Today's blog is a mini-workshop for writers, on the subject of conflict in narrative.

For emerging writers, one of the most important aspects of story-telling is conflict.  Something has to happen in a narrative, and what happens has to matter.  By which I mean that whatever your protagonist wants has to be IMPORTANT -- it has to have gravitas; it has to fully engage the reader.…

Hi everyone,

There are few more exciting moments for a writer than the one when the cover of a new book is revealed.  So, I'm delighted to share with you the cover for my next novel, THE EMPTY ROOM, which will be out in Canada with Harper Collins, May 2013.

I must say, I quite love the cover.  Although I know the 'rule' of graphic design is to have the figure looking…

Okay, so let's talk about that big old heffalumping elephant sitting across the desk from me.  OUR DAILY BREAD did not make it onto the short list of the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed.

On the other hand, I'm not really that disappointed.  To feel more than a modest amount of deflation would be, I think, to waggle my buttocks with ingratitude in the face of unexpected bounty.  Let's face it, if I hadn't been on longlisted for the…

We wake up this morning to more dreadful news.  Riots and attacks in Libya, Yeman, Egypt.  Good people dead.  Intolerance and ignorance exploding everywhere.

I am prone, as I have said before, to the droops.  The world gets me down.  Some days more than others, and these days cruelty, selfishness, intolerance, ignorance and self-righteousness abound.  An election year in America is enough to make one want to go back to bed and hide under the covers until it's all over -- and that's…