2026-Lotus.pdf

 

“Ride of a Lifetime,” Lorelei Signal, April 2026, Wolfsinger Publications, April 8, 2026, https://www.loreleisignal.com/ride-of-a-lifetime

Reviews:

Satan’s School for Girls and Other Works, by Benjamin Schmitt, published on SpecPo site, April 17, 2026, https://specpo.wordpress.com/2026/04/17/satans-school-for-girls-and-other-works-review/

 

Strangely, Friends: A History of Cuban-Canadian Encounters, by Karen Dubinsky, The Seaboard Review of Books, April 9, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/strangely-friends-by-karen-dubinsky

 

Women United: Stories of Women’s Struggles for Equality in the Canadian Auto Workers Union, Peggy Nash and Julie White, The Seaboard Review of Books, April 1, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/women-united-by-peggy-nash-and-julie-white

 

Coming Soon

My flash fiction story “A Sestina for Silvertongue” will go live on Havok Publishing’s site on May 12^th. This story will be available for viewing free of charge on that day only.

 

April 2026 Update

I was happy to have my story “Till the Green Woods Ring Again with Laughter” included in Spring Into Sci Fi: 2026 Edition, Volume 2, released by Cloaked Press in March 2026. This was one of three fiction pieces I had published during March. 

 

Also of note: Colleen Anderson, Paula Johanson, and I will be co-editing an anthology on speculative sport, which will be published by Tyche Books. The anthology will include both fiction and poetry, and submission calls will go out this summer. Looking forward to working on this project.

 

Recent Publications

Fiction:

“Back in the Hood,” The Fifth Di… 2026, Nomadic Delirium Press.

 

“Cracking the Case,” Havok Publishing, March 25, 2026.

 

“Till the Green Woods Ring Again with Laughter,” Spring Into Sci Fi: 2026 Edition, Volume 2, Cloaked Press, released March 20, 2026.

 

Nonfiction:
“When the Scariest Stories are Penned by Real Life,” Interstellar Flight Magazine, March 6, 2026, https://magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/when-the-scariest-stories-are-penned-by-real-life-8da1d52ead5f

 

Poetry:
“Hazy,” Still Point Arts Quarterly, Issue 61, Spring 2026, Shanti Arts, https://www.shantiarts.co/#gsc.tab=0

 

“One Possible Future,” Polar Starlight, Magazine of Canadian Speculative Poetry, Issue 21, February/March 2026, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/POLAR-STARLIGHT-21-February-2026.pdf

 

“Transitory Dreams,” Polar Starlight, Magazine of Canadian Speculative Poetry, Issue 22, April 2026, https://polarborealis.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/POLAR-STARLIGHT-22-April-2026.pdf

 

“[why play the hero],” “[you’ve powered right down],” “Strange Happenings on Epsilon IV,” Scifaikuest, February 2026, print, Hiraeth Publishing.

 

Reviews:
The Baseball 100, by Joe Posnanski, (“hot take” short review), The Seaboard Review of Books newsletter March 2, 2026.

 

Sincerely, Katherine. Life, Gender, Inclusivity, and Leadership for the Future, The Seaboard Review of Books newsletter March 11, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/sincerely-katherine-by-katherine-dudtschak

 

True Confessions from the Ninth Concession, by Dan Needles, (“hot take” short review), The Seaboard Review of Books newsletter March 4, 2026.

 

A Mystery Writer’s Guide to Getting Published, by Peggy Blair, The Seaboard Review of Books newsletter March 9, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/a-mystery-writers-guide-to-getting-published-peggy-blair

 

We Breed Lions: Confronting Canada's Troubled Hockey Culture, by Rick Westhead, The Seaboard Review of Books newsletter March 30, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/we-breed-lions-by-rick-westhead

 

What I’m Working On
I’m continuing to work on nonfiction pieces and book reviews. I also plan to write at least 30 poems during National Poetry Month in April.

 

Coming Soon
My flash fiction story “The Quest for a Good Night’s Sleep” is scheduled to go live on Havok Publishing’s site on April 22^nd. This story will be available for viewing free of charge on that day only.

 

March 2026 Update

In honour of the recently-completed Great Backyard Bird Count, I’ve included a photo of a hawk in our back yard (he didn’t show up during the count period, unfortunately). My article on the Great Backyard Bird Count ran in the Simcoe Advocate February 12, and I did one count per day during the count period. I find that the fifteen-minute-plus time block often results in seeing more birds and species than intermittent observation.

 

As the snow begins to recede, there is hope that spring is coming. Lately I’ve started to hear more spring-like bird calls, and the snow shows tracks of nocturnal animals that have been lying low all winter. Looking forward to seeing the pussy-willows and the spring flowers. It’s been an unusually cold and snowy winter here in Southwestern Ontario.

