Today is a bonus episode. I mean, post. I might be spending a little too much time listening to podcasts. Where’s that wide eyed unblinking emoji when you need it?
Today is January 23rd and it’s also National Handwriting Day. I’m not much for paying attention to ‘special days’ on the calendar because there seems to be one for everything. But Handwriting Day? I can get behind this one. Especially because there are so many creative benefits to handwriting.
For me, one of the biggest creative benefits of putting pen to paper is the fostering of ideas. One of my favourite ways to work through a story thought is to start listing the what-if possibilities. I usually aim for ten ideas. This way you can move past the obvious and perhaps find a different angle. It allows me to slow down and think.
Handwriting improves our memory. It has more mediative benefits than keyboarding. It’s very individual and can change with our moods creating for an emotional outlet. It activates your senses: the sound of pen on paper; the pressure of pressing down, seeing the words come to life. Those things connect different parts of our brain together and create a stronger memory than typing.
Also, you can make things pretty and have special pens, even glittery ones. You can colour code things. You also don’t have to be precious about it or have a fancy pen, to reap the benefits of handwriting. You can just hastily jot down notes in your messiest scrawl.
Until next time…
Do you use pen and paper to work through things? Make a to-do list? Or journal? Maybe you love to send handwritten notes to friends? I want to hear about it all.
January is an excellent month to recommend a book that has a lot of flowers in it. Not only does it have plenty of blooms to remind a person of summer, it’s definitely steamy. Forget Me Not by Julie Soto will warm you right up.
Ama Torres is an optimistic wedding planner who doesn’t believe in marriage. But weddings? They’re amazing. Elliot Bloom is a brooding florist who hates owning a flower shop…until a certain bright-eyed, donut-loving workaholic shows up at his door.
Once upon a time, they collaborated on events by day, and by night, Ama traced the intricate flower tattoos etched along his body. Then Ama shattered his heart and never spoke to Elliot again.
Now they’re working on an event that could make or break both of their careers—except neither of them has gotten over what happened two years ago. Things are not helped by the two brides, who see the obvious chemistry between Ama and Elliot and are determined to set them up, not knowing their complicated history. But as the wedding takes on a life of its own, Ama and Elliot are about to discover that some things can survive a complete catastrophe . . .
A Ramble of Thoughts:
Forget Me Not is a contemporary romance told in a dual timeline and that is one of my favourite things about this story. The present day is told in Ama’s perspective and the past (what unfolded two years ago) is told in Elliot’s point of view. It was a very unique way to explain what went wrong in their past relationship and show how they are able to reconnect in the present.
Another of favourite things about this book is Ama and Elliot’s creative chemistry. There is plenty of work related talk in this book and I loved it. I remember reading in Stephen King’s memoir that people love to read about other peoples jobs. And it’s so true for me. Ama is an up and coming wedding planner of high profile weddings and Elliot is a talented florist who taps into his architectural training to create elaborate floral arrangements. They work together to create one of a kind weddings, even if it’s against Elliot’s will. Because Ama is a force.
This book is funny and serious and charming and entertaining. Some would say it’s got grumpy/sunshine vibes. But I think it’s got more of an opposites attract kind of energy. There are lots of people in this book and I’m here for it. Julie Soto creates a world where people, work, live and love. It’s full and rich and colourful. Definitely recommend! I’ve gone on to read her second book, Not Another Love Song, and I fully enjoyed that one too.
Until next time…
What have you been reading? Do you love a book that gives you insight into peoples jobs?
My creative intentions for 2025. Write, read and paint. Plus a few more.
My grandmothers, who were very different but very practical women, made incredibly beautiful things like music, art, gardens and food. Pleasures that brought them fulfilment and joy. My maternal grandmother was a talented choir director, singer, and painter. My paternal grandmother was a wonderful cook and a passionate gardener of both vegetables and flowers. My mom is a painter, a choir member, a knitter, among other things. My dad is a woodworker. My sister is an art teacher and painter. My brother is also a woodworker and gardener.
