“We need the key to the clock.” Chelsea had a look on her face that told Ivy that the girl would not be denied.
“Why?”
Chelsea crossed her arms in front of her chest, hugging the leather-bound book, and sighed. “To go through the door, of course.”
“Door?” Ivy asked. “What door? There’s no door in the clock.” This conversation was like a dream, nothing quite made sense.
“Yes there is,” Chelsea said, as if it was common knowledge and it was ridiculous that Ivy didn’t know.
Ivy looked at the grandfather clock in question. It looked like a perfectly unremarkable antique clock. “No there isn’t.”
Chelsea huffed and grabbed a key from the tray at random. “Fine. I’ll do it myself.”
Now that The Curious Adventures of Winnifred McQuary is being queried, I started writing (hand-writing actually) a new novel. “Cemetery clock book” is the working title as I actually haven’t picked one.
All these images are from the Pintrest board I made as inspiration for the book.
My name is Jenna Goldsmith and I write YA and NA fantasy/urban fantasy/magical realism. Once I tried to write a contemporary story and it ended up with elves in it. I actively write on my blog (here) and on Medium, where I post articles about writing, self-care, and life lessons.
I started writing stories at a fairly young age, just because I thought it was fun and I enjoyed storytelling. For a while as a kid, I thought I wanted to be an actor⏤storytelling through performance. It seemed to fit. I’m a major drama queen and, despite being an introvert, I do enjoy the “spotlight” sometimes. But as I got older, I liked the idea more of being in control of the stories. In High School, I started writing more seriously and thought it could be something I’d want to do with my life.
In university, I studied English Literature and History, which I think was the best for developing my creativity and writing abilities. I’m not sure if I would’ve had the same experience if I’d studied creative writing specifically. But, I did get a post-grad certificate in creative writing after I graduated.
I love stories. For me, they are a way to escape the mundane and explore a vast number of worlds and people. That’s why I love urban fantasy and magical realism, real life with a sprinkle of magic. As if it could really happen to me.
The book I want to submit is a YA fantasy: The Curious Adventures of Winifred McQuary.
It’s about Winifred, a shy and bookish 16-year-old girl, who falls into a portal while on a family camping trip. The world she falls into is fantastical and magic, including whales that soar through the sky as if it was water. But all is not what it seems, even when she is granted magic from the local deity, or when she has to save her new friend from being held captive by the local dictator. Winnie must decide for herself who to trust and what is right. If she doesn’t, she might never get home.
The project was inspired by the Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away and by my own struggles in finding myself after a bad break up.
Even if I don’t get accepted as a mentee, I’m looking forward to connecting with so many talented and wonderful writers! I’d love to connect so follow me on Twitter or send me a message.
I wrote this poem dreaming of Prince Edward Island.
My father actually first said the phrase “full of sea breezes” to me, but I quickly adopted it as my own and it’s been rattling around in my brain waiting to be used.
With the start of the new year, I wanted to dive right in with some bookish content and start a monthly post sharing what I’m reading.
I’m notorious for reading multiple books at a time and after finishing a bunch of books before Christmas I went on a bit of a spree and picked a whole whack of books to start reading. Though, one of these books is one I started months and months ago and have picked back up after a break.
I wanted to branch out this year and read more poetry and this one gave me good vibes in the store, so I picked it up. I’ve read through a few of the poems and I’m enjoying it… if that’s the right word. The poems are about love, loss, and heartache which is a pretty universal experience, though coming from an LGBTQ perspective in this case.
This is an authorized prequel of the classic Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, so tells the story of Anne’s birth, the death of her parents all the way through to her stepping off the train at Bright River to wait for Matthew. This was the book I’d left for a while and I’m planning to write a review when I’m done reading it.
I joined an online bookclub hosted by a Twitter writer friend and the theme is “large books by women.” I’d say this month’s book definitely falls in that category. I’ve only just started so I know this is going to take more than a month. But I’m glad to have an excuse to read a classic.
Besides poetry, I also wanted to read more nonfiction. A couple months ago I watched the documentary about her life on Netflix and had it in my head to read something of hers eventually. So far I’m very impressed by the writing style and I’m actually enjoying it, despite the fact that it’s about her husband’s sudden death and the serious illness of her daughter.
I love Nina George. I reviewed The Little French Bistro in 2018 and I was eagerly awaiting her next book. I was so excited when I ordered it late last year, but I was already reading so many other things that it had to go on my TBR pile. Now I have a chance to read it and I haven’t made it far, but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve been reading!
So that’s my list! Maybe this will give you some inspiration for your own reading this month.
