Samantha Garner

So far the oddest part of being north of 40 is that I keep inadvertently activating little sleeper cells of forgotten nostalgia. Today's example: a rewatch of High Fidelity in which I realized I'd watched it so often in my early 20s that it informed certain things I say AND the way I say them 🤷🏻‍♀️.

This is SO GOOD!

As someone whose brain is 75% Simpsons quotes, I'm shocked that it's Paddy Considine's delivery of "that's a lintel" in The World's End that actually lives rent-free in my head. Kind of annoying though when I have lentils for dinner. The ultimate "don't say it don't say it don't say it" losing game.

“Woe to you Väinämöinen:
you have come unslain to Death
still alive to Tuonela!”
- The Kalevala, Rune XVI

A small miracle: returning to a novella draft I’d put aside, descending into the other air of the Kalevala. It feels good to be in this liminal place where reality shifts & the story opens up.

How to Give Useful Writing Feedback Many writers have friends who are also writers, and sometimes those friends ask us to give feedback on their work. Yay! We get to help our friends succeed! ...

Our excellent columnist Samantha Garner (@samanthakgarner.bsky.social‬) is back with some more amazing writing tips, this time on how to give useful feedback to your peers and fellow authors!
#AmReading #WritingTips #Columnists #CanLit
open-book.ca/Columnists/H...

With limited stock now replenished, we’re preparing around 60,000 meals daily—less than half our previous output. Every plate is reaching the most vulnerable, including displaced families and patients in hospitals. Read more: wck.org/news/gaza-update-7-25 #ChefsForGaza (3/3

Note, especially, that she was merely IN THE CROWD. She never tried to get him or even approach him. Just the sight of her sent everyone into a tizzy. Why is the POV character okay with her boyfriend writing diss tracks about this woman who's clearly matured since high school? OKAY BYE, SORRY.

Sure, I could be writing. I could also be thinking, as I do annoyingly often, how the POV and titular characters in the song Sk8er Boi are the true villains, punching down at a woman who's grown since high school and spent money to support him now that she's free of petty teenage standards 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hell yes 🙌🏼

Another thing that amuses me is wondering how punk it is to explore dietary options to properly serve the needs of my perimenopausal hormones. (FTR I know it is, but it still makes me laugh in an "Aging Punk Slaps Another Band Sticker on Sleep Apnea Machine" way.)

Working on a piece about my relationship with "being punk" over the years, and I wrote in my notebook in italic caps HOW CAN ONE BE PUNK WITH ANXIETY but my brain hiccuped over the T in anxiety and so I squeezed it in afterwards and it's so un-punk of me but I hate how gross it looks now ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.

Edit Your Writing with Empathy and Curiosity Are you a writer? How do you feel about editing? If you’re like many writers you’ve probably just groaned or hissed at your screen. I get it—editing ...

The brilliant Samantha Garner (@samanthakgarner.bsky.social‬) shows us how to edit your writing with empathy and curiosity in her latest column! Check it out folks!
#AmReading #WritingTips #WritingLife #AmWriting
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The Book Wardrobe Dear Reader, How are you? How’s it going? How about a catch up at the bookshop? Let’s chat about your memorable childhood song. Or any music for that matter. Did you dream of becoming a musician?...

Looking forward to emceeing this event and celebrating Lindsay Zier-Vogel and Teri Vlassopoulos! Buy Lindsay's The Fun Times Brigade and/or Teri's Living Expenses from The Book Wardrobe and join us for a cozy writerly chat in-store.

Saturday June 21, 2025, 10 am

www.facebook.com/bookwardrobe...

My hand holding a copy of Lindsay Zier-Vogel’s The Fun Times Brigade against a white bookcase

The Fun Times Brigade on a white desk with my hand opening the book to show the colourful blue, green, orange, and yellow endpaper.

So happy to hold a copy of Lindsay Zier-Vogel's The Fun Times Brigade in my hands. It’s gorgeous - and look at those endpapers oh my god 😍.

Is it too much to use my FTB bookmark and carry my copy of FTB in my FTB tote? I *am* a Lindsay Zier-Vogel fangirl so it would be appropriate!

