Hello there, I'm taking an indefinite blog hiatus. Feel free to wander around the blog archives (Things I Do, Things I Read, Things I Write). And if you'd like to keep in touch, please sign up for my newsletter. Happy reading! … [Read more...]
Oh, 2016
Hello, friends. Will you be glad to see the end of 2016? I know it's a meme and everything, and I'm as worried as any other compassionate, equality-minded person about the future of the world. But personally, 2016 was a year of substantial, joyful growth and accomplishment. Here's some of what happened to me. Achievements I wrote 140K words of Monsoon Season (I always think of this as my … [Read more...]
Inventing traditions
Hello, friends, and Happy Hanukkah, Happy Solstice, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Christmas! Here's an essay I wrote a few years ago about the surprisingly recent roots of three Christmas traditions. Hope you have a splendid week. I'll be back on December 28 with my final blog post. Quick: name three Christmas symbols. If you’re like me, the first things you picture are Christmas trees, a … [Read more...]
Holiday books
Hello, friends. Want to see what books my children are getting for Christmas this year? This first is for my five-year-old ("five-and-a-HALF" she would correct me, if she could but read!). I chose the Taschen edition of The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, edited by Noel Daniel, because the illustrations are so lovely and laden with history. Several months ago, I wrote about … [Read more...]
At Rideau Hall
Hello, friends! Last week, I attended the fanciest party of my life: the Governor General's Literary Awards gala at Rideau Hall. (Non-Canadians: Rideau Hall is the residence of the Governor General, the Queen of England's representative in Canada.) Here's what it looks like in daylight: We arrived after dark. Because the hall is under renovation, I was directed around the side of the … [Read more...]
from Monsoon Season
Hello, friends. Today, I thought I'd share with you another snippet from my work-in-progress, Monsoon Season. This scene takes place in November 1945. At this point, the Second World War is over (Japan surrendered in August 1945) and the British have resumed their control over the colony of Malaya. The temporary government is called the British Military Administration (BMA), but it's more … [Read more...]