Does any part of you still look at the sky and hurt?
Call Down the Hawk
When Maggie first announced that she was hosting an art contest, I didn’t know if I wanted to submit anything or what I would submit if I did enter. But then I remembered that I enjoy painting birds, especially ravens.
Bird motifs are the best motifs.
This is also my first attempt at a hawk, so I don’t think it went horribly!
The sun is setting on 2019 and on the 2010s, which leaves me feeling equal amounts excited and vaguely nauseated. This has been a crazy rollercoaster year and an even bigger rollercoaster of a decade.
At the beginning of 2019, I still had an unfinished novel and now at the end of the year, the novel is finished and has been sent to a handful of agents. In 2010, I was still 16 and in high school and now at the end of the decade, I’ve graduated high school, gone through university, and graduated almost 5 years ago. Not to mention getting into the creative writing program at Humber, writing a whole 83k word book, getting a real adult job, and everything else I’ve done in the last 10 years. It’s been a big decade.
I’ve definitely accomplished a lot in the decade, but here’s what I’ve accomplished in 2019!
I’m including a few items that aren’t perfectly positive (the rejections and the Pitmad… which was basically just rejection via Twitter) because they were major learning experiences for me. This year I’ve learnt a lot about my work and the process of trying to get it published.
I’m certainly glad that I finished some of the goals I set out for myself last year. Maybe that’s an accomplishment that should go on the list!
Favourites
It’s time for my long dreaded favourites section of this post. If you read my 2018 blog post, you’ll know that I’m quite bad at picking just one favourite. This year I’m going to try my best at just choosing ONE thing for this list.
This was a late addition to my read list this year and actually pretty spontaneous. I’d bought the box set last year when it was on sale, but hadn’t read it. Then I saw it on a list of portal fantasies and (since I’m querying a portal fantasy) decided to read it.
Wow! I knew I would enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I wasn’t even done and I decided that this was going on my favourites list.
I was going to mention Winter of the Witch, but I won’t because I said I’d only pick one.
Movie:
Doctor Sleep
This movie was also one I saw fairly late in the year, but it really stood out. It was one movie that I really just enjoyed watching. Simple as that!
I’m already a fan of Stephen King, though I hadn’t read this book yet. But I really enjoyed this movie, so I’ll have to give the book a read!
Food:
Burritos!
While last years’ winner, soup, is still a beloved food, this year has to go to burrito.
I love Mexican food (or at least the Mexican food you can get outside of Mexico) and last years’ runner up was tacos from my local Mexican restaurant. Earlier in the year, my dad and I would treat ourselves to very yummy “fast food” (just ready fast) burritos. And as I experimented with different fillings, I even got a little spicy with it, which is saying something because my spice tolerance is not very high.
The Good Place had its final season this year and while I was sad to see it go, it wrapped up in such a good way. I always appreciate a show that has a plan and knows when to stop.
The show is amazing and is so clever with its concept and execution. And if you like moral philosophy, it’ll definitely tickle your fancy.
These were a few of my favourite things!
Goals
Instead of having a hard list of goals I’d like to achieve this year, I’m going to have a vague umbrella goal which I’m hoping will encompass all the other things I want to accomplish in 2020.
I want the coming year to be about creating. I want to write more, paint more, photograph more, make more music, everything.
To be more specific, I’d like to learn more about photography since I have a super nice camera that I don’t really know how to use. I’d like to get back into practising my ukulele!
I spent too much time in the second half of the year worrying about getting my book out, trying to get people to read my stuff online, trying to be noticed, instead of doing what makes me happy: the writing itself. So now that I know what querying is like, it’s not going to get to me as much and I’m not going to worry about anything else. I’m just going to create pieces I’m passionate about and everything else doesn’t matter.
Wishing you the very best for 2020 and I’ll see you in the new year!
It’s the time of year for hunkering down during the long nights of winter and watching Hallmark Christmas movies until your eyes pop out.
Seriously, that’s one thing that really gets me into the spirit of Christmas. They’re great to watch in the background while I write or read or basically anything. There’s something comforting in knowing that everything will work out in the end, and with oodles of Christmas cheer.
I’ve watched my fair share of Hallmark Christmas movies, and here’s my ranking (in no particular order):
The Mistletoe Inn
An aspiring romance writer attends a writer’s conference at a beautiful Vermont Inn. There, she meets another writer who appears to suffer from writer’s block. Through their time together, she begins to thrive and even writes a new chapter in her own romance story.
