I briefly experienced Muhammad Ali’s dynamism and generous personality. It was 1986, my high school prom, and word spread on the dance floor that Muhammad Ali was staying in a room at the hotel we had booked. A group of boys said, Let’s go up and meet him. I think I was the only girl […]
In Conversation with Anita Kunz
Originally published in May 2016 in Blog
hen Anita Kunz was a five-year old growing up in Kitchener, Ontario in the early 1960s, she practiced drawing the usual kid stuff: horses, flowers, fluffy clouds. But making Crayola masterpieces for the fridge wasn’t enough. Anita drew with a stronger sense of purpose learned from her uncle, the artist and environmentalist Robert Kunz. His editorial illustrations […]
CBS artifact
Originally published in February 2016 in Blog
How to stop a mean girl
Originally published in February 2016 in Blog
A reprise of one of my favourite posts: I wasn’t a mean girl in school. That automatically made me a target. I didn’t solve this by auditioning to join the girls on their power trips. Rather, I tried to exist in the world despite them. My refuge was drawing. Trays of rainbow markers thrilled and distracted me […]
Mothers
Originally published in May 2015 in Blog
Photo from the Melissa Rivers Collection Joan Rivers was by turns vicious, smart, snarky and deeply caring. Back when when I watched more TV I occasionally landed on one of her fashion rants, but never stayed long. Most of the time, I don’t find that kind of aggression entertaining. But I felt her talent, so […]
Why I didn’t work it
Originally published in February 2015 in Blog
Dude, you inspire me
Originally published in January 2015 in Blog
Failures, I’ve had a few
Originally published in January 2015 in Blog
“Lost and Found at Uni” series, by Alison Garwood-Jones When I met Stewart,* he was standing outside the coffee shop I’d suggested with his hands pushed deep inside his pant pockets. “It’s closed, isn’t it?” I said, walking up to him. “Yup,” he said, and we gave each other an awkward hug. “Sorry about that,” […]
Think like a newsroom
Originally published in July 2014 in Blog
When my story pitches for magazines or newspapers tank, it’s usually because: 1. My story idea is lame. 2. The story is good, but my pitch sucks. 3. My editorial connections are too thin. 4. It’s already been done (and, tut tut, I should have known that). 5. It’s a good pitch, but the wrong magazine […]
