I started writing at about the same time that I got back on a horse after a twenty-year break. I’d like to think that I’m far too young for it to be a mid-life crisis, but apparently I was ready for a few changes!
My writing focuses on characters and relationships, people trying to find out how much of themselves they need to keep, and how much they can afford to give away. I try to find that careful balance between drama and humor – I want readers to have an intense experience and feel drawn into the book, but I also want them to enjoy the time they spend reading.
Welcome to the blog Kate. On with the questions.
1. If someone was coming to the Canada on vacation, tell them one place they MUST visit (can be as large as the Rocky Mountains, or as specific as a unique museum)?
Just one? Too hard!!! I’m gonna cheat and say that my one place will be a sleeper car (suite!) on the VIA Rail “Canadian”, a train that goes from Toronto to Vancouver. I’ve flown over that route enough times to know how far it is, but someday I’d really like to experience the trip a little closer to the ground. But driving all the way through the prairies OR the mountains (not to mention Northern Ontario) seems a bit much. I think I’d enjoy the trip much more with a glass of wine in one hand and a good book in the other. I could sit in the park car and when I got tired, I’d take a break in my suite. I could see so much of Canada’s beauty, all from my own comfort and convenience.
2. Can you ice skate? Do you understand the rules of hockey and have a favourite team? (please don’t be the Maple Leafs)
I can skate, and I understand all the rules of hockey except for icing. I refuse to accept any ‘rules’ that seem to involve an arbitrary judgement by the ref! Favourite team? Whoever I live closest to. Except for if I live closest to Toronto. Then… the Canucks!
3. Do you think there is a quintessential Canadian food? What would you serve guests who demand some real Canadian food?
I think one of the joys of a country with so many immigrants is that ALL foods are quintessentially Canadian! My Canadian food would probably draw on my Scottish heritage – maybe porridge with maple syrup instead of brown sugar? And bacon, of course!
4. How many provinces/territories have you visited? Have you ever been to the arctic?
I’ve visited all the provinces except the ones in the middle – Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. I’ve never been to the arctic, or to any of the territories. They’re FAR!
5. What was your first published story?
6. Have you ever written a story set in Canada? Which one?
See the list above, under “Giveaways”. And, while it’s not specified, in my mind The Shift is set in Canada, too – “Newtropolis” is actually “Imaginary Vancouver”!
7. Who is your favourite Canadian actor or actress?
Sentimental favourite? William Shatner. Real favourite? Hmmmm… Ryan Reynolds is Canadian, right? Or Ryan Gosling? Taylor Kitsch? Hmmm… do you sense a theme?
8. Who is your favourite Canadian musical artist?
I gotta go old school and say Brian Adams. I know, he’s not cool, and he’s not sophisticated or challenging, but, damn. He’s got some good, catchy songs that totally bring me back to the good ol’ days.
9. If you could be a Canadian animal shifter, what would you be?
I have no idea what this means… like, I’d shift into a Canadian animal? Or I’d still be Canadian, and ALSO be an animal shifter… no, the first one is better. I think I’d like to be a grizzly bear, even though I don’t really like salmon all that much.
10. Winter – yay or nay? Discuss. 🙂
YAY!!! Go, winter!!! You’ve got to be prepared for it, and dress for warmth rather than fashion, but if you bundle up properly, spend a few hours out frolicking in the winter sport of your choice, and then come inside to sit in front of a roaring fire with a glass of red wine and a good book. Hell, YEAH. Go, winter!!!
11. What’s the best thing about being Canadian?
Economically stable, socially liberal, incredibly safe, with unbelievable natural beauty AND fantastic cities and man-made features… I know everyone loves their homes, but being Canadian doesn’t make me feel proud, really – it makes me feel lucky. We have so many privileges. I can’t think of a way to cheat on this one, so I don’t think I’m going to be able to answer!
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Thanks for joining us for the fun Kate. You can find her around the web at the addresses below.
e-mail: kate@katesherwoodbooks.com
website: http://www.katesherwoodbooks.com
blog: http://kate-sherwood.dreamwidth.org
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I always wanted to take a rail vacation. I mean, I did the backpacking through Europe thing, but it would be nice to have the money to go in style and have the train be the vacation, you know? That would be so fun 🙂
Have only visited Ontario – London and Toronta (very briefly). my dad has done the VIA rail trip (way back in the 80’s) and the pictures were fantastic!
The rail thing is surprisingly expensive, and maybe it would be claustrophobic, especially if you got stuck in a small space for four days with a pack of screaming kids or grumpy retirees, but it’s still on my bucket list, for sure.
Canada’s got a lot of beauty, but it’s a BIG country… having someone else do the driving seems like a good way to see it all!
I am sometimes shocked and disappointed by how expensive rail travel is here, well, if you want to go any great distance. When I was investigating the best way to get from Vancouver to Calgary I thought the train would be fun and I think it was nearly as much as my entire airline ticket from Ottawa to Vancouver. Plus the train doesn’t even go to Calgary but you have to bus from Edmonton. Nooooo. And if I was going any overnight I’d want a bed. I did travel from Manitoba to Vancouver by train as a student, but sleeping sitting up is not so great, although at 15 you don’t care. LOL Plus we went through the Rockies at night. Bummer.
Ah, Taylor is so pretty. 😉
I think you need to think of taking the train as a vacation in and of itself; otherwise, the cost just doesn’t make sense!
And, hell, YEAH, Taylor’s pretty. I’m not really sure he’s that much of an actor, but then again, I don’t really think I care. Damn, now I’m thinking about Magic Mike (the connection? pretty boys who may not be able to act) and wishing Taylor was in it…
I love visiting Canada, but then again, I’m from Arkansas and Canada is SO incredibly beautiful. I like rail travel ok, but I like to be out walking around. 🙂 And I absolutely LOVE Bryan Adams! Who doesn’t 😀
That’s weird – Arkansas is one of the few states for which I don’t have an instant image in my mind. (not saying that my other images are accurate, but at least there’s SOMETHING). But I bet there’s a lot of beautiful spots there, too.
And, yeah, Bryan Adams – cheesy, but irresistible. Just like, well… cheese!
I’ve always envied Canada’s rail system; it’s always seemed so comprehensive to me compared to ours. (Amtrak’s kind of in disarray here, and while we have commuter trains in the Bay Area, it’s not the same thing.) It does seem that NHL hockey has more arbitrary ref decisions these days, if you ask me (bitter, much? who, me?). And gotta love Taylor, always…
The transCanada railway was a big symbol of our national unity, so I think we maybe have a slightly more sentimental/romantic attitude towards the trains that other countries do. And, of course, this country is bigger and a LOT emptier than the US, so a single rail line (and a single TransCanada Highway) make a lot more sense than something like your interstate system…
That train ride sounds awesome, I would love to do that one day 😀
Um, just need me some money first, the trip to Canada alone cost half a fortune 😉
Yeah, at least I have the advantage of living right next to one end of the journey… and I still haven’t done it, so you absolutely have an excuse!
I have taken a train though the Alps, but that was mostly by night so I only got about one hour of daylight, gorgeous view 🙂
I’ve been to Canada once to visit Calgary, Banff, and somewhere else I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember. It was fun.The only thing that got me was the kilometers. How such a little thing could send you spinning is just nuts.
Once you get used to metric, it makes SO much sense. But until you’re used to it, I imagine it’s a bit weird!