R. Patrick Hughes's Blog, page 5

Rachna Chhabria: Where I Live and Why I Like It

My guest today for my series "Where I Live and Why I Like It" is the writer/blogger Rachna Chhabria. I've been following Rachna for three years now and she has one of the most thought-provoking blogs, always raising questions about the art of writing and its many challenges. Always open to new ideas, she constantly challenges us to be our best.



1.      Geographical Information:Country: IndiaState or Province: KarnatakaCity or Town: BangaloreDistrict within City or Town:Neighborhood:
2.      Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?A.    I don’t think there is any such pilgrimage site near my house. There is a temple, which I visit sometimes.
3.      Is there a site that has special meaning for you?A.    Just my school which is five minutes walking distance from my house. I have fond memories of it.
4.      Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?A.    I was born in another part of India. My parents shifted to Bangalore when I was small. I have spent most of my life in this place.
5.     What do you like best about where you live?A.    Its centrally located. All the major shopping areas are within very easy reach. There is a market and a hospital nearby. There are also three clubs close to my house.
6.      Do you plan on living here the rest of your life?A.     No idea. I can’t say much about the future.
7.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own?A.     My aunts and cousins stay just a few minutes away.
8.      Are you happy where you live?A.     Most of the time yes, but due to the schools nearby (there are atleast 7 schools within walking distance from my house), there is heavy traffic during the school hours which makes my street very congested. And as most of the roads in Bangalore have become one-way, all the traffic is diverted down my street. This is a big nuisance.
9.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?A.      For the tourists, there is the famous Cubbon Park (nearly 300 acres of greenery), Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens (with its glasshouse and its flower shows which attracts visitors and tourists), the U.B city mall (which every visitor to Bangalore wants to see).

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10.   What do you do for entertainment where you live? Sporting events, theater, concerts, so on and so forth.A.    I have plenty of malls and restaurants near my house. And the mall rat I am, I love browsing in the malls and catching movies at the multiplexes. The Cricket Stadium where all the cricket matches are played is also near my house.



11.   If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? If you’re a painter, have you painted any of your area’s features?A.    Yes. My settings have been included in my stories. Infact, in my current WIP: Scavage, Bangalore: the place I live in, is a major part of the setting.
12.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why?A.   Yes, I would recommend others to move to Bangalore. It’s a vibrant city, which has something for everyone. Most Indians envy us Bangaloreans our amazing climate. Once upon a time, it was called Pensioner’s Paradise and also the Garden City. But, I would also tell them that as Bangalore is getting too crowded they should turn their attention to other cities.

By Rachna Chhabria

Rachna lives in a part of the world that many of us would like to visit. You can visit her at her blog Rachna's Scriptorium. Thank you for letting us visit your world.

Daily Walk: What I see along the way

I walk almost everyday, sometimes twice a day. Partly to better control my diabetes, partly to get exercise, and partly to think. It's something that I've come to look forward to and to feel uncomfortable if I don't do it (usually from reasons beyond my control). When you walk the same route day after day, you come to see more and more detail along the way. Along my walk, and I have several different routes I follow, I've noted and photographed some of the things I see. I'd like to share with you some of those sites.

Cobblestone Parkway, the main road into my development
This is along the first route I followed when I first started walking a few months ago.


This in a neighbor's yard not far from my house.


This is McCormick Road, another route I follow. This is the longest stretch, almost three miles round trip.

There are several things to see along this road.


This is a view that I enjoy, an expanse of trees beyond a lake, and the skies above,


and a section of fence.
There are also reminders of our modern world of communications.

And, finally, there are reminders that our roads are dangerous--roadside memorials.




Walking has become an added pleasure to my life. Hopefully, I can continue to do so for many years to come.

Jeff Hargett: Where I Live and Why I Like It

I've known Jeff Hargett for about three years now. He's a strong writer of sci-fi/fantasy and a terrific blogger with a growing following. He's had to deal with the worse kind of adversity for the past year or so and has shown us what the meaning of love really is. I've followed closely his journey over the past year or so, as has his many friends, and I think we all agree he is on the verge of something great with his writing.



