"We were amongst the rhododendrons. There was something bewildering, even shocking, about the suddenness of their discovery. The woods had not prepared me for them." Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, pg. 72. I finished reading du Maurier's Rebecca in the early morning yesterday. I've been devouring this thrilling story for the last couple of weeks,… Continue reading Rhododendrons & A Virtual Book Launch
Author: Vanessa Shields
Writer. Mother. Lover.
The Flutter of Finishing…
...happens in the heart centre. And reverberates around the body for days. The thimbles manuscript is 100% complete. Abbey, my editor, and I have put nearly two years of time and love into this collection. Now, it's off to layout and design. We're working on the cover. Blurbs have been requested and collected. My heart… Continue reading The Flutter of Finishing…
The Book Blurb
THE BOOK BLURB For many of us on the yellow-brick road to publication (be it our first trip down this wild path or our fourth!), we will have the opportunity to face the important and necessary stop that is The Book Blurb. Whether we're being asked to blurb a friend's forthcoming book or whether we're… Continue reading The Book Blurb
The River Bookshop – Essex County’s Newest Literary Gem!
Gather round literary folk – there's a new bookshop in town! If you haven't heard already, let me shout out a 'here-yeee here-yeee' for the charming new literary gem that is the River Bookshop. Located in the heart of Amherstburg, this quaintly modern bookshop is awaiting your attention! I had the opportunity to do a… Continue reading The River Bookshop – Essex County’s Newest Literary Gem!
This day
Today is my Nonna's birthday. This is a photo of her one year ago. Her shirt says: Never underestimate the power of a woman. About a minute before this photo was taken, Nonna blew out the candles on her cake. Before that, I took a video of her patiently waiting for us to gather our… Continue reading This day
First Day of High School, French Kisses and Thimbles
I have a fourteen-year-old son. Today he starts high school. These two sentences blow my mind into the kind of oblivion that's hard to stumble back from. I needed to go back in time, you see. I needed to remember where I was all those years ago when I started high school. Most days I… Continue reading First Day of High School, French Kisses and Thimbles
Virtual Book Launch & Other Cool Matters
Greetings friends. Happy first day of September. Indeed, it has arrived...the fat grey clouds and sassy wind are right on schedule (though I was not mentally prepared for the heat at 3:30pm this afternoon on my run. Golly.). I'd say most things are as unpredictable as the weather these days. What is predictable though, if… Continue reading Virtual Book Launch & Other Cool Matters
Virtual Launch w/ Dorothy Mahoney – 1 Week Away
On Thursday, September 3, 2020 beginning at 7pm, I have the distinct honour of hosting the Virtual Book Launch for the great poet Dorothy Mahoney. Her new book, Ceaseless Rain, (Palimpsest Press, 2020) is hot off the press. Join us as we talk about Ceaseless Rain, hear Dorothy read some poetry, and more – including… Continue reading Virtual Launch w/ Dorothy Mahoney – 1 Week Away
