Favourite Book about Writing

A blue ribbon to Anne Lamott. Bird by Bird is a warm and intimate conversation about the craft of writing and about daring to be honest.

1st Runner Up for Fave Book about Writing

I adore any drip of ink that falls from Lynda Barry's pen.

What it is (Drawn and Quarterly, 2008) is jam-packed with illustrations, anecdotes, memories and clips of philosophy about writing. It's a celebration of image and word-making in a full-colour mix of watercolour, ink and collage.

In the last pages, Ms. Barry gets down to business and distills some of her workshop exercises. I tend to suck at exercises from books. I rebelliously nestle into the pillows and refuse to be bossed around, but Ms. Barry tweaked my interest. Her 7-minute writing exercise turned into an hour-and-a-half long sketchbook/writing trip down memory lane. What it is makes you want to write.

2nd Runner-up for Fave Book About Writing

I picked up On Writing by Stephen King book for next-to-nothing in the lower level of Union Station in Toronto. I almost died of happiness. Almost missed my train, too.

This book traces the journey (challenging, but not at all frightening) though a writer's process. Don't get me wrong. I can't watch more than five minutes of a Stephen King movie without running from the room and singing "Oh Susannah" with my fingers stuck in my ears. But I was gratefully absorbed by Mr. King's frank discussion of how he writes, lets his draft percolate, and edits.

Even if you can't swing a deal in Union Station, I'd recommend this book for anyone who loves to write and is curious about how a prolific scribbler works through a novel.

First runner-up coming soon.

Seed Sorting and Possible Menaces

Here's Farmer Elaine (not her official title, but I like it) at her insta-veggie lab on our back step.

Friends and neighbours stopped by on the weekend and let me gush about my vitamin-rich paradise sponsored by the Young Urban Farmers. A few visitors sounded skeptical about opening one's yard to "strangers", but tapping on my laptop to the music of Elaine and Rosie's backyard laughter is the least of my fears.

Other, darker perils do concern me. Bet you a bushel of tomatoes that this very minute a raccoon is sitting in our silver maple, emailing her four thousand best friends about an upcoming all-you-can-eat buffet at, oh, say about peak-harvest time.

Doubt I'll get an evite.

Farmer Elaine, with tricks up her slightly-soiled sleeve, isn't worried. I'm keeping an eye on strange movements in the silver maple.

Latest Fun Read: Glister and the Haunted Teapot

A mysterious package lands on Glister's doorstep. What is it, Daddy? A haunted teapot? Yikes! From his teapot-grave, a ghostly author-wannabe emerges to finish his first novel. Is perky Glister up for the job? She’s got exceptional typing skills, and she’s a natural with plot development, but the teapot’s wordy ghost is sucking her life away. What’s a girl to do?

Glister and the Haunted Teapot is charmingly written and illustrated by Brit andi watson (Image Comics Inc.).

Rating: !!!!! (5 exclamation marks for fun-ness.)

The Garden is ALIVE!!!

Tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, peas, beans, carrots, lettuce, basil ... the seeds are in the plants are taking root.

Bliss.

Making the Beds

After dispersing 3 cubic yards of triple mix (thanks for the supply, Homeland of Scarborough), we have beds for our veggies. The Young Urban Farmers are nursing seedlings, and soon our back yard will be teeming with tomato plants, eggplants, pepper and tomato, basil, peas, beans, basil, zucchini .... and I'm not just dreaming. The plants have already arrived. Photos to follow.