Things that inspire me to write #79: Tree Island Yogurt

November 10, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

I received an invitation to buy yogurt today and it made me smile–and not because I have a hankering for dairy. Several years ago one of my best friends moved from Vancouver to pursue her and her husband’s dream of starting their own yogurt brand–Tree Island Yogurt. It’s been a long and difficult haul for them both–but Scott and […]

Things that inspire me to write #83: JK Rowling

November 6, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

I have a son. He’s two, and at least once a day I feel like locking myself in the bathroom so that I can write for more than five seconds without him thrusting small plastic animals on my keyboard and demanding we play zookeeper again. With the many demands of being a mom, the task […]

Things that inspire me to write #89: Susan Juby

October 31, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

A couple summers ago I took a writing class with Susan Juby, author of the HILARIOUS teen fiction series, Alice I think. I have always admired Susan’s work and was very excited to have her teach me the trade for 5 whole days. However, as much as I enjoyed learning dialogue tricks and plot tightening […]

Things that inspire me to write #92: 14 year old Annaleise Carr

October 28, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

At fourteen years of age, Annaleise Carr became the youngest person to swim across the frigid and turbulent waters of Lake Ontario last august. She did it to raise money for children and families affected by cancer. It was a long and cold and dark journey with five foot waves and 10 – 15 knot wind that took her 27 […]

Things that inspire me to write #95: Camilla Gibb

October 25, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

“ So, when are you going to start your Phd?” That was the first thing people asked me after I finished my master’s of education degree several years ago–and I never knew quite how to answer them. On the one hand, it almost seemed inevitable that I should continue on the path I had started and work towards a […]

Things that inspire me to write #97: Running

October 21, 2012.Reading time less than 1 minute.

My legs are pumping, my feet are pounding and my heart is dancing in my chest like one of those dapper kids at the Robson square swing night. I don’t know exactly why or how–maybe it’s the faster than usual movement of blood or the sudden uptake of oxygen I can always think much clearer […]

Things that inspire me to write #100: The Vancouver Writer’s Fest #writersfest

October 20, 2012.Reading time 1 minute.

Could there be a better way to kick off my Mental Gatorade challenge than spending the day at the Vancouver Writer’s festival? What I love about this festival is the opportunity to hear authors and publisher talk about writing like it matters, like it means something–like when I am sitting alone at my computer I […]