Creative Living

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Merika is a Greek word meaning creative spark. We all have it. It's part of what makes us human. 

Creative people lead creative lives. Most of my author friends have other creative passions that sometimes fed their writing lives. 

My friend Jodi is a caller for traditional New England dances. 

In addition to her wonderful books, my friend Juilene is an Irish Storyteller in the oral tradition. 

Friend and BWL author Eileen O'Finlan keeps a beautiful garden in her Massachusetts home.

Our readers have wonderful sparks of creativity, too. Roseanne creates beautiful table settings for her large family at holidays. Jeanie is a creative baker. David and his uncle Bill delight children with beautiful model train villages for our local historical society displays.

What are your satisfying creative pursuits, dear reader? How do you make our world more beautiful?

My Jane's Walk Revisited by Susan Calder

 

For information on my latest novel go to Amazon

A Killer Whisky is Book #12 of the BWL Canadian Historical Mystery Series

Last year I enjoyed my Jane's Walk so much I've decided to do it again. On Saturday, May 2, I'll be leading two 1.5-hour strolls through Calgary's Balmoral neighbourhood, the main setting for my latest novel, A Killer Whisky. The novel takes place in 1918 and the focus of my walk will be the community's history. Balmoral developed during Calgary's real estate boom in the early 20th century. Many buildings of historical significance still stand and serve their original purpose, like Balmoral School, one of 19 sandstone schools build by the Calgary School Board during that time of rapid city growth.  

Walk participants will learn a few oddities about the school's rooftop clock 

My walks will essentially be the same as last years' with added details I've learned since then. Last May, during my introductory spiel in Balmoral Circus Park, a long time resident recalled that a home on the square used to be a Scouts Canada meeting hall. I've since confirmed this and will add the tidbit to my talk. 

Former scout hall in the background

Another resident thought a former mayor of Calgary had lived in a home adjacent to the square. After the walk, she rang the doorbell and chatted with the current owners, who were aware of their home's illustrious former resident. These kinds of group participation make Jane's walks engaging and relaxed. This mayor was a colourful character, and I've researched him for the walk.  

Balmoral Circus Park, the walks' beginning and end points, was recently redeveloped as a community meeting place with tables and chairs--heavy and solid so they aren't easy to steal. This year my walk description ends with an invitation to bring a lunch to eat at the tables after the morning walk or before the afternoon walk if the weather's fine. Calgary weather in early May can potentially be cold, snowy, hot, rainy, or perfect for a picnic outside. The walks will go ahead unless there's a blizzard or deluge.

Last year's group setting out on the walk from Balmoral Circus Park

Jane's Walks happen annually the first weekend of May in cities around the world. The walks are free, but you have to register. Many walks fill quickly. I originally scheduled one Balmoral Heritage Walk in the morning but, after it filled, I added a repeat walk in the afternoon. You can register here.  

For more information and to see if your home city will participate, check out the general Jane's Walk website.

If you're in Calgary, have a look at this year's Calgary offerings.  The organizers will be adding walks until April 26th, so keep checking until then. Last year, they ended up with over 80 events that included bike rides and a two-minute walk to a historic building to make sketches. The majority of the Jane's Walks range from easy strolls like mine to vigourous city hikes. 

Something for everyone!           

Me talking about the Kelly Block (formerly Hicks Block) commercial building
The Calgary organizers supply voice amplifiers - a real benefit for groups up to 40 people 

Clutter, Crocus Blooms and Spring Cleaning – Barbara Wackerle Baker

 

 

https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B0BMTM18PW

I have a huge collection of knick-knacks scattered throughout the house. And I’ve kept some possessions well past their usefulness date. The clincher was when I found three pairs of jeans from my youth tucked away below a pile of towels in the linen closet. Dammit. When I put them there, I knew one day I would fit into them again. Or maybe my daughter would wear them. Neither happened. I needed a strategy to reduce, reuse (by someone else) or discard these items.

While hunkered down during yet another Alberta cold snap (accompanied by a spring snow squall) I decided we needed a new rule in our house. Being proactive I established it. This is how it goes - every time a delivery box arrives, whoever ordered it must refill it and take it for a ride to a thrift store, recycle bin, used bookstore or the dump within 48 hours. No exceptions allowed.

