Acknowledgements

DOOTSY DOODLES

One more time the deco changes as more visits to our favourite thrift store haunt were made. This time two almost new chairs followed us home. Straight off the truck. One is Cascade green and the other, lime. It wasn’t until the next day that the orange feather cushion we put on the lime swivel rocker looked like retro 1970s. Apparently they have as we learned. We will not however be getting a round bed or plastic covers for the chairs.

A third chair joined the other two with design that included the soft lime of the swivel chair. The paintings and ornaments of red and orange fit right in.

Let’s see what we can change now.

NOTEBOOK SAYS

After eons of block my work in progress finally figuted itself out and runs according to where IT, not I, leads. Exactly the way my novel, “When Again This Way I Walk” wrote itself. When we tell the work what to do it does what most self-respecting little kids do. It balks.

• Do you recall a time your inner child went stubborn? How did you get it straightened out? Write its story.
• Autumn is a third gone. Write what you did after summer ended.

• Write a memory that will not leave you despite its present irrelevance.

ART CORNER

Sketching is fun. You can do it on cheap paper while you sit with a cup of tea. Or on a bench in the park. A waiting room. Those drawings can be replicated with a brush onto paper proper to your art medium. Many of my florals were created that way.

Then there are the goofy sketches of me flying my broom on Hallowe’en. On my head is, you guessed it, a black pointy hat as I ride the currents. Maybe this time the straw end of my vehicle won’t fly off and land in the park.

• Draw your face on a different body.

• Sketch yourself as that belligerent kid.
• Now prop your sketch in front of you while you replicate the image with a brush onto art paper.

BOOKS

When Again This Way I Walk
lindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings:

The lives of 1870’s Julia and modern Andie touch as each in her own time faces relational issues common across the ages as times change and people do not.

Reviews

Linda Gigliotti’s novel, When Again This Way I Walk, invites readers into the lives of two families, living in the same location but a century apart. The dual-timeline story begins when Andie gazes into the forest and experiences a life-like vision of a woman and girl of previous time. Throughout the story, we follow Andie, her family, and the choices and decisions each must make and the parallel issues that Julia and her family cope with. With touches of mystery and illusion, Gigliotti deftly alternates between eras to reveal how the lives and issues of these two women, and perhaps all of us time unto time, face similar challenges, experience the same joys, and struggle to discover our deepest truths (Judy Reeves).

-Judy Reeves is the author of Wild Women, Wild Voices: writing from your authentic wildness and A Writer’s Book of Days.

I had the privilege to be one of the first readers of Linda’s novel and from the first page I was drawn into the story and felt as if I was part of it, thanks to Linda’s extraordinary way of describing the scenery and the characters. A beautiful story about life, love, family, traditions and friendship with a twist of mystery and suspense. Linda sends you on a journey between the past and the present, reminding you that life is about being curious and courageous.

• Tina Mundelsee is author of Yoga Coaching: use your practice to resolve emotional baggage, master your mind & create harmony in your life & relationship and Think Happy, Be Happy – A Yoga Coaching Pocket Guide. As well Tina is life coach at www.tinastools.com

HowMaster: The Writer’s Guide to Beautiful Word Crafting – Revised Edition lindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings

This little book, written after almost 20 years of tutorial with students of college and university and with clients who write business reports, shows how effective writing is done.

Julia Cameron has a new work coming out November 2: Blasting Through Blocks. Every writer and artist needs to see this one and I am so looking forward to my pre-purchase.

Until next time,

Linda M. Gigliotti

After five or six weeks of 30s Celsius and ultimately fires, temps are down and here cometh the rains. It is however startling to get up at 5:30 AM and find darkness after all those months of light.

As for thrift store news, we have a beautiful wood framed chair with firm cushions and when you sit you sort of drop. They were happy to get our old sofa. House furniture is way too big for apartments. So now, another couple of chairs….

NOTEBOOK SAYS

Have you ever gotten out of bed in the middle of a hot summer night and looked outside? That allowed me to see, as I record in HowMaster, the neighbour’s white cat prowl under the moon. I watched for a time as it cavorted and played and then the next morning it was dead. Try it. Write what you see.

On another night in another house I saw a heap of dirt piled in the back yard likely left behind by the landlord. A full moon spilled over it and a novel was born. When it was done so was I, still new at novel writing and thinking a first draft makes a finished work. Not. I learned that a writer has to edit a few drafts before a novel is finished. Characters and parts of the setting however went into When Again This Way I Walk. All of that born from looking out a nighttime window.

