At Long Last

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Laurie Hodges Humble

The Last Christmas Pageant

The last four years I have been searching for a publisher for this heartwarming story that covers the last few months, from Halloween to Christmas of a small rural community’s Ladies Club. One of the main concerns of literary agents and publishers was that I had written a holiday story, thus the novel had a short shelf-life in bookstores.

It has been over 5 years that I have been working on the Poplar Grove Ladies Club story. Capturing the demise of a local women’s club, a benevolent institution that many grew up with and enjoyed the fruits of their labours and good works. (I am Canadian and spell Canadian, so I do slip in extra u’s in words such as labour and honour and neighbour.)_

Embracing the supposed short shelf-life, and the quandary of which section of the bookstore to display the book, I shortened my book’s title and placed it in a digital book store. Voila! The Last Christmas Pageant. https://books2read.com/u/31rOJw Release date 05 September, 2019.

I hope you enjoy this heartwarming tale of friendships new and old, spanning four generations in one rural small town.

Introducing the Poplar Grove Ladies Club

Posted on May 12, 2015 by Laurie Hodges Humble

At long last the Ladies have left the stage and hit the page.

Poplar Grove Ladies Club, is a 68,000 word novel which tells the story of the last days of a small town women’s club and community hall, organizations that were once the mainstay of rural Canadian life. Told in three distinct voices, this is an often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, but always real story of how globalization has affected quintessential small town life.

Set in Central Alberta, the novel raises several questions, including which traditions will be carried forward, and how will these traditions evolve with the changing face of today’s rural Canada?

I gratefully acknowledge the Alberta Foundation For the Arts for Training/Career Development Funding for this Literary Art Project.

For more information about Poplar Grove Ladies Club the novel or play please contact me at the link provided on this website.

Busy Writing

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Laurie Hodges Humble

The 2014 When Words Collide conference inspired me so much that I have been writing steadily. I have made inroads writing the story behind my play The Poplar Grove Ladies Club into a novel.

Keep watching for excerpts of the novel to be posted.

In the meantime, thank you to instructor/writer/editor/and-all-around-neat-person Candas Jane Dorsey and my fellow students in the Fall 2014 UofA Faculty of Extension Writing the Novel class.

Also, Alberta Foundation For The Arts, I couldn’t have come this far without your generous support.

When Words Collide: Calgary

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

Went to my first When Words Collide Conference in Calgary this weekend. It was totally awesome and the best value for any conference ever attended. I’ve already purchased my pass for WWC 2015!

Now to take all I learned and put it into practice. Do I start a blog on 25 things I’m glad I did? Or perhaps just put portions of what I’ve written or am working on?

Watch this blog to find out!

25 Lessons Life Has Taught Me: #22, #23, #24 & #25

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

Lesson 22. When travelling keep change in your pocket for small purchases and refreshments.

Lesson 23. Lady Bugs are cute, until they nest in your roof and invade your house. Deal with it.

Lesson 24. Instead of a pity party for one, give or say something nice to the next person you see. Another’s happiness is contagious and worth catching.

Lesson 25. Trials and tribulations build character. Honestly, I have enough character. Can I have the cash equivalent please? (I am still waiting … will accept either cash or certified cheque.)

NOTE: These lessons are based on my own personal observations and experiences. You may have a completely different view, and this is o.k. because after all, we are all unique individuals.

25 Lessons Life Has Taught Me: #18, #19, #20 & #21

Posted on July 27, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

Lesson 18: A fire is kinder than a flood. My husband knows this is true. He has lost one home thru fire and another we lost in a flood. Floods are messier and harder to clean up after. (No people were injured in either of these disasters.)

Lesson 19: Always show compassion when another suffers a life altering event. Treat them as you would hope you’d be treated in a similar situation.

Lesson 20: Make lists. Shopping lists. To do lists. Bucket lists. To help make a difficult decision, list the pros and cons. If you write it down you a) won’t forget to buy toilet paper, and b) have put your needs out to the Universe.

