Taras Shevchenko was a political poet, during the Tsarist regime in Russia in the latter half of the 19th century. He illuminated through his poetry the plight of the Ukrainian…
Illustrious Poetry in New York’s KGB Bar
Steps To Publishing Success or What I Learned from Author, Catherine Knutsson
Since completing my novel, I’ve been busy learning the steps to publishing success. Step 1. I know the importance of story first. A good story, that is. One with a…
Gay or Straight – What Does It Matter?
I’ve been distracted from my writing lately by all the media brouhaha about same-sex marriage. Unless you’ve been in a coma, or otherwise unavailable, you’ve heard that Joe Biden, vice-president…
The New Publishing Universe
On a recent trip to New York, one of the places my husband and I passed by on our daily walks was Random House, one of the Big Six in…
Life Lessons in the Garden
When I was a young girl, I watched my mother plant red salvia and white allysum on both sides of our front walk. At the time, I didn’t appreciate what…
A Korean Novel Illuminates Mothers Everywhere
It’s still a few months away from Mother’s Day, the day we publicly honour our mothers. I was reminded of mine, when I read the wonderful international bestseller, Please Look After…
A Holocaust Survivor’s Secret of Happiness
I was sent a video by one of my friends, this one from the U.K. online news site, The Guardian. It got me thinking of how much control each one…
The Power of Dreams
As I continue to wrestle with sleep, the power of dreams is on my mind. The fact that I don’t have enough of them lately attests to a sleep disturbance.…
Dreams That Work Overtime
Do you ever feel as if your life has taken a dramatic turn, as if you are part of some cosmic shift? That’s the feeling I woke up with late…
Making Magical Memories at Christmas
I’m feeling particularly nostalgic this time of year, as my mother passed away at the end of October. She left behind a lot of magical memories, hers and mine, that…