National Poetry Month (NPM), a debut poetry collection launch, book signing, interviews, etc. mean a busy month for this writer with a day job.

Life in general

The illen turned out to be another case of sinusitis. Yay, a new weak spot in my immune system (!)

This marks the third time that I’ve contracted this particular infection. Last spring, I had thought I had developed seasonal allergies in mid-life, allergies that were exacerbated by the ubiquitous smoke of forest fires from late spring into early summer.

The reason I thought this was because the congestion lasted for months without developing into a serious cold/flu. I was up to date on all my vaccinations. Just to be safe, I tested for covid. The test came back negative.

Then, in late September 2023, I got sick again, and it felt exactly like what I’d had in the spring. This time, it developed into a nasty cough, persistent headaches, and pain in my sinuses. I tested for covid again and the test was negative. I went to the walk-in clinic because I wouldn’t be able to see my doctor in person for at least a month. I came away with antibiotics and a corticosteroid nasal spray. Still, it lasted for two months before it finally went away.

It was only after the fact, when I could smell and taste properly again, that I realized that it was probably the same infection spring and fall, and that it had just gone “sub-clinical” for the summer months. I’d had the taste of infection in the back of my throat the whole time.

This time, I’ve had sinusitis since the second week of March and have been to the walk-in clinic twice. I couldn’t test for covid, because all our kits had expired. I knew what I was dealing with, though, and am pretty sure the test would have returned a negative result.

The first time I went to the clinic, I was sent away with the same prescription as in the fall. I finished the course of treatment and did not feel any better. I returned to the clinic and was given a second, stronger prescription of antibiotics and advised to add steaming to my recovery regimen.

The fact that I’ve been working toward a deadline at work and toward the launch of my debut poetry collection all along has no doubt prolonged my recovery. In particular, the launch, signing, and the few live or online interviews I’ve done have made it necessary for me to mask at a level I’ve not had to since the start of the pandemic. All my energy goes toward that rather than toward my recovery.

Add to that the fact that there is not a lot of blood supply to the sinuses and antibiotics are not efficiently delivered to the source of the infection. On my second visit, the doctor I saw said the infection might be in the bone and even more difficult to eradicate.

Fortunately, by the end of the month, the second course of antibiotics appeared to be having an effect. It apparently stays in your system for about 15 days after the last dose.

The month in writing

Because I was focusing on The Art of Floating launch and all the associated writerly activities, I was less focused on writing and revision, but I still had a short story to finish, one to edit, and some poetry to submit.

Through the fabulous Melissa Yuan Innes (Yi), I managed to arrange for an interview with Derek Newman-Stille about TAoF on April 2^nd! Yes, I was on Speculating Canada, the multi-Aurora Award-winning podcast.

Of course, on the 6^th my day was devoted to the TAoF launch! You may have seen my brief post about it on the 7^th. I tried to treat the day as normally as possible. With the exception of heading out to get my makeup done by Dana Lajeunesse of Fabulous After Forty 🙂 , I walked my dog, visited my mom, and tried to remain calm.

The launch went well, but afterward, on the way home from the event, in fact, my sinusitis rebounded. I could feel the congestion socking in again.

I applied for the Public Lending Right (PLR) program for both the print and ebook version of TAoF.

I now have Amazon (still being reviewed) and Goodreads Author pages (!) Eep! This is all so official!

I submitted my final reports for funding on the 10^th and received my reading fee from the League of Canadian Poets (LCP) on the 25^th. I’d received my cheque from The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) in the mail the day before and deposited it on the 26^th. I have not yet been invoiced by Place des Arts.

I submitted my answers for an interview in periodicities. It should be appearing May 18^th or later.

Pulp Literature once again shared the news of my launch in their newsletter.

My recommended reading post went live on the 49^th Shelf on the 11^th! And not long after, my Open Book piece was also posted! I’ve been working on these pieces over the past months. It’s wonderful to see how they’ve come together!

On the 13^th, I had a book signing at the Sudbury Chapters from 11 am to 2 pm. I signed nine books. Well, I actually signed 20, but nine of them were for the lovely people who bought them. The rest will be on the local authors shelf.

I submitted a poem to a contest but did not place.

I recorded myself reading two more poems from my collection for a Poetry Pause promotion through River Street Writers. The reel was posted to Instagram on April 18^th.

I finished rewriting my short story for an anthology call and submitted it on the 21^st.

My interview with Heidi Ulrichsen for Sudbury.com came out on the 23^rd. Since the social medias are angry with Canadian news, I can only share it with you here (!) The Art of Floating: Poetry book dedicated to Sudburian’s father.

Then, my piece for All Lit Up: There’s a poem for that came out on the 25^th!

I also started my application for Access Copyright affiliation. There are a few things to get together. And I can only apply for work published in 2022 and before … ? Ah, well. I’ve started. Might as well finish.

And then, on the 29^th, I was greeted with this amazing review of The Art of Floating by Sara Hailstone.

I revised another story for an open submission period and submitted it on the 30^th.

And I wrote a bunch of poems 🙂

Filling the well

The new Alder moon in Aries was on April 8^th as well as the eclipse! As usual, it was cloudy here. I ended up watching the eclipse through Time and Date’s YouTube channel.

The full Pink/Sap boiling moon in Scorpio 🙂 was on the 23^rd. It was overcast, of course. We even has a bit of a thunder storm. Though the cloud broke up a little around sunset, there was no viewing to be had.

