Q&A with Daphne Greer

What gave you the idea to make your most recent book?

When I finished writing Jacob’s Landing there was always a question in my mind about what happened to Jacob’s birth mother? So, the door was always open for me to explore that in the sequel (also a stand-alone) in Jacob’s Dilemma.

Do you think there is value in fiction set in the Maritimes?

Absolutely. We live in such a rich area with so much potential for wonderful stories to be set here. When I wrote Jacob’s Landing which is set in Newport Landing, NS one reviewer wrote ‘While the fish-out-of-water/ mi familia loca trope is nothing new, the requisite “new-things-per-page” that makes a novel interesting is all right there, includes new landscapes – this book is set in the tiny village of Newport Landing, Nova Scotia, and now I have nineteen other reasons to pop over to Nova Scotia one summer. It sounds amazing.’

Was any character the most fun or most difficult to write?

Pearl and Frank were so much fun to write because everything they say is unfiltered, funny and raw. I had to work harder with Jacob because of course I had to tap into how a 13-year-old boy might navigate his situation. I raised four girls so I don’t have first-hand experience with boys. Had to really follow my gut on this one.

How long have you been working on Jacob's Dilemma?

I wrote it a few years ago while I was working full time. It usually takes me a good year to get a good first draft written because it’s written in spurts of time. I belong to a wonderful writing group. When we meet we typically bring a chapter to read out loud for feedback. I signed a contract for Jacob’s Dilemma two years ago with the publication date set for the Spring of 2023.

What do you hope people get from your work?

I hope readers feel as though they’ve experienced a taste of living in rural Nova Scotia. I hope they enjoy a laugh, an emotional tug on the heart and take something away that helps them better understand the connection we all have which is to be seen, heard and loved just the way we are.

What are some of your favourite books/authors?

We have lots of Nova Scotian authors that are amazing writers like, my writing friend Lisa Harrington who is the queen of dialogue and extremely funny. Laura Best, JoAnn Yhard, Nicola Davison, Alexander Harrington to name a few. I love everything that Susin Nielsen writes. I lOVED the book called ‘So be it,’ by Sarah Weeks and ‘The Great Gilly Hopkins’ by Katherine Paterson. I love good emotional stories and I’m a sucker for happy endings so I have to throw in Lesley Crewe as well.

When did you start writing?

I started writing twenty years ago when I was trying to find a book for my cousin’s son who was having a hard time understanding his older brother who lives with Autism. When I couldn’t find one that spoke to his needs, I decided to write one myself and then was hooked. But I quickly learned that it’s one thing to like to write, it’s another thing to know how to write. There were a few things about crafting a story that I had to learn along the way.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten?

The best writing advice was from my uncle Robert MacNeil; the former anchor of the PBS MacNeil – Lehrer News hour. He suggested that I take some writing courses to help fine tune my writing. Joining the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia was the best thing I ever did because it set me on my writing path and lead me to some wonderful writing friends. Learning the art of ‘showing vs telling a story’ was my biggest lesson. I’m not sure I ever received bad advice.

What is your favourite genre to write? Do you want to try writing in other genres?

I find this tricky to answer because while I tend to write about family dynamics my stories get labelled as middle grade or young adult but they are enjoyed by adults as well. My oldest reader was 101 and my youngest was seven. One of these days I might attempt to write what would be considered an ‘adult’ book.

What is an unpopular book you like and a popular book you dislike?

I can’t think of a specific title and nor would I want to throw an author under the bus but I have attempted to read books that have won big awards and I have found them some what ‘chewy’ to read and they’ve left me wondering what all the hype was about.

Tea or coffee?

I enjoy my morning coffee but enjoy tea as well, but coffee is my go to in the am.

 

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with author Renee Belliveau

What gave you the idea to make your most recent book?

As an archivist, I regularly encounter stories that inspire me. When I first started working at the Mount Allison University Archives, I kept encountering details about the 1941 residence fire. I felt in some ways haunted by those voices, haunted by the tragedy, and writing became a way for me to commemorate and share that history with new audiences.

