Progress Report: Summer 2025

Curing the Winter Onion Supply in my Small Greenhouse

Summer has been busy. I wish I could boast of having revised my entire novel in the last two months, but alas—that is not the case. Gardening and food preserving have absorbed much of each day. I enjoy these activities.  And will miss them once the snow falls. But winter brings its own gifts, and I look forward to spending long hours at my desk—completing the revisions I started last spring.

In the meantime, I dig thistles from my vegetable garden. Haul pails of water to pots of flowers. Deadhead spent blooms and battle Creeping Bellflower (and other invasives). Pick pails of beans. Freeze corn. Process tomatoes. Dig potatoes and carrots. Harvest seeds for next year. Prepare the ground for fall-planting of garlic, spinach & lettuce, and lilies. And plan for next year.

Despite these commitments, I’ve made progress on my novel. I’ve figured out the big problem with the previous draft. I’ve revised its premise, its theme, and its designing principle. Restructured it and created a new outline. Cut big chunks of text and created new plot elements. Will the result be an improvement? I think so. But as the old proverb says, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And I’m not the best judge of my own work. In the short term, at least, the most important judge of my novel will be the editor of ECW Press (or another independent Canadian publisher).

There are still copies of my first novel to market. In mid-August, I had a table at the Cochin Days craft and trade show. Emboldened by good sales, I’ve booked a table at the Marigold Market—Art. Craft & Food Fair at the Chapel Gallery in North Battleford on November 14 and 15.  Marketing is not my favourite activity—I would sooner write—but I do enjoy talking to people about my work. If you’re in the area, please stop in and say hello.

Stay tuned for next month’s report on further developments.