ART CORNER

Back to getting up to look outside at the night. Sketch what you see or what you saw in another time of window-vision. If you are lucky enough to catch a raccoon or two as they cavort under the moon – that moon again! – among trees on the lawn, sketch their antics. Mine fooled around under a locust tree and then shot straight up the one next to it. They inspired me to write “Raccoon Writer.” You could sketch a series of night lifes and paint those.

If you want to photograph your subjects and work later from those make sure your flash is off in case an unseen bad sort is out there and does not want their picture taken.

BOOKS

When Again This Way I Walk
lindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings:

The lives of 1870’s Julia and modern Andie touch as each in her own time faces relational issues common across the ages as times change and people do not.

Reviews

Linda Gigliotti’s novel, When Again This Way I Walk, invites readers into the lives of two families, living in the same location but a century apart. The dual-timeline story begins when Andie gazes into the forest and experiences a life-like vision of a woman and girl of previous time. Throughout the story, we follow Andie, her family, and the choices and decisions each must make and the parallel issues that Julia and her family cope with. With touches of mystery and illusion, Gigliotti deftly alternates between eras to reveal how the lives and issues of these two women, and perhaps all of us time unto time, face similar challenges, experience the same joys, and struggle to discover our deepest truths (Judy Reeves).

-Judy Reeves is the author of Wild Women, Wild Voices: writing from your authentic wildness and A Writer’s Book of Days.

I had the privilege to be one of the first readers of Linda’s novel and from the first page I was drawn into the story and felt as if I was part of it, thanks to Linda’s extraordinary way of describing the scenery and the characters. A beautiful story about life, love, family, traditions and friendship with a twist of mystery and suspense. Linda sends you on a journey between the past and the present, reminding you that life is about being curious and courageous.

• Tina Mundelsee is author of Yoga Coaching: use your practice to resolve emotional baggage, master your mind & create harmony in your life & relationship and Think Happy, Be Happy – A Yoga Coaching Pocket Guide. As well Tina is life coach at www.tinastools.com

HowMaster: The Writer’s Guide to Beautiful Word Crafting – Revised Edition lindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings

This little book, written after almost 20 years of tutorial with students of college and university and with clients who write business reports, shows how effective writing is done.

Julia Cameron has a new work coming out in November: Blasting Through Blocks. Every writer and artist needs to see this one and I’ve already ordered it into our library system although I plan to buy my own copy.

Until next time,

Linda M. Gigliotti

Happy summer!

In a week or two autumn peeks in like it does every August and then it returns to slumber for awhile. Temperatures are in the high 30s Celsius and have been for two or three weeks while the air conditioner has a great workout. Smoke from other parts of the country made it injurious to health so this impatient soul stayed inside for three days. No I don’t feel sorry for me either.

BOOKS

WHEN AGAIN THIS WAY I WALKlindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings:

The lives of 1870’s Julia and modern Andie touch as each in her own time faces relational issues common across the ages as times change and people do not.

Reviews

Linda Gigliotti’s novel, When Again This Way I Walk, invites readers into the lives of two families, living in the same location but a century apart. The dual-timeline story begins when Andie gazes into the forest and experiences a life-like vision of a woman and girl of previous time. Throughout the story, we follow Andie, her family, and the choices and decisions each must make and the parallel issues that Julia and her family cope with. With touches of mystery and illusion, Gigliotti deftly alternates between eras to reveal how the lives and issues of these two women, and perhaps all of us time unto time, face similar challenges, experience the same joys, and struggle to discover our deepest truths (Judy Reeves).

-Judy Reeves is the author of Wild Women, Wild Voices: writing from your authentic wildness and A Writer’s Book of Days.

I had the privilege to be one of the first readers of Linda’s novel and from the first page I was drawn into the story and felt as if I was part of it, thanks to Linda’s extraordinary way of describing the scenery and the characters. A beautiful story about life, love, family, traditions and friendship with a twist of mystery and suspense. Linda sends you on a journey between the past and the present, reminding you that life is about being curious and courageous.

• Tina Mundelsee is author of Yoga Coaching: use your practice to resolve emotional baggage, master your mind & create harmony in your life & relationship and Think Happy, Be Happy – A Yoga Coaching Pocket Guide. As well Tina is life coach at www.tinastools.com

I just finished reading When Again This Way I Walk. I loved it. It’s so funny I have thought these very thoughts myself. You are so right, the sun will keep rising and settling long after we have danced our lives across the earth and it has risen and set long before we took our first breath. So many experiences, interactions, memories. What wonderful story. Bravo to you.