1.      Geographical Information:
Country: United States of AmericaState or Province: North CarolinaCity or Town: RandlemanDistrict within City or Town: n/aNeighborhood: n/a
2.      Is there any place in your area that's considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?I'm not aware of any nearby locations that hold any significant religious importance, however, there are a number of places in the area that have some historical significance.
One such place is in Greensboro, a larger town a few miles north of Randleman. On Feb. 1, 1960, four young black NC A&T students sat at a Woolworth store's whites-only lunch counter just one block south of where I currently work. Those students were refused service, but held their seats until the store closed. The next day, over twenty students, including some from Bennett College (a college for black women) joined the sit-in. On day #3  there were sixty students participating. Four hundred students took part on the fourth day, expanding the sit-in to the lunch counter at a nearby Kress store.
The peaceful sit-in protests expanded to cities throughout the southeast. On July 25, 1960, the Greensboro Woolworth store rescinded its segregation policy and served lunch to their black employees at that same lunch counter. That store is now the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.
3.      Is there a site that has special meaning for you? There's a small park/nature trail nearby that my wife and I would visit on occasion. A river runs alongside it. It's a peaceful, relaxing place to visit.



4.      Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here? I was born on the west coast near Los Angeles, California. (My father was in the United States Marine Corps and as such, we relocated numerous times.) However, I did grow up in this area.
5.      What do you like best about where you live? Randleman is a short drive away from both the Appalachian mountains and the Atlantic coast beaches. The people are friendly and the climate is temperate, humidity notwithstanding.


6.      Do you plan on living here the rest of your life? Yes. My wife is buried just a few miles from our home, so I don't intend to ever leave this area--or this house.
7.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own? My mother, brother, children and grandchildren all live within a few miles of me. I'm grateful that my immediate family isn't spread across the nation--or globe! More family = more fun at Holidays too.
8.      Are you happy where you live? I do like calling North Carolina home. Randleman has a population of under 4,200, but it's within 30-45 minutes of five decent-sized cities.



9.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing? The North Carolina Zoo. At over 2,000 acres, it's the world's largest walk-through zoo.
10.   What do you do for entertainment where you live? Sporting events, theater, concerts, so on and so forth. I'm somewhat of a homebody, but I'll catch a movie or a Grasshoppers baseball game on occasion.
11.   If you're a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? If you're a painter, have you painted any of your area's features? I am a writer, but have never used this area as a setting. I did make reference recently to a couple of local schools (UNCG and Duke) in a short story.
12.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why? I would recommend it to those who prefer a more relaxed environment, not to those who crave the faster paced excitement of big city life. Lovers of ACC basketball and racing will find plenty of folks here with whom to share their passion.

Thank you, Jeff, for participating in my series of posts about where people live. 

You can visit and follow Jeff as his blog Strands of Pattern.

Denise Covey: Where I Live and Why I Like It

My guest today is a world traveler if there ever was one. Denise Covey is often on the go to foreign countries. Her blog posts about her travels are always entertaining. With over seven hundred followers, I'm not the only one who enjoys her blog. Her posts, especially about writing, generate many comments. She definitely knows how to run a blog. So, here is some information from Denise about where she lives and what she likes about it.
My Place – Paradise in Australia.
Geographical Information:Country: AustraliaState: QueenslandCity or Town: CITY – Brisbane. VILLAGE – Peregian BeachNeighborhood: West End  1.     Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? The closest you get to a pilgrimage site in Queensland is the Suncorp Stadium just up the hill from my place. Here is where the mighty Bronco’s Rugby League team thrash all comers in gladiatorial contests. Another religious site is The ‘Gabba, where the mighty Aussie Cricket Team thrashes England in the Ashes test.
suncorp stadium
2.     Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here? I was born in Outback Queensland, but moved to the coast as a child. My parents chose the Sunshine Coast (100 kilometres north of Brisbane) and this is where I grew up. My husband and I built a large beach house at Peregian Beach when we settled down after travelling all over Australia. Now we work in Brisbane, so we live in the Big Smoke (as the city is referred to over here) and spend the odd weekend/holiday at the beach. Best of both worlds.
No problem finding a private beach at Peregian
I love the koalas in the trees near the beach house

