Stories that Matter

Cathy West

Once I Wrote A Book…Then I Wrote It Again…

Aug 22, 2014 | 8 Comments

Life. Crazy huh? Who can make sense of it? Well, to keep a very long story short, today’s post is about sharing the happy news that my first novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, has been re-released and is now available for your reading pleasure on Amazon! Even after all these years, this book is still #1 in…

Make Your Art – And Be Satisfied…

Aug 11, 2014 | 6 Comments

The weeks are running away from me. Summer is almost over and I’m out of breath. Not because of all I’ve done, I suppose, but more because of what I’ve learned. What I’m still learning. What I’m trying desperately to get a handle on and hold fast to. This being still. This knowing. This trusting.…

Life and Death and The Glorious In Between

Jul 24, 2014 | 4 Comments

I am a habitual reader of the Obits. When you live on a small island, it becomes a habit. Not just for old people. We all do it. Today I mourned the passing of a brave lady who lost her cancer battle yesterday. She and her husband were part of my parents circle of friends…

When You Feel Like You've Failed…What Then?

Jul 21, 2014 | 18 Comments

Every morning now for the past few months, dishes stack in my sink. Some mornings they’re clean, some mornings they’re not. And somebody forgot to turn on the dishwasher. Me, I suppose, but I wonder if I’m the only one who knows how to work the thing. Pressing the right button is quite difficult, I…

Books and Ducks and Copper Pots

Jul 10, 2014 | 2 Comments

When I was young, I laughed at the notion of antiques. Old stuff. Who in the world would want that? I wanted everything new. For me to be the first to use it. For us to make our own history. But I hadn’t lived enough. Hadn’t traveled enough. Hadn’t cried enough. I didn’t know. Silver…

Choose Love

Jul 7, 2014 | 10 Comments

I was sixteen the first time he said it. With his arm around me in the darkened room, my head on his shoulder, probably half asleep. “I love you.” Three little words that had the power to change my life. If I chose to let them. Of course at sixteen, love was exciting. Love was…

Hope And Hydrangeas

Jul 2, 2014 | 2 Comments

Hydrangeas. They’re one of my favorite flowers. They don’t smell, sadly, but they’re beautiful. They come in many different varieties and colors of pink and blue and white. I’ve longed to grow them for years, but in Bermuda it’s difficult, if not impossible. When we bought our place on the lake in Northern Ontario, I…

Objectivity

Jun 28, 2014 | 12 Comments

Disclaimer – the thoughts expressed below are simply mine. Agree or disagree. And there are no spoilers here, incase you have not read the book. It’s one of those big words that you cannot walk away from. Objectivity. To be objective. To think for oneself. To read or view something without prejudice, to form one’s…

Soul Deep

Jun 5, 2014 | 6 Comments

I never knew I had a sister. Never grew up with a brother or a sister. Just a lot of dolls, a cat, two dogs and a hell of an imagination. I was never really lonely. When friends were scarce, I made them up. Funny that. I think I started making up stories from around…

So You Think You're All That?

May 22, 2014 | 12 Comments

“The world doesn’t revolve around you, you know.” “Yes, it does.” “No, actually, it doesn’t.” “Yes it…wait, what?” The problem with being a writer is simply this: We may develop the tendency to think we’re all that. Not me, of course. I would never be so brazen as to assume the entire publishing world should come…

When the World Stopped

March 30, 2020 |

It took a couple hours to get through the cobwebs to find this page. It’s been a little over a year since I wrote my last blog post. I figured it was a waste of time, and I had better things to do. Better things to spend my time on. Time was precious.And now there…

The Next Best Step

March 25, 2019 |

The one sure thing about life, the one thing you can pretty much count on, is that it won’t always be easy. You know this. You’ve already been through some tough stuff. And you’ve survived. Maybe even triumphed. But then it all comes back for a second round. Or a third. Maybe you’re getting hit…

What To Do With Fear and Failure and Other Nuisances

February 18, 2019 |

I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine. Maybe you’re familiar with the mantra? It’s easy to say. Easy to repeat. And easy to convince yourself of. Because if you say something enough times, eventually you begin to believe it. Even if it’s not true. So last week I wrote about change, and how I was going…

Change. Again.

February 9, 2019 |

I didn’t pick a word for the year. I don’t know why, really. I guess I didn’t give it much thought. But now I kind of feel the word picked me. Change. Ironically, it was my word for 2015. And I wrote this blog post about it. Just a few months before I would announce…

Maybe It’s Time

December 27, 2018 |

“You gain strength,courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt. So we…

WINNERS!

December 27, 2018 |

Thanks so much to everyone who followed and participated in our Favorite Christmassy Things Giveaway! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas! Here are the winners! AND, the winner of my giveaway is – DIANNA GARDENHOUR!! CONGRATULATIONS to everyone!! And thanks again for participating! Wishing you all the best for a very happy 2019!

My Favorite Christmas Gift!

December 21, 2018 |

I hope you’ve all been enjoying this fun giveaway, and enjoyed learning about all our favorite Christmassy things! Today, as we wrap up our twelve days, it’s my turn. And I’m delighted to tell you about my favorite Christmas gift! Actually, I have two, but they kind of tie together, as you’ll see.…

Welcome, Christmas! A Fantastic Author Giveaway!

December 10, 2018 |

Can you believe how fast the weeks are flying? It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner. To celebrate my favorite season, I’ve asked some of my favorite authors to join me in sharing “Our Favorite Christmassy Things!” I’m excited to see what my friends have to share over the next twelve…

Summer Fun, France And Family!

July 9, 2018 |

How did it get to be July already? And I haven’t blogged since my book came out in May! Well. To be honest, I’m still on the fence with the blog, as it doesn’t seem to be the best way to connect anymore. But anyway, here we are, so until I decide to close it…

What To Do After Launch Day!

May 23, 2018 |

So Where Hope Begins is now out in the big wide world. Godspeed, my lovely. And yesterday was a little nuts. The nerves. The onslaught of notifications. The well wishes and fun comments, and feedback. All wonderful and totally mind blowing, not to mention a tad overwhelming. Oh and did I mention a Facebook LIVE…

Once I Wrote A Book…Then I Wrote It Again…

August 22, 2014 /

Life. Crazy huh? Who can make sense of it?
Well, to keep a very long story short, today’s post is about sharing the happy news that my first novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, has been re-released and is now available for your reading pleasure on Amazon! Even after all these years, this book is still #1 in my heart. I hope you’ll read it, (if you haven’t already) and find out why. The new version is not vastly different from the first, but much improved, I think, if I do say so… 🙂 But you be the judge.

Lots of hard work has gone into this new venture and I’d like to thank some folks – first my FAMILY –

Chris, Deni, Sarah and Randy and my AMAZING husband, Stephen – you put up with the crazy and you support and encourage and kick butt when necessary. You guys are my absolute world and I love you more than words can say. And my super wonderful Dad and stepmom – you guys are simply the best!

My friends – oh my word. Where would a girl be without her friends? It would take a few pages to post pictures of all my cool and wonderful people who love me through all this nuttiness, but you know who you are!

My agent – Rachelle Gardner, for always pushing, always being there and always believing. And having the sense to connect me with awesome editors like Mick Silva…it was hard work, but you inspired me to make this an even better story, thank you! Dineen Miller – this cover is breathtaking – you rock!!

SO, here we are!