My Song (a short story inspired by remote island life ) by Leanne Dyck

They say you shouldn't meet your idols. This short story explains why...

photo by ldyck

J. B. Mattison's song Dreams of a Dreamer kept me sane through my teens. So when I hear that he's coming to Mayne Island I'm the first in line at the Ag Hall. On stage, he makes comments about how small and insignificant Mayne Island is--I guess he thinks he's being funny. He opens with my song... My. Song. But... He's pitchy and forgets more than one word. He tries to cover by singing a lot of 'la-la-la's. And when he reaches for those high notes... Well, it's not pretty. 

Still, I want to meet him--to thank him for his music, to thank him for coming. But... He gives me this once over like I'm a slab of meat. 

I'm not sure why but I tell him, "I sing too." and he openly smirks. He writes me off as a small island hack without even hearing me.

I'll still listen to my song. It still means something to me, but I'll forget about him. I know what a loser looks like.

June on this Blog...

In June, we'll shake off those Cvoid blues, and we'll travel near and we'll travel far. I'll take you to Iceland and to the Czech Republic. Why I'll even take you to Arborg, Manitoba. And then we'll walk down the road to the mailbox. Oh, yes, and also, we'll celebrate Canada Day and Independence Day early with an author reading.

Sunday, June 5

Book Review

Secrets of the Sprakkar by Eliza Ried (non-fiction)

Sunday, June 12

Short Story

Kisa

a short story inspired by my experience with Icelandic

Sunday, June 19

Book Review

Indians on Vacation by Thomas King (fiction)

Sunday, June 26

Short Story

Mailbox

a short story that celebrates authors as they, as we continue to travel on our author journey

Wednesday, June 29

Author Reading

Independence

a short story that celebrates Canada Day and Independence Day

A Reader's Joy...

I'm smiling from ear to ear.

Ask me why...

Book Review: The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe (historical fiction) published by Vagrant Press

 Mary Poppins-like Emmeline Darling floats into people's--family, friends, strangers--lives spreading kindness, compassion, and understanding as she fixes what's broken. The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe is a heart-warming tale set in England and Canada during the 1960s. Keep those tissues handy.

The Spoon Stealer

Lesley Crewe

Vagrant Press

an imprint of Nimbus Publishing

2020

long-listed for Canada Reads 2022

363 pages

Buy this book from an Independent Bookstore in

Canada

United States

Never-married and childless, seventy-four-year-old Emmeline lives a simple life with her dog Vera in a seaside community in England--Leigh-by-the-sea.

Emmeline leaves her house to attend a memoir class at her local library as the story begins. Her memoir soon becomes the star attraction for a diverse group of five women. They listen with rapt attention as Emmeline shares her life story. 

Emmeline was born on a farm in Pictou County, Nova Scotia--the last sibling and only girl in a family of brothers.

The women are eager to learn how she ended up in England during World War I and why she has remained in the country for forty years. 

Emmeline believes that the only family she has is Vera but a letter arrives from Canada to prove her wrong.

Book Message: It's never too late to fix what you perceive is broken in your life.

Book Cover: The book cover is especially appropriate--you'll discover how appropriate after you read the book. The book cover was created by Nimbus's Co-owner, Art Director, and Production Manager Heather Bryan--with input from Lesley Crewe.

May on this Blog...

International Short Story Month

Sunday, May 29

Short Story

My Song by Leanne Dyck

They say that you shouldn't meet your heroes. This story offers an explanation of why you shouldn't.

photo by ldyck

Sharing my Author Journey...

My dog Abby and I play a game when we are out on a walk. She sits and I toss a treat ahead of us. Then I tell her to, "Find it."

Book Review: The Running Trees (short story collection) by Amber McMillan published by Goose Lane Editions

 The Running Trees is the thinking person's short story collection. 

The Running Trees

Amber McMillan

Published by Goose Lane Editions

2021

Buy this book from an Independent Bookstore in

Canada

United States 

I received my copy of The Running Trees from the publisher

The 13 stories in The Running Trees will get you thinking not only about the topics covered--such as creative license and sibling relations and the nature of truth and...--but also about the nature of story. By that I mean, what the story looks like, how it is written, and what it contains. For example, "The Dinner Party" is the first story in the collection and it is one of the shortest--at seven pages and a few lines. I enjoyed reading this story and I wanted more. So I began to argue with myself. It has a beginning, middle, but does it end? I don't think it-- Yes, it does because the story isn't about what I think it's about.

And... "Photo Happiness", at first, frustrated me because there's no speaker attribution and I really wanted to know who was speaking. Once again I took myself in hand and gave myself time to think. With a calm mind, I was able to see how very clever this treatment was. 

See this book makes you think. Give yourself time to digest what you read. In fact, it might be fun to read this book with a friend. Or... Better yet, it would make a very engaging book club read. And... And I think The Running Trees would make a fantastic audiobook. Have a read and tell me what you think. 

Amber McMillan Answers 

Our Atlantic Book Awards

Nominee Proust Questionaire

May on this Blog...

International Short Story Month

Sunday, May 22

Book Review

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe

published by Vagrant Press

(an imprint of Nimbus Publishing)

Are you missing Author Reading Wednesday?

Well...

Based on the popularity of Not a Mother but... I've decided to bring it back. So...

Wednesday, May 18

Author Reading

Not a Mother but...

Hurray! I was able to make this recording. I hope you enjoy listening.