3.      What do you like best about where you live? We bought a Heritage property terrace about a year ago which we have renovated and finally found a home for all the antiques we’ve collected over the years. We love living in West End, which is an avant garde suburb, just across the Brisbane River from the inner city (where we used to live). West End is peopled with alternative-lifestyle characters, health shops, indie bookshops, street music and fresh-food markets—a heady mix—and just a five-minute walk from our door. We rarely use the car!
West End style
Markets along the Brisbane River

4.      Do you plan on living here the rest of your life? Probably not. It suits us while I tutor English at the State Library of Queensland which is also close by. Our plan has always been to move back to Peregian Beach and live the bohemian lifestyle in between overseas’ trips…eventually.
One day I'll get back to my sunset-watching bench again
This says it all - Australia = Beach. Walking to Noosa National Park


5.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own? All of our four children live in Queensland, which is always a bonus.
Peregian Beach at sunset...fishing. That is Coolum Beach township you can see - Peregian Village is over the dunes behind the fisherfolk
The people along the sandAll turn and look one wayThey turn their back on the landThey look at the sea all day.

6.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?
Film and Television students along the river this morning
The Cultural Centre, which includes both a traditional and modern art gallery, a museum, the State Library, the Performing Arts Centre which puts on world-class theatre and plays, the South Bank which is a fantastic collection of restaurants of all persuasions, funky people exercising along the river, wonderful views of the city…I love My Place! And do take a CityCat up and down the Brisbane River. It is a fantastic thing to do, day and night. Plenty of neighbourhoods to explore along the way.
The Cultural Centre in the background. Here is a recent Night Noodle Market on the river


7.   If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? I’ve set my first, unfinished novel in and around Noosa, which is an iconic beach community ten minutes from Peregian Beach. I’ve used Brisbane as a setting for some short stories (one a very recent post). Outback Queensland is great for setting tall tales of the bush as even though I’ve never lived there as a grown up, I’ve travelled the length and breadth of its vastness and feel a deep affinity. This is my favourite flash fiction on the outback I wrote a few years ago if you'd like to read it.
In Noosa, surfing is king

8.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live? To me, this part of Queensland is paradise, but the pace would be too slow for a New Yorker, for example. The heat and beach make for a relaxed lifestyle. Most hyperactive Australians choose to live in Sydney, Melbourne or Canberra, all much more upbeat, or they escape to New York or London. But…if you like the lazy, laid-back lifestyle, rather than the crazy lifestyle, South-East Queensland is the place. Downside: it’s about 20+ hours in a plane to access the hubs of the world—Paris, London, New York.



Thanks for inviting me, Richard. It's been a pleasure to share a little of my life. So there you have it. My Place. Sure, travel is my passion, but I always return home.


Thank you, Denise, for allowing us to see where you live.

And please take a look at Denise's blog: Denise Covey

R. Mac Wheeler: Where I Live and Why I Like It

I've been following Mac for a couple of years now. He is both a prolific writer and prolific photographer. He's a fellow Floridian, though not a native Floridian as I am. I went to college in Tampa, so I know a smidgen about that area of the state, where he lives. Farther south than Jacksonville, the climate is a bit different, a bit more tropical, I'd say. And he takes full advantage of all the Gulf Coast has to offer.

1.      Geographical Information:      Country: USA      State or Province: Florida      City or Town: Tampa      District within City or Town: Seminole Heights
2.      Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?