– Jackie Wilkinson, avid reader

HOWMASTER: THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEAUTIFUL WORD

CRAFTING – Revised Editionlindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings

OTHER GREAT READS

Charlie O’Shields earlier this year published the first of a coming series of novels. A Sketchy Situation: A Detective Doodle Cozy Mystery available from Amazon. I love it.

NOTEBOOK SAYS

People love to tell their stories. This writer dreamed that I realized I had not heard from Grandma in a long time notwithstanding that she left this world decades ago. The dream continued wherein I went to the computer and sent her an e-mail.

She replied that I was to tell the stories.

I woke knowing what I had to do and so came out my little notebook and soon Grandma’s wishes were fulfilled. My progeny would enjoy those childhood tales of Mom and her sibling with their grandparents and I left unfilled pages for their own stories.

Try it. Write the gem of your childhood live on the page. And pay attention to waking dreams as those could hold a message you are meant to hear.

Prompts

• Remember that Kris Kristofferson song about Bobbi McGee who searched for a home the singer hopes she will find? Did Bobbi ever find it? Where did she end up? What became of her? Tell us.
• Think you pay close attention to detail? Write about what you saw on your walk. Really saw. The curve of leaf under the Rudbekia? The colour of the T-shirt worn by +the kid on the bike? Or was it a hoodie? What type of bird was that in the tree? What kind of tree is it?
• I once read that all sounds stay in eternity forever. Write your thoughts.
  
  

ART CORNER

For a change of focus I thought to look through the sketchbook and replicate my silly drawings onto watercolour paper with a brush. No pencil lines. Not sure how that will work as my painting style is atmospheric which includes much blurring and colour bleeding per Jean Haines’ style.

Try painting silly subjects with a brush even if you choose not to do atmospherics. Or just sketch on a sketch pad. Whatever you choose, have fun!

Until next month,

Linda Gigliotti

https://lindagigliottiwriter.com/

Here we are and after laser treatment I can also read a book and see what I write. All without the magnifying glass. And I discovered that a couple of items in the closet needed ironing after all. Sigh. It is nice however to be able to read the expiry dates and food ingredients on my groceries.

Back to writing again after a long hiatus. I started by doing what I do a lot of things – without planning to. I was just innocently writing Morning Pages in my journal and next thing I knew I was on my way. The freezer is being cleaned too using that same system of spur of the moment.

BOOKS

WHEN AGAIN THIS WAY I WALKlindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings:

The lives of 1870’s Julia and modern Andie touch as each in her own time faces relational issues common across the ages as times change and people do not.

Reviews

Linda Gigliotti’s novel, When Again This Way I Walk, invites readers into the lives of two families, living in the same location but a century apart. The dual-timeline story begins when Andie gazes into the forest and experiences a life-like vision of a woman and girl of previous time. Throughout the story, we follow Andie, her family, and the choices and decisions each must make and the parallel issues that Julia and her family cope with. With touches of mystery and illusion, Gigliotti deftly alternates between eras to reveal how the lives and issues of these two women, and perhaps all of us time unto time, face similar challenges, experience the same joys, and struggle to discover our deepest truths (Judy Reeves).

-Judy Reeves is the author of Wild Women, Wild Voices: writing from your authentic wildness and A Writer’s Book of Days.

I had the privilege to be one of the first readers of Linda’s novel and from the first page I was drawn into the story and felt as if I was part of it, thanks to Linda’s extraordinary way of describing the scenery and the characters. A beautiful story about life, love, family, traditions and friendship with a twist of mystery and suspense. Linda sends you on a journey between the past and the present, reminding you that life is about being curious and courageous.

• Tina Mundelsee is author of Yoga Coaching: use your practice to resolve emotional baggage, master your mind & create harmony in your life & relationship and Think Happy, Be Happy – A Yoga Coaching Pocket Guide. As well Tina is life coach at www.tinastools.com

I just finished reading When Again This Way I Walk. I loved it. It’s so funny I have thought these very thoughts myself. You are so right, the sun will keep rising and settling long after we have danced our lives across the earth and it has risen and set long before we took our first breath. So many experiences, interactions, memories. What wonderful story. Bravo to you.

– Jackie Wilkinson, avid reader

HOWMASTER: THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEAUTIFUL WORD

CRAFTING – Revised Editionlindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings

OTHER GREAT READS

Check out Judy Reeves’ new memoir WHEN YOUR HEART SAYS GO(She Writes Press 2024)and others at

Julia Cameron’s latest, The Daily Artist’s Way: 366 Meditations for Creative Living, released in 2025. Julia is the author of The Artist’s Way series which changed many writing lives. I use this book every day and love it.

