I am a poet, eco witch, legacy writing facilitator, tarot reader and creative ally for plant and winged beings.
In 2022 I co-created the art and poetry exhibit Sowing the Future: Women Farmers +EcoAgriculture. I am the author of two chapbooks: Six Poems for Healing and Dance by the Light of the Moon: Poems for Witches (both illustrated by amara hollowbones). In 2001, I published a children’s novel called The Secret in the Ravine. My poetry has been published in a variety of earth-based spirituality and ecology-focused online and print publications (see below).
I live in Ottawa Canada — on unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin, St Lawrence Iroquoian and Anishinabewaki, (ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒃ) people as well as countless other ones who tend this land including plants, rocks, soil, animals, insects and the mycelial kingdom.
My company Wordsmith Writing and Editing Services supports the work of nonprofit community groups and organizations to communicate about a variety of social and health issues such as climate change, mental health and physical wellbeing.
As I ease into my crone years, my writing is becoming more focused on crafting verses and stories that strive to echo the magical and mythic voices of the living land and her beings.
For more about my professional work check me out at LinkedIn, or my website: www.word-smith.com. For a visual glimpse into my brain, here is my Pinterest feed.
Published writing
Rhiannon ~ Feminism and Religion Blog, February 2023
And So She Rises ~ Canadian Organic Growers, Down to Earth Newsletter, July 2022
Ambient at Beltaine ~ Psychiatric Survivors of Ottawa, Recovery Connections Newsletter, October 2021.
Oatstraw Harvest Prayer ~ Canadian Organic Growers, Down to Earth Newsletter, October 2021
Incantation for the Planthroposcene ~ For the Wild Podcast Newsletter, April 2021.
Sleeping Beauty * Pandemic Third Wave ~ Feminism and Religion Blog, April 24, 2021
Sleep Spells: Poems for Dreaming ~ Witch School Canada Blog, April 2021
Quarantine Dreaming ~ Could This Be the Last Time: A collection of poems on pandemics, places, and everything. Apt613 National Poetry Month April 2020
A Cry for Gwyl Awst: The Harvest Time has Come ~ The Reclaiming Cauldron: A Journal of Magic, Creativity and Action, Reclaiming Quarterly and weaveandspin.org., July 2020
Downsizing ~ GUEST [A journal of guest editors], above/ground press, April 2020
Mycelium and Memory ~ Earth Activist Training Blog, September 2019; Mother Earth Natural Health Newsletter, September 2020.
Poetry chapbooks
six poems for healing (with Amara Hollowbones) ~ Wordsmith Writing, September 2021. ISBN: 978-1-7778787-0-2
dance by the light of the moon (includes the art of Amara Hollowbones) ~ Wordsmith Writing, Limited draft edition, June 2023
Other writing
Sleeping Beauty: An Ancient Tale for these Challenging Times ~ April 24, 2021 Feminism and Religion Blog
Eating by the Phases of the Moon ~ Practically Pagan: An Introduction to Alternative Guides to Living. Moon Books, May 2021. ISBN 978-1-78904-893-3
Fiction
A Secret in the Ravine, Kindle Edition
A Secret in the Ravine is a novel set during the 1980s in Toronto about a 12 year old boy who stumbles upon a portal in a ravine that connects him with an alternate dimension called Natura. The geography of the world Paul discovers resembles his own, except as it might be if humans had not evolved to become the dominant species. In Natura, all animals have developed a social structure and a common language that allows them to communicate together.
Paul befriends a group of animals and discovers that environmental damage from his world is seeping into Natura and having a harmful effect on the animals and their world. The animals offer to show Paul how to return to his world if he agrees to help them.
At first, Paul doesn’t want to help the animals, but he overcomes his reluctance and fears and ultimately is able to save their world. You can purchase a e-version from Amazon here.
Non-Fiction
Getting Back on Track: Life After Treatment
A guidebook published by Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network that uses non-medical terms to help breast cancer patients cope with the physical, psychological and practical concerns they may face long after completion of active treatment.
Diane Perazzo 