Do you think there is value in fiction set in the Maritimes?

Of course! Reading about the Maritimes gives me a sense of belonging. It makes me feel seen and validates my experiences. I hope as a writer to do the same for others.

Was any character the most fun or most difficult to write?

The fun part of this book was that I took a risk and wrote every chapter from a different perspective. There are quite a few characters in my book! The most fun to write was the perspective of fire.

How long have you been working on it?

I worked on this book for two years from start to publication.

What do you hope people get from your work?

An appreciation and deeper understanding of history, especially local or regional history.

What are some of your favourite books/authors?

Kate Atkinson, Esi Edugyan, Alison MacLeod are a few of my favourite authors. They never disappoint. My favourite book of 2022 was Léa by Ariela Freedman. I think my favourite book of 2023 (so far) is Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stevens.

Is there any non-book media that influences your writing?

Podcasts on writing are a continuous source of inspiration for me. I love listening to other writers talk about their process and inspiration.

What is a book that you think is underread/underappreciated?

I find Acadian literature is both underread and underappreciated. We have a rich literary tradition, not all of which has been translated, which means it isn’t always accessible to our anglophone neighbours. As a proud Acadian, I try to help bridge that gap with my own writing by always including Acadian characters.

When did you start writing?

Like many authors, I’ve been writing for as long as I could hold a pencil. I turned my childhood closet into a writing nook when I was young and eventually pursued both a BA and MA in English. Now I write all sorts of things, including academic papers and articles.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten?

I think the best and the worst advice I’ve ever received is “Write every day.” I think better advice would be to make your writing a routine—but don’t force yourself to write if the words don’t come. There are days when I sit down even when I don’t want to and find the words eventually come. But when it feels like pulling teeth, I know the best thing to do is to walk away.

What is your favourite genre to write? Do you want to try writing in other genres?

I consider myself a historical fiction author, something that aligns well with my career as an archivist, but have been toying with the idea of writing a contemporary novel next. I also write about history and archival records in various non-fiction formats.

Tea or coffee?

I refuse to only pick one!

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with Gin Sexsmith

What gave you the idea to make your most recent book?

I have been angered by the absolute lack of justice when it comes to Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2S peoples for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it feels like bashing your head against a wall when it comes to women's rights. The frustration of being unable to go a single day without hearing about some kind of horrific violence against women. This book felt like the accumulation of all of that rage. Although fiction, I hope that it helps women feel empowered and helps curate change.

Was any character the most fun or most difficult to write?

Delilah was a blast. I feel like she's the alter-ego of all of us. She gives voice to the internal thoughts that I so often have but rarely say out loud. Cedar was difficult, I spent a lot of time at my desk sobbing for her. I wanted to capture her spirit and hilarity and strength while also holding tender space for the tragedy.

How long have you been working on it?

I started it in 2021, initially I wrote it as a screenplay (something I'd never done before), but once I was finished I went back in and wrote the novel.

What do you hope people get from your work?

My Mom said it best when she called the novel "a love letter to women." I really hope it's widely received as such.

I also hope that it changes how men treat women, even in ways that seem small: how they talk to women, how they talk about women, whether or not they continue to be allies when they are alone with their friends. I believe it is the little things that are brushed off as trivial that add up and create an environment of violence.

What are some of your favourite books/authors?

Wounds of Passion and All About Love - bell hooks

A Mind Spread Out On The Ground - Alicia Elliott

Johnny Appleseed - Joshua Whitehead

21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act - Bob Joseph

Animal and Three Women - Lisa Taddeo

Baby Teeth - Zoje Stage

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

The Shining - Stephen King

Women Talking - Miriam Toews

Tender is the Flesh - Agustina Bazterrica

Is there any non-book media that influences your writing?

