Naomi’s Writing Journey

Behind the scenes of my debut novel, personal reflections, and insights on writing.

  • Solitary bison among black Angus cattle

    Bouncin’ Joe and the Road West

    In August, I drove across half of Canada with my friend from high school. This was not something I had ever particularly expected to do. But then, very little about 2026 has gone according to any plan I might have made for it. I had moved from Northwestern Ontario to Vancouver Island in the spring,…

  • Romantic double standard

    What’s the most annoying trope in books or movies? I believe the most annoying trope in books and movies is that there exists a double standard in stories of romantic pursuit. We all know the boy-gets-girl trope. For one example, in Dead Poets Society, Knox relentlessly pursues Chris until she finally giggles and calls him…

  • poll with birdhouses

    The Little Things That Tell Me I’m Home

    There’s a moment after every move when you stop thinking about where you’ve come from and start noticing where you are. Not in any dramatic way. It’s the accumulation of little discoveries. Around here, there are farms with roadside stands where you can buy fresh berries, vegetables, flowers, or whatever happens to be in season…

  • Tranquil lake with small boats and mountains reflecting in water at sunrise

    The Next Chapter Takes Longer Than You Think

    A little over a month ago, I arrived on Vancouver Island with four suitcases and a life that felt as though it had been turned upside down. Since then, I’ve moved into my apartment, assembled furniture, unpacked boxes, figured out where the grocery stores are, and gradually started building new routines. The practical side of…

  • Green anole lizard resting on weathered wooden deck with tropical plants and ocean in background

    Life on Vancouver Island: A New Chapter Begins

    A brief life update from the opposite end of the country: I’m now in Victoria. After more than a decade in Thunder Bay — and the past several years especially focused on caregiving for my parents — it still feels surreal to wake up here and think, I live on Vancouver Island now. When I…

  • What I’m Reading This Spring: Three Books, Three Kinds of Curiosity

    Spring is traditionally the season of new beginnings — but for me, it’s also the season of renewed curiosity. This year, even in the wake of a profound personal loss last month and a major geographic transition this month, my reading stack has taken an unexpected but oddly harmonious turn. On the surface, these three…

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