On the 4^th, I attended a Clarion Writers Workshop about “Avoiding common pitfalls in writing climate fiction” with Sarena Ulibarri. Very informative about the tropes to avoid.

I signed up for Cece Lyra’s “Tension, Conflict, and Stakes” on the 11^th. This was followed up with a Q&A on the 15^th. While Cece’s webinars tend to go long, she shares invaluable information on how to create and maintain tension in your novel. 

The online edition of Can-Con took place on the 20^th. I caught several of the panels and will catch the couple I missed on replay. Fabulous con.

And The FOLD online conference was held from April 28^th to May 1^st. So glad to be able to view the replays.

Finnish classes continued on Monday evenings throughout the month.

I signed up for a CAMH presentation on “Sleep and cancer” on the 24^th. Interesting.

Later the same night, my support group met. April’s topic was “Dealing with diminished executive function,” something I’m struggling with right now.

What I’m watching and reading

The first watch of the month was the second part of Invincible (Amazon), season 2. Insane and bloody as ever. Mark makes some critical decisions. He can’t do it all. And maybe he can’t avoid becoming like his father.

Then, Phil and I finished watching The 3 Body Problem (Netflix). I read the first book of the trilogy years ago, and it was again fascinating to see how the adaptation differs from the source material. Also, the DBs produced an inside the episode companion series for further insight. I really enjoyed it. Phil had his usual beef about the misappropriation and misinterpretation of the science, but he also enjoyed watching.

I watched the new (but sadly not improved) Road House (Amazon). Though Jake Gyllenhaal was pleasing to watch as Dalton, he was very enclosed and not very engaging on an emotional level. In the original, Patrick Swayze’s Dalton was clear about his intention to train the Road House’s existing bouncers to do their jobs better. In this version, there is simply a montage showing Dalton training one person on site and recruiting another. Long story short, though I could list all the movie’s faults, it was only mildly entertaining and there was no story at all. I didn’t care about any of the characters.

I finally finished watching the final season of The Flash (Netflix). It was the same old, same old right to the end, even bringing back the Reverse Flash, Godspeed, Zoom, and Savatar to join a resurrected Eddie Thawn, the new avatar of the negative speed force to battle team Flash in the finale. This battle coincides with Nora’s birth. All ends well (of course) even though adult Nora is present for her own birth and even holds her infant self. I guess paradox gives the Allen-West family a pass. About three (of five) seasons too long. A solid meh.

I also finished watching the most recent season of The Witcher (Netflix), the last with Henry Cavill. The series has been pretty hit and miss overall. In keeping with that assessment, there were things I liked about this season, and there were things I didn’t like. The thing that bothered me most was that the three main characters were separated throughout much of the season, and nothing seemed to progress the plot. The plot was largely MIA, and I didn’t care to remember who the principle parties were (i.e., in the war).

Then Phil and I watched the first season of Fallout (Amazon). Phil has played the Fallout games and was interested in what the adaptation would look like. The writers and showrunners opted (intelligently, in my opinion) to tell an entirely new story in the Fallout universe. The characters were complex, and their journeys were compelling. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommended.

I watched Wish (Disney +). I understand the criticism levelled at it, but honestly, it’s a cute celebration of all Disney movies. In fact, while the credits roll, all of the characters from the Disney movies appear. It’s basically an extended metaphor for Disney as an entertainment company. It was enjoyable and the perfect thing to watch while recovering.

Next, I finished Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV +). Loved! Brie Larson is fabulous as Elizabeth Zott. I’m not going to say much about the series except that you should watch it.

My first read of the month was Joanne Epp’s Cattail Skyline. In her second collection of poetry, Epp rambles through the prairies, explores a creek, travels to Cambodia, rides a train, and reminisces about a summer cottage. Again and again, she returns to the Cemetery road as she watches it through the seasons and years. Her keen observations reveal secret insights in every slant of light and experience of place.

Then, I finished Ray Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man. Holy heck is this linked short story collection depressing! I think there was one story that didn’t end in death and horror. Come to think of it, The Martian Chronicles was like that, too. Characters, usually men, make hubristic or fascistic decisions and get their comeuppance. Even the conscientious objectors can’t escape doom. This may be a heretical take, but the book left me feeling meh.

Next, I listened to Callahan’s Con by Spider Robinson. Having now read Legend & Lattes, I can see Robinson’s Callahan series as a predecessor. A hippie, inclusive, punny, and intoxicant-positive predecessor, but a predecessor, nonetheless. The books, whether set at the original Callahan’s Place, Mary’s Place, or The Place, focus on found family, a kind of travelling commune, if you will, and the power of love to overcome all disasters.

I listened to Robert Heinlein’s The Puppet Masters. It might just be the narrator, but I found the main character, Sam, rather whiny, but still bordering on toxic masculinity. Again, the book and its author are products on their time.

Then I read Tanya Huff’s Valor’s Choice. Solid military SF. A marine combat unit is given the “easy” assignment of accompanying a delegation to sign a new member species, the silsviss, into their confederation. When their ship crashes in a “reserve” where young male silsviss are sent until their volatile adolescence passes, and their military transport is suddenly called out of orbit on an urgent matter, Staff Sergeant Toren Kerr must act quickly to protect the ambassadors and find shelter until they can be rescued. Is this the work of the Others or have they run afoul of some other nefarious scheme?

And that was the month in this writer’s life.

Until next month, be well and stay safe; be kind and stay strong. The world needs your stories!