A Christmas movie about an aspiring author? Yes, please!! I dream of going to a Christmas themed writer’s conference. If anyone knows of one, please let me know! Alicia Witt is also one of my favourite Christmas movie actors.
The Sweetest Christmas
Kylie is expecting a proposal from her boyfriend/boss at a restaurant and gets a promotion instead. The restaurant owner is her old high school boyfriend, she hasn’t seen in years. They help each other out. Love in the air?
What that description fails to mention (the most important part of the movie) is that Kylie is a pastry-chef who’s a finalist in the American Gingerbread contest. I have a strange soft spot for the food-themed movies, where someone is a baker. I just love Christmas baking so it’s a combination of my favourite things.
Christmas Around the Corner
Claire, a savvy venture capitalist from New York City, escapes to a quaint town in Vermont for the holidays and becomes a guest of the Fortenbury Bookstore. Upon arrival, Claire finds Christmas celebrations have been canceled by the town after a flood and the bookstore is in a dire state of disrepair. She immediately takes on the challenge to revitalize the store, but clashes with the owner, Andrew (Jamie Spilchuk), who initially rejects all her proposed improvements.But everything comes to a screeching halt when Claire discovers that Andrew is planning to sell the bookstore in the New Year. Will the spirit of Christmas be enough to change Andrew’s mind and encourage him to follow his heart?
There’s nothing I like more than bookstores (see my post about my favourite bookstores) and this heartwarming story about bringing life back to a bookstore and saving Christmas… *Italian chef kiss* It’s the dream.
Christmas on Honeysuckle Lane
After their parents pass, siblings agree to sell their family home, leaving Emma in charge. While Emma’s mother’s collection is being appraised, they find a hidden surprise that helps them discover the power of love and family during the holidays.
Another Alicia Witt movie! I love the house in this movie, a gorgeous Victorian house (it’s a real B&B that you can stay in!), and the fact that the male love interest owns an antique store. There’s a bit of a mystery and a heartwarming twist.
The Christmas Club
Two busy strangers meet when they help an elderly woman find her lost Christmas savings. Thanks to fate and Christmas magic, they also find something they were both missing: true love.
This movie is new this year and I watched it for the first time this week. And I loved it! The two main characters have great chemistry and neither of them is annoying. It’s very sweet and cute. And it’s refreshing to see a movie where the love interests don’t hate each other at first.
And these were a few of my favourite Hallmark Christmas movies!
What are some of yours?
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Some things have changed around here! For one, I have a new logo for my blog/facebook page; something a little more sophisticated. I’ve also added a new page to the top menu.
There’s a new page!
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I’m always so inspired by people who chase after their dreams no matter what. They quit their jobs, drop everything, and go. Just go.
I admire them so much because I don’t know if I could ever do it.
I’ve never been a particularly brave person. As a child, I was skittish and timid of trying new things and getting outside my comfort zone. Now that I’m an adult, I wish I’d been more fearless.
Creative pursuits—or really anything that you put a lot of care and attention to—require a certain amount of bravery. There’s so much vulnerability involved in creating something and putting it out there for people to see and potentially judge. Being vulnerable takes a lot of bravery.
I don’t think I’m very good at the whole vulnerability thing. Or I make up for it by being extra judgemental and hard on myself before anyone else has a chance. When I create something I love—something that came from my soul—even if someone says it’s good, I wonder if it is good enough.
It’s my dream to make a living as an author. That involves people actually spending their money on something I created. And I don’t know if I’ll ever make it to that point.
I follow Swedish artist/blogger/musician/etc. Jonna Jinton, and at 21 she left her life in the city to move to the north and follow her creative dreams. She paints, makes music, photographs, and is generally a wonderfully creative human being. And I want to do what she does!
But I don’t know how if I could muster up the bravery to take the leap into the unknown (cue Frozen 2 song).
How can I justify quitting my job and leaving the security of my home if I don’t know if anything I actually make would support me? If money wasn’t an issue, then there would be no problem. But money is THE issue. Who is going to pay me to be creative? Who is going to like my art/writing so much that they’re willing to give me money for it?
Am I overthinking it? Maybe. Probably.
Of course, these feelings of doubt and inadequacy are coming up as I’m in the process of querying my novel. I’m facing much more rejection than I’ve ever had in my life. Being a writer means having a thick skin and I’m realizing that maybe mine isn’t as thick as I thought.
I don’t want to give up, though. I love writing (and painting and baking and all my other creative hobbies), so I’m not going to quit anytime soon. I just wish the universe would send me a sign that I’m on the right path.
While I’m waiting for my sign, I hope you’re all having a wonderful day!
Jenna Goldsmith 