During the big rewrite/revision/edit of The Witches of New York an important milestone came and went. I didn’t exactly miss it, I just didn’t have time to stop and acknowledge it, (at least not in any way that felt fitting or right.) Now that the manuscript for Witches has gone into “pages” (the magical process where the story gets arranged by the wonderful crew at Knopf Canada into the actual pages of a book,) I can take some time to yank the weeds from my garden and my brain, and think on all the things I pushed aside while I was immersed in a world …
Tag: Nova Scotia
A heavy fall of snow respects the cottage of St. Eumachus of Perigord (sixth century). One rigorous winter day, while St. Eumachus was occupied in prayer for the clergy and people of Perigord, a heavy storm of snow fell on all the surrounding country, but not a single flake fell on the cottage or in the little garden plot of St. Eumachus. We are told that an eagle with outstretched wings brooded over the cottage and garden, and protected them. – Les Petits Bollandistes, vol. ii. p. 414 (1880) I read that passage during our most recent snowstorm in Scots Bay …
Like most of Eastern Canada and much of the Central and Eastern US, we had dismal weather to start the New Year. Freezing rain, followed by heavy snow, followed by bitter cold, followed by more freezing rain. It’s a good thing I adore my family and that we enjoy spending time with each other! Many rounds of Munchkin, D&D and (our new favourite game) Pandemic were played. Many cookies (so. many. cookies.) were eaten. Our black cat Xeno enjoyed watching what we like to call “cat TV.” This involves him sitting on the windowsill and staring down birds as they …
This past summer, amid literary events and kitchen renos, I had a visit from two talented musicians, SarahRose Black and Andrew Ascenzo. Together they make up the wonderful duo, Arosa Star. I’d met them last fall while I was on tour in Ontario with the publication of The Virgin Cure. They’d introduced themselves to me after a reading, and said they had some news to share. Imagine my surprise when they told me that they’d been so inspired by Dora’s tale in The Birth House, that they were writing a collection of songs based on the landscape and themes portrayed …