Raymond James Stadium…home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I attended one game at the old Sombrero before they tore it down. But I like watching my games at home where the fridge is a few seconds away. We’re hoping Coach Lovie Smith can turn the Bucs around. Go Lovie!!
A good runner up would be Clearwater Beach. Definitely a pilgrimage site. Just see how the traffic backs up on the causeway.
3.      Is there a site that has special meaning for you?

Any place on the water…and Florida has lots of water. If you walk in a straight line for five minutes you’ll hit a river, swamp, lake, or bog. Come visit Florida WITH your camera with a spare battery. Bring bug spray if you aren’t going to hang on the beach.
4.      Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?

I’m from El Paso, Texas…a place I say is a great place to be from. Not to trash the old home town, but I don’t know what keeps people there. I returned for five months to help a family member in hospice, and between the heat and the dust storms….argh. I transferred to Tampa with GTE back in 1986 and have no plans to live anywhere else.
5.      What do you like best about where you live?

Paradise has something to do with it. Though the five hurricanes that came through in 2005 made me rethink my living here the rest of my life. But between the moderate climate, the parks, I can’t say you can beat the quality of life. No downhill skiing anywhere near, but with the way my blood has thinned since living down here, I doubt I’ll ever consider skiing again.
6.      Do you plan on living here the rest of your life?You betcha
7.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own?

Not having family here was the hardest thing to adjust to. Harder on my wife. Doesn’t help she is a couch potato and hates to travel. Doesn’t get back to the Southwest much. So neither do I. (I do miss the open horizons and mountains.)
8.      Are you happy where you live?

You betcha. Gets a bit hot here July through September, so unless you get out on the water, you stay inside during that irksome stretch. (Spring last I ended up in the hospital dehydrated, ready to die. I carry a lot more water with me now.) But the other nine months are worth it. Going hiking in shorts and a golf shirt in January is nice. You’ll sweat even then. But sweating is healthy. (Carry water.)
9.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?

The tourist traps in Orlando, just an hour up I-4 from Tampa, are worth the trip by themselves. My wife and I had season tickets to Disney Word for a few years. Don’t get tired of the place. But there are county, state, and national parks every fifty feet in Florida. It is a sportsman’s paradise. Louisiana uses that tag, but it really belongs to Florida. We have a lot more than bayous. Did I mention beaches? There’s also Busch Gardens, the Amphitheater, Lowery Park, the Aquarium, cruise ships, Westshore Balustrade…. If you’re into any water sport, get your gig on.
10.   What do you do for entertainment where you live? Sporting events, theater, concerts, so on and so forth.

Were’ talking FLORIDA. Not just parks, but theater, symphony, Buccaneers, Rays, Bolts, Rowdies and Storm. Did I mention beaches? The water?
11.   If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? If you’re a painter, have you painted any of your area’s features?

Tampa is a key locale in all of my novels. The main characters are at least from Tampa, whether they’re scientists in a post-apocalyptic, a teen in a vampire or werewolf noir.  
12.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why?

No!!! I don’t want anyone moving here. The area is expanding with too many people anyway. But bring your vacation dollars.

You can visit Mac at his website r mac wheeler and see his awesome lineup of books he's written and more photos than you can point a camera at..

Thanks for stopping by, Mac.

Alex J. Cavanaugh: Where I live and why I like it.

My guest this week is the up-and-coming science fiction novelist Alex J. Cavanaugh. I've been following Alex's blog since I first began blogging and I've seen his accomplishments and awards constantly grow since that time. Known as Ninja Captain, his blog has a huge following. One of his most respected qualities is that he constantly promotes other writers. His blog is entertaining. I'm fortunate to have him here to tell us more about himself.


Ninja Captain playing in the sand.
Geographical Information:Carolinas, USA
Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?You mean outside of my church? Can’t think of any. Unless I count the shrine of guitars in my office…
Is there a site that has special meaning for you?My office full of guitars?
Which one do you like better?
Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?Definitely not! I’m a military brat, so I’ve lived all over. My current job brought me to this city.
What do you like best about where you live?It’s the South, so it conservative, which I like. I live about halfway in between mountains and the beach, so easy access to both, which is cool.
Do you plan on living here the rest of your life?Probably not in this city. Not sure where I’ll retire. (I’ve about ten-twelve years to decide.)
Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own?Between college and my job, I’ve moved away from close family. I do have my wife though!
Are you happy where you live?Yes!
Alex happily playing a guitar.
