Film and music, for sure. Promising Young Woman by Emerald Fennell was brilliant. Sarah Polley's adaptation of Women Talking had me sobbing within the first two minutes. Tegan and Sara have been my favourite artists since I was 10. Their storytelling abilities have always hugely inspired me. Lana Del Rey is a whole damn mood.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what?

As much as I love music and listen to it every other second of the day, I need complete silence while I'm writing. I did however make a corresponding Spotify playlist to go along with ITHOM for those who listen to music while they read.

What is a book that you think is underread/underappreciated?

21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act by Bob Joseph is such an important read. It should be required reading in school.

When did you start writing?

When I was 7 I started writing short stories on my mom's typewriter, illustrating, and binding them together with string. I was a loner with a capital L.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten?

I can't think of the worst writing advice, if it didn't resonate I must have just forgotten it. Put it in the trash folder of my brain, you know?

The best probably comes from Stephen King's On Writing. He talks about making a writing schedule and being an avid reader.

"If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There's no way around these two things that I'm aware of, no shortcut."

What is your favourite genre to write? Do you want to try writing in other genres?

Spec fiction for sure. I love the freedom to play around with big ideas and opinions while stepping away from reality. I would also love to write a straight up horror novel at some point.

What is an unpopular book you like and a popular book you dislike?

I mean they're kind of poked fun of now, but I was in love with the entire Twilight series. I absolutely hate 50 Shades of Grey.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee in the morning and tea at night :)

 

 

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with Nova Scotian playwright Catherine Banks

What gave you the idea for this play? There were two real life events that came together in my head. The first happened in St John's in the early 80's. A woman who appeared to be disabled and unable to speak was found on the steps of the Basilica. She had a note in her pocket that read something like: "We are Americans. We can no longer afford to pay our daughter's medical bills. We are leaving her here so that she will be taken care of by Canada's health care system." She was later found out to be a fraud but I wondered at the time, when the press was vilifying her, if maybe she had helped one person because they were in some way positively affected by her. Then years later I started to hear the stories of the profound effect that going out to the crash site of the Swissair disaster had on the fisherman who wanted so much to rescue people that night. One day I asked myself what would help these men recover and in my imagination a young woman appeared on an island.

How long have you been working on (writing/researching) this play? I wrote the first draft in 2006. Of course I haven't worked on it steadily. I put it away until 2010 when I took it to the Playwright Lab at Banff, put it away again until 2017 when I was invited to a playwright residency in Gros Moren. Since 2018 I have worked on it while working on other projects.

What are some of your favourite books/authors/plays now? I love the playwrights of the American Golden Age of theatre, Miller, Williams, & Wilder. I admire the work of Colleen Murphy, Donna Michele St. Bernard, Wole Syvinka and many others. I read a lot of poetry and my current favourite book is 100 Poems to Break Your Heart editor Edward Hircsh. I read more poetry than other literature.

What is a book that you think is underread/ underappreciated? The Mountain and the Valley by Ernest Buckler. So many people in NS don't know about this beautiful novel. It isn't taught in high schools anymore.

When did you start writing? I wrote from a very young age. I had a teacher in Grade 7 who encouraged my writing so I would say I have been writing since I was 10 or so.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten? The best writing advice was from the American-Cuban playwright Maria Irene Fornes. She said never judge a first draft. Write down whatever the characters say no matter how crazy or weird or even violent. When you can't write anything more then you become the playwright and start making decisions about the draft. It is the absolute best advice and I am very grateful that I was able to meet her and learn from her.

Any plans for the next writing project? I have just finished adapting The Mountain and the Valley by Ernest Buckler. It is a big big project. Until that is on stage---which I hope it will be in 2024---I haven't really the head space to start something new. And of course there will be rewrites after Downed Hearts is over so I will have lots on my plate. Plus I am teaching playwriting at Dalhousie.

Tea or coffee? Coffee with 18% cream please.

