Hobbies

The best way to understand the present and future is to study the past. That’s why we read history. Grit your teeth and dig in. You won’t be disappointed. This is a compelling book set in 1766 about a treasure hunt for a trove of gold ore. It begins in the Canadian sub-Arctic at a Hudson Bay North Atlantic trading post. Mayhem is foretold as the post administrator organizes the expedition…

In recent years, I’ve started creating projects using a product I particularly love: washi tape. I especially like it because there’s an endless variety of patterns and colors available on the market. So before I walk you through the process, here is some information about washi tape, and I’ll also talk about the materials, since there are a few very important points to keep in mind when it comes to them…

There are few things that I enjoy more than writing. Over the years, as I’ve matured, so have the characters that I’ve created. Mature characters bring a different perspective to writing – they bring experience, wisdom, and an appreciation of the privilege of growing older…

Mysteries are never top of my mind for reading because they are so formulaic. But I often succumb to their ease of reading as a bit of popcorn for the mind. Fortunately, they are often fun and surprising. Here’s a list I’m sharing with you, along with my thoughts about each book.

We all have a story to share. One of mine, purely fiction, stemmed from a conversation with a colleague who tested positive on a work screening for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). That evening, her husband shook her hand in lieu of a goodnight kiss. The handshake joke continued until she received her corrected, decidedly negative, results…

When the formalities of a divorce are over, property is divided and papers are signed, it’s time to move on. At least, that’s what everyone expects you to do. For me, the first few weeks and months felt liberating and calm. The emotional weight of another person was lifted, leaving me feeling lighter and hopeful. […]

As a serious outdoors enthusiast, I’m always cheered when I hear of an increase in the number of people getting their kicks from walking. It seems that participation in hiking in the US has nearly doubled since 2012 while in the UK, over 20 million adults are choosing to walk for leisure. In case you haven’t noticed, hiking is booming…

My cousin posted an old photograph on Facebook a few weeks ago. It was of my father, in his early 20s, sitting there in a sweater, a white shirt, a skinny tie, and a tweed jacket. The picture was taken in the late 1950s. I had never seen it before in my life. He was so handsome it stopped me. I had been experimenting with a new kind…

Every reader has experience with debut novels. In my journey, I’ve learned to be aware when I’m reading a debut novel. The six following range from okay to excellent. Some foreshadow the greatness of the writer; others are debuts that surmounted the challenge of publication but left me feeling my time could be better spent…

I first discovered Little Free Libraries while traveling through Bellevue, WA. I was driving through a beautiful neighbourhood when I noticed what looked like an oversized birdhouse or a miniature garden shed standing at the front of a home. It was mounted on a post and featured a small glass door, but it was not a birdfeeder. Inside were books…