NOTEBOOK SAYS

The other day I started to read again Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way Toolkit, (St. Martin’s Essentials 2024) and felt again the magic of being in her company as she sits with pen and notebook and her dog. The reader sees Cameron’s life around her as well as as her connection with family and many friends around the world. She mentions too the friends with whom she attends regularly and she discusses her work.

The reader draws close, part of her life now as they sit apart and together, author and reader connected by pages whose words and worlds connect. Hers is intimate writing that reveals soul. Let’s try for that.

ART CORNER

Daily we practice fitness that includes a walk and now that the weather is perfect for it, photography. We discovered something I never knew existed – the red pansy, next on my to do art list. Try walking photography and get your exercise at the same time.

Until next month,

Linda Gigliotti

This issue is short as II temporarily do not see well enough to type, text, have to have floaters lasered off in a couple of days. Or as I refer to that, having the eyeballs not pealed but peeled. To create paradox yesterday I received two books, each from a different source. I can’t wait for the peeling ceremony to be done so I can curl up with them, one of which is Kate Devine Brady’s poetic Fallen Leaves, So Much Sky (Booklocker 2026).

The weather in true Canadian style is hot one week and according to me cold the next Regardless the wind makes the trees dance the twist like we did in the 60’s.

BOOKS

WHEN AGAIN THIS WAY I WALKlindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings:

The lives of 1870’s Julia and modern Andie touch as each in her own time faces relational issues common across the ages as times change and people do not.

Reviews

Linda Gigliotti’s novel, When Again This Way I Walk, invites readers into the lives of two families, living in the same location but a century apart. The dual-timeline story begins when Andie gazes into the forest and experiences a life-like vision of a woman and girl of previous time. Throughout the story, we follow Andie, her family, and the choices and decisions each must make and the parallel issues that Julia and her family cope with. With touches of mystery and illusion, Gigliotti deftly alternates between eras to reveal how the lives and issues of these two women, and perhaps all of us time unto time, face similar challenges, experience the same joys, and struggle to discover our deepest truths (Judy Reeves).

-Judy Reeves is the author of Wild Women, Wild Voices: writing from your authentic wildness and A Writer’s Book of Days.

I had the privilege to be one of the first readers of Linda’s novel and from the first page I was drawn into the story and felt as if I was part of it, thanks to Linda’s extraordinary way of describing the scenery and the characters. A beautiful story about life, love, family, traditions and friendship with a twist of mystery and suspense. Linda sends you on a journey between the past and the present, reminding you that life is about being curious and courageous.

• Tina Mundelsee is author of Yoga Coaching: use your practice to resolve emotional baggage, master your mind & create harmony in your life & relationship and Think Happy, Be Happy – A Yoga Coaching Pocket Guide. As well Tina is life coach at www.tinastools.com

I just finished reading When Again This Way I Walk. I loved it. It’s so funny I have thought these very thoughts myself. You are so right, the sun will keep rising and settling long after we have danced our lives across the earth and it has risen and set long before we took our first breath. So many experiences, interactions, memories. What wonderful story. Bravo to you.

– Jackie Wilkinson, avid reader

HOWMASTER: THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEAUTIFUL WORD

CRAFTING – Revised Editionlindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings

OTHER GREAT READS

Check out Judy Reeves’ new memoir WHEN YOUR HEART SAYS GO(She Writes Press 2024)and others at

Julia Cameron’s latest, The Daily Artist’s Way: 366 Meditations for Creative Living, released in 2025. Julia is the author of The Artist’s Way series which changed many writing lives. I use this book every day and love it.

NOTEBOOK SAYS

Believe it or not NoteBook has been getting daily scrawlings in big letters as the floaters play. This fun time will be legend scrawled by an uncertain hand. The pages are getting tired of this too.

Prompts

Write about the strange words and numbers found on a wall stud when the gyproc was removed. Who wrote them? What do those mean? Why was it all hidden behind the wall? Was anything else found?

The clock just kept on ticking.

Write about that time you came home from school and made a weird sandwich. Even if that never happened. ART CORNER

Until next month,

Linda Gigliotti

Here we are after a month of way too much chocolate and no snow on the ground. Winter forgot us but apparently summer scorch is not forecast in that manner. We shall see and in the meantime stock up on sunscreen and plan on sunrise stomps to keep the muscles working in the cool.

