Author Archives: darcie friesen hossack

Doll. Mother’s Love. By Nina Kossman

DOLL “Mama,” said Jemina. “Look, Mama.” “What is it, Baby?” “The doll, Mama.” “The doll? What happened to the doll? Ah, its head. You’ve broken off the doll’s head.” “Mama, I didn’t. It fell off by itself. I picked it up and it was like this already.” “It’s okay, Baby. I’m not blaming you.” “ButContinue reading “Doll. Mother’s Love. By Nina Kossman”

Letter(s) from the Editor(s). Mothering Issue

Letter(s) from the Editor(s):Darcie Friesen Hossackwith guest editors Anne Sorbie and Heidi Grogan   Dear Readers, This month is special for a number of reasons. Spring has finally arrived in the Northern Rockies climate I call home. It is also the month of Mothering, or Mother’s Day, in certain parts of the world. And now,Continue reading “Letter(s) from the Editor(s). Mothering Issue”

Shtisel’s Heart. An essay by Olga Stein

Shtisel’s Heart True love is not for the faint of heart. This may sound like a tired cliché, or else too vague to be of much use to anyone looking to be enlightened. A reader may see it as just a figure of speech—hackneyed and dull in a world teeming with eloquent, pithy sayings thatContinue reading “Shtisel’s Heart. An essay by Olga Stein”

Fairy Tale. A prose poem by Heather Birrell

Fairy Tale The light was harsh and clear, and the sea was near, but desert plants grew outside my window. At night, I played Scrabble with the other residents, then copied the words we had placed on the board into my notebook. Crowing roosters and circling, stray dogs woke me every morning. For breakfast, IContinue reading “Fairy Tale. A prose poem by Heather Birrell”

“Hands” and “Vessel”. Visual Art by Shannon Mackinnon

Artist, Collaborative Creative, Counsellor, Lifelong Learner. Shannon Mackinnon’s first career love was the arts, and that passion has continued to feed the creation of visual, performative, written, spoken, and community arts from long before and after their BFA in Drawing and MSW in Clinical Social Work were completed. Through helping run a gallery, mentor otherContinue reading ““Hands” and “Vessel”. Visual Art by Shannon Mackinnon”

Daughters of Smoke and Fire. A book review by Patrick Woodcock

  Ava Homa’s Daughters of Smoke and Fire     Harper Perennial, Toronto, Canada, 2020   ISBN 978-1-4434-6013-2 Daughters of Smoke and Fire Ava Homa’s stunning Daughters of Smoke and Fire begins with three words that will reverberate throughout the 305 pages that follow:  A woman alone, (p. xiii). This is not literally true, LeilaContinue reading “Daughters of Smoke and Fire. A book review by Patrick Woodcock”

Trudy SilVER in Conversation with Jane Spokenword. Podcast

In this month’s podcast we introduce you to Trudy SilVER An American jazz pianist, performer, composer, teacher in the NYC school system, poet, activist and peace/social justice worker. Whether she’s performing at benefits to raise social awareness, or demonstrating in solidarity, her commitment to personal liberties and fair privilege opportunities is unwavering. An American peace/andContinue reading “Trudy SilVER in Conversation with Jane Spokenword. Podcast”

Literary Spotlight. Sue Burge with Raine Geoghan

KEEPING TRADITION ALIVE This month I’m delighted to catch up with a fellow writer with Hedgehog Poetry Press, Raine Geoghan.  Raine is a fascinating writer from a rich tradition of storytellers and makars.  She is very conscious of her Romani heritage and in the current climate it feels more important than ever to keep allContinue reading “Literary Spotlight. Sue Burge with Raine Geoghan”

Writing Advice. Sue Burge with Jenny Pagdin

WRITING ADVICE This month I invited poet Jenny Pagdin to give advice to writers on how to protect their wellbeing when writing about trauma.  I was bowled over by Jenny’s words in this sensitive, generous and searingly honest article. In the snow globe of trauma   When my son was newborn, I was hit betweenContinue reading “Writing Advice. Sue Burge with Jenny Pagdin”