 

Recent Publications

Cartoons:

“(He)artwork, Little Old Lady Comedy, February 14, 2026, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/g1ap400iyk1jsjsm6cwt957r1c5lce

Fiction:

“Centerfield,” Havok, Encore: Sensational, February 3, 2026.

 

Nonfiction:

“Waterford native Elaine Chuli reflects on changing landscape of women’s hockey and life in the PWHL,” The Simcoe Advocate, February 26, 2026.

 

“Weekend bird count aims to collect global data,” The Simcoe Advocate, February 12, 2026.

Poetry:

“Chicken Little’s Vindication,” Spaceports and Spidersilk, February 2026, Hiraeth Publishing.

 

“[unauthorized],” Star*Line 49.1, Winter 2026.

 

“[water drips from the condenser],” “[you’re sitting right there],” Scifaikuest, February 2026, online, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/scifaikuest-online

 

Reviews:

The Ball Dreams of the Sky: Poems by Henry Schipper, Sports Literature Association reviews site, posted February 22, 2026, https://sportliteratureassociation.wordpress.com/2026/02/22/the-ball-dreams-of-the-sky-poems-by-henry-schipper/

 

The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse, by Oren Weisfeld, The Seaboard Review of Books, February 23, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-golden-generation-by-oren-weisfeld

 

Hang Time: Stories, by Brendan Gillen, Sport Literature Association, posted February 3, 2026, https://sportliteratureassociation.wordpress.com/2026/02/03/hang-time-stories-by-brendan-gillen-2/

 

Mother Hubble’s Cupboard and Other Poems About Inner and Outer Space, by Sandra Lindlow, Star*Line 49.1, Winter 2026.

 

Nightshade, by Lynn Hutchinson Lee, The Seaboard Review of Books, February 16, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/nightshade-by-lynn-hutchinson-lee

 

Outspoken: A Journey From Olympic Athlete to Activist, by Betty Baxter, The Seaboard Review of Books, February 9, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/outspoken-a-journey-from-olympic-athlete-to-activist-betty-baxter

 

What I’m Working On

In March, my focus will be on completing some nonfiction pieces and book reviews.

 

Coming Soon

I have a piece about books like The Next Civil War, Moon of the Crusted Snow, and others, due to be published on Interstellar Flight on March 4^th.

 

My flash fiction piece “Cracking the Case,” featuring Frank the Pig Detective, goes live on Havok Publishing March 25^th. The story will be accessible for free viewing on that date. After that, it’s available only to Havok subscribers.

 

February 2026 Update: Snow, Snow, and More Snow

Snow, snow, and more snow seemed to be the theme for January 2026. Though we’ve since relocated further south within Ontario, 2026 so far reminds me of some of the winters we had when we lived up in Mulmur Township—reminds in the sense of a distant echo, as we’re nowhere near the snow depth we “enjoyed” up there some years. 

This month’s photo is from a wintry day up in Mulmur when our border collie Emma was still with us. Winter didn’t deter her much, and I have many happy memories of snowshoeing, with Emma following my trail or sometimes racing ahead, and exploring the woods in winter.

Recent Publications

Fiction: 
“Cinderella Speaks Out at Last,” Flash Digest, Hiraeth Publishing, January 2026. 

Humour: 
“Welcome to Spin Class,” Little Old Lady Comedy, posted December 31, 2025, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/r8bgjt0kf9w8j45xng1d7whwkv0dhy

Nonfiction:
“Fens, Tobacco Fields, and Hopeful Cli-Fi,” an interview with Lynn Hutchinson Lee, Interstellar Flight Magazine, January 26, 2026, https://magazine.interstellarflightpress.com/fens-tobacco-fields-and-hopeful-cli-fi-e1e592878fea 

“Got fitness resolutions? Here are some tips,” Simcoe Advocate, January 15, 2026.

“Make mealtime family learning time,” Simcoe Advocate, January 29, 2026.

“Woodhouse, Long Point Christmas Bird Count Results,” Simcoe Advocate, January 15, 2026.

Poetry:
“Scenic,” “Snow Cat,” Sublimation, Volume 2, Issue 6, “Let It Snow.”

