Celebrating Nine Blogging Years!

This weekend, WordPress informed me that my blog is now nine years old.

I look back over the years, and realize that I owe so much to this blog, this space, this WordPress, and to you readers. I remember the day I decided to start a blog. A friend I’d met on one of the first social media groups, Yuwie, had suddenly died. Yuwie was buzzing with people discussing my friend’s death. It was like my Facebook newsfeed today, when a celebrity dies, only, it mattered more. I’d corresponded with this guy. Spent time laughing about life with him. I went inline skating, trying to shake off my grief.

I’d been posting lots of poems to Yuwie, and had gained a loyal following, but I’d heard about “blogs” and wanted to try one. I wanted to be at the forefront of social media (and now I’m scared to try SnapChat – but that’s another story ;D ) Something kept nagging at me as I skated – my own voice? a ghost? – to this day, I don’t know. The voice said, “Start a blog.”

When I hear voices, and trust me, it’s not a rare occurrence, I listen. I skated home and started a blog. I titled it Where the Butterflies Go, after one of my early poems. I wrote many more poems over many months, and in the spring of 2008, my first poetry collection was born, mostly out of poems first published on this blog.

355 blog posts, four more poetry collections, a children’s book of poems illustrated by our daughter Kayla, then 5, a screenplay written because Aaron Sorkin visited and signed this blog, and I joined his online discussion group with the most remarkable people, who inspired me to write it; a name change to HeatherGraceStewart.com, three romantic comedy novels, and a fifth poetry collection later…that’s nine years enjoying the sheer joy and excitement that is Bloggyland.

But what means more than realizing all of those posts and publications is YOU taking the time to sign in and comment, to let me know that you’re reading and enjoying. YOU encouraging me. YOU telling me you wanted a sequel to my first novel, and asking me to go back to my poetry for at least one more collection. YOU sharing my poetry and telling others about this blog and my books. YOU reminding me what my roots are, why I started writing in the first place, and how grateful I am to still be here, with you.

Thanks for being here.

Love, Heather

Where in the World?

First off, thank you readers for helping make The Ticket a Kindle bestseller in Canada and the USA in Relationship Humor! I had so much fun writing this third novel, and it’s wonderful to see you reacting to it with as much enthusiasm as I have for the characters and story. I’d love for more UK and Australian friends to discover this book! (So if you liked it, please share about it however you can).

Secondly, I could use your help answering a question for me. Did you prefer The Ticket being set in NY and around the world, or was there something intriguing to you about the Canadian-France setting of Strangely, Incredibly Good & Remarkably Great? I’ve been pleased and surprised to learn recently that the majority of my readers are American! (bless you).

It would really help me if my readers answer this question: Does setting matter to you when you read a book? Do you like to be able to relate to the place(s), or is it more interesting if it’s set in a place foreign to you?

(Photo: Me catching up with the July 1866 news yesterday at Upper Canada Village, ON, CAN  😉

‘My brain is a complex and bizarre adventure park’

Find out what else I said to fellow Canadian author Kelly Charron when she interviewed me over at her beautiful blog!

Thanks again, Kelly!

Thankful For My Readers!

For a week and a half, I had 55,000 people engaged with my posts. It's been one of the best feelings of my life. I don't…

Posted by Heather Grace Stewart, Canadian Author on Friday, October 9, 2015

The Man With the 132 lb Scrotum? (WIP Excerpt )

“I have to stop thinking about him! This could torment me for life! Okay, tonight I will not think about men. No. More. Man. Thoughts.

I pour myself some wine, sit down on the couch, turn on the TV, and check out the guide. Let’s see. It looks like my choices are:  “Mormon Half Love” or “The Man With the 132 lb Scrotum.”

Seriously? This is my Saturday Night? There is not enough wine in this house for me to even contemplate watching these shows. And yet…this is definitely better than dating.

Oh, look, it gets better. Up later tonight on TLC, we have “The Girl With Half a Face”, “The Man Who Lost His Face,” “The Man with Half a Body,” and “The Man with the 200 lb Tumor.”

~Cat Glamour in Remarkably Great, the (Work-In-Progress ) sequel to Strangely, Incredibly Good

Actually if you’ve read this far, you’re actually really interested, so I’ll tell you the news: the draft manuscript is complete as of today! 🙂 Now comes the grueling process of editing before I submit! I’m hoping this sequel will be out by the end of 2015, but it depends on many factors. Stay tuned!

Work buddy Sam (15)