A Writer‑in‑Residence Reflection

To leap into 2026 as Writer-in-Residence, I am overcome with gratitude. This position has been my dream for over a decade, and it feels surreal that all the tiny seeds I’ve planted along the way have now come to fruition. My path has been one of relentless work and diehard optimism, raw belief that my time would come. My hope is that my journey can inspire you reading this to never give up on your big dreams.

It has been a privilege to mentor so many up-and-coming writers this first month (January 2026) in my post as EPL WIR. I love being immersed in creative conversations. What a wonderful reminder that none of us truly write in isolation. If we are feeling lonely or in need of inspiration on our writerly journeys, we must seek out community. It is present in many groups and organizations in our city. We are deeply fortunate.

I want to thank everyone who attended the event “Writerly Welcome: WIR Kick-Off.” Thank you to the 2025 Writers-in-Residence Rhonda Parrish and Anna Marie Sewell for giving myself and my fellow 2026 WIR, David Berry, a wonderful handoff into our respective roles.

My own writing took a backseat this month as I dove into mentoring sessions and planning workshops, but I am excited to share more about my own writing projects in February. For example, I am working on a paranormal thriller about an Edmonton journalist who, while traveling abroad, hunts down stories to cover. When she stumbles upon a notable art exhibit opening, she discovers paintings that are much more than they appear. When she is swept up in a romance with the artist himself, things get spooky. More soon on this story I’m loosely entitling The Final Portrait.

Below are some of the resources that came up in discussions with mentees this month. I hope you find them helpful as well.   

Resource Round-Up

Find an Editor:   

• Editors Canada Database

Find a Publisher:   

• Small Presses search engine, Poets & Writers
• Canadian Book Publishers, Canadian Authors Association
• Publishers list, Book Publishers Association of Alberta

Writing Groups, Organizations, and Events:   

• Stroll of Poets
• Edmonton Poetry Festival
• The Olive Reading Series
• VERS/E: A Queer Poetry Series
• Writers Guild of Alberta
• LitFest: Canada’s Original Nonfiction Festival

Publications:   

• Linguistic diversity through The Polyglot
• Looking for local magazines to pitch? Dig into the Alberta magazine member directory, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association

Upcoming Events and Workshops

• Book an in-person or virtual mentorship session with me.
• Monthly Writer Gatherings, take place on the last Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Stanley A. Milner branch of the Edmonton Public Library.
• Art Book Basics: Publish Your own Art Book, The Paint Spot, Monday, Feb. 2, 6 to 9 p.m.
• Spreading Your Story: Pitching to Media, Online, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• Getting Your Manuscript to Market: A Discussion of Publishing Paths, Online, Monday, March 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
• The Language of Becoming: Writing Poetic Affirmations set to Music, In-person, Wednesday, April 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Stanley A. Milner branch of the Edmonton Public Library.