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The year was 1989. While the Berlin Wall was being chipped away, an even more profound, yet subtly dramatic, shift was occurring, masterminded by moi. I finished my Masters in Social Work, said goodbye to my patients and embarked on a career in the civil service, believing that change must come from within. Before long, administrivia and research — a recipe for boredom — left me needing more and, in my spare time, I assembled a chaotic body of notes, short stories, manuscrip

It has been an eventful year for me and everyone else, to be sure. 2025 started off with my lung surgery to remove a cancerous nodule. Three months of recovery and 10 pounds later, I was able to breathe again with minimal struggle. I had many moments with cherished friends and family. I managed to go on a cruise around the United Kingdom, visiting England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. So much history and political unrest over the centuries came to life. Wil

It has been just over five years since my mother passed away. There was nothing worse than watching her deteriorate before my eyes. A once vibrant, thoughtful, deeply feeling person. Gone. Someone I remembered as awe-inspiring. How she managed everything in spite of competing demands. How she picked herself up and pushed through life’s ups and downs. That was my mother; but Alzheimer’s took her away from me. Alzheimer’s, or the memory thief , as I call it, was a battle that s

As a writer it's not about how much money I make, it is about the love of writing. Let's face it, writing, unless you're somebody who is well-known, is not going to make you rich, but won't it be sweet when it does? I enjoy the craft of weaving a story that a reader might enjoy. There's something special about an idea that unfolds in the pages of a manuscript. Do writers have the entire story in their heads or do they follow their characters to see where they might lead them?

I took a package in 2019 and officially retired from the provincial civil service in August, 2020, after a wonderful 30-year career. I planned to travel, write a book about it, and when I got bored, work in a bookstore. That was the dream. You got it. Not great timing for much travel as the reality of the next couple of years thwarted those plans. While I was able to do some travel in 2019 and early 2020, the world became flat and unnavigable. Time stood still and life, as we

Like a catchy first line or hook at the end of a chapter, the narrative’s ending needs to be just right to satisfy the reader, bring closure, or leave room for a sequel. Should the ending be ambiguous or definitive? Should justice be served for a narrative to have meaning to the reader? Should all the questions raised throughout the story culminate in a neatly tied-up bow? Life is not neat. Should a story’s ending be neat? An ending carries with it the burden of satisfaction,

Grab a drink and some snacks and join the Executive Director and the Board of Directors for an evening of socializing, community engagement, and supporting Art for Cancer. Be inspired by art created on the spot. There will also be a silent auction -- choose a piece or two from your favourite artist. Here are some featured pieces. We hope to see you. For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here .

Writers use many tools to guide their work. A synonym, a definition, spell-check, and even the more recent use of Artificial...

On Saturday June 28th to Sunday June 29, 2025, Irene Fantopoulos will be at the Toronto International Festival of Authors MOTIVE, an...

Shop Talk: Writing Local , by Irene Fantopoulos Toronto's CN Tower -- What does it invoke for you? Write your answer in the comments....

I am delighted that I was accepted into the Union that represents writers across Canada. Such an honour and a privilege to become part of...

Click here to purchase one or all of Irene's books Reading from a young age fosters creativity. Without imagination, we cannot travel...

I was delighted with the success of my book launch the Luck of the Draw. I was joined by fellow writers, Hope Thomson, Carrie Oreskovich,...

For edge of your seat reading, grab copies of the Luck of the Draw and Burden of Proof by following this link . Follow the...

I am delighted to share my work about the launch of my new books Luck of the Draw and Burden of Proof with the people of Australia....

Pleas join me at the ArtBarn in Toronto where I will be leading a workshop to help aspiring writers unleash their creativity. The...

Coming soon to the ArtBarn, Toronto Two hour workshop on October 20, 2024. Did you ever want to start writing, but didn’t know where to...

Get your copy here Burden of Proof is finally completed after 30 years of laying dormant, untouched, half-typed, half-handwritten, and a...

Click here to order This story was 23 years in the making. It started off as a seed waiting for germination. The seed sprouted into a...

Pre-order the Luck of the Draw inspired by the events of September 11, 2001