Category Archives: Uncategorized

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”

Mother. A story by Kelly Kaur

Mother Gurbir thrashed her torso in grief on the lime green sofa, the one covered in thick, shiny plastic to keep it permanently clean. Her muffled sobs added to the unlikely squeak of friction of her bright pink silk suit against the sticky plastic. She beat her forehead with both her palms. Her twenty-four heavy,Continue reading “Mother. A story by Kelly Kaur”

Still Life. A story by Irena Karafilly

STILL LIFE The obstetrician looked menacing. He looked like a shark, with his small eyes and wide mouth, and all those teeth when he opened his mouth to speak. He had given up trying to breathe life into her child, and was now leaning over her under the blinding lights. For a moment, nothing came outContinue reading “Still Life. A story by Irena Karafilly”