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with Nova Scotian playwright Lily Falk

How/Where did you first get the idea to write this play? Or, how did you first learn of Anne Lister and the coded diaries? I wanted to write a play about a historical woman and found out about Anne Lister through my initial research. I wanted to write a play that could be performed by myself and my friends that would be filled with juicy, dramatic, and funny performances. At the time when I first started writing, my collaborator Franziska Glen and I were starting to dream about creating a theatre company together, which became Gale Force Theatre. I've always loved costume dramas but their lack of critical context or perspective, or if I'm being honest...girls kissing, felt like an opening for me to play with the form.

How long have you been working on it? It took four years to get from the initial idea to our first full production at the Bus Stop Theatre in Halifax last Fall. It's been on and off! I've gotten a lot of support through Playwright Atlantic Resource Centre (PARC) and Eastern Front Theatre's Emerging Playwrights Unit. There've been lots of COVID related delays.

Was anything particularly challenging in writing Crypthand? So many things! I had never written a play before. I was so scared to even try. I had never had to think about a single project or story for that long. I don't think I knew how hard that would be.

Was there any character who stood out as the most fun/difficult to write? I knew that I would need support to write the character of Eliza as she's from a different cultural background than myself. I ended up working with the incredible playwright/performer/dramaturg/cultural consultant, Anita Majumdar. It was an amazing experience. Anita provided invaluable historical research and brought her deep cultural knowledge to the work. We spent about a year on and off working on developing Eliza's character. Eliza Raine was Anne Lister's first girlfriend and born in Madras, India in 1805 to a Tamil mother and a British father. She came to England as a child. We also got to work with Suba Sankaran, an amazing musician who's provided support to Oksana Sirju and Mara Teare who have both played Eliza in our productions and have supported them in their performance singing in Tamil.

Who are some of your favourite playwrights/authors? Oof--so hard, so many! I love Ruth Ozeki, Sue Goyette, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Lauren Groff, Maggie Nelson, adrienne maree brown, Sarah Ruhl, Miriam Toews, Lynda Barry, Don McKay...

Is there a play or book you feel is underappreciated or undervalued? I would love to see more playwrights from the Maritimes get opportunities to show their pieces across Canada. It's very rare to get a second production and I feel so lucky that Ship's Company Theatre wanted to bring Crypthand into their season. There's so much talent here that the rest of the country deserves to see!

How long have you been writing? I've been writing stories since I was a kid and I wrote very silly Christmas pageants when I was a teenager. But Crypthand is my first full-length play!

What is the best or worst writing advice you've gotten? I have a little cue card above my desk that has the quote from Mary Oliver: "Attention is the beginning of devotion." I'm often very distracted! I try to remember what I wish to be devoted to.

Do you have a preferred genre for your writing, or any genre you hope to try writing? I'm currently working on a collection of poetry for two-voices geared towards kids.

Coffee or tea?

Tea!

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with Maritime author Carol Brunel

How did you learn about the subject of your work and what made you decide to write about it? Maud Lewis and her art are iconic in NS, so much so that I think people may have lost sight of the actual woman who lived through the hardships she did and against all odds lived a hugely creative life. As a person of few words who for much of her life lived under the thumb of a domineering husband, she expressed herself through painting. I was deeply intrigued by her inner life, the life she lived through her imagination, and what she might have said and done if given the additional agency that comes with spoken language. So, I really wanted to create a voice for her and have her tell her story. Also, I had already written a novel about a woman artist—French sculptor Camille Claudel—who endured many of the same struggles Maud did in order to make her art. In a way this earlier novel, These Good Hands, helped prepare me for writing Brighten the Corner Where You Are.

How long have you been working on (writing/researching) your newest book? My present novel-in-progress has been with me for an embarrassingly long time, at least 20 years. Many false starts and a lot of protracted stops, and when the pandemic hit I found it impossible to focus on a story that by then seemed totally insignificant. Anyway, over the past year I’ve completed a working draft, which I am now revising.

