Write at Home

Books, libraries, and bookstores have been a part of my life since my earliest memory. I love to read books, stare at books, smell books. And now...even write books. As the inspirational guru SARK once wrote, "Books don't even need to be read to be helpful. Just their presence affects us."

 My daughter Jaks has inherited my passion for reading. You might say she has been forced into the reading life. Last time I was home at my dad's for a visit I pulled out some old kids' books and had to laugh when I found Jaks fiddling with the pretend library cards I had inserted at the front of all of my favourites so that my friends could sign them out. For years I was afraid of libraries because I wasn't good at taking books back. My university held onto my degree for two years until I paid some fines. Now that I live in a small town without a Chapters, the public library is my gold mine. I've learned to reserve, renew, and return. I've never been more than two dollars late.

Without reading there would be no writing. I prefer to have at least one fiction, and two or seven non-fiction books on the go at once. I used to struggle through books I thought I should read even if they didn't hold my attention. But I've learned that some books are worth putting back on the shelf until later. When the time is right, that book will come into my life again and I will be forever changed. I recently typed out and framed Ray Bradbury's essay, "How to be Madder than Captain Ahab," which is one of my favourite pieces about writing. It sits above our library basket (ever overflowing)  as a daily reminder of the importance of reading. I highly recommend it to anyone who is serious about writing.

My mother and my grade six teacher, Mrs. Crosbie, deserve the credit of turning me into a book lover. 

"When I'm really into a novel, I'm seeing the world differently during that time-not just for the hour or so in the day when I get to read. I'm actually walking around in a bit of a haze, spellbound by the book and looking at everything through a different prism." Colin Firth

Kids Books We Recommend

The Puddle Pail: Elisa Kleven, 1997 A young croc with a creative sense of collecting. Amazing colourful photos.

     "Look at that sparkly bottle cap, Ernst. You could start a bottle cap collection!"

    "It's pretty," Ernst agreed. "But I like the puddle it's in even more."

    "The puddle?" said Sol.

   "It looks like a little piece of sky on the ground. I wish I could collect it."

Lost and Found: Oliver Jeffers, 2005 A penguin comes knocking and a little boy tries to escort him home. A young girl at our local bookstore practically begged me to read this story, and then almost wept when I purchased the last copy.

Bed Bouncers: Kimberly Knutson, 1995 An adorable and sneaky bedtime story with incredible art.

"We meet with a runaway birthday balloon. We tickle the stars and swing on the moon. We meet other bouncers from all different lands, compare and trade pillows and shake all their hands."

Mouse Paint: Ellen Stoll Walsh Okay I hate mice, but I love puddles, especially colourful ones. And Jaks gets a kick out of me reading books with mice, since she knows my distate for them. Our children's librarian, Julia, has a giant version of this book, which introduces colour combinations.

Snowmen at Night: Caralyn Buehner My sister-in-law bought Jaks this book when she was a baby. We've read it so many times, and yet the thought of "ice cold cocoa made by snow man mothers" still cracks us up. Can't wait to start reading this one to Joey.

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A Book that changed my life

Kingfisher Days: By Susan Coyne