What an honour—A GREAT BIG NIGHT was nominated by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for the inaugural David Booth Children's and Youth Poetry Award!

What a gift it is to ourselves to let go of the self-focused loop of personal reflection. It gives spirit to whatever room we’re in no matter what the conditions, and no matter what the restrictions.

If we’re going to curate our lives — as we all should, actively — the energy we surround ourselves with, the food we eat or the way we move, heal, grieve, contribute, or create — we need to switch on.

For our third conversation, Helena and I got testy about the same stuff—and there’s no camaraderie like that of shared testiness. As she says, and we are both aghast: “We’re demonizing the asking of questions…”

Helena casts a spell that entrances you into being brave and share things you didn’t mean to share, but that have been monumentally formative. I say more than I mean to, and we play. That’s Tankespjärn.

Helena gently teases out still-simmering thoughts. Lately, it’s how my changing context shifts my take on grief, identity, resilience. It’s so tectonic I wish I could rewrite or amend Notes for the Everlost…

“The children storming the [EDIT] office each day at 3pm have all devoured it more than a dozen times since we purchased a copy for everyone on the team last week. Essential reading for kids and parents everywhere.”

To us, wild places are a playground. Many of us build our lives around ensuring our spot in a wild place, yearning to raise children with rosy cheeks and tough summer feet. In the wild we breathe deep and feel more alive.

In part two of my conversation with Estelle Thomson, we talk about triggers. I’ve got them; I’ve got contempt for them. I’m cheerleading for anti-fragility, after all: facing the world head-on no matter what headspace we’re in.

What a way to wrap up my trio of podcasts with the beautiful Estelle Thomson. We talk about how to remember who we are and what we’re made of, regardless of life’s curveballs: a rallying cry for vitality. Huzzah!

Estelle and I are sisters in grief, though in this podcast conversation we travel far beyond that — relevant (I hope!) for all of us in states of change, longing, and reflection. I am so happy to share part one.

Kirkus Reviews are among the top-shelf of accolades, and I’m thrilled that A GREAT BIG NIGHT was awarded a coveted star. From the review: “The rhythmic, vibrant verse text dances off the pages, begging to be read aloud…”

A wonderful chat with beloved former CBC anchor Costas Halavrezos. From his Book Me! Podcast: “A Great Big Night is a delightful parable about performers and their audiences finding each other…”

Near the end of 2020 I had a cozy, far-ranging conversation with Mark Vander Ark for his DESPITE THE ODDS Podcast, as featured on Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global network.

This interview with fellow author Catherine Austen is on creating tension and the process of writing, featuring me and four other writers who, happily, echo my difficulty with first-draft momentum. A golden series!

Doesn’t it just feel like the world needs a froggy folk trio to bring us all together after a storm? This book is full of love, community, and joy, and woodland grass pounded flat underfoot. It’s what the riff-raff brings.

Ed Hart and I talk about the curious wilderness of post-loss faith; how we can help our kids move through an uncertain world; and why creativity can save us. Ed is a Christian, and we wandered into spiritual territory, a first for me in-conversation.

It’s pure magic to see an artist bring a story to life when it’s been simmering, solo, for years. Working with the brilliant Josée Bisaillon has been a delight! I can hear the fiddles and mandolins and bodhráns ringing through the forest already…

What a delightful gift! Nimbus Publishing just released more illustrations in-progress (yay for the amazing Josée Bisaillon!) for my next children’s picture book, A GREAT BIG NIGHT coming this fall.⁣ Here’s to joy, music, and blueberry salad.

In September 2020 A GREAT BIG NIGHT arrives, a tale about the value of tomfoolery and music. As award-winning illustrator Josée Bisaillon does her magic, I’m listening to its inspiration: Bach Meets Cape Breton by Puirt A Baroque.