You could say that I come by the need to be creative naturally. But the truth is, we all carry creative intentions within us. It is a part of us. We either tap into it or we deny it. And I don’t think it’s a stretch to say tapping into your creative interests is very therapeutic. Like exercise, our creative pursuits are a tool we can tap into to improve our mental health. I think we need to talk more about creativity and its benefits.
I checked the calendar and apparently It’s January 13th. We are entering this new year’s third week. The world seems to be in turmoil. We’re stressed, and more. But tapping into our creativity is a way to express emotions that are often bottled up or suppressed. Creating something is a way to release those emotions by giving us a nonverbal way to process those thoughts. Now seems like an excellent time to lean in because these days I’m having all the thoughts all the time.
My 5 Things to Remember About Creativity (from an amateur with no professional qualifications whatsoever)
You don’t have to be ‘naturally good’ at something to try it. It’s not a competition. It’s not a race. It’s not about perfection. Allow yourself to be imperfect. Allow yourself to try. And to quit.
Seek out inspiration. From art galleries. From documentaries. From books. From nature. Honestly, I get a lot of ideas from scoping out crafts for kids. Go to your local library. Follow artists on social media. Take a class. Listen to a podcast.
Put down your phone. I know. I get it. I spend too much time on my phone too. It’s easy. The pretty aesthetics. The funny memes. The inspirational reels. The entertaining viral videos. The recipes! I read something recently about letting ourselves get bored. Turns out that boredom leads to increased creativity, among other positive things.
It doesn’t have to be a big something. It can be a small. It can be a 3 x 3 inch square of paper and BIC pen and a quick doodle. It can be a seed you plant in a tiny pot. It can be writing a haiku. It can be a pot of soup. Or an apple pie. It can be learning cursive writing (for the young ones out there). It can be origami. (This is what I’m doing right now. To understand how it’s going, see No. 1.)
Realizing that being a perfectionist is not a good thing. Let go of harsh self judgements. Kick those impossibly high expectations to the curb. It’s not that easy, believe me, I know. But it can be a work in progress. Give yourself some grace. You don’t need to be perfect at something to reap the benefits of doing it.
I hope every one of you have some kind of creative project on the go. Or are at least thinking of something you want to try this year. If that is the case, I hope you give that thing a go. Or that you do more of the ones that bring you joy.
Until next time…
Do you have any creative things you want to try? Are thinking of trying? Or have already started? Let me know.
Live theatre is one of my favourite ways to fill my creative well. I love it. I’m still painting and having fun with it. Lots of messy pictures! And lights. One of my favourite thing about the holiday season is lights. We are pretty conservative with ours but I love driving passed the houses where the people have gone all out.
Adapted by Fiona Sauder & Reanne Spitzer | Music by Landon Doak | Arrangements by Nathan Carroll and Company
Playing from November 27 to January 5, 2025
In this version of the iconic story, Smee the Pirate takes the audience on an adventure ride through his life in Neverland. See the story as if for the first time and find out what it’s like to chase shadows, follow stars, battle Peter Pan, fly with Tinkerbell, serve Captain Hook, and find family. Set to the sounds of a prairie kitchen party and using the imaginations of cast and audience alike, the company transforms the newly renovated Globe Theatre into a magical land where imagination is king and playing pretend is queen.
Gosh, so happy to be back at Globe Theatre which has been under renovation the last couple of years. Renovations aren’t quite complete but that didn’t affect the performance. The main stage area is complete and familiar while new and fresh looking and comfortable.
The performance! What a welcome back for the audiences. Every actor shone in their roles. It always amazes me what they can do with a few key pieces and props that rotate in and out of scenes. The actors that played Peter Pan and Wendy, along with Smee and the ensemble cast, were the story, they created an atmosphere of nostalgia and gifted us with the story we know and love so well from the first moment to the last. Those wonderful performances showcased the fantastic acting and scene stealing moments by Captain Hook (Joey Tremblay) and Tinkerbell (Kris Alvarez). So well done!
Lastly, a shout out to the ensemble cast. They performed different roles. They danced. They sang. They played instruments. Everyone did an amazing job! The talent in this province is first rate.