The first couple of boxes were easy to fill. Who knew there were so many empty picture frames in my office closet? And the stash of baby toys under the stairwell. I know the grandkids will never miss them. Off they went to their appropriate destination. I will admit that I rifled through my husband’s boxes prior to them leaving the house just in case he included treasures I wasn’t ready to part with. And when a long skinny box arrived, (a new rod for his window washing squeegee) it hardly seemed fair, but he grinned and played along with the rule.

 

When the weather cleared and there were no more boxes to fill, I went to the sun-warmed south facing hillsides for a stroll. The familiar purple hue of crocus blooms sprinkled the slope, their heads bobbing in the breeze. It had to be spring now. Within hours of finding 36 blooming croci, another squall blew in. This time six inches of heavy wet snow fell. I worried about those little darlings freezing their petals off.

  

Days later the sun melted the snow. The croci held their heads high like drops of paint on the damp and pungent soil. I decided when I grow up, I want to be as strong and resilient as a crocus.

 

Now that I no longer had to worry about the well-being of the hillside's flora, and there were no more boxes to fill, I decided to get into the spring-cleaning groove. For encouragement, I did a bit of research (my new word for procrastination) to ensure I didn’t miss any tricks or tips. Here’s what I learned and my thoughts on the ideas:

• slip a sock over the beater of a hand mixer to create a mini, vibrating pet hair remover for furniture. First I have to get a pet. And then, do I use ‘said’ mixer on my next batch of mashed potatoes? 

• clean tarnished copper pots and accessories by massaging them with ketchup and a pinch of salt – now I need to get a pet and a copper pot. 

• use vodka to spray and remove bathroom mold and mildew – off to the liquor store I go. 

• get down on hands and knees to see where dust accumulates. It apparently will give me a new perspective of how dirty my floor is. Do I really need a new perspective? 

• leave one cobweb in a corner of the room. Polish folklore suggests spiders bring good luck – I can totally get behind this one. 

 

I opened all the windows and kept an eye on the sky. Mother Nature was still throwing hissy fits throughout the day.

My house is clean. It smells great. I changed from flannel to cotton sheets which probably just jinxed tomorrow’s weather forecast but … oh well. The best part about my decluttering strategy – I now think twice before ordering online and at our current rate, we’ll be clutter free in … many years. If a crocus can weather change, so can I.

Have you got a spring-cleaning tip you’d like to share? 

Baker, Barbara - BWL Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net)

Barbara Baker Author Page Facebook 

 

Summer of Lies by Barbara Baker — BWL Publishing

What About Me? by Barbara Baker — BWL Publishing

Jillian of Banff XO — BWL Publishing

 

SHILOH’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE VIII ~ Breaking Dad by Naguib Kerba

 

https://www.amazon.ca/Ordinary-People-Extraordinary-Naguib-Kerba/dp/0228632161

https://www.nkerba.com/blog/shilohs-excellent-adventure-breaking-dad

Outside-the-Box Promotion by J. S. Marlo

 

Wide of the Mark

(Click here to buy)

   

 

  

To buy any of my books, visit

J. S. Marlo's Books

Today, I want to talk about promotion. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't receive an email titled: We want to promote your book... Want some help promoting your book... Enhance your book promotion with... 

The price is never listed in the emails. You have to go on their websites and scroll to find out how much they charge, and when I say they, I mean whoever is behind the website in some obscure corner of the globe. And they usually charge a hefty sum.

There are legitimate sites that do promotion, but they all seem saturated with books, so where is an author supposed to promote?

Some do book signings, and fairs, and conferences, but these aren't always feasible options in small or remote towns.

My eleven-year-old granddaughter, who lives five minutes away from me, is a competitive swimmer and a rep team hockey player. Every season, she is required to secure sponsorships for both teams. So, this year, I decided to try something different. I sponsored her swim team!

As a sponsor, my logo is featured on the swim team website, and during local swim competitions, for the entire season (Sept 2025 to Aug 2026). I'm hoping it will pique people's curiosity, generate foot traffic on my website, and since I'm a local author, maybe new readers.

Time will tell if it's an effective promotion, but since I'm also getting a thank you photo of my swimmer, it's a win-win in my book.

Happy Reading! 

Hugs!

JS

 

 

J. S. Marlo's Website