Letters From Windermere

Finding Flora, my new historical novel, will be published by Simon & Schuster in March 2025. And you, my dear subscribers, are the first to know!

The historic Wallace Stegner House in Eastend, Saskatchewan is my home for the month of June, and this heritage home is just filled with charm and atmosphere.

I spent seven days crossing the Atlantic Ocean on the historic Queen Mary 2. Here are my top ten observations about sailing on the only passenger liner in the world.

I have two slender connections with the famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, but both are very meaningful: my hometown library, and my new book.

Homesteaders were hoodwinked by an unscrupulous Canadian government that lied about the life awaiting them in the so-called land of promise, resulting in untold hardship and heartbreak.

Homesteaders survived that first ghastly winter in shacks made of lumber, logs or even earth. Flora, the heroine in my new historical novel, was one of them.

We recently spent two weeks in the beating heart of Mexico City, where thousands of people were once sacrificed to the Aztec gods and blood gushed down the streets very close to the location of our hotel. It was both gruesome and fascinating.

Our New York Christmas in early December was a magical, seven-day experience filled with fun and surprises.

Glimmers is a new term, referring to those brief moments in your day that spark a sense of joy, but often pass by without notice. I’m making a conscious effort to recognize the glimmers that light up my life, beginning with the sunrise.

No matter how old you are, it’s time to tell your own story, not only for your own children and grandchildren, but for the historians of the future. Here are some tips to help you get started – and if you have an elderly relative, I’ve included some advice about how to preserve their memories as well.