For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?Go to the beach. Preferably not during a hurricane though.
What do you do for entertainment where you live? Sporting events, theater, concerts, so on and so forth.We do have minor league baseball. And professional hockey not too far away. Plus concerts. Otherwise, I spend a lot of time at the movie theater. (Yeah, I live wild life, don’t I?)
If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories?Not unless my city is suddenly teleported to another planet…
Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why?Sure! It’s a big city, so something for everyone. And as I said, only a couple hours from both beach and mountains.
Thanks, Richard! 
Alex J. Cavanaughhttp://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/http://twitter.com/AlexJCavanaugh    Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He is experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Online he is the Ninja Captain and founder of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. He’s the author of Amazon Best-Sellers CassaStar, CassaFire, and CassaStorm.


Look for Alex's books at a bookstore near you.Thank you, Alex for this glimpse into your life and where you live. You can visit and/or follow Alex at his blog: Alex J Cavanaugh which is always full of information, and some of it is 'out of this world.'

LOOKING FOR ALASKA: A Tough Choice to Make

This is the decision I have to make: which Looking for Alaska to read first. It shouldn't be that tough. I'm sure they're both interesting books. Of course, one's fiction, one's nonfiction. But my mood, my frame of mind plays into the decision. Sometimes my mind is indecisive, so I look for recommendations.





I've never read anything by John Green, but apparently he's a top-notch writer. This "looking for alaska" was on the New York Times Bestseller list. You can't get a much better recommendation than that. Also, I reserved his current bestseller "The Fault in Our Stars" at the library. I only have 247 people ahead of me. So that is also a good recommendation.



I have read one book by Peter Jenkins, A WALK ACROSS AMERICA, which is a wonderful book, possibly the best travel memoir I've ever read, a truly amazing ending. I can't recommend it enough.

This dilemma raises another question for me: Why is Alaska so hard to find? I can't imagine. I know exactly where it is. I guess I'll just have to read both books to find out, which begs the question, which one do I read first,"looking for alaska" or LOOKING FOR ALASKA.

Mark Koopmans: Where I Live and Why I Like It

My guest today for "Why I Like Where I Live" is a popular blogger who actually lives in paradise, and his answers to the questions prove it. Mark Koopmans is a writer and blogger whom I've followed for two or three years now. His blog Aloha! Mark Koopmans says Hi from HI is always entertaining. Being from the island James Joyce was from, it should be. He's a stay-at-home dad of three boys. I can imagine the joy and happiness they share on a daily basis. Those are three lucky boys. But, enough from me. Let's let Mark speak for himself.
1.      Geographical Information:Country: USAState or Province: HonoluluCity or Town: HonoluluDistrict within City or Town: Pearl Harbor
2.      Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?There are several, but probably the most famous is the USS Arizona Memorial. Apparently, it is the #1 free tourist attraction in the state of Hawaii, and after visiting there many times with friends and family, it certainly is a must-see.3.      Is there a site that has special meaning for you?One of the most recognizable landmarks on O’ahu is Diamond Head. 

I can see the extinct volcano from our front door (it’s not very close, but I can see on a direct line!) To me, this is one place that symbolizes the history of Hawaii.4.      Is this where you were born and/or grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?No, my wife is active-duty U.S. Navy, so we’ve been here on O’ahu for three years – and have one more left before we head to places as-yet unknown. (I’m originally from the island of Ireland – “only I’m not on my island” (name that movie for 10 bonus points :)5.      What do you like best about where you live?It never, ever, not once snows.

