Gaslighting: coercing people to believe lies and question their own sanity

As I continue my research into relationships, I'd like to share this article as it's opened my eyes to gaslighting, the psychological manipulation some people use to coerce loved ones to believe their lies, and question their own sanity. Unfortunately, when women, and sometimes men too are in love, they often fall for the lies, don't listen to their instincts, or common sense, and thus enable the gaslighter. This article is very helpful in understanding why people gaslight and why they need help as much as the victims. For those who recognize the situation, hope you can seek advice from close relatives, friends or a therapist.

I took this photo on a rainy day. The mist was ethereal and made everything seem unreal. This poem is about the inescapable downward spiral of lies. 

Interview with Pot-Pourri CIUT 89.5 FM about my books The Coral Heart and Island Lovers

I will be interviewed about my books this coming Sunday on University of Toronto's radio station CIUT 89.5 FM, on their french show Pot-Pourri.  To all francophones and francophiles, please listen to this great cultural show from 11 am to 1 pm if you have a few minutes ... Michaëlle Jean, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, will also be among the guests.

Je serai interviewée  au sujet de mes livres ce dimanche sur la station de radio CIUT 89.5 FM de l'Université de Toronto, dans le cadre de leur émission Pot-Pourri. À tous les francophones et francophiles, s'il vous plaît, écoutez cette belle émission culturelle de 11h à 13 h  si vous avez quelques minutes ... Michaëlle Jean, Secrétaire générale de l'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, sera parmi les invités.

Emotional health in relationships

I've been researching articles on relationships. Some are full of wisdom and very helpful not only for my short stories, but my personal journey, not to mention my recent fascination with words on images. 

The one above was inspired by the these two articles:

Let the love flow: Practicing non-attachment in our relationships

How non-attachment can benefit your relationship

Authors' Afternoon with Christene Browne

Inviting you to meet  Christene Browne, award-winning filmmaker and author of Two Women. 

When we accuse ...

Some words of wisdom 

Toronto turns to gold

What a gorgeous weekend full of sunshine. So thrilled to be by the lake on Friday and see Toronto turn to gold. And what a joyful time yesterday at the family lunch food fest in celebration of the New Year of the Dog. And so heartwarming to share the evening by the water with a thoughtful friend who can make me laugh away ...

Sharing love on Valentine's

Love in all its forms, whether it's for our family, our friends, our romantic partner, should be celebrated every day, not just on Valentine's, because it can save us from all the negativity and violence in this world. Sharing a short poem on this special day, and wishing you love always.

Authors' Afternoon with John Lorinc

Inviting you to meet journalist John Lorinc

at Stella's Café on Sunday, February 25th to discuss his book, The Ward: 

The Life and Loss of Toronto's First Immigrant Neighbourhood

Forgiveness

To heal a broken heart

The second in a series of short poems I wrote on photos I took

Authors' Afternoon with Rhonda McEwen at Stella's Café

Authors' Afternoon took a break over the holidays but it's back on the last Sunday of every month.

Inviting you to meet Rhonda McEwan, 

co-author of Understanding Tablets from Early Childhood to Adulthood 

The Coral Heart and Island Lovers at Ryerson University Library and Archives

It's been a heart-warming start to New Year. So grateful to be surrounded by caring friends who bring sunshine and hope through the dark hours ...

My creative work has also been a therapeutic force in the healing process. Happy to share that my books are available at the Library and Archives of Ryerson University, my alma mater ... The french translation of The Coral Heart is in its final stages. Still working on those short stories ...

I've also been writing short poems over photos I've taken. A little exercise in rearranging words on pictures to find meaning from the clutter of thoughts and emotions. Sharing the first one ...

Wishing you a happy holiday season ...

   As the year 2017 comes to its end, I reflect on the challenges we all face, and how we grow stronger when we overcome them with love, compassion and forgiveness. 

So grateful to all the supportive friends and relatives who have accompanied me on this journey. 

Wishing you a wonderful time with your loved ones over the holidays 

and all the best for New Year 2018.

Interview in Toronto Arts Report

Sharing this interview with Rebeccah Love for Toronto Arts Report. It's a great blog that promotes artists from musicians to writers... Very proud to be part of this community of creative people.

A beautiful fall day at Cedarvale ravine

Terry Fallis at Stella's Authors' Afternoon

So happy to invite you to meet Terry Fallis at our monthly Authors' Afternoon at Stella's. Terry is a friend who is not only kind and funny, but a terrific speaker. We'll have a lot to talk and laugh about ...

Short stories on relationships

Romantic relationships, especially the complicated psychology between men and women have always fascinated me, hence the collection of short stories I’m working on. I’ve often wondered why women blame other women instead of sorting out their relationship problems with their unfaithful partners. In trying to understand the roots of this complex issue, I found an interesting article that analyzes the situation in a very constructive way.

On another note, I was quite taken by the haunting beauty of 

Meryl McMaster's digital print Anima at Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal.

Fall in Montreal

Montreal is so beautiful in the fall. Its sidewalks strewn with colourful leaves along tree-lined streets in the Plateau area where I stayed. And what a treat to speak french with friendly Montrealers in the charming cafés, shops, restaurants, and art galleries.

I was there to promote my books, and feel very grateful for the positive response. My heartfelt thanks to friends, relatives, and all the people who welcomed me there with their kindness and generosity, and their enthusiastic support for my books.

