Five Years a Writer

Instructions for living a life:  Pay attention.  Be astonished.  Tell about it. This was the prompt for last Sunday afternoon's writing session; it is verse 4 of Mary Oliver’s poem  Sometimes .  The piece I wrote speaks to the core notion of attention but questions just what to be astonished by... Yes, Mary, but there is so much to pay attention to.  How to choose?  How to know what is truly important? Oh It is all important That little bird This morning’s sunrise The zillion specks of dust The car parked next door The kitten purring on the sofa The man in the oval-shaped office No Surely not How could it be — all important To be astonished by it that is easier There is much to be astonished by The audacity of men The stupidity of humans The lack of basic decency The unconditional love of animals The beauty of the natural world But it is the audacity of so many men that leaves me breathless So I turn to Jane Choose to listen to her instructions for l...

The Unlikely Hero Book 1 of the IGGY'S VOYAGE trilogy science taught Iggy to ask questions -- magic taught her to believe a novel for  middle-grade-age readers by Ani Birch Publisher: Resource Publications, an imprint of Wipf and Stock (Oregon) Release date: September 15, 2025 Review by Amanda Le Rougetel ----------------------- Iggy is a friend I would have loved to have had as a young girl trying to find my way in the world. Iggy is smart, curious and loving — and oh so curious. Always asking questions and always wondering how science can answer them. She is bold and courageous. There is lots to love about Iggy, but her life is not easy. Her mum seems to have an odd illness not easily explained and her father left the family when Iggy was very young. When a mirror quite literally opens a whole new magical realm to Iggy, she digs deep for the courage to pursue the path she is set on and to find answers to some of her many questions. Can she really be the answer that the magic rea...