Our Person Is In There, Typing Away…

1 year old Marmie:  You think it’s safe to go out there? That white stuff is truly gone?

15 year old Sam: Our person is in there, typing away all day on that warm flat silver device she won’t let us sit on. I don’t want to leave her side. She seems like she needs me. Especially when she stands up and screams.

12 year old Shadow: But it smells like those feathered creatures with wings out here. I gotta go gotta go gotta go oo boy!

Sam: She’s forgetting to open the big white cold beast to nourish herself. She’s only getting up from that chair and that warm flat silver device to feed us, and to feed these gerbera daisies (I heard her call them that. She loves naming her flowers out loud). No. I’m really worried about her. I won’t leave her side.

Marmie: She’s fine. She had enough energy to yell at me when I ate her swimsuit. She’s fine.

Shadow: You ate her swimsuit?

Marmie: Just the strings. They were so salty! Delish!

Sam: I’m going back inside. I heard her say she’s at 8,300 words, but she’s tired. She needs me.

Shadow: She’d better portray cats in a nice light in this novel. I’m sick of being portrayed as mindless creatures who lick themselves all day long. Hm. I wonder what these daisies taste like?

Marmie: Big furry beast with teeth on a leash!  Run! Run! Run for your life!

Sam: Oh brother.

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Queen’s Media and Journalism Conference 2013: TV Clip

I was thrilled to be invited to Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario last week to do a workshop on the many new ways we can publish our writing (e-publishing and Print on Demand publishing) and to speak on the panel about my training and work as a freelancer in ‘traditional’ journalism. One of the organizers Claire Owens blogged about this fantastic event, and included the Queen’s TV feature. Take a look!

Queen’s Media and Journalism Conference 2013

Taken before my workshop on indie publishing, 'There's an App for that: YOU!'
Taken before my workshop on indie publishing, ‘There’s an App for that: YOU!’

Making Space for Accessible Poetry

February 15, 2013

Canadian Poet Heather Grace Stewart launches her fourth poetry collection, Three Spaces

Three Spaces is a ‘brave new collection’ of poetry, prose and photography from Amazon and iBooks Canada bestselling-poet and journalist Heather Grace Stewart.  It examines themes within three spaces of our society: public space, personal space, and cyberspace.
“I wanted to put out a collection that was a reflection of our society today, of how we’re trying to balance our  public lives with our lives in cyberspace, all while trying to maintain some privacy in our personal lives,’ Heather explains.

“There are dark and intense poems that start this collection, but then I move into tender, humorous poetry and prose to lighten the mood, and colourful images that can provide space for introspection,” Heather explains. “As always, I try to give my poetry substance, but make it accessible. I don’t want my readers scratching their heads or pulling their hair out after reading one of my poems! I want them to relate in some way. I’d like for them to walk away from the experience of reading this book feeling moved, energized and entertained.”

Early reviewers describe Three Spaces as ‘inspiring’ ‘heartfelt,’ ‘professional’ and ‘modern.’ Best-selling Author Elisa Lorello (Faking It, Adulation) writes,

“Buy this book. Get hooked. Add it to your space. You won’t be disappointed.”

Three Spaces is available now in Kindle Stores Worldwide, including Canada, USA & India, the UK, Germany, and many other countries, as well as on Kobo, iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, and many other epub readers.

It will be available in print on Amazon and in bookstores in April, IF there is enough initial interest (at least 100 requests ) to warrant the production costs.

Heather will appear at Chapters Pointe Claire, Quebec on April 14th to celebrate National Poetry Month and to read from Carry On Dancing and a Kobo version of Three Spaces on her Kobo for IPad app.

Heather’s poems have been published in Canadian literary journals, newspapers and magazines, nation-wide school textbooks, international print anthologies, online journals, and in the British small presses. She was awarded Queen’s University’s McIlquham Foundation Prize in English Poetry (1995) and the UK journal Various Artists’ Poet’s Poet Award in 2008 and 2012.

Her third collection of poetry and photos, Carry On Dancing (Winter Goose Publishing, 2012)  hit #1 on Amazon Canada’s Bestselling Poetry list in April 2012, and stayed there for several weeks. It’s now topping the Canadian Kindle Bestselling Poetry charts along with Where the Butterflies Go.

Her second collection of poetry and photos, Leap (Graceful Publications, 2010), has been described as a “lovely lilt of language,” and, “a must for new and already hooked fans,” by reviewers. Where the Butterflies Go (Graceful Publications, 2008), was reviewed as “whirlwind poetry that never hesitates…always delightful and rarely what you expect. We need poetry like this.”

Heather is also a children’s poet, and enjoys screenwriting. The Groovy Granny (2012 Kindle version; Special Audio Version on iBooks) and The Friends I’ve Never Met (Romantic Comedy screenplay, 2012) are her best-selling Kindle books.

Her photographs have appeared in Equinox and National Geographic Traveler among others, and on the cover of over a dozen poetry books.

Born in Ottawa, Canada, she lives with her husband and daughter near Montreal. In her free time, she loves to take photos, scrapbook, cartoon, inline skate, dance like nobody’s watching, and eat Swedish Berries — usually not all at the same time.

Three Spaces

Kim Larocque Celebrates Small Publishers/Indie Writers with Author of the Year Award

Writer-interviewer Kim Larocque of Muse in the Valley has announced her Author of the Year 2012 nominees, and I’m so touched to be among the 12 talented nominees.

Please go vote for any of the authors in the list, if you’ve read them: no account or login required to vote! It’s a fantastic award that celebrates indie publishers, indie writing and indie writers.

Kim writes, “Muse In The Valley was born as”bestisyettocome” a quiet journey into my thoughts and aspirations.  A year later, when I changed the name to Muse In The Valley, I started writing about dreams and how they can assist us into finding the messages our soul is trying to give us.  I had no clue then, nor did I ask the Universe to become a Literary Blogger, yet I did, and I am immersed in a world of literature.  I have met the most amazing poets, indie writers, novelists, children’s book writers and more, thus, opening up doors to new contacts, new friendships and new BOOKS!!”

I agree with Kim – 2012 has been a surprising, thrilling year for me as an author, and I want to thank all of you for being a part of it!

Best always,

Heather

Carry On Dancing: Opening Soon!