Also enjoyed an inspiring photo outing in Old Montreal with some friends. It had rained the previous day, and the air was fresh and crisp as the sun and the clouds took turns to play with the changing moods we captured.

Where to find The Coral Heart and Island Lovers in Canada and Mauritius

CANADA

Book City Yonge & St. Clair 

1430 Yonge Street (one block South of St. Clair Subway), Toronto

Tel: 416-926-0749

Stella's Lunch Box Cafe

145 Lauder Avenue (one door South of St. Clair Avenue), Toronto

Tel: 416-651-2109

Argo Bookshop

1915 Sainte Catherine Street West, Montreal

Tel: 514-931-3442

       

MAURITIUS

Bookcourt  Caudan, Trianon, Flacq, Bagatelle, Cascavelle, Airport, Grand Baie

Tel: 230-468-8039

Librairie Le Cygne  Magic Lantern Complex, Rose-Hill 

Tel: 230-464-2444 

L’Artelier, 12 Rue St. Louis, Port-Louis 

Tel: 230-208-2915 

Petrusmok at Hennessy Park Hotel 65 Ebene Ciber City, Ebene

Tel: 230-403-7200

Librairie Le Trèfle Arcade Currimjee, Curepipe

Tel: 230-676-3025  

Presse-Book Shop Centre Commerciale Le Barachois, Tamarin 

Tel: 230-483-7624 

Editions des Mascareignes Ltee 24 Bourbon St. Port-Louis

Tel:230-210-6259 

Editions de l'Océan Indien, Le Bookstore 22 B, Marcel Gabon Street, Rose-Hill

Tel: 230-464-6761 

Librairie Le Flamboyant Orchard Tower, Quatre-Bornes, Saint Ignace Lane, Rose-Hill 

Tel: 230-424 9706

WORLDWIDE: BOOK AND EBOOK

amazon.com

For wholesale book orders in Mauritius

Please contact the distributor, Harold Venpin at 230-5256-1165

For wholesale book orders in Canada

Please contact Peggy at peggylampotang@yahoo.ca

The Coral Heart and Island Lovers at Argo Bookshop in Montreal

So happy to announce that my books The Coral Heart and Island Lovers 

are now available in Montreal at 

Argo Bookshop.

Argo Bookshop is one of the oldest English-Language bookstores in Montreal. It is a cute independent bookstore at 1915 St. Catherine Street near the Guy-Concordia subway.  

It hosts book events every Thursday in a warm, friendly atmosphere. 

The two owners are helpful about finding books you need 

and enthusiastic about promoting books and writers.

Drop by and enjoy.

Handpainted silk scarves at Craft Ontario Shop

Still writing away but it feels so good to paint on silk again. I just love mixing colours with fluid brushstrokes, and let the creative instincts take over. 

I've recently delivered some hand-painted silk scarves to the Craft Ontario Shop at 1106 Queen St. West, near Ossington Ave. If you're interested in checking them out or would like to buy original hand crafted gifts made by Canadian artists, it's the best place in town. 

A few close up samples of my work

Island Lovers and The Coral Heart at The Word on The Street Toronto

Inviting you, book lovers to join me at Harbourfront for The Word on The Street Toronto  

on Sunday September 24th from 11 am to 6 pm. 

I will be there with my books, The Coral Heart and Island Lovers, 

at booth # 304 A, with four other authors, under the banner of the Toronto Hakka Heritage Alliance. 

The festival is an amazing celebration of books and writers, and so much more, 

including the beautiful view at Harbourfront.

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Authors' Afternoon at Stella's with Gregory Monteith and Maty Grosman

Our second monthly Authors' Afternoon at Stella's is this coming Sunday, August 27th from 2 to 4 pm at Stella's Lunchbox café. After the authors' talk, Wendy Weiler and Aiesha Bristol, two talented singers and musicians will perform for you. Hope to see you there ...

Authors' Afternoon at Stella's Café

Inviting you to meet up with writers and book lovers in a relaxed atmosphere every last Sunday of the month from 2-4 pm at Stella's Café, a cozy place with great coffee and delicious food.

This Sunday July 30th, we feature 2 authors who will read from their books, and are open to discussing them with you whether your interest is in the plot, the writing process, or their creative journeys, etc.

Canada Day fireworks from Harbourfront, Toronto

CN Tower in its fiery, jewelled glory ...

Fiery flowers bursting in the night sky

Island Lovers and The Coral Heart at the Toronto Hakka Festival July 8th, 2017

I will be at the Toronto Hakka Festival this year with my books Island Lovers and The Coral Heart. Hope you can come by on Saturday July 8th, and discover Hakka culture, its roots, and its delicious food. 

Tulip Fever

Tulip fever is overtaking the city. I just love these bursts of colours, their exuberance. Everywhere I turn, my eyes are feasting over an ever growing palette of colours and exploding shapes ... whoever are creating these blending of colours and shapes are amazing nature artists ...

Sharing my Instagram photos

I've given in to social media pressure and I'm now on Instagram. I prefer taking photos on my camera rather than my cell phone as it's difficult to control the quality on a phone, but I'll give it a try as it's an interesting challenge. The technical aspect may not matter as much as the content, the stories they tell, and the mood ... I've always preferred the story telling part of photography anyway ... Below is an Instagram photo I posted that I took a while ago at the ROM. I was fascinated by the Chihuly glass sculptures, the clarity of colours, the fragility of it all in such a profusion of voluptuous shapes. You can check more photos and follow me on Instagram by clicking here.

Looking forward to sharing photos with you there ... :)