6.      Do you plan to live here the rest of your life? I wish.7.      Do you have family in the area, or have you ventured out on your own?No official family, but have made friends with other military families.8.      Are you happy where you live?See question #5 :)9.      For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?If you can get access to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, I would check out the historical sites on Ford Island. 

The Bishop Museum is amazing,
 as is the Polynesian Cultural Center, and if you want a quiet(er) beach than Waikiki—check out White Plains Beach.

10.   What do you do for entertainment where you live?I’m a stay-at-home Dad, so we go out on field trips several times a week. There’s no professional soccer or baseball team on Oahu, but there is so much else to see, including a drive to the famous North Shore.11.   If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? If you’re a painter, have you painted any of your area’s features?Not a painter and haven’t included anything of Hawaii in current WIP, but if the chance comes up, I will.12.  Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why?Seriously, who wouldn’t want to live in Hawaii?  Feel free to add any other relevant information you might want to mention.
Thanks, Richard, for including me as a guest blogger today! Blessed with the chance to live in paradise, we will always look back on Hawaii with very fond memories :)



Thank you for sharing a bit about your life with us. BTW, I'll be in O'ahu next week looking for a place to stay for a couple of weeks. What's your address? Just kidding. I think you do live it paradise.

I'm in a funk, a writing and painting funk

I'm in a funk right now. I can't seem to write or paint. The last painting I worked on made me want to gag. Do I dare post it here for you to gag on as well? They say misery loves company. I'll think about it as I write this post.

My last short story presented to Critique Circle garnered some comments for improvement that means I'm actually going to have to work on the story again, actually do some serious re-writing, if I want to make it better. Of course that depends on whether I agree with some of the criticism I've received. I've yet to really concentrate on it, because I'm in this funk and can't get out.

I have one more story to present to Critique Circle, but, because I'm in this funk, I just can't go through the simple steps involved. One of the problems is that I filled up my jump drive and had to change it out for a new one. In order to post the story to C.C. I'll have to plug in the previous jump drive, but I'm in too much of a funk to bother with it.

Add to that that my printer quit working and has been down for about a week, and I was seriously thinking about buying a new printer, for which I have no money, it has added to my funkiness, and my reluctance to write, because I must have a printer to write. Yes, in this electronic, paperless world we nominally live in, I must have a printer in order to work. I have to hold something in my hand to read that I can actually write on, scribble on, cross out, add in, and crumple up and throw in the trash can if I don't like it (I don't want to throw my computer in the trash can if I don't like what I've written.) I know there's an electronic trash can I can throw the document into on the computer, but I need the tactile sensation of crumpling it up first.

I was fooling around with my printer, trying to figure out what was wrong, when I came across a page that gave me the option of chatting live with someone to troubleshoot and fix my printer (maybe), so I chatted with someone in India, no doubt, and I believe he fixed the problem. The only problem is that I'm out of black ink (I wasn't out of black ink when I began the chat session) and must buy another canister of it before I can test the printer to see if it really works. I've got to get enough out of this funk to go buy another canister. That means I have to leave my house. That's something I like to do--leave the house--because it gives me an excuse to avoid working, which I need because I'm in a funk anyway.

Any suggestions on how to get out of this funk?

Tanya Reimer: Where I live and why I like it.

My first guest post for my new series 'Why I Like Where I Live' is by my longest blogging friend: Tanya Reimer. I met Tanya through the Agent Query Connect website maybe three or four years ago. We've critiqued each others work and shared some personal family stuff. But there's still more I'd like to know. Her guest post today has helped me to get to know her a little better. 

Here are Tanya's answers.

Where do you live?
Canada, Saskatchewan, “On the Prairies”.
What makes our community so unique is that it’s not a city, town, or even a village. It’s a rural community, which means most of the population lives on farms, not in the hamlet itself. In fact, only about 40 people live in the “hamlet” part, yet the school has over 85 students and when we throw a community festival we see around 200 people who come from farms or surrounding towns.
Is there any place in your area that’s considered a pilgrimage site, such as a religious shrine? If so, have you been there?
Religion has always been a big part of this community. It was the French Catholic priests who encouraged settlers to found it in the late 1800 and early 1900s. Over the years, it has seen three churches, having one lost to a fire before it was even finished.
As for shrines, there is a pretty cool one. It was built back in the 1950s. We call it La grotte (the grotto).




