Yay! I got great feedback on my last, unsuccessful Canada Council Grant application, so the 2019 version is revised and submitted. Wish me luck!

I am so lucky! My Rainforest Writers Village retreat followed directly on the heels of my Dead Man’s Flats retreat, so I get about 11 days of concentrated work on the edits. We did have a hiccup when one of our friends came down with pneumonia! Spent a few hours in Emergency before she was air lifted back to Canada. Wow. Glad everything turned out for the best. But still, I got lots of writing done, AND I got to present to the other writers at the retreat. Met new people and connected with old friends, and learned some cool stuff from the other presenters. Win Win.

Wonderful writing retreat with friends at a resort just tucked into the mountains, at Dead Man’s Flats. I was going to work on the WWII novel, but I just got edits back from my publisher for Book 2 of my series, so that’s on the agenda. The good news: the edits are not super-extensive. Also, in looking over what my editor wants, there are lots of inspiring details that make the story resonate even more. Really enjoying the work!

Got a good start on my list of things to do from my publisher. Of course, going to a wedding, helping my daughter with her AFA grant, working on WWC’s CADA grant, teaching Spec Fic and writing all happened this week, too. But I got a surprising number of the things on my list started!

Had a great meeting with my publisher and between us, we generated quite a list of things to do before the launch. Came home and re-organized my schedule so I can have my end done by launch date!

Got started filming some of the book trailer videos that Laksa Media will use to launch Bursts of Fire this summer. We did the easiest ones first: filming artists who either worked on, or were inspired by, the novel. Next, we need to edit them to the music.

Tomorrow, I’m leading a Writers’ Circle Discussion on “The Engines of Character Motivation.” I have a 1-page (2-sided) summary handout to spark the discussion, and if that starts to flag, a character worksheet. But last time I ran a discussion group, we got through 2 questions, so I think I have tons of material.

My new class has started for the winter semester, and I have six students–nice small group to allow for lots of individualization, but big enough that the discussion can be lively. I am really enjoying this group–they are more than willing to plunge in to the topics, and most of them have also put up some of their work for critique!

Hey, great news: I got an Alberta Foundation for the Arts Grant to help fund my book tour in support of Bursts of Fire this summer and fall! This means I can do all the stops on the tour I had planned, and not be completely broke by the end! Yay!! Thanks, Alberta Foundation for the Arts!!

Well into the new year, and tons of stuff on the go: continuing to work on my current novel, waiting for edit requests from my publisher for book 2 of my series, and ARCs for book 1 were mailed to reviewers this week. Prepping for the video filming for the book trailers for books 1&2 of the series. Also, I’m editing for a monthly client, just met with a potential client with a novel he may want done this year, waiting for all the short stories to come in for the anthology, and agreed to swap novels to beta-read with another author. The course I’m teaching this winter starts on Wednesday, and I’m planning not only my book tour for this summer/fall, but 2 writing retreats in February/March. Oh, yeah, and tons of reading as I am judging the Sunburst awards this year. So, lots of things to juggle!