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Vanishing into a fog

Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com I’ve been terrible about writing here after my book launch (Bib & Tucker). I’m sure my publisher despairs of me as my promotional efforts have been so slight…I hope he continues to publish me as I have the third Nurse Ruth book percolating and it will need a home. Photo by jordan besson on Pexels.com I’ve been in a bit of a fog. Part of this is due to…

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A happy happy book launch! Some tips, too, and a recipe...

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It's today! Come and see the museum!

Book Launch: today! Wednesday June 18th at 5:30, Museum of Health Care, 32 George St. Kingston, ON Yes, today’s the day for my book launch and I am so excited! My publisher, Tim Covell, from Somewhat Grumpy Press is here in town, and we’ve been planning fun things for the launch, along with the fabulous people from the Museum of Health Care. I’ve even baked cookies! There’s a prize draw, and…

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And some more gratuitous self-promotion

One of the things I find most difficult about this book writing gig is the self-promotion bit that goes with it. I’d much rather promote OTHER PEOPLE’s writing!!! But I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that all of my books are available for this next week ON DISCOUNT!! (It’s to celebrate the launch of Bib & Tucker…) All of my ebooks are available from any and all sites for a measly $2.99 on…

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How is everyone, really?

I’ve been alternately comfort eating Fig Newtons and doom scrolling in the mornings. It’s not good for me so I’ve made a little rule for myself – once I have sworn three times at what is happening, I sign off and try to do something more productive. The Fig Newtons are a replacement for chocolate in an attempt to cure my addiction. They too are high calorie (50 cals per cookie) but they’re hard…

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The Museum of Health Care at Kingston

I was very fortunate to be invited to address the AGM of the museum last week. It was an easy yes for me because the people at the museum have been so helpful in the research for my books Spit & Polish and the upcoming Bib & Tucker, even to providing the cover photos! Still, it was both flattering and a bit nerve-wracking, as many of the Board are medical historians themselves, or have been…

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Excitement building...

Time is creeping closer to the big book launch of Bib & Tucker, the second in my “White Stockings” series, about a Kingston General Hospital nursing student in the late 1940’s. It’s happening June 18th at 5:30 at the Museum of Health Care in Kingston. There will be drinkies and snacks, and a view of the museum, too. And, of course, some syringe pens for everyone…;-) Because EVERYONE needs a…

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Lookie Lookie Lookie! Cover Reveal!

Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com There are a few thrilling times in the life of an author, that almost make up for the hours of solo effort, typing and thinking and researching and politely pushing the cat off your lap. The first is when an idea occurs to you and you feel the lift of it take you along through the first swell of writing, early on, where your characters surprise you and…

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The enchantment of nursing history

Photo by KoolShooters on Pexels.com I’m on tenterhooks waiting for the first look at my upcoming book, Bib & Tucker...I know it’s off being assembled and I have to be patient. But I’m not. 😉 So I am tying myself up with more research, thinking about where to send Ruth next… (please add ideas in the comments section!). I am so interested in the time after WW2 here in Kingston, the teaching of…

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May 3rd thoughts, or missing my nursing pal.

May 3rd is the birthday of my youngest son, who I adore and generally fawn over whenever I can. He’s far away though and that’s sad. He was a planned C-section (my doc refused to allow me to try labour after two previous c-sections) and so I could pick the day, kindof, around the stage of my pregnancy and the doctor’s schedule (of course). Summerhill at Queen’s University, where I was told I was…

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The joys of mentorship

Have you ever had a mentor? In any part of your life? I’ve been fortunate to both give and receive mentorship and I love it. definitely not me Now, I did have a pause when I had to take some first-year medical students I was mentoring to my mammogram the other day. I’m 66, and to be frank, I only like to be exposed to medical personnel and people with bad vision. There is sagging. I’ve tried…

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Writing what you fear

Or how to use ancient trauma to push you into writing… Rockwood Asylum When I was a baby nurse, just starting out at Queen’s University, I knew nothing. Nothing. I’d been, as they say, gently reared, with little experience of naughty behaviour, human bodies, beer, or drunkenness. All of which I experienced within weeks of arrival, but I digress. With the support of my nursing buddies, I’d…

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Happy (?) World Tuberculosis Day!

When I wrote about tuberculosis treatment in my book, Spit & Polish, I specifically wanted to share how TB was treated before we had medications that worked against it. It was pretty horrific, people left with missing ribs and lungs and still dying. And that was only pulmonary TB. TB went elsewhere in the body, too, like the kidneys, and that could be even worse. not my father My father got TB…

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A fabulously creative and fun site - go check it out!

Accurate visual presentation of me in the morning 🤭 Love Andrea’s illustrations. So bright and clear and quiet on the money. Thanks for sharing them, Andrea!

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Feeling Grumpy

my alter ego I’ve had enough. I was raised in the US, though born in Ottawa, Canada (I never gave up my Canadian citizenship), and when I came back to Canada for university, I never wanted to leave. I like the ‘helping others’ mentality, as vs the “self-made man” myth that has dragged the US into a pit of despair at present. by Bobbie Carlyle No one is self-made. Those who claim to be are…

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Hooray and cheers! And FREE BOOK (read down...)!

I know this is an awkward time to be celebrating as our entire world is being set aflame by unusual individuals, but I am anyway, because I finished my third book!! Named “Bib & Tucker”, it follows my nursing student Ruth Maclean on her next placement, this time to the old Rockwood Asylum in Kingston, ON, the newly named Ontario Hospital. It’s a scary limestone building that still looms on the…

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One of the things I miss most about Halifax…

The public art everywhere is so much fun. In a city wrapped with fog much of the time, seeing these bright and creative things always made me smile. Tim Covell is very good at capturing scenes from wherever he goes. These are great- thanks for sharing! Go look at the real things if you are near Halifax, and while you are wandering, be sure to drop by the innovative galleries of Argyle Fine Art…