Lesson 21: Be careful what you wish for, it just may come true. Discern between wishes, wants, and needs.

NOTE: These lessons are based on my own personal observations and experiences. You may have a completely different view, and this is o.k. because after all, we are all unique individuals.

25 Lessons Life Has Taught Me: #14, #15, #16 & #17

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

NOTE: These lessons are based on my own personal observations and experiences. You may have a completely different view, and this is o.k. because after all, we are all unique individuals.

Lesson 14: Breath. Take several deep breaths when things are going well, and take several deep breaths when things are not going well. In between take regular breaths. Life always seems when I remember to breath.

Lesson 15: The key to happiness is really being near friends and family.

Lesson 16: The closer I get to old age, the more I want and need my family.

Lesson 17: When clearing out clutter, ask yourself this one question: Will I miss this if I lost it in a flood or fire?

25 Lessons Life Has Taught Me: #10, #11, #12 & #13

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

Lesson 10: To remove water marks from vinyl house siding, use a cleaner such as CLR and mix as indicated on the container. Wearing rubber gloves, scrub with a wire mesh scrubber, and rinse with a power hose.

Lesson 11: To remove mold from the interior of a house, garage, etc. use hospital approved disinfectant cleaner and plenty of water. In a pinch use strong soap and water. Wear rubber gloves, a hazmat suit and a face mask. Safely dispose of protective gear after you have cleaned.

Lesson 12: Volunteer whenever I can. I always feel better about life when I volunteer. I also meet really neat people when I volunteer.

Afternoon nap

Lesson 13: There is something to be said about Sunday being the day of rest. A short nap on a Sunday afternoon is always a good start to a work week.

NOTE: These lessons are based on my own personal observations and experiences. You may have a completely different view, and this is o.k. because after all, we are all unique individuals.

25 Lessons Life Has Taught Me: #7, #8, & #9

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

Lesson 7: If a friend volunteers to help you paint your house, fence, whatever, immediately take them up on their offer. If you say “I’ll let you know,” you won’t see them until the job is done.

Lesson 8: Some things are best slept on overnight; even it is just to soften the edges when faced in the new day.

Lesson 9: Tell the truth, no matter what. OK, within reason and based on the situation. If you can’t tell the truth, then avoid answering the question. Better yet, don’t set yourself up for the question in the first place.

NOTE: These lessons are based on my own personal observations and experiences. You may have a completely different view, and this is o.k. because after all, we are all unique individuals.

25 Lessons Life Has Taught Me: #4, #5, & #6

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Laurie Hodges Humble

NOTE: These lessons are based on my own personal observations and experiences. You may have a completely different view, and this is o.k. because after all, we are all unique individuals.

Lesson 4: Rules are really not made to be broken: When it comes to the certainties in life like taxes, regulations, bylaws and laws, it is very important that one conforms and not break the rules. Even if the rule at the time seems trivial, annoying or seemingly pointless, if broken the fine or penalty still needs to be paid. One can always argue that the chances of getting caught are slim, but somehow, for me personally, my angels work so hard at keeping me out of trouble, that I seem to get caught out on the most trivial of matters. Often making this wrong right is far more annoying, potentially embarrassing, and definitely more time consuming than if I just followed the rule in the first place. Geesh, I know, it sucks. But that is life and the price of living in a democracy.

Lesson 5: Trials and tribulations build character. Honestly, I have enough character. Can I please have the cash equivalent? (I am still waiting … will accept either cash or certified cheque.) I know, life isn’t always fair. I can still hear my dear sweet Mother saying, “If you expect life to be fair Laurie, you will spend it sorely disappointed.” and this leads to the next lesson…

Lesson 6: Clichés. As a writer I am told to avoid using clichés. Well, you know what? Sometimes a cliché sums up the truth better than, well, re-inventing the wheel. For many of my lessons learned I can honestly say that a cliché is hidden in there somewhere, like the proverbial kernel of truth in a myth, there lays a cliché.