Highly recommend! Because who can’t use a little trip to Neverland for a much needed reset during the chaos of the holiday season.
Until next time…
Remember to give yourself some grace during these hectic days.
November has come and mostly gone. I don’t know, what is there to say about November? I did stuff? I get that November is big in the US with Thanksgiving and all, but in Canada? It’s kind of just a regular month. Unless you’re one of those cheery, bright-spirited people who already have their tree up and have decorated for Christmas while bopping around to holiday music.
I have gotten some Christmas things done! I ordered our tree, which will be here the beginning of December. I made gift tags. I also started making lists to keep organized in an effort to manage my tinsel themed holiday anxiety. Who remembers that glittery silver tinsel that you hung on the tree and that stuck to everything? My anxiety is a little bit like that tinsel. It will hang around where it’s least wanted if I don’t manage it.
Also, it snowed. Like, a lot. Winter has officially arrived. As I sit here writing, big, fluffy flakes are falling down. Again.
I’ve been writing almost every day. I’m very happy about that.
In spirit of American Thanksgiving and because it’s always good to give thanks, I’ll say I’m grateful for family and friends and the understanding and empathy we’ve felt from our loved ones this year. May the rest of 2024 be kind to you.
The one thing all romance novels have in common is the developing emotional connection between the main characters, but the details of their physical relationship differ from book to book. Heat levels or intimacy ratings of romance books are often very subjective and can depend on the reviewer, reader, or a writer’s own preferences.
Heat level, like tropes, the setting and character archetypes, is one way readers choose books. You usually find a hint of those things in the back cover blurb. A good blurb lets the reader know the amount of sexiness to expect while the characters explore their emotional relationship. In this post I’m talking about my take on Tender vs Warm romances.
I’ve talked about my take on Steamy and Spicy here.
Tender vs Warm
*I use tender and warm as descriptors for my heat level ratings. Lots of time you will see clean and wholesome used. I don’t use those because, to me, that implies sex is somehow the opposite and is dirty or unwholesome.
Tender
I’d love some recommendations for tender romances as I don’t have many to make.
I would place my own books in the steamy category. To me, steamy romances fall somewhere between PG-13 romances, where sex might be implied but not described, and spicy romances, where the main characters physical relationship is as important to the story as their emotional bond. So know that if you read one of my books there will be a couple of sex scenes woven into the story. As a reader, if the intimacy matches the tone and mood of the story, I’m happy.
Until next time…
I’m always looking for book recommendations. I would love to hear other examples of tender or warm romances?
Who else is a fan of cross stitch? If you are a fan, you’re on to something. Cross stitch has many benefits. It’s creative, it’s soothing, it helps reduce stress, and it improves your focus. There are lots of benefits to this mindful activity that has a range of patterns for everyone’s taste and time constraints. And you have something pretty to show for your efforts.
I think the easiest way to get started is with a kit that includes all the things you need. I was lucky enough to get a wide range of threads from my Mom who didn’t want them anymore. That means I can just buy patterns like this Mini Masterpieces collection of 60 patterns for $15. You can also find patterns for free on Pinterest, like the little Jeep above.
So, that’s what I do in the evening while my husband watches sports. I have to say, I hardly watch television anymore. Cross stitch has become an important part of my effort to unwind in the evenings before bed, along with trying not to look at my phone after 8:00 pm.
So, if you’re finding you need a way to refocus and refresh during this time of shorter days and longer nights, you might want to give cross stitch a try.
Until next time…
What have you been doing to refill your creative well? I’d love to hear your adventures.
Hands up if you, like me, are a bird fan? I haven’t always been as enamoured of our feathered friends. But when my daughter took a liking to birds I somewhat overcame my fear of them and now I love watching them. We often see chickadees, nuthatches, house finches, and sparrows at our feeders. We also get juncos, flickers, woodpeckers, and bluejays, depending on the seasons. Robins in the spring. Partridges year round. The occasional hummingbird flits through too. And the other night we heard an owl in the park area by our house.
