Book Review: Those Precious Days by Ann Patchett, published by Harper

 Those Precious Days is a collection of 22 essays–24 if you count the essays Ann Patchett…

Book Review: The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan by Salma Hussain (MG novel), published by Tundra Books

 In 1991, the eldest of a family of soon-to-be five, Mona Hasan has a happy life…

An Old Man on a Small Island (short story) by Leanne Dyck

What do residents of a remote island do for fun? That question inspired this short story……

Books (short story) by Leanne Dyck

photo by ldyck “Dyslexics don’t like books. They’re reluctant readers,” they say.Hmm, well… Not all of…

Book Review: Binge by Douglas Coupland (short story collection), published by Random House Canada

 Douglas Coupland has his finger on the pulse of the 2020s. He knows us–with and without…

Callie Ch 8 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “Just the Two of Us”

 Chapter Seven: With a job that supports her writing and Aurora realizing how important Callie is…

Callie Ch 7 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “Open Mic Night”

 Chapter Six: Aurora takes the job as a server at The Starving Artist and seals her…

Callie Ch 6 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “In a Restaurant”

 Chapter Five: Aurora abandons sleep to write. What would you do to develop your passion? What…

Callie Ch 5 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “With Callie’s Help”

 Chapter Four: So the necklace is a vessel in which Calliope, a Greek Muse, communicates with…

Callie Ch 4 by Leanne Dyck (inspired the writing life) “Finding Callie”

 Chapter Three: Aurora hears a voice telling her a story. Where do you think the voice…

Callie Ch 3 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “The Voice”

 Chapter Two: Why did the bookseller give Aurora that necklace? Why did he insist she take…

Callie Ch 2 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “Surviving”

 Chapter One: No job… No home… No boyfriend… No life… What would you do? What does…

Callie Ch 1 by Leanne Dyck (inspired by the writing life) “The End is The Beginning”

 One woman’s amazing journey to becoming who she was meant to be. Callie photo by ldyck…

Book Review: Brit Happens (memoir) by James Mullinger, published by Goose Lane Editions

England-born comedian James Mullinger fell in love with a Canadian and then he fell in love…

Mailbox (short story) by Leanne Dyck

 We who continue on our author journey are brave. Here’s why… photo by ldyck Mailbox Under…

Book Review: Indians on Vacation by Thomas King (humour, travel), published by HarperCollins Publishers

 So two Canadians go on vacation to Prague… It sounds like the beginning of a joke.…

Kisa (short story) by Leanne Dyck

An Icelandic-Canadian–my mom–holding a kitten. Circa the 1930s or maybe 40s. In my early twenties, I…

Two Friends Book Review: Secrets of the Sprakkar (non-fiction) by Eliza Reid Published by Simon and Schuster

 Leanne’s review of Secrets of the Sprakkar by Eliza Reid… Iceland is a leader in gender…

My Song (short story) by Leanne Dyck

They say you shouldn’t meet your idols. This short story explains why… photo by ldyck J.…

Book Review: The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe (historical fiction) published by Vagrant Press

 Mary Poppins-like Emmeline Darling floats into people’s–family, friends, strangers–lives spreading kindness, compassion, and understanding as she…

Book Review: The Running Trees (short story collection) by Amber McMillan published by Goose Lane Editions

 The Running Trees is the thinking person’s short story collection. It has been shortlisted for the…

Not a Mother but… (short story) by Leanne Dyck

 Dreams about having a newly published book inspired this short story. It hasn’t happened yet but…

Finding Su-Le (short story) by Leanne Dyck

I grew up on the outskirts of a small community, between two highways. Sometimes people would…

Book Review: The Maid (cozy mystery) by Nita Prose

 While cleaning rooms at a five-star hotel, Molly Gray finds a nasty, famous, old, rich guy…

Is the Reverend Dead? Ch 17 (a mystery inspired by remote island life) by Leanne Dyck

chapter sixteen: Against her better judgment, Mrs. Hazeltson helps Conner escape. photo by ldyck Is the…