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 ... :) 

Empowering women

As I'm writing my short stories on relationships, it pains me to think of loving women who are living in denial when they find out their men have lied and cheated on them. Living in a "dishonest reality" can cause stress and anxiety that erodes self-esteem. Women who fall in love and give everything to their men deserve truth and respect. Here is an article with sound advice for women to gain back their self-worth, and move towards a more honest and hopeful future. 

The same could apply for men who have been lied to, but somehow I hear more stories about women being hurt. If you have any stories to share, I'd love to hear from you ...

As I continue with my writing, and try to understand the complicated emotions, dependencies, and manipulations in relationships, I thought I'd share some articles that identify deceptive behaviours. When people care deeply for partners who betray them, they need to protect their own emotional health first and seek professional help if necessary. 

How to know someone is lying

Signs of a pathological liar

Hope

A poem from my book Island Lovers, Poems and Images of Mauritius, 

with the accompanying photo I took on the island. 

Hope

I was lost and grey

an ocean filled with tears

from the dark clouds

a shaft of light broke free

silver slivers of hope

twinkled on the surface

and my forlorn heart

glided with equanimity

bearing no fear

towards uncertainty

Toronto Light Fest at the Distillery District

Fun at the Toronto Light Fest at the Distillery District.

So inspiring to see such creativity in our city ... just love it.

Check it out. It goes on till March 12th.

Spreading my wings ...

Spreading my wings like these geese along Humber Bay Park, or at least trying to.

Always a lot of work behind those flapping wings, at times frustrating, at other times exhilarating.

Writing a collection of short stories that delves into the complications of romantic relationships ... 

Island Lovers, Poems and Images of Mauritius at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton

Hope to see you at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton. It'll be nice to meet new readers and catch up with friends.

If you happen to be looking for a Valentine's gift, come by and check Island Lovers.

Great start to New Year 2017

Wishing you all a wonderful New Year 2017 

Glad to let you know that my book, The Coral Heart was sold out in Mauritius, 

and a third edition, with addition of edited excerpts, is now available on the island at 

All Bookcourt stores 

and

Petrusmok bookstore, Hennessy Park Hotel. 

The second edition, the ebook is still available on amazon, 

and the first edition is still available in Canada. 

The French edition is still in progress and will be coming out by end of 2017. 

Best Wishes from Toronto

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season

Wintry Toronto

It was a magical day with snow flakes swirling around, spreading a thick fog over the city, covering everything in white. Yes, I know it's not fun when you're driving blindly into a sheet of snow, or struggling against an icy wind blasting across your face. But when you're walking, and dressed warmly, it's truly awesome to be out there against the elements, and watch the snow transform the city ...

In the park, children were tobogganing, their thrilled laughter echoing in the fresh snowfall. On the sidewalk, an older woman was trying to cover her face from the wind, and slipping on the snow. I gave her a hand and led her to the store, and she was all smiles. A passer-by with a bouncy step grinned, telling me in her caribbean accent how much she loved snow. We winked at each other with an unspoken understanding.

She probably gets asked as often as I do how I could bear the cold north when I was born on a sunny island. With the creative opportunities and freedom that Canada offers, winter is easy to bear. I don't miss the continuous tropical heat as I love the change of seasons, spring's blossoms, summer's lush greens, fall's colourful leaves, winter's snow flurries ... they inspire me to no end.

I love you, Toronto

There's something about the cold weather that makes me want to get cosy and warm at home, but there's so much to do in Toronto that I'm often willing to brave the cold. So many artists, musicians, writers, dancers, actors, filmmakers are spreading their creative and innovative vibes throughout the city that it's often hard to choose which event to go to. From neighbourhood restaurants and bars that feature musicians, and artists' work to contemporary operas and documentary screenings, the choice is endless. 

While walking by Queen Street the other night, and watching skaters gliding gracefully on the ice rink with our City Hall standing behind them against the sky, like some sci-fi building about to lift up, I thought of  how much this city means to me. So grateful to live in this cultural hub and its multicultural diversity. Toronto has offered me the freedom, and opportunity to be an artist, photographer and writer who can make a living from her art. And the people who live in this city, the kindness of friends I've made over the years have inspired me immensely.  I love you, Toronto.

Photography Exhibition and Book Signing of Island Lovers - Poems and Images of Mauritius

Photography Exhibition and Book Signing of Island Lovers

Stella’s Lunch Box

145 Lauder Avenue (just south of St. Clair) Toronto

Sunday December 4th

1 to 4 pm 

Come by, and meet friends in this charming café, and enjoy the photographs, 

poetry reading, and live music in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. 

If you can't join the event and would like to buy this book as a holiday gift, it's also available at Book City Yonge & St. Clair (1430 Yonge St), Book City Beaches (1950 Queen St. E), Indigo online, amazon.ca, amazon.com

Supermoon over Toronto Skyline

On Monday evening, I went with a friend to Humber Bay Park to chase the moon. A surreal experience watching the glow creeping behind clouds, rising behind the CN tower before finally making its way up in full glory.

Launch of Island Lovers at Toronto's The Word on The Street Book Festival

Inviting you all to the Toronto launch of Island Lovers - Poems and Images of Mauritius at The Word on The Street Book Festival on Sunday, September 25th from 11 am to 6 pm at Harbourfront, 235 Queen's Quay West.

I will be with four other authors at the Toronto Hakka Heritage Alliance booth, booth 151, along the lake, near the Toronto Star  tent. You can't miss it ...

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Island Lovers in Mauritius

Thank you to all the avid readers who purchased Island Lovers in Mauritius where it was launched on August 6th at Bookcourt, Bagatelle Mall in Moka, followed by book signings on August 19th at L'Artelier (L'Atelier Litteraire) Port Louis, August 26th at Bookcourt, Caudan, Port Louis, and August 31st at Petrusmok Bookstore, Hennessy Park Hotel, Ebene.

Thank you Mauritius for your interest in my work and for the radio, newspapers, and tv interviews. I'm very touched by the tremendously positive response to Island Lovers. It's been an exhilarating visit on the tropical island where I was born. So wonderful reconnecting with family and friends, and enjoying the lush beauty of the seaside and countryside. 

For  those who couldn't make it to the launch and book signings, and are interested in getting a copy of Island Lovers in Mauritius, it is available at:

Bookcourt Stores  

(Caudan, Trianon, Flacq, Bagatelle, Cascavelle, Airport, Grand Baie)

L'Artelier, Port Louis

Petrusmok Bookstore, Hennessy Park Hotel, Ebène

Librairie Le Cygne, Rose-Hill

For wholesale orders in Mauritius, please contact the distributor, Harold Venpin at 230-5256-1165


Info on the Toronto launch coming soon ...

Book launch of Island Lovers in Mauritius

I will be at Bookcourt book store in Bagatelle Mall, Moka, Mauritius on Saturday, August 6th, from 1-4 pm for the launch of my new book, Island Lovers - Poems and Images of Mauritius, and hope many of you who live there will join me.

I took the photos in the book during several visits to Mauritius, and the images inspired me to write poems on the island I left so long ago, an island that still brings back fond memories.

Looking forward to seeing you ...