Reviews:
Better Not Burn Your Toast: The Science of Food and Health, by Dr. Joe Schwarcz, The Seaboard Review of Books, January 5, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/better-not-burn-your-toast-by-dr-joe-schwarcz

Beyond Ken Dryden: A Memoir, by Oren Safdie, The Seaboard Review of Books, January 19, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/beyond-ken-dryden-a-memoir-by-oren-safdie

On Sports, by David Macfarlane, The Seaboard Review of Books, January 26, 2026, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/on-sports-by-david-macfarlane

We the Raptors: Thirty Players, Thirty Stories, Thirty Years, by Eric Smith and Andrew Bricker, Sport Literature Association, https://sportliteratureassociation.wordpress.com/2025/11/16/we-the-raptors-thirty-players-thirty-stories-thirty-years-by-eric-smith-and-andrew-bricker/

What I’m Working On
I’m continuing to work on book reviews as well as some essays and articles I’ve committed to.

Coming Soon
On February 3, for one day only, my flash fiction story “Centerfield” will be available free of charge on Havok Publishing’s site. The theme for the month was stories inspired by songs; this one took its inspiration from John Fogerty’s “Centerfield,” which I remember enjoying back in my fastball playing days.

 

 

January 2026 update: “Roxy” Revisited

To celebrate the holiday season, here’s a photo of our dog Chet, taken after he came home from a boarding session in December. Country Lane Kennel takes such great care of him. He’s happy to arrive there, and happy to come home. Hard to beat that.

 

Speaking of dogs, NewMyths.com made some very kind comments about my short story “Roxy,” which was first published in NewMyths Issue 32, September 1, 2015. NewMyths Issue 73 includes an “archives” link to that original story, and also provides my comments about “Roxy” and the stories that followed. You can find the link to NewMyths Issue 73 here: https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmythscomissue73/issue-73-stories?authuser=3

 

Recent Publications

Cartoons and Illustrations:

“How Asteroids Get Off Track,” Scifaikuest, November 2025, print, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/scifaikuest-november-2025-1

“Where Lost Socks End Up,” Little Old Lady Comedy, December 24, 2025, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/mlmbukrzrvmpdkishrxukij6nj3tus

Fiction:

“Saving TIM,” Havok: Multiversal, Ebenezer Scrooge theme, December 9, 2025.

 

Humour:

“Must-See Additions to the Bowl Game Season,” Little Old Lady Comedy, December 22, 2025, https://www.littleoldladycomedy.com/all-works/kgnsbhovby6o5zc5sd2cpypnt37zdh

Nonfiction:

“Pickleball popularity rising in Norfolk County,” Simcoe Advocate December 18, 2025, page 19.

Poetry:

“As Twilight Approaches,” Year’s Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction, Volume 3, Fall 2025, Ansible Press (poem first appeared in Dreams and Nightmares 127, May 2024), https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/years-best-canadian-fantasy-and-science-fiction-volume-one/c9741a96-6b59-3beb-b69e-29da6cff75e6.html

 

“At the Root,” “Even in Dark Times,” Transition, Fall and Winter 2025, Canadian Mental Health Association (Saskatchewan Division,” Inc.

 

[dragon in the studio], [final curtain call], “A Mother Waits for News…,” Scifaikuest, November 2025, print, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/scifaikuest-november-2025-1

 

“The Ghost Town of the Past,” NonBinary Issue 42, Erased From History, December 11, 2025, Zoetic Press, https://www.zoeticpress.com/branded-merch/p/nonbinary-review-issue-42-erased-from-history

 

“Some News Can Wait,” “Until We Go to Mars,” Jupiter’s Eye, December 2025, Hiraeth Publishing, https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/jupiter-s-eye-december-2025

Reviews:

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny, The Seaboard Review of Books, December 10, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-black-wolf-by-louise-penny

 

“Magical Realism Series Continues in No Love Lost by Jane Glatt,” The Seaboard Review of Books, December 8, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/no-love-lost-jane-glatt

 

The Second Greatest Show on Earth: Henry Bergh, the Protection of Animals, and the Evolution of the Modern Social Movement, by Darcy Ingram, The Seaboard Review of Books, December 15, 2025, https://www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-second-greatest-show-on-earth-darcy-ingram

 

What I’m Working On

Through 2025, I spent a lot of my writing time with nonfiction, including reviews and articles. Though I plan to make a more concerted effort to write fiction as well in 2026, I do have a number of nonfiction projects I plan to get to in the coming year, including some I’m working on this month. I’ve also been writing some short humour (some fictional, some nonfiction), so working on polishing up and sending out some of those items will also be a focus.

 

Coming Soon

An interview with Lynn Hutchinson Lee, author of Origins of Desire in Orchid Fens and the soon-to-be-released Nightshade, is scheduled to come out in Interstellar Flight Magazine January 26, 2026. Lynn provided some great answers to the questions I developed, so I’m looking forward to sharing her insights.

 

I also have a poem, and a review of Sandra Lindlow’s poetry collection Mother Hubble’s Cupboard and Other Poems About Inner and Outer Space, in Star*Line 49.1.