What was the most interesting/entertaining thing you found in research that didn’t make it into the book? Since Brighten the Corner’s publication, readers have shared many interesting tidbits about the artist with me. My favourite one, from a former broadcaster based in Saint John, NB, is that Maud used to write to the radio station there with song requests. (She had no phone.) I don’t know if her requests were ever played. But it moves me deeply to imagine her doing this. She loved music, and country music plays a large role in my book.

What are some of your favourite books/authors now? Very recent faves include Olga Tokarczuk, her novel Flights. Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other. Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These. Rebecca Solnit, Orwell’s Roses. Jon Fosse, Septology. Annie Ernaux’s A Girl’s Story and A Woman’s Story. Annick MacAskill’s poetry collection Shadow Blight.

Is there any non-book media that influences your writing? Visual art—painting and sculpture.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what? No, never. I need silence.

What is a book that you think is underread/ underappreciated? Hard question. Too many books are not recognized for their greatness.

When did you start writing? When I was seven, as soon as I learned you can string words together to make a sentence.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten? To write what you know—best and worst advice.

What is your favourite genre to write? Do you want to try writing in other genres? Fiction—novels and short stories. I also enjoy writing nonfiction (and have my first nonfiction work coming out this fall). I would like to try writing for children.

Tea or coffee? Tea , all the way. Full-on, well-steeped tea with lots of milk.

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with Maritime author Sherri Aikenhead

How did you learn about the subject of your work & what made you decide to write about it? I felt compelled to write about this heartbreaking story after sitting in the Bridgewater Supreme Court in January 2009 and hearing Penny Boudreau admit she murdered her only child. As an employee of the Department of Justice and mother of 3, I felt sick to my stomach and wanted to dedicate a book to her victim, an innocent 12–year-old child.

How long have you been working on (writing/researching) your newest book? It took me 3 years to do more than 25 interviews and research the police technique known as Mr. Big operation and one year to write it.

What are some of your favourite books/authors now? I find true stories the most fascinating - loved Alexa! by Stephen Kimber as well as thrillers James Patterson.

What is a book that you think is underread/ underappreciated? Run, Hide, Repeat by Pauline Daikin.

When did you start writing? I worked as a staff writer in 1985 at Maclean’s magazine in Toronto.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten? Best is to absorb every detail and color so you can describe a scene for a reader and make them feel they are there. Worst writing advice … throw out drafts and start again.

Any plans for the next book? Likely continue in the true crime vein.

Tea or coffee? Coffee…two a morning.

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard

Q&A with Birth Road Author Michelle Wamboldt

What gave you the idea to make your most recent book?

My debut novel, BIRTH ROAD is loosely based on my grandmother’s life. When I was a little girl growing up in Truro, she told me the story of how she walked for miles – from Pictou Road to the end of Queen Street – the day she gave birth to my mother. It was a hot day in July in 1946 and she wore a coat to conceal her stomach. I heard this story many times. This image, of her walking that road, always stayed with me. When I decided to write a story based on her life, I knew it would have to be about a woman walking the “birth road” and remembering the key moments of her life that brought her to that day. Through my writing process a work of fiction emerged. I added fictional characters and plot twists, and ultimately the story that came to me was not grandmother’s factual life story. In the end I had a beautiful hybrid, where her story is woven through these fictional pages and her sprit is present throughout.

Do you think there is value in fiction set in the Maritimes?

Definitely! There is always value in seeing ourselves and our communities reflected in stories. I have heard from many people who enjoyed reading about their hometowns of Truro and Amherst and being able to visualize the story as it unfolds in a familiar setting. I also think, in terms of historical fiction, that readers enjoy learning about the events that took place in their own back yards, with characters who resemble their own ancestors. Many readers have contacted me to tell me about their own family members who worked at Stanfields, who went to work in Boston, or who were in the North Novas.

Was any character the most fun or most difficult to write?