Sunday, May 29

Short Story

My Song by Leanne Dyck

They say that you shouldn't meet your heroes. This story offers an explanation of why you shouldn't.

Cool literary things I found online...

Not a Mother but... (short story) by Leanne Dyck

 Dreams about having a newly published picture book inspired this short story. 

photo by ldyck

Not a Mother but...

I read my newly published picture book to my audience of children and parents. Then I begin the Q and A.

Some of the questions are about the book, but others... Others...

"How many children do you have?" Asks a little girl who sits on her mother's lap.

"None. I'm not a mom," I tell her.

"Don't you like kids? Mom says that people that don't like kids don't have--."

Mom says, "Mia, I never said that." To me, she says, "I don't know where she comes up with this stuff."

"Yes, you did." Mia hooks her hand around Mom's neck and brings her head down to face her. "Remember?"

Sensing that Mom feels trapped, I jump in with, "It's okay. I imagine that could be true for some women, but it's never been true for me. I like children and for many years I wanted to be a mom. In fact, I remember telling my parents I wanted to have eight children."

"Eight?" someone says.

"Yes, that's what my dad said. Eight? just like that and then he suggested names for the last two--Ben-jam-in and Phil-up."

Someone laughs and then others do too. 

It puts me at ease and so I continue, "Instead of having my own children, I worked in daycare centres for fourteen years helping to care for other people's children. I also adopted cats and dogs and, in a different way, mothered them. And I mother the books I write. And through the stories I share, I like to think that I'm mothering my readers."

Mia gives me a funny look and I know she's having trouble understanding some of what I'm saying. I hope that maybe she'll talk about what I've said with her mother and together they'll understand.

I lift my gaze and speak to the entire audience, "I never thought I could be happy without being a mom, but I was wrong. There are many ways to mother and there are many ways to be happy. And I am very happy." I look at Mia sitting so comfortably on her mother's lap and for a split second I feel Mia's weight on my lap and I think, what if? So I add,  "Mostly I'm happy." But then I smile for Mia is where she is meant to be and so am I.

More...

Books to read to make Mother's Day easier 

an article by Marisa Bate

May on this Blog...

Sunday, May 15

Book Review

The Running Trees by Amber McMillan (short story collection)

Published by Goose Lane Editions

In celebration of short story month

International Short Story Month

Sunday, May 22

Book Review

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe

published by Vagrant Press

(an imprint of Nimbus Publishing)

Sunday, May 29

Short Story

My Song by Leanne Dyck

They say that you shouldn't meet your heroes. This story offers an explanation of why you shouldn't.

This weekend on Mayne Island

Yesterday, Saturday, I attended Pam Wither's book launch at the Mayne Island Library

Finding Su-Le (short story) by Leanne Dyck

I grew up on the outskirts of a small community, between two highways. Sometimes people would stop their cars, open the door and toss out...things...like...

Illustration by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Debbie Ridpath Ohi's YouTube channel

Finding Su-Le

Susan and I took turns. One day we played at her place. The next at mine. That day we were skipping rope with my skipping rope and swinging on my swing.

Crash.

"What was that?" Susan asked.

"A cougar," I guessed.

"A bear," Susan guessed.

"Maybe it's a mon--."

How-r-row.

"It's coming from in there." Susan headed for the old garage.

How-r-row.

"It could be trapped."

"It might be hurt."

The old garage was packed with stuff. So we had to squeeze in. There were old boards with big nails. There was stuff with sharp corners. So we had to be careful.

Meow-r-row.

"There's something over here," Susan said. "It's small and I think it could be a--."

Meow.

We tried to go over. We tried to go under. We went around.

Meow.

The kitten licked and didn't bite or scratch.

"She's so cute," we agreed.

"I hope my mom lets me keep her," I said.

"I saw her first, Leanne."

"She's in my yard."

Meow.

"Maybe we can share her."

"That's a great idea and we can call her--."

"Su-Le," we said together.

Meow.

"I think Su-Le is hungry."

"She needs some milk."

We carried Su-Le inside.

I found a bowl and Susan found the milk.

Mom walked into the kitchen.

"Quick," I said, "We can't let her see--"

Meow.

Mom smiled and then she frowned. "Leanne, where did that cat come from?"

"I found her." I couldn't tell where. I wasn't supposed to go into the garage.

"We found her in the garage." Susan didn't know the rule.

"Please-e-e-e. Can I keep her?"

Mom patted the kitten. "We'll see."

Mom told everyone, "We found a kitten." She asked everyone, "Is it your kitten?" And no one said yes. And so... And so... That's how Su-Le came to live with me.

"But she's my cat too," Susan said.

May on this Blog...

Canadian Children's

Book Week

Sunday, May 1 to Saturday, May 7

Sunday, May 8

Short Story

Mothering by Leanne Dyck

 Dreams about having a newly published book inspired this short story.

Sunday, May 15

Book Review

The Running Trees by Amber McMillan (short story collection)

Published by Goose Lane Editions

In celebration of short story month

International Short Story Month

Sunday, May 22

Book Review

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe

published by Vagrant Press

(an imprint of Nimbus Publishing)

Sunday, May 29

Short Story

My Song by Leanne Dyck

They say that you shouldn't meet your heroes. This story offers an explanation of why you shouldn't.

Sharing My Author Journey...

One million page views! On April 30th at approximately 11:40 am, my blog received its one