There is also the Saint Maurice statue that stands in the shadows at the cemetery. It’s symbolic. When the settlers first moved here, they used St Maurice in the name to identify that the town was not the same one as their hometown in Belgium.
Is there a site that has special meaning for you?
I think of my community in terms of feelings, not spots, which makes it hard to brag about. There’s the spot under the trees by the school where I bring my friends when they need to cry because time stands still there.
Oh! And the path I took when I had a breakthrough in the world’s most complicated plot.
The creek is always a nice place to visit when I need strength. It is full of life from turtles to beavers. If I brave walking in it, there are insects and fish that freak the heck out of me.




And of course, there’s the cemetery where I go when I want to feel the wisdom of all my ancestors. Because even if I didn’t know them, living here makes me a part of their lives, because each one made this place home and that means they left a trace of themselves behind in the school they built, the rink they worked in, the church they tried to save…each one is a story I wish I could share.
Is this where you were born and grew up? If not, how did you come to live here?
I feel like I did all my growing up on the prairies of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. We live here by choice. My husband and I went on an adventure after we finished school and found a city we liked. One night we were sitting on our tiny little step overlooking a ‘green space’—well not our step, we were renting a room in a basement that was not home—and across the way, children gathered. With a content sigh, we said to each other that one day our children could play in that park…only there was no laughter or running, and the children were not smiling, in fact they were up to no good which we found out soon enough. I don’t even remember a debate. We packed up and moved to our new ‘home.’
We bought a house that needed love, but it has a huge front step that overlooks a play park. Yup, we live here by choice. Some say it has nothing, yet when we sit on our steps, we see children playing and running and laughing and, somehow, it has everything.
What do you like best about where you live?
The connection I feel to the prairies.
For tourists, what would you recommend seeing?
This really depends on the tourist. One guy said, he was shocked when he heard silence for the first time in his life. No ticking clocks, no humming fridges, just…silence. I had no idea that was a tourist attraction…but he was amazed by it.
I see some who park on the side of the road and take pictures of wheat fields, pump jacks, sunflower fields, grain elevators, deers…and they are enthralled by these common things.
Others need a little more excitement and for them, learning to drive in a blizzard is more what I’d recommend. (Just kidding. Don’t drive in a blizzard, grab a book and stay warm.) Seriously though, if you like adventure come in the winter, it’s much busier. Hockey, curling, dances, violin concerts, and snowmen to build…we’re busy.
Now, there are a million treasures out on the prairies. Every year we go for an adventure to discover a new one. We loved the tunnels in Moose Jaw, and the Native American dancers at White Bear. Oh! the settlers village at Cannington Manor and the dinosaur bones at Eastend were great hits,too.
This year we’re going to Fort Walsh and to discover a few more of our parks.
Saskatchewan is really BIG. I remember visiting a lake when I was a kid by a volcano. It was beautiful and I want to take my kids there, but no one remembers where it was in Saskatchewan! LOL.
If you’re a writer, have you included where you live in the settings of any of your stories? If you’re a painter, have you painted any of your area’s features?
As a writer, I find the tranquility of the prairies haunting all my stories. I find that even nature has a personality all of its own. The wind reacts to the moods and sets the tone. The storms stop or push the plot. Even in the quiet of the fall, the Northern Lights seem to whisper secrets as they dance across the skies.  Nothing is more romantic than sitting on a square bale with snow lightly falling and the skies coming to life for my hero’s enjoyment.
Would you recommend others to move to where you live? Why?
I would, but dang, if ya’ll move here where the heck will I go to hear the silence?


You can learn more about Tanya at her excellent blog Life's Like That.
Also, I'm a guest on her blog today, answering her questions about where I live.