If you have a favourite writing or art link you would like me to add to the newsletter let me know in the Comments.

BOOKS

WHEN AGAIN THIS WAY I WALK
lindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings:

The lives of 1870’s Julia and modern Andie touch as each in her own time faces relational issues common across the ages as times change and people do not.

Reviews

Linda Gigliotti’s novel, When Again This Way I Walk, invites readers into the lives of two families, living in the same location but a century apart. The dual-timeline story begins when Andie gazes into the forest and experiences a life-like vision of a woman and girl of previous time. Throughout the story, we follow Andie, her family, and the choices and decisions each must make and the parallel issues that Julia and her family cope with. With touches of mystery and illusion, Gigliotti deftly alternates between eras to reveal how the lives and issues of these two women, and perhaps all of us time unto time, face similar challenges, experience the same joys, and struggle to discover our deepest truths (Judy Reeves).

-Judy Reeves is the author of Wild Women, Wild Voices: writing from your authentic wildness and A Writer’s Book of Days.

I had the privilege to be one of the first readers of Linda’s novel and from the first page I was drawn into the story and felt as if I was part of it, thanks to Linda’s extraordinary way of describing the scenery and the characters. A beautiful story about life, love, family, traditions and friendship with a twist of mystery and suspense. Linda sends you on a journey between the past and the present, reminding you that life is about being curious and courageous.

• Tina Mundelsee is author of Yoga Coaching: use your practice to resolve emotional baggage, master your mind & create harmony in your life & relationship and Think Happy, Be Happy – A Yoga Coaching Pocket Guide. As well Tina is life coach at www.tinastools.com

I just finished reading When Again This Way I Walk. I loved it. It’s so funny I have thought these very thoughts myself. You are so right, the sun will keep rising and settling long after we have danced our lives across the earth and it has risen and set long before we took our first breath. So many experiences, interactions, memories. What a wonderful story. Bravo to you.

– Jackie Wilkinson, avid reader

HOWMASTER: THE WRITER’S GUIDE TO BEAUTIFUL WORD CRAFTING – Revised Edition lindagigliottiwriter.com – Linda M. Gigliotti’s writings

OTHER GREAT READS

Check out Judy Reeves’ new memoir WHEN YOUR HEART SAYS GO (She Writes Press 2024) and others at

https://www.judyreeveswriter.com/ . Judy also wrote Wild Women, Wild Voices (NWL 2015), a book for those of us who must write and do it well. Check out Judy’s A Writer’s Book of Days (NWL 1999) for some great daily writing prompts.

Julia Cameron’s latest, The Daily Artist’s Way: 366 Meditations for Creative Living, releases this year on November 25. Julia is the author of The Artist’s Way series which changed many writing lives. I use this book every day and love it.

NOTEBOOK SAYS

My copy of Julia Cameron’s most recent work, The Daily Artist’s Way (St. Martin’s Essentials, 2025) arrived after a few snow storm delays. I love it. Check it out at https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-daily-artists-way/ . Her meditations are an excellent way of keeping in touch with our creative inner kid who loves to write. Cameron’s tools work for writers and artists too. The key is to work consistently and avoid large lapses.

Prompts:

• The day you finally took the Christmas tree down.

• He watered every plant in the house. They were fake.

• You come home to your empty house and hear someone singing in the basement. You live alone.

• What the groundhogs did under the trees at 3:15 AM.

• What Winter said to Spring.

• It’s night and you are alone. A door slams.

• Write what you love about your job. Then start again with what you hate.

ART CORNER

Nicholas Wilton of art2life artists.com has one of his wonderful freebies coming with “The Creative Awakening Challenge: 25 Days to Create an Art Practice That is Easy, Joyful, and Opens the Door to Your Best, Most Irresistible Art” at https://pages.art2life.com/cvp/cac-organic-b/ .The Creative Awakening Challenge runs February 1–25, 2026, with access to all content through March 1. The challenge follows a simple weekly rhythm designed to keep you inspired and supported without overwhelming you.

Karen Abend’s Sketchbook Revival 2026 is officially on the calendar. Please put a big star next to April 11, 2026 and check it out at https://www.karenabend.com/

As well I look forward to a time of learning as I dig into Jean Haines’ atmospheric style and her videos at https://watercolourinspiration.com/en-ca?mc_cid=4a63f06528 .

And another of Charlie O’Shields’ offerings: https://doodlewash.com/february-2026-art-challenge

Until next month,

Linda Gigliotti

https://lindagigliottiwriter.com/