One of the most gratifying aspects of writing is getting feedback from readers. Whether it’s this blog or my House Proud column or a book, the fact that something I did compelled someone to take the time to communicate with me is something I will never take for granted.
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Venus Rising Reviews Read More »
I’m really torn about this review.  They say film critics are failed film students.  Well I wouldn’t call myself failed but I do know how hard it is to write fiction. …
Review: The Fridgularity by Mark Rayner Read More »
My brother suggested I watch a documentary titled Bully. Â “You’ll blog about it”, he said. Â So here I am, proving my brother right. A few decades ago that would have been unthinkable! Â …
The best novelists make their writing seem effortless. When you read their stories you don’t even think about the writing and that’s tough for a fellow writer to do.  But Hayley Linfield has accomplished this with her debut novel, The Truth about Dandelions. …
Review: The Truth about Dandelions by Hayley LinfieldRead More »
Review: The Truth about Dandelions by Hayley Linfield Read More »
One of the best mainstream TV shows in recent memory signed off for good on Friday night. Â And unlike so many shows before it, its finale tied things up intelligently and appropriately, leaving fans with a chuckle and a tear. Â …
A highlight of the holidays for me is the opportunity to forget about the clock and curl up with my Kobo and read something compelling. This book came out a couple of years ago but it’s new to Kobo (and probably Kindle). Â Â …
Review: Little Girl Blue, The Life of Karen Carpenter by Randy L. SchmidtRead More »
Review: Little Girl Blue, The Life of Karen Carpenter by Randy L. Schmidt Read More »
Kevin Pollak’s name might not be of the household variety but trust me, you know his work. Â He’s a legend in stand-up comedy who does the best impressions (according to his fellow comics) of Christopher Walken, Jack Nicholson and others. Â He’s also a familiar face in dozens of movies like A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects and Casino. Â …
Review: How I Slept My Way to the Middle by Kevin PollakRead More »
Review: How I Slept My Way to the Middle by Kevin Pollak Read More »
Jeff Mahoney is a longtime writer with the Hamilton Spectator and to have him tell me how much he enjoyed The Naked Truth was a heart-warming compliment. Â Yesterday, his article on the book ran in the paper and online and I was totally tickled by it. Â Here it is:Â …
“The Nearly Naked Truth – A Fond Walk Down Mammary Lane”Read More »
“The Nearly Naked Truth – A Fond Walk Down Mammary Lane” Read More »
If you remember Wong’s “Lunch With…” series in the Globe and Mail you’ll probably recall that she was a true journalist. Â She didn’t suck up to her subjects who ranged from the famous to the notorious. Â She sometimes ripped them a new one for everything from table manners to the way they answered questions. Wong was a marquee writer for the Globe for two decades until she wrote an article that inspired death threats and instead of backing her up, her employer hung her out to dry. Â …
Review: Out of the Blue by Jan Wong Read More »
Last night we went on London’s annual Lost Soul Stroll. Â It’s live, moving theatre centred on the city’s history and it happens on weekends throughout October. Â …
The Lost Soul Stroll Read More »
Everybody knows how the story of the Apple founder ends but not everybody is aware of way he worked and lived.  I just finished the book by Walter Isaacson, the authorized biography of Jobs that he wanted to chronicle his life, warts and all, so his children would get to know him better and learn what he was doing while spending so much time at work. …
Imagine how difficult it is to get two people who get up for work at 3:30 am to go out on a Sunday night. It’s nearly impossible. Â But Jim Gaffigan decided to make a tour stop in London’s Centennial Hall on a Sunday, so, what could we do? Â We bought front-row seats. We literally had the best seats in the house. …
Laughin’ at Gaffigan Read More »
You’ve likely heard about the phenomenon that is the Grey trilogy, beginning with the first book, Fifty Shades of Grey.  Millions of copies have been snapped up by mainly women readers and it shows no signs of slowing down. …
Review: Fifty Shades of Grey Read More »
This is how a memoir should be done. Â It’s raw, brutally honest and goes deep into the reasons why anyone would buy it in the first place – the band and the man who started it. Â …
Review: Does the Noise in my Head Bother You? By Steven TylerRead More »
Review: Does the Noise in my Head Bother You? By Steven Tyler Read More »
Readers of Motorcycle Mojo will be familiar with the name Paddy Tyson. Â He is an Irish adventure rider who makes regular contributions to the monthly magazine about his trips near and far. Â His book, The Hunt for Puerto Del Faglioli, takes him through Canada, the US, Mexico and further south on his testy Italian motorcycle he has nicknamed Peggy. Â 
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The Adventures of Paddy Tyson Read More »
I love movies, I really do, but a live theatre (pronounced thea-tuh) crowd as a whole is just a step up. Â It must be because the tickets cost so much more. Â …
A Night at the Theatre Read More »