"Showing and Sharing 'A Striking Woman.' "


This past Thursday was "Show and Share" morning at the Coffee, Companionship and Conversation group at St. Mark's Anglican Church, Fisher Avenue, Ottawa.  Often we have guest speakers on various topics. Realizing that members of the group have hobbies, interests and pet projects, the organizers decided to give participants the opportunity to show and share them.  We had the story of a rescue cat who became its owner's best friend; displays of soapstone carvings, hand-painted china, and unique hand-crafted greeting cards; a presentation on the therapeutic value of colouring, a flautist's performance accompanied on piano, and an author talking about her latest historical  novel - moi.

Because the novel was inspired by (very very loosely based on) the early life and career of trade union organizer Madeleine Parent (1918-2012) I talked for five minutes about her life and work,  about meeting with her, and about why I decided not to attempt a biography but to write a work of fiction instead.

Several participants in the writers' group, which I lead as a  sub-group to CCC, said they enjoyed it

 

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