There is something very calming about watching the birds. I read somewhere that watching or even hearing a bird can improve your mental health for hours. And it just so happens that my province of Saskatchewan is home to an exceptional number of birds. Whether birds live here seasonally, year round or migrate through the province, Saskatchewan is an excellent choice for a birdwatching holiday.
Saskatchewan Birding Tips from Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation organization. You can get advice, book tours and find out what birds are where.
Newly-divorced, almost-empty-nester Celeste is finally seeking adventure and putting herself first, cliches be damned. So when a friend asks Celeste to “partner” with his buddy John for an event, Celeste throws herself into the role of his temporary girlfriend. But quiet cinnamon roll John isn’t looking for love, just birds—he needs a partner for Tucson’s biggest bird-watching contest if he’s ever going to launch his own guiding business. By the time they untangle their crossed signals, they’ve become teammates…and thanks to his meddling friends, a fake couple.
Celeste can’t tell a sparrow from a swallow, but John is a great teacher, and the hours they spend hiking in the Arizona wilderness feed Celeste’s hunger for new adventures while giving John a chance to practice his dream job. As the two spend more time together, they end up watching more than just the birds, and their chemistry becomes undeniable. Since they’re both committed to the single life, Celeste suggests a status upgrade: birders with benefits, just until the contest is done. But as the bird count goes up and their time together ticks down, John and Celeste will have to decide if their benefits can last a lifetime, or if this love affair is for the birds.
Thoughts:
This fake relationship book is a lovely read. And also pretty steamy! I love books were characters’ passions are forefront. That is certainly the case in this book. Birds, birdwatching, and the benefits of it play a large role. Also refreshing, were the ages of the characters. They both are 40ish and starting the next chapter in their lives. Celeste is recently divorced and her daughter is leaving for collage and John, who recently lost his job is at a fork in the road. When they end up as a team in a birding competition, they become friends then lovers but with an expiry date. I did feel like there was a lot of repeating the same internal dialogue, especially with Celeste’s character. But despite this, their path to together is paved with entertaining antics and heartfelt experiences.
We know them. We love them. Them being our favourite tropes. And they might the reason we gravitate to certain stories. Within the romance genre there are many subgenres and many tropes. Just like in television and the movies.
It’s important to note that Enemies to Lovers or Hate to Love, although one of my favourites, can come with some challenging or problematic behaviours and scenarios. The power balance is very important in enemies to lovers stories. Unfortunately, there are storylines out there that don’t have that balance. I’m thinking of stories about women who are enslaved or captured and end up in a relationship with their captors.
Even though the main characters must be antagonists, they must both be seen as redeemable. As readers, we’re rooting for both of them even if they have a lot of work to do before they are ready to be in love. There must be tension and conflict but there must also be transformation. They must overcome their mutual acrimony to be able to develop their romantic relationship.
Some of my favourite stories with an Enemies to Lovers trope:
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe (One of my very favourite books!) Young Adult.
Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid, Book 2 in her Game Changers Series. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov. Swoon. One of my all time favourite romances and Ilya Rozanov is one of my all time favourite characters. The whole series is fantastic. And steamy! MM Romance. Contemporary Romance. Hockey Romance. Canadian Author.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry Contemporary Romance. Romantic Comedy.
My novel Off The Grid would be definitely fall under the Enemies to Lovers trope!
A committed doctor to Vancouver’s inner city, nothing fazes Sophie Monroe—until a pregnant teenager shows up at her clinic on Christmas Eve requesting sanctuary and claiming the baby’s father is one of the city’s most influential businessmen. Sophie is in over her head and thankful when aid shows up in the form of an attorney who’s a little too confident and a lot too sexy.
Family Law expert Caleb Quinn just wants a date, a chance to prove he isn’t the elitist jerk Sophie assumes. Helping deliver a baby is not what he has in mind. But before long protecting a traumatized teenager and her son become his first priority. Even if saving them pits him against the baby’s father, a childhood friend. A man who will do anything to keep his dark side private.
But justice never comes cheap. Will doing the right thing cost Sophie and Caleb their reputations? Or their lives?
Until next time…
Are you a fan of the Enemies to Lovers trope? If you are, drop any recommendations in the comments!
