February 2026 Newsletter

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” Unknown

No kidding. I try to remind myself of this quote as I continue to find my way back to my writing routine. Some days it works and I add huge (okay maybe not huge) blocks of narrative and other days; yikes it’s a struggle. But the only way to go is, you guessed it, forward.

And on the same note of the things that shape our lives, I was very proud to listen to and later read our prime minister’s speech in Davos. Here is Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech in case you missed it.

Hope this newsletter finds you well. Happy February.

Writing:

I meet many people who tell me they want to write a novel. Not an easy undertaking. Some ask me how I got started. For me it always begins with something I see or experience and want to understand better. It’s usually a person’s behaviour that first strikes me. And then I build the world around them. This has helped me draw out my novels. But I recently read an article in The Guardian that tells us to rip up all the rules when we’re dreaming of writing a novel. Here is that article for your reading pleasure.

In January, I received feedback from my group re: Chapter 1 of Book 2 of Bouboulina, the graphic novel. Wonderful, constructive feedback. Thanks so much. I made some edits, added more context and continued on to Chapter 2 and beyond.

Awesome Achievements:

My former Simon Fraser student (2017/18), Sabya Sachi Nag launched his new book, The Alphabet of Aliens at Benares Historic House in Mississauga, Ontario on December 13th to a sold-out audience. Bravo Sachi! This is an incredible read. Take a look at all the reviews that have been written so far on this collection of engaging prose poems and get your hands on this book, which can be ordered through Armchair Books in Whistler or through any other bookstore in your area.

Another former Simon Fraser Student (2024/25) of mine, Jennifer Greenhorn had a double win in December and January. She signed a contract with an agent she pitched to at [the 2025 Whistler Writers Festival(https://whistlerwritersfest.com/) and her creative non-fiction story, Loser Lap was shortlisted in the Malahat Review 2026 Open Season awards. Bravo, Jen!

Upcoming Events:

Author, George Saunders will be appearing in Vancouver on February 6th at an event hosted by the Vancouver Writers Festival. Tickets are available HERE. Hope to see you there.

Whistler local author, Heather Hendrie will be launching her new memoir on February 12th at 7:00 p.m. at the Whistler Publish Library. See you there.

I will be reading at the Brock House Society Author event on Thursday March 5th starting at 10 a.m. If you are in the area, please join us. You can register HERE.

And one final note,author and workshop leader Bronwyn Preece, is putting on yet another women’s writing group session starting in February. The information is below. If you are interested, please contact Bronwyn directly.

Book Recommendations:

Here are the books I read in January.

This novel is told from the perspective of Nadezhda, the youngest daughter of a widowed father (Nikolai) who agrees to marry a much younger woman (Valentina) from the Ukraine who is trying to find a safe haven for herself and her son in Peterborough, England. Nadezhda questions Valentina’s motivations and seeks her older, estranged sister to help her protect their father. As the story unfolds, we see glimpses of Nadezhda’s family history and what might have caused the estrangement of the two sisters. And at the same time, we are treated to the history of tractors in the Ukrainian which Nikolai is documenting. Here is a review from The Independent.

This is a story told through a series of letters between the main character, Sybil, and her family members, and strangers as well as authors of books, she has read. Tight, beautifully written prose that moves the reader forward and depicts a life lived both with success and regrets. This was a very different format for a novel, and yet, it was engaging and completely drew me in. Here is a Kirkus Review.

It is difficult to describe this novel, except to say, it is an epic of a story (650 plus pages) of two families and their offspring, Sonia and Sunny, and how they initially find each other, lose each other, and find each other again. The novel is packed with plenty of interesting family dynamics, cultural nuances and superstition. This was a complicated but satisfying read. Here is a review from the New York Times.

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Talk to you soon. Take care. Stella