This week, a friend passed on a link for TED.com, the place where you can find videos of 18 minute talks on a variety of subjects. I watched Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, speak …
Starting again…
I was shopping at Multiple Organics today, my favourite local grocery store. I saw a couple of friends and we chatted about writing. One asked me how Novel #2 is going, …
A new year…
Happy New Year! Do you have resolutions, dreams, hopes for this year? Mine include finding an agent and publisher for my second novel which feels almost done (I say almost, …
Happy Holidays and Book Giveaway Contest
Some of my favourite things about December: -my birthday (and I’m kind of a birthday diva, encouraging loved ones to celebrate it with me all month long) -it’s only the …
Book promo and “Ten Things You Can Do To Support Canadian Authors”
I’m enjoying this month of book promo! I met some wonderful people at the ILGCN conference, at a WRIB book club meeting, and in a couple of days I will …
Back from Montreal
I had a terrific visit to Montreal this past weekend. BIG thanks to Trish Salah and Yasmine Amor of the Simone de Beauvoir Institute, who invited me. Also thanks to …
October news
Well, it’s been a busy September…I finished a draft of the second novel (woohoo!). I continue to tweak it as I receive feedback from my early readers. It’s working title …
Mangos and Saris
Check out this interesting piece about South Asian Writing in DesiLife . Devyani Saltzman talks about ways that South Asian writers sometimes get stuck in stereotypes. I’m featured on page …
Getting Back to Work
it’s Labour Day and I’m getting myself ready to go back to work, my decades-old programming making me clear off my desk, consider my wardrobe and set my alarm clock …
My favourite word
I think my favourite word is vacation (vay-kay-shun). Whether I stay at home for a staycation (this season’s trendiest word) or holiday far away, I like the dreamy space that fills my …
DesiLit Writers’ Stage
I have just had my first experience co-curating a literary stage at a major festival! We had 24 performers in 7 performances, interactive writing exercises, a writers’ workshop and contest …
Upcoming events
Here are some upcoming events: July 16th, McMaster Alumni Book Club is reading Stealing Nasreen, 7-8:30pm, University Club, Alumni Room. New members welcome. Info and to register: http://www.mcmaster.ca/ua/alumni/emails/hamilton_summer.htm July 19th, …
M!M!M!
I’ve been busy lately co-organizing the Writers’ Stage at Masala! Mehndi! Masti!, the largest South Asian festival in Canada, held at Exhibition Place (Better Living Centre) in Toronto. Here are …
LeGs Book Club
I enjoyed a stimulating evening of Indian food and conversation with the Let’s Get Social Book Club last night. The newish Toronto lesbian social group, headed up by a few …
ReLit Awards
Stealing Nasreen made the long list for the 2008 The ReLit Awards! This award is open to books published by independent Canadian literary publishers. Cross your fingers for me! For more …
Stealing Nasreen’s One Year Anniversary
It’s been one year since Stealing Nasreen went public. I realized it on Thursday, when I was listening to Matt Galloway on CBC’s Here and Now at 4:30 in the …
Vacation and upcoming events
I’m just back from a family wedding in Jamaica. There’s nothing like a vacation for getting in some quality reading time–I love staying “inside” a book for a whole week …
The Ontario Government and Sexual Reassignment Surgery
This is a little different from what I normally write about on this blog, but Sexual Reassignment Surgery (SRS) has been on my mind alot this week. What I am …
“The art of writing is in the rewriting…”
It wasn’t until I heard and finally understood these sage words that I could calm down about my writing and stop worrying that it wasn’t “good enough”. At first, I …
Del Rio and Radio CanadaInternational
I was in Texas this past week, visiting family and doing some writing. Del Rio is a sleepy border town, with pretty old buildings, friendly people, yummy Mexican food and …
Grace and Pride in Maine
I’ve spent a couple of days in Bangor and Orono, Maine, soaking up the lovely hospitality of the folks here. The Bangor Public Library is one of the most beautiful, …
Bangor and Orono
I’m heading to Bangor, Maine early next week. Here are the details: Tuesday April 15th, 6:30-7:30pm at the Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow Street, Bangor. Info: (207) 947-8336 Wednesday April …
Edmonton Lesbian Book Club chat via speaker phone
I had a lovely chat with members of the Edmonton Lesbian Book Club. They called me from Audrey’s Bookstore and I imagined them sitting in a circle as they introduced …