Why I Wrote This Book

Along with writers Saad T. Farooqi, Jamie Kitts, and sophie anne edwards, I’m part of a Mirimichi Reader feature series titled “Why I Wrote This Book.”

Part of my essay from the piece is this:

“In an essay titled, “The Practice of Still Life,” I say “The subject of a still life is never the subject. The subject is light, or time. The subject is our mortality.” And that really hit hard a few years back. But the thing is, with a still life we can rearrange things, we can add and subtract, reconfigure. We can try again and again. So the reason I wrote this book is that I think still life provides a useful way of thinking about how we can live. We can keep pushing things into the light so they might lead us to see differently, so that we can be transformed by our seeing, so that we might remember to live beautifully and inventively while we are still alive.”

Another recent small mention for my blog, Transactions with Beauty, is at University Affairs. Always grateful to be linked.

 

Recent Events in Edmonton

When I wrote “In Lieu of Flowers,” a piece in my book of poem-essays The Flower Can Always Be Changing, I would not have predicted all the places it would travel. I’m pleased that it acts as a point of consolation at a time of grieving for so many. I’m grateful to Dr. Rob Curtis for inviting me to hear “Mass at Journey’s End” being performed at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Edmonton on November 23.

I will be signing copies of my books at Audreys Books on Monday, December 16th, 2024. I’ll be there about 11am! If you know of anyone who’d love a signed copy of Apples on a Windowsill or other works, I’d love to see you there. If you can’t make it, call Audreys or message them and I’m sure they can arrange to get one to you!

There will be other local authors around all that week at Audreys so you’ll be sure to find some cool gifts.

More Kind Words for Apples on a Windowsill

Kate O’Gorman of Prairie Flower Reads had this to say about Apples on a Windowsill:

“Apples on a Windowsill by Shawna Lemay is a love letter to art, to being attentive, to being attuned to beauty. Often funny, and at every turn insightful, this compelling collection of essays reads like a book of prayer.”

And:

“I am reminded, each time I re-read an essay from this collection, to pay attention, to be intentional—that the mundane can become a work of art. A recommended read!”

You can read more on her blog here and follow her on Instagram here.

Every review for a small press book feels like a giant gift! I’m so grateful for this one!

I’m also grateful for the wild skills of my publisher’s publicist who makes the prettiest posters to share out! Thank you Palimpsest Press and Vanessa!

L I S T E N :)

I recently had the great good fortune to be interviewed by Alberta’s treasured radio host, Grant Stovel, on CKUA Radio. The show is titled, Alberta Morning, and it is a source of uplift for so many of us. You can listen to our conversation here:

And then, I also had a conversation with the wonderful Kerry Clare on her new podcast BOOKSPO where she talks about the books that inspired an author to write their latest.

What I loved about these conversations was that even though the starting point was my new book, Apples on a Windowsill, each explored very different territory.

I’m so grateful that both of these talks took place because I feel like I learned something about my own book, how others read books (mine but also in general), and also about how a really good interviewer (and these two are stellar) will ask questions in such a way that you forget you’re being interviewed! You’re just talking about stuff that interests you! And with luck that comes through in both of these convos.

My publisher’s amazing publicist made these next two graphics for the two above convos and I really just love them, so sharing these here as well.