Aunt Gertie was probably the most fun to write. She is such a great character and I just love her. I enjoyed coming up with her many great one liners, and her endless words of wisdom. She makes me laugh and she makes me cry. I found Edgar difficult to write. There were challenging scenes to create for his character. It was a struggle to portray someone who could be so abusive, and yet still try and convey that person’s own history of pain and struggles.

How long have you been working on it?

This story lived within me for over a decade. I had written little short stories about my grandmother’s life many years ago, with no intention of ever writing a novel. But, in 2013 I decided to try and write a book and expand on the few little stories I had done. I was lucky enough to get a six month mentorship with Donna Morrissey and so I wrote for 6 months. Having deadlines and someone I was accountable to were key to my writing practice and that is how I was able to get the story started. When this ended, unfortunately I stopped writing. I started a new job and was pulled in other directions. Helen’s story never left me. It haunted me for years. In 2019 I started writing seriously again. I found another person to give me deadlines. Chris Benjamin was the writer in residence at the Lunenburg Library at that time. I met with Chris and had deadlines once again. This helped me to complete my manuscript, which I did during that six month period. Obviously I seem to write much more effectively when I have deadlines and someone whom I am accountable to!

What do you hope people get from your work?

I would like to see people learn to embrace forgiveness - and try to remember that we really never know what others are going through, so we should not be so quick to judge. I hope Helen becomes someone people admire. She was a strong woman and I hope this story is an inspiration to other women.

What are some of your favourite books/authors?

I recently discovered Elizabeth Strout – and I just can’t get enough of her. One of my favorite books is The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss. I have read it so many times – there is something about her characters that I find extremely comforting. Michael Crummy is also one of my favorites – I think his book The Innocents is amazing.

Is there any non-book media that influences your writing?

I would say yes, as I LOVE movies. When I wrote this story I could see it playing out in my mind like a movie and I often just followed the characters and wrote their actions and words – so it may be safe to say that the visual medium of movies has had an affect on me.

Do you listen to music when you write?

If so, what? No, I do not listen to music when I write. I need complete silence – no music, no TV, no people around.

What is a book that you think is underread/underappreciated?

I can’t think of an exact title, but I do know there are so many books that don’t achieve success just because the writer did not get the right publisher, or they were published at the wrong time – like during the pandemic. There are so many wonderful stories out there that just don’t get the attention they deserve and unfortunately sometimes it just comes down to luck and chance. And then there are the thousands of books sitting in peoples drawers because they never were published – maybe they never even tried to be published. I think there is an abundance of art out in the world that never gets to see the light of day, and we are all the lesser for that.

When did you start writing?

I didn’t start writing fiction until about fifteen years ago. But, I have always been a writer. I went to journalism school and I was a communications specialist for many years – so I did write for a living, it was just a different kind of writing.

What is the best and/or worst writing advice you’ve ever gotten?

I would say the best advice I received was from a friend, who is also a writer. When my manuscript was finally finished I told her I wasn’t ready to send it out to publishers. I had a few weak excuses – needs more work, should be read by a few people first. But deep down, I know the reason I did not want to send it - I was terrified of showing someone my work, learning it was no good, and being rejected. ( It has since been comforting to know most writers initially feel this way.) My friend told me to send it out to publishers right away. To just do it! I listened to her. And, I am so glad I did!

What is your favourite genre to write?

Do you want to try writing in other genres? So far, it seems to be historical/literary fiction. Research is one of my favorite parts of the writing process and I seem to be drawn to the past. I am currently working on another novel, and it is also historical fiction. I also write short fiction as well and have had a couple of stories published.

Tea or coffee?

Definitely tea. I am a big tea drinker, but only decaf. It is hard to believe, but I have never had a cup of coffee. I tried it once when I was about twenty, and I didn’t like it.

