Writer's Corner

I attended a Sisters of Crime webinar 9 Apr 26 and God know's which one.  The speaker stated that 56% of all books are romance.  The speaker herself wrote two dozen books herself and was unsuccessful up to that point.  What does she wish she had done?  Started to do a newsletter.  I still don't have a newsletter but I have a blog which I post on Face book, linkedin and twitter.   The blog is consistent and I consider what I copy elsewhere.  At times I do post on Face book and not anywhere else.  I am still exploring an actual newsletter but will keep the blog and charge for the newsletter.  How does that sound?  I will have to put something more on the newsletter, to make it worthwhile.   I haven't decided that yet.  I want to take my time, explore my options, and look at what is real and what isn't.  That is the tough part.  She continued to say she wished she had put up a reader magnet.  Give a taste of my writing.  I think you already have more than a taste of that.  You have read me when I am busy, when I am relaxed, when I am playful and when I'm not.  She explained it has to have personal stories connected to books.  Well with Military Policewoman, For Love of Country it is about my own career.  My focus is on the social aspects of the time.  There is a lot I did not say because I have to be mindful of security, so it wasn't about telling anything that I should not, but that was ok.  I think that women considering joining a police force or military might benefit from it, though it is mostly military men and Jewish men who buy it.   Third on the list are Middle Eastern women.   I have men contact me who have served and disappeared but connected with my book and wanted me to know.  Then they would disappear again.  When others can connect to my book, it does warm the heart.

Her final wish was to put her books on delivery.   I do that.  You can order my books on line, but again I am exploring my options since I do not even break even due to the cost of delivery.  She said we should use AI for pictures.   I do not.   On redigondapsychotherapy.com.   I took all the photos and am seriously thinking of keeping it and changing the handle.  She said we should be consistent with newsletters.  We should write once a week and when we have a book coming out.  

That is all for now.   Have a good weekend.   Balance your time with play and work.  What do you think?

to be continued.

 

AAMFT Conference - Notes……Continue - Adult Attachment: Developing Secure Attachments.

How this affects Couples and Families

Same function as in Childhood.  Need a secure base; someone to support them, protect them, offer them security and nurturance, particularly during stress and invulnerability.   We are seeing more insecure adults now than 20 years ago.

Pre-occupied attachments -  need close relationship; seek approval from other and fear being detached.  Overly dependent on intimate others and cling to partners; are hypersensitive to unavailability or abandonments.  

Extremely jealous etc…  Have great difficulty making independent decisions.   Rely on others but needs many opinions.

 

To be continued.

Tid bits - Loneliness again, some stats etc.

 Watching the news during the weekend, there was another cry about education cuts, and  to have high school students learn on line more.   Then I was reading some articles from magazines, one from a fellow student at Uof T who went on to study at Oxford.  I always liked him so was interested that his focus is on loneliness.  FR Gerald Ryan "wants you to know that you are not alone."  He states, "My vocation calls me to be witness to inclusivity, to belonging, and to the inherent dignity of every person.  He wants to "loosen the grip of shame and silence that so often surrounds this experience and open pathways towards hope."(Canadian Jesuits, 2026 pp 18-19).   The article continues with a stat.  Loneliness has reached epidemic levels in recent years.  A 2021 report from Statistics Canada found that 1 in 10 people aged 15 or older always or often felt lonely.  Fr Ryan indicates that loneliness is not just a feeling but "an urgent pastoral and ethical call."   I agree.  So it is ironic that in our society, our leaders fail to recognize the importance of having youths socialize, learn to play and work together more and this gets a failing grade in online learning.  We need to gather people more together and look at the benefits.  Look at FIFA how it has brought people together with sports.  Yes, it has also brought problems to light as well such as many Canadians not being able to see a game due to lack of affordability.   We see a rise in greed and exploitation with leadership failing to protect the average person and aiding the rich to be more powerful, so they can gain.  We are huring in Ontario.   Nearly 300,000 Ontarians left emergency rooms without treatment last year.  There are four new hate crime laws being introduced.   Where is our money going to if not for our benefit?  Youths have been targeted from foreign entities to commit crimes including that of hate.  We need to unite our young people and respect them as individuals offering them the optimum support to be the best that they can be.  We have a lot of work to do, to reverse the greed and we need to be able to recognize it when we still have the ability to vote.   Do it wisely or live with the consequence.

Zellers disappoints, but thank you for the popsicle.

