When I read Lindsey Davis’s transcribed speech on Pompeii at the end of the ebook, and how she views her Falco novels, I had an ah-ha moment. I was struggling with the idea of a mystery novel revealing the mystery not even three-quarters of the way through the story. What kind of mystery tells whodunnit…
Category: Writings
Articles, essays, stories, etc.
Venus in Copper – A Book Review
Because of holds and such, I’m reading the series backwards from book four (thankfully, I was able to read book one first when it came off hold unexpectedly quickly). It’s a little disorienting, but it’s kind of interesting to read a “prequel” to the book I’ve just read. I’m finding it easier to determine where…
The Iron Hand of Mars – A Book Review
The Iron Hand of Mars by Lindsey Davis The Iron Hand of Mars: A Marcus Didius Falco Mystery by Lindsey DavisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars Another 5-minute review. I’m not sure I’d classify this as a murder mystery, even though a murder does occur. It’s more of a military adventure romp with an undertow…
The Silver Pigs – A Book Review
New year, new reads, new intention, a Silver Pigs review. I read way beyond my Goodreads Reading Challenge but didn’t get around to writing any book reviews. I thought how do I make it easier for me to write a review since I’m usually kaput when I finish a book? The 5-minute book review! I…
Medicine Must Collaborate to End the Pandemic
The siloed practice of medicine has lead to a terrible pandemic response. The Swiss Cheese model of preventing COVID-19 transmission demonstrates the power of whole-picture thinking.
How To Launch ShopHERE in Ten Steps
So you’ve gotten approved for the ShopHERE program of Digital Main Street, you’ve submitted the information requested, you’ve seen the initial design they’ve created, you either bought a domain or redirected a page on your website to the shop, you made your logo, and now comes the hard part: working your way to launching an…
Remembering Pastor Duke Vipperman
My Pastor, The Rev. Canon Dr. Walter Bryce (Duke) Vipperman, died on Friday, 3 January 2020 from cancer at the age of 69. This is my eulogy of an ordinary, radical man. The sun shone on the church steps as Duke shook hands with congregants emerging through the ornery wood church doors. I hung back…
Why Do Canadians of Colour Dismiss Trudeau’s Blackface?
Research and awareness may explain why Canadians cannot see overt racism. When I first read about Time magazine revealing on September 18, 2019 an old photo of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in brownface, I thought: someone is muckraking, and what is brownface, anyway? Then I saw the photo. Then I saw the photo and video…
TTC and Novelling with NaNoWriMo
There are times when life provides the perfect story for the NaNoWriMo writer. My last few years riding the decreasingly accessible TTC and complaining to politely deaf ears exploded into an idea: why not write my tenth NaNoWriMo novel set in the world of TTC management, specifically a department called, “Customer Convenience Team Vision”? Suddenly,…