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Take the baton: Help me find my readers

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Blue comes in many shades already, from Picotee blue to Liberty blue and dozens more, but last Tuesday’s midterm vote in the US demands a brand new shade be mixed: Tsunami. Bold. Deep. Powerful.  Only 49% of those eligible to vote actually cast a ballot, which is historic but a tad lacklustre when you consider what was at stake. However, that 49% liked what it heard and saw from enough Democratic Party candidates to flip both the House and the Senate . In my view, that’s good for the US, and good, also, for the larger world. The election is over, but the real work lies ahead — hard work that will, I hope, return progressive legislative change to America. Maroon is the colour I chose for the cover of my handbook, because I wanted the cover to look bold and be eye-catching, and enough buyers have told me they like it for me to know I made the right choice. The hard work of bringing my handbook into the world is long done, but next stage is, of course, the much harder one: Getting ...
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Profile of a Creative: Jenn Forster, writing as Ani Birch -- published author

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The final book in Iggy's adventure is now available Ordinary people can become writers and then published authors. "All" it takes is vision, commitment and the support of others on the same quest. I am learning this every day, all the time, as I meet more and more people who have stories to tell and who want to get those stories out into the world. The more we meet each other, the more we can believe that we, too, can be that Writer.  On the occasion of her third book being published, I profile one such person who has become a Writer.  Buy the book from Amazon here Buy the book direct from the US publisher here Introduction   I met Jenn Forster, who writes under the pen name Ani Birch ,  several years ago  in a 3-hour  writing class that Deborah Schnitzer and I were leading in McNally Robinson's community classroom . Jenn's enthusiastic response to our writing philosophy and writing activities paired well with our shared commitment to conversation and comm...
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It's the time change. Stupid.

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Time and politics. Usually, not enough of one, too much of the other. This fall? Too much of both together. I believe in democracy and democratic processes such as voting in elections. Those elected to govern the country and, by extension, the citizens, should hold the confidence of a decent percentage of the population. I am not sure, however, that I am a fan of ‘direct democracy’ which is what Premier Danielle Smith called Alberta’s recent referendum about separating from Canada ; she coupled that one radical question with nine others about immigration and constitutional reform. That kind of exercise — a specific question taken directly to the voters — looks and sounds to me more like dog whistle politics than democracy.  In a functioning democracy, we vote in a government on the appointed date, those we elect then govern, then go back to the voters at the appropriate time ( David Eby in BC can tell a story or two about when it is NOT appropriate), we vote them in or out, and s...
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A room of one's own is good, but give me a personal chef instead, please!

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I have learned to write just about anywhere. I always have a notebook and pen in my bag, and I can set up my laptop on a table, desk -- or even my lap. A room of my own is not necessary. Finding space to write is not my issue.  My issue is in t he kitchen.  I know where it is and I function well in it. The fridge and cabinets contain food items to work with, and I know how to produce a good meal. It's just, well, there are days when I wish the meals would sort themselves out without input of any kind from me -- not thinking, planning, shopping, prepping or making. Just POOF, appear on a plate, ready for me to eat.   I love good food, enjoy exciting flavours, and function best when I eat regularly. But, some days, the effort required to produce something decent is just too much, or seems to be too much, because, ultimately, hunger and good sense prevail and I get down to preparing the necessary meal. Not necessarily exciting, but functional. As I do so, I fantasize ab...
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Profile of a Creative: Deborah Romeyn, songwriter & singer

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Deborah Romeyn: friend, teacher, massage therapist —  and songwriter & singer Introduction by Amanda I am intrigued by how different forms of creative energy and creative output share so much fundamental DNA. Whether painter or musician, writer or dancer, it is talent, drive, hard work, persistence, self-doubt, community as essential core support, audience as key, self-belief as crucial that connects artists across the genres and around the world. Creative energy is life force that defies the odds, the critics, the naysayers  — and I look for creative energy wherever I can.  Sometimes it’s tucked away in a corner, evident only because an accidental light shines on it: Discovered! Sometimes it is loud and proud and out there trumpeting itself for anyone within reach: Watch me! Read me! Listen to me! Most usually in my circles, it is quietly present, made known when someone asks an interested question. Today, my own spotlight is shining on my sister Creative Deborah Ro...
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Penni Mitchell -- feminist, friend, fighter: 1959-2026

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My friend Penni Mitchell has died. I knew her as feminist, writer, editor and all-round face of feminism in Winnipeg and beyond. She was a force, taken by cancer much too young.  I credit Penni with encouraging me to write and to think about myself as Writer, as I told her in this letter I dropped into her mailbox a couple of years ago. May 17, 2023 Dear Penni: This weekend, I took stock of my writing by creating a ‘record of publication’ that lists what I’ve written and where it’s been published. Doing this made me realize that you played a major role in setting me on this track of writing and then submitting it and then, sometimes, seeing it published. The first piece on my list is the one I wrote about Norma Scarborough for the summer 2009 issue of Herizons . You may or may not recall it as starkly as I do. It went like this: I called you to say that Norma had died and that Herizons should write a tribute or look-back over her life. You said, Why don’t you write it, Amanda? Wh...
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Partners' harmony requires rising above squeamishness: Just. Do. It.

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We watched the NBC news show Meet the Press on Sunday, which included an interview with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Throughout the questions put to him, he was continually  in the position of having to characterize his relationship with the current president of the United States. Zelensky chose his words carefully. Underneath every one, I sensed both his deep regret the alliance is not stronger and more consistent, and his disdain/pain/disgust that this is how it is these days. He has no choice. He must be diplomatic towards the world power while being loyal to, and proudly representative of, his country. Not an easy line to walk, but walk it Zelensky did — and does. There is no war in our house, but there is, currently, a minor skirmish between us and tiny invaders. It’s pitch black dark when I get up with the cat, then walk quietly with her to the kitchen where she gets food and I make tea, then I creep down the basement stairs and stand still, listening, listening fo...
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