Are You There, Margaret?

It's me, Jessica...

Sean was zipping along a Manitoba highway when I spotted the sign: Neepawa 8km.  

“Margaret Laurence, next left.” My voice was hushed in awe, breathless at our sudden proximity to the legend’s childhood home. Barely a stone’s throw. We could be there in five minutes. This was 2001, fourteen years after Laurence bravely wrote her way out of this world.  

Sean and I were headed to Winnipeg for a friend’s wedding. When we motored past the turnoff to the fictionally-famous town Laurence referred to in five novels——including The Diviners and The Stone Angel——as Manawaka, I melted into a gooey puddle of unfulfilled dreams. Or maybe I banged the glove box and shouted, “Ejector seat!” Unbuckled my seatbelt and prepared to roll? I don’t remember. Whatever I did prompted Sean into a jovial U-turn. I toured my hero’s house and bought the commemorative mug.

No soapy water for this baby——writing implements only!

In 2017, when I started working on my memoir, I was not personally acquainted with a single writer. My hometown of Weyburn, Saskatchewan had produced W.O. Mitchell, but he was long gone before I ever showed up. For writing guidance, I had the books on my shelves, and my souvenir mug from Neepawa.

Self-discipline and willpower seemed key to writing success. Lots of days, I couldn’t muster either ingredient. As you probably know from your own life, when a task is difficult AND takes a long time, it’s bound to kick your ass.

But perhaps lack of willpower isn’t what stalls us. . . maybe it’s a lack of support. Something changed the day I got to my desk, raised my mugful of pens, and said, “Morning, Margaret!”

My memoir was a true account, so I didn’t have to (or get to) make anything up. Instead, I used my imagination to conjure a mentor who cared whether I got my work done; someone with high standards, who expected me to do justice to the story.

Writing alongside Margaret Laurence gave me the courage to try a writing class. First online, then in person, I began to meet other beginning writers. Tentatively, I started showing them my work.

Calgary has a fabulous writing community and I took in literary events when I could, occasionally asking professional writers for encouragement. They gave it freely, as you’ll see in the video below. It took a village (plus a city, planet and universe) to write The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards over the past seven years.

I promised today’s newsletter would reveal the cover. So, here it is, wrapped with warm ribbons of luck from generous authors who helped me keep the faith:

If the above video doesn't work, click here for a two-and-a-half-minute celebration of grace and good fortune, culminating in the cover reveal!

TLDR: I’ll share a 1-minute version on socials soon. Watch that if you don’t have two-and-a-half minutes now. And feel free to borrow a little luck if you need some for yourself!

Take care ‘til next time, when I’ll have a fun interview for you. In the meantime, if you feel like adding your own ribbon of luck, please subscribe or share. I really appreciate you. Thanks!

p.s. I made a surprise cameo appearance in acclaimed author Terry Fallis’s newsletter this week! You can’t see my face, but I’m talking to bestselling thriller writer Linwood Barclay about…MARGARET LAURENCE! (You can’t make this stuff up.)

The view from the road...

p.p.s. I didn’t win The Amy Award for Memoir but I did get to thank judge Lorna Crozier in person and Wordfest in Calgary :)