The author of The Obsidian Gates talks about the latest book in the Heart of Warrior series and how it came to fruition, the biggest surprises in the book, her special research, what keeps her writing, her influences and mentors, her other works, what’s next and lots more.
A review of These Wild Houses by Omar Sakr
It’s hard to think of Sakr as an emerging voice – his work seems to have been everywhere over the past few years. The work in These Wild Houses has such a strong sense of assurance. This is an impressive and very moving collection that not only explores the important terrains of both everyday and institutional racism, the migrant experience, identity politics, trauma and grief, but that also presents a deeply personal and moving story that very deliberately draws the reader in and invites collusion and connection.
A review of Bleeding Hearts by Josh Aterovis
In the manner of Dorien Grey and his Dick Hardesty series, Aterovis has crafted a group of characters who are very credible. From the imperious homophobic father, the demoralized mother and on to the optimistic girlfriend, as well as each of the other actors in this work; the individuals are not always likeable. They are, however, plausible, well-fleshed and convincing.
A review of 81 Migrations by W.K. Buckley
Rich and sweeping, Coined words are coins, Everything has a glint to it—even sound is lush—I want to crawl in the poems, A review of them (the poems, the book) could only be a poem itself.
A review of Plane Tree Drive by Lynette Washington
Lynette Washington is s-o-o-o-o-o good at this. She first prepares you with just the necessary brush strokes and then really delivers. All so clever, so unexpected, so unique and the more I read, the more I want. This is addictive reading at its best.
Spotlight on Faber & Sarah Menary
Menary’s road to this prominent role with the Academy has been a long one, the provenance of which can be traced right back to Menary’s childhood where, as a child of seven or eight she already possessed a burning passion for writing and one that she largely kept hidden. ‘It was a very covert pleasure, because I didn’t get much validation at home for that, it was all about academic, getting a secure career, that sort of thing.’
A review of Fairly Equal: Lawyering the Feminist Revolution by Linda Silver Dranoff
As part of the “second wave” women’s movement, Ms Silver Dranoff has helped elevate Canadian women from second class citizenship to a position that is “fairly equal” to men – although there is still more to be done.
A review of The Diary of Esther Small 1886 edited and transcribed by Sarah Sousa
Sousa was not simply intrigued. She was invested. She deciphered the entries, sleuthed the cemetery records and censuses, and extensively researched nineteenth century women’s diaries, as evidenced in her luminous afterword on the subject. Surpassing the role of transcriber of Small’s logbook, Sousa became conservator and steward of the archive of her daily life.
A review of Kilted Yoga by Finlay Wilson
Because the text is minimal and the pictures large, it’s easy to follow along, especially if you’ve done yoga before. It might be a little trickier for absolute beginners, although none of the poses are particularly complex. The book can also be used as inspiration, as a way of adding to an existing practice with a few new poses, meditations or visualisations. All in all, Kilted Yoga is a bonny wee resource to help anyone get the most out of a regular yoga practice.
A review of And Then I Am Gone by Mathias B Freese
Not only do Freese and I concur on how a psychotherapist best engages with a client, but our approach to writing books also bisects. I too write to try to understand myself, indeed without outlines or a rigid plot structure. I daresay he would nod eagerly in understanding that your characters, given the chance, tell the story for you if you’ll listen to them, and in a more honest, exciting way.