Writers’ Sanctuary near Toronto
“Some of my best work has evolved out of Sue Reynold’s Sanctuary Sundays. She provides a peaceful and nurturing setting, as well as experiential exercises to get the writing juices flowing and inspire the writer within. Sue herself is a beautiful, encouraging, and supportive presence (plus an excellent cook – lunch is included!). Sue has an innate talent for recognizing the jewels in each writer’s work. The effect of this one day lasts weeks, a door opened for future writing.” – Poet Annabelle Murray
When I was the mother of a young child I used to dream of having a place I could go to periodically to write. Not for too long – there was too much going on at home. But a day now and then – a few hours to devote to my poor book that so often got shunted to one side because of all the other demands of my life.
And then, as it has a habit of doing, my life changed. I moved into this cozy space in the woods full of bookshelves, a fireplace, a kitchen where the coffee pot is always ready to pour a cup or two, and a yard where the wildlife parades past the windows and serenades day and night (everything from blue jays and chickadees, juncos and nuthatches, to wild turkeys, deer, a weasel, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, wolves, and – just a couple of times in the spring – a black bear).
It’s a magical space and I realized I could share it with other writers and make those creative days I had once dreamed of happen, for myself and for other members of the writing tribe. Continue reading
In the summer of 2013 I was invited to do a TEDtalk on “Shining the light on our Changing Communities”. I talked about the therapeutic writing program I do with incarcerated women. You can view the talk here.
