Sophia Conway's Blog, page 2
May 13, 2025
Haiku Exhibition @ Coombs Butterfly World
Last weekend, my new book 'Crumbs & Constellations' was celebrated with a solo poetry exhibit at Coombs Butterfly World (only one of my favorite places on the island!). 20 carefully selected haiku from the book were displayed throughout their thriving gardens and lush greenhouses, while the book was sold in their gift shop.
It was such a fun 3-day event, and I'm very grateful to Shiray and her team for facilitating it, as well as all our friends who showed up to support it.
Watch the clip below to catch a glimpse of what it looked like!
The book will continue to be sold in their gift shop and online, with a percentage of book purchases going to support the work of Crossroads Pregnancy Center in Nanaimo.
May 8, 2025
'Shelf Memories' Exhibition Launch!
'Shelf Memories', my first photo essay exhibit, was launched this weekend, along with a quick presentation and appetizer lunch at the McMillan Arts Center in Parksville, Vancouver Island, and I could not have been more excited!
Watch a few minutes of the presentation in the video above and check out the exhibit in person (running May & June in their Cloakroom Gallery)!
More information about the exhibit here!
April 25, 2025
Book Release! Crumbs & Constellations: A Haiku Story
There's been so much going on recently that I've completely forgotten to officially announce the publication of my haiku book, Crumbs & Constellations, on my website! There's still so much to do in marketing and launching it, but once I get ahead, I hope to share more on the background of the haiku and the publishing process here and on my social media channels.
Purchase it here on Amazon and don't forget to leave a Goodreads review too!
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In her first full haiku collection, writer and poet Sophia Conway expands on her micro-chapbook and poetry exhibition of the same name. Masterfully weaving haiku into a deeply personal and memorable narrative, Crumbs & Constellations captures the full tapestry of one woman’s journey through grief and healing in the poet’s articulate style.
“There is much to resonate with in Sophia Conway’s collection of haiku. These tiny poems provide windows into a deeper personal story of love, motherhood, loss and grief, moving into moments of joy and possibility.” Jacquie Pearce, Editor of the award-winning haiku anthology ‘Last Train Home’.
[A portion of all book royalties will be donated to Crossroads Pregnancy Centre in Nanaimo to support them in their mission to provide practical, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals in an unplanned pregnancy and those affected by abortion or pregnancy/infant loss.]
'Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku' Release
Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku by Literary Revelations Publishing has just dropped today and I'm so excited to be included in this amazing work alongside 240 other haiku poets and artists! Order it today and look for 5 of my original haiku on page 94/5, or admire the amazing cover by Japanese artist Hikari.
A big thanks to book editor Gabriela Marie Milton for including me.
Purchase on Amazon here!
April 10, 2025
Vancouver Island Local Resources for Pregnancy Loss
A huge inspiration behind my new poetry book, Someday Somewhere Beautiful by Kelsay Books, is pregnancy loss. My husband and I experienced a miscarriage 1 trimester into our first pregnancy. It was a devastating loss for us, and as I poured my grief into poetry, I also became aware of how few local resources there are for parents experiencing a pregnancy loss.
To help with that, I've started compiling a list of resources on Vancouver Island in the hopes that it may help someone else! It's not a long list, but I hope to add to it as I get connected to more people and groups offering relevant services.
Crossroads Pregnancy Center, NanaimoWebsiteMy husband and I actually attended their free peer counseling sessions to help us process our loss. The team there was so amazing and thoughtful; I can highly recommend them.
Royal Oak Burial Park, VictoriaWebsiteRoyal Oak launched Canada's first memorial park for parents grieving a miscarriage. Reach out to the team there to see how you can commemorate your little one in their Little Spirit Garden.
The Compassionate Friends, Qualicum BeachWebsiteWhile they facilitate grief support groups all over Canada, there is at least one on the island, connected to Oceanside Hospice Society in Qualicum Beach. Carrie Hohnstein is the facilitator there and can be reached at 250.618.3920 or at hohnstein@shaw.ca.
That's all I have for now, but I hope to share more resources as I discover them. If you know of any more on the island, please reach out and let me know!
Vancouver Island Resources for Pregnancy Loss
A huge inspiration behind my new poetry book, Someday Somewhere Beautiful by Kelsay Books, is pregnancy loss. My husband and I experienced a miscarriage 1 trimester into our first pregnancy. It was a devastating loss for us, and as I poured my grief into poetry, I also became aware of how few local resources there are for parents experiencing a pregnancy loss.
To help with that, I've started compiling a list of resources on Vancouver Island in the hopes that it may help someone else! It's not a long list, but I hope to add to it as I get connected to more people and groups offering relevant services.
Crossroads Pregnancy Center, NanaimoWebsiteMy husband and I actually attended their free peer counseling sessions to help us process our loss. The team there was so amazing and thoughtful; I can highly recommend them.
Royal Oak Burial Park, VictoriaWebsiteRoyal Oak launched Canada's first memorial park for parents grieving a miscarriage. Reach out to the team there to see how you can commemorate your little one in their Little Spirit Garden.
The Compassionate Friends, Qualicum BeachWebsiteWhile they facilitate grief support groups all over Canada, there is at least one on the island, connected to Oceanside Hospice Society in Qualicum Beach. Carrie Hohnstein is the facilitator there and can be reached at 250.618.3920 or at hohnstein@shaw.ca.
That's all I have for now, but I hope to share more resources as I discover them. If you know of any more on the island, please reach out and let me know!
April 9, 2025
Crumbs & Constellations | Now Available to Pre-order!
'Crumbs & Constellations: A Haiku Story' is now available for pre-orders! Check it out on Amazon here for print and kindle versions. If you're planning to attend my solo exhibition at Coombs Butterfly World this May, it will also be available to purchase in the gift shop.
March 31, 2025
'Shelf Memories' at the MAC
After weeks of meetings, consultations, and planning, the MacMillan Arts Center in Parksville, Vancouver Island, has publicly announced what we've been working towards.... the two-month exhibition of my first photo series, Shelf Memories. I couldn't be more excited to see my work on display in this way.
Learn more about the exhibition dates and details here, or check out the official OCAC newsletter announcement below!
March 28, 2025
'Losing Myself' at REELpoetry/HoustonTX International Film Festival 2025
My poem, 'Losing Myself' from my debut poetry book Someday Somewhere Beautiful by Kelsay Books, in short video poem format is being screened at the REELpoetry/HoustonTX International Film Festival 2025, April 8-10th.
March 21, 2025
Shelf Memory #13
^ A slide from 'Shelf Memories' Spring exhibition at the MACI have little to say about this one but as it's both sweet and funny, I wanted to throw a spotlight on it! As the book was given away heavily underlined, I can only assume it was helpful to Steve and Lynn.
Project Description
"Shelf Memories is a nostalgic photo series that documents the place of books within human relationships. In the first pages of these books lies a handwritten note from which we catch a brief yet intimate insight into the bond between people; the moments shared and milestones celebrated. The notes, paired with a cover image of the book, reveal the giver's intentions; from nursery rhythms and Bibles to poetry and self-help. No matter how meaningful they once were, the books are eventually outgrown and succumb to thrift store and community library shelves where they are found and photographed; the final resting place for many words chosen with care, signed with love, and given in hope. Relationships past and children grown, all that remains is a handwritten note, more often than not from XOXO Nana & Pops."