I'm so happy you liked it, thank you!

How I'm Adjusting My Writing Routine For Spring and Summer A few months ago I wrote about how I’m adjusting my writing routine for autumn and winter. Now that we’re well into spring where I live, I’ve ...

Columnist Samantha Garner (@samanthakgarner.bsky.social‬) Author tells us how she's adjusting her writing routines for spring and summer, and why those adjustments can make a writer's life easier!
#AmReading #Columns #WritingLife #CanLit
open-book.ca/Columnists/H...

No it's okay, I actually love when I spell "genius" wrong. Keeps me humble.

Congratulations!

It’s so good!

My hand holding a copy of Teri Vlassopoulos’ novel Living Expenses, with a staircase in the background and a sign that reads “The Book Wardrobe, Bookstore on the 2nd floor,” with an Open sign on the shop window.

I was happy to preorder Teri Vlassopoulos’ Living Expenses from my local indie bookstore The Book Wardrobe - especially as the author’s Filipino, the editor’s Filipino, the bookstore owner’s Filipino, and it’s Asian Heritage Month 🇵🇭♥️

(Annoyed at myself for getting my thumb in the way though, ugh.)

Colourful graphic that reads: Authors for Esims. Bid on over 160 items from your favourite authors! Special book editions, writing coaching sessions, postcards & prints, editorial feedback, unreleased manuscripts, reading recommendations, and more! Ends on Sunday May 18.

The Authors for eSims for Gaza auction fundraiser ends Sunday May 18! Bid on over 160 items from your favourite authors! I'm offering a signed paperback copy of The Quiet is Loud and naming a character in my science-fantasy novella trilogy after the highest bidder.

tinyurl.com/authors4esims

YouTube video by Merja Soria Finnish Folk Musician Nuku Nuku - Ancient Finnish Lullaby

The Finnish kantele is key to the world of my fantasy novel Twist the Branch and especially its sequel-in-progress Corrode the Song. I listened to a LOT of kantele when writing and it made me emotional enough to suspect my ancestors have to be involved somehow.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCi...

My dad was so hyped for days. I actually feel bad for him now!

A Million Lives Recovery Below is a list of authors, narrators, and vendors who attended the A Million Lives Book festival, many of whom were left with financial debt due to flights, hotels, shipping their merchandise, and ta...

Many authors, narrators, and vendors who attended the A Million Lives Book festival were left with financial debt due to flights, hotels, shipping their merchandise, and table fees only to be misled by the event organizer. Find out how to support them here: www.indieauthorconnect.com/a-million-li...

My literary sci-fi novel The Quiet is Loud on a white coffee table.

Here's the direct link to my prize bundle, where I'm offering:

- A signed paperback copy of The Quiet is Loud
- I'll name a character in my science-fantasy novella trilogy (in progress) after the highest bidder

app.galabid.com/authors4esim...

Graphic that reads:AUTHORS FOR ESIMSAuction fundraiser in support of Crips for eSims for GazaMay 5, 9AM to May 18, 6PM (EST)tinyurl.com/authors4esimsBid on autographed books and special prize bundles from your favourite authors!

I’m participating in the Authors for eSims for Gaza auction fundraiser. Bid on 110+ autographed books and special prize bundles from your favourite authors! Funds go directly to Crips for eSims for Gaza’s mutual aid efforts helping Palestinians in Gaza stay connected.

tinyurl.com/authors4esims

Miss Universe Philippines has a mythology theme going on this year, which is great for anyone whose interests contain both monster girls and mahou shoujo villains (like yours truly).

The Joys of Rereading Like any other avid reader, my TBR pile can feel out of control most of the time. For me, it’s partly because I’m a mood reader with an aversion to ...

In her latest column, acclaimed author Samantha Garner (@samanthakgarner.bsky.social) talks about the many joys of rereading! Take a gander at her wise words right here!
#AmReading #CanLit #WritingTips #Books
open-book.ca/Columnists/T...

Confirmed fundraisers for victims of the April 26 Tragedy: linktr.ee/isangbaksak

This is a continually updated list of resources to help Vancouver's Filipino community after the attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party.

docs.google.com/document/u/0...