There has been quite a controversy about Zellers returning.   Today was the opening day at Orfus Road which contains an entire road of whole sale buildings.   People were wondering, why Orfus?  Well, because me thinks it is another warehouse.   The Press said it had a restaurant of the past.  Nope, it has a food truck and if there were some benches and chairs set up, I may have had a grilled cheese.  The Press promised us surprise treats and when I was at the lineup for a cashier I was told no.  I asked about the promised restaurant.  I was informed that the food truck is a restaurant.  I informed her that I would note that.  All the freebies I was informed happened earlier.  It was about 11:30.   There was lots of Press busy with their cameras and there were balloons and lots of Zellers souvenirs.  I parked next to City Pulse news and on my way out I was informed by a member of the press that my popsicle looked good.   It actually was good, so I got my treat.   If we bought anything there was a sign indicating we can get a strawberry or blueberry popsicle or water.  I chose the strawberry - so the girl directing us to the cashiers lied to me.  I got my treat - so there.  They didn't really have much that impressed me.  Their prices were jacked up and it was made to appear that we were paying half price.  I did buy two Italian microwaveable small dishes for the same price that I would pay at Homesense.   They had overpriced bath face cloths which I would have bought, but didn't.   I needed bed sheets for the summer and didn't see any.   They had the same capri's which I already have an abundance of and bought years ago, dresses, all casual and I did buy a night gown which had pretty flowers and comparable with something from Walmart.  I had to get a helper to take it down from the wall.  All in all, there was nothing to inspire me to return and I wasn't over joyed.  I was asked if I wanted to buy a zellers bag to put my items in for a dollar something and I declined.   I didn't bring a bag from the car because I thought they would give that for free.  No way hosay.  At least I got my popsicle and it was good.  I nodded when the Press man mentioned it looked good and wish I had continued to say something because a woman approached him right after and told him how familiar he looked and she wouldn't stop talking to him.  I actually felt bad for him.   It was amazing that she never seemed to stop, to take a breath, not even as I drove away and I thought he was going to cry.  Anyhow,  I went to Home Depot right after because I needed some oil for a chain saw I bought to cut my bushes and tree branches

and I hope I don't cut off my skin.  I told the saleswoman helping me to find the oil about Zellers opening today.  She insisted that Zellers had closed years ago.  Another woman stepped in, said she had just arrived from Zellers and told us not to go.  She continued that she would give them six months before they would close.

You know that is too bad.  Zellers is an icon.   What were they thinking?  A commentator was stating that they are seeking a younger crowd.  Not going to happen, me thinks.  They did have one happy senior with purple hair at the front of the store singing and dancing to a 70 or 80 song.  Bye Bye Zellers.

(If I am all over the place - sorry.  I am exhausted but promised you a blog)  I missed a meeting with Sisters of Crime to go to Zellers.  I think I shall watch a movie.  I listen to my body when it states rest!

What have I been up to?

 A lot!  I cannot imagine how time just flies.   I have my heels on the floor to slow down but it doesn't seem to work.  I haven't forgotten you and I know I am falling behind.  This weather that has changed from snow has me going out and making fun a priority.  I am still watching the market and it hasn't gone up so I sit patiently as I crave pets and vacations away.   I have attended more writing webinars from my two associations and the American Guild.  Recently I watched a talk about agents but after listening to their introductions, I left since they seemed more interested in minority groups.  I am always lucking out there since the beginning of time.   Others didn't fit my genre.  So, I left the room.  I am always learning of more scams targeting authors.  There is more that could be done about these annoying small time criminals.  Every time I insult the midgets something happens, but it is so annoying.  Anyhow I did go see Steven Spielberg 's Disclosure.   I will watch anything that Steven touches.   A tv show based on a true story named "Soul on Fire"  is based on a true story about John O'Leary who received burns covering 100% of his body.  There is a book out, "On Fire".   This is well worth watching.   I also found a new restaurant I really like and will write a review for you with some photos because it is worth a visit.   I know I still have to continue to tell my story about my holiday and I still have lots of notes to provide for you.  It shall come.  I am also thinking of writing a blog elsewhere because I was swarmed here with ads that did not belong to google.  Quite frankly with all the the years I have been here I have received about $20.00 and nothing recently.  Considering I have up to 4000 readers monthy I have to wake up and smell the coffee and try to make some money.  I am still in the learning and thinking stages, but it shall come.   I will probably drop shopify and though it is a Canadian company I am charged in American dollars.  I will probably transfer to Go Daddy which is an American company which charges me in Canadian dollars.  Shopify doesn't seem to help Canadians so I will probably say bye bye.   Please be patient with me while I sail into transition.  Good talk.  See you tomorrow.

University of Toronto Magazine - Spring 2026 edition, p33

 Caitlin Maikawa an assistant professor at U of T's Insititute of Biomedical Engineering, co - develped PRIM, a swallowable pill that releases harmless blue dye when there is inflammation in the intestines and the toilot water will turn blue when inflammed.  The pill will cost less than 50 cents (let's keep it from being exploited).  Seven million people live world wide with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).  Earlier detection can now result in adjusting treatments faster, potentially preventing serious harm and improving quality of life.

Remember when I tried to sell my house last year? Well people still want it but are waiting (for me to decrease price) Not going to happen people.

 Quaint Toronto house is a rare find for under $1 million but still needs work http://www.blogto.com/real-estate-toronto/2025/04/510-northcliffe-boulevard-toronto/