January 15, 2024 — Vonda Hazzard
NovelTea Q&A with Author Jane Doucet

NovelTea Q&A with Author Jane Doucet

  1. What gave you the idea to make your most recent book? The Pregnant Pause is my semi-autobiographical debut novel, which I self-published in 2017. I was looking for a lighthearted novel about motherhood indecision and couldn’t find any, so I decided to write one. I’m thrilled that Vagrant Press is rereleasing it with a fresh new cover.
  2. Do you think there is value in fiction set in the Maritimes? A resounding yes! Maritimers (all Atlantic Canadians, actually) have an innate ability to laugh at themselves in the face of adversity, which is a special trait that makes for great storytelling. Also, the natural landscapes in our provinces are stunning and provide compelling background settings.
  3. Was any character the most fun or most difficult to write? Rose Ainsworth, the main character of The Pregnant Pause, was based on my personal experiences, so writing her was both fun and difficult. Generally, though, the more quirky and mouthy a character is, the more fun they are to write—Betty Zinck and Eric Morash in my second novel, Fishnets & Fantasies, are prime examples. And May Ainsworth, in my third novel, Lost & Found in Lunenburg (coming this fall!), is another one.
  4. How long have you been working on it? I wrote the first draft of The Pregnant Pause in 2003. Then, after a negative experience with a literary agent in the U.K., I stuck the manuscript in a drawer for 14 years before deciding to self-publish it.
  5. What do you hope people get from your work? With all of my novels, I am to educate and entertain. Not to shock or scare—there’s enough stuff happening in the real world to give us nightmares.
  6. What are some of your favourite books? Canadian: Carol Shields, Lesley Crewe, Amy Spurway, Ali Bryan, Paul Quarrington. British: Richard Osman. Swedish: Fredrik Backman.
  7. Do you listen to music when you write? No. In fact, it is imperative that I write in total silence. My husband is not allowed to speak to me. Or breathe loudly. Or make eye contact.
  8. What is a book that you think is underread/underappreciated? Thrift Store Saints: Meeting Jesus 25 Cents at a Time. It never fails to make me cry, but for all the right reasons.
  9. When did you start writing? I’m in my 50s, so I always wrote letters to my family in Nova Scotia when I lived in Toronto in my 20s—collect phone calls were expensive, and there was no Internet (gasp!). I started writing seriously in 1989, at age 21, during my first year of journalism school at the University of King’s College.
  10. What is the best writing advice you’ve ever gotten? I took a fiction-writing workshop in 2018, and one of the instructors said, “Weather is setting.” So in Fishnets & Fantasies, I added a good old Nova Scotia tropical storm. In the same workshop, I was told to apply for every writing competition I could, so I submitted The Pregnant Pause to the national Whistler Independent Book Awards, and it was shortlisted!
  11. What is your favourite genre to write? Do you want to try writing in other genres? Humour, 100 per cent of the time! All of my novels are funny. They’re my favourite books to read, too (see the above list of authors for proof). I'm planning to write a fourth novel, a “cozy” (read: not gory) murder mystery, but it’ll be funny like my other books, ‘cause that’s the way I roll.
  12. Tea or coffee? Weekday mornings: decaf green tea, clear. Weekend mornings: a two-cup pot of orange pekoe, milk in mug first like Gram taught me. Coffee has never touched my lips (I get my caffeine from my daily dark-chocolate habit), but I do love the smell of it.
March 19, 2023 — Vonda Hazzard

"Death in Venice" Review and Legacy

As legislators and bigots strive to take away books and rewrite history, we need to make sure that we know it and tell it. We cannot let people control the way we read art, nor can we allow the lie to persist that any of this is new. Achilles and Patroclus were lovers. Carmilla is the Sapphic queen of gothic literature. James Dean, the icon of cool for a generation, was bi.
Fanboy: NovelTea Blog #0

Fanboy: NovelTea Blog #0

Hello, my name’s Brent. I’m the tall dude at the bookstore who looks like the lovechild of Yahtzee Croshaw and Ethan Hawke. Grew up in rural Ontario, taught English in rural Japan, and now I work in a bookstore while tinkering with my own fiction. I expect Hallmark to pull a Zane Grey for copying their plotlines with the broad strokes of my life.
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