Julia Phillips Smith's Blog

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...
Although I started this year's April  A to Z Blog Challenge with a strong opening week, I'm also continuing to retrain at my day job following a year-long medical leave. In the new era of pacing for strength and endurance, my old mind-over-matter thing is now history. Once again, I'll get back to the entries for the remainder of the challenge over time. I've missed three 5 on Fridays, so I've adjusted the set list number to reflect a total that includes...

Welcome to Day 8 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to  Hannah Hunter , a fellow member of my writers' group Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada.




Hannah writes paranormal werewolf romances. Not only werewolf romances, but billionaire hero romances. And not only billionaire hero romances, but BBW -- that's Big Beautiful Woman -- shapeshifter romances.      




Today we're taking a look at Ha...

Welcome to Day 7 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !





Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...
This year's challenge schedule includes five Fridays, and here at A Piece of My Mind, Fridays mean music.
For Day 5 -- E -- I wrote about my health issues and how re-establishing a gentle exercise routine with my chronic-pain body has been a powerful tool for recovery.  
Simple walking has turned out to be so instrumental to my new relationship with my body. One t...

Welcome to Day 6 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !


Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to  Nicola R. White , a fellow member of my writers' group Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada.






Nicola writes kickass paranormal romances for new adult readers. What is new adult? you may ask. It's a crossover genre between YA and the broader spectrum of adult fiction (YA featuring high school aged protagonists who are routinely called upon to s...

Welcome to Day 5 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !

Today also marks my 14th week back at my full time day job following a year-long medical leave.

I have several linked conditions which make working outside of the home a challenge: the most difficult one is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity , as any office environment is filled with things that trigger my symptoms (toner from printers and copiers, fragrance from people who enter the reception area who weren't aware t...

Welcome to Day 4 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !


Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to my good friend  Shawna Romkey , a fellow member of my writers' group Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada.





Shawna writes paranormal and fantasy novels for the YA (young adult) and new adult reader. That can be a bit of a misnomer, however, as I'm in my early 50s and I love her series. 




Today we're taking a look at Shawna's Speak of the Devil series, whic...

Welcome to Day 2 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !


Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to  Paula Altenburg , a fellow member of my writers' group Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada.




Paula writes in two genres: contemporary romance, and western-flavored dystopian paranormal romance.
I'm a huge fan of her paranormal Demon Outlaw series, and for anyone who is a fan of Cowboys and Aliens , I highly recommend Paula's newest paranormal western PALE MOO...

Welcome to Day 2 of this year's April blog event -- the  A to Z Blog Challenge !
Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to Michelle Helliwell , currently serving as president of my local chapter of Romance Writers of America .
Our writers' group Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada just celebrated 15 years together this past September.



This is Michelle signing copies of her debut release last June at her book launch for NOT YOUR AVERAGE BEAUTY , a Beauty and the Beast inspired Regency romance.
Wh...

Welcome to Day 1 of this year's April blog event -- the A to Z Blog Challenge !
This is my sixth year participating. I've finished the challenge every year except for last year -- ironically enough, I was home from work on medical leave and was shocked to find that my wide-open time schedule could not make up for the fact that I was not feeling well enough to keep up the pace.
However, as this year's challenge dawns, I am back to work and feeling up to taking on twenty-six blog posts in thirty d...

Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...
This week's set goes out to former CBC broadcaster Jian Ghomeshi in the wake of his aquittal yesterday on all charges of sexual assault, and overcoming resistance by choking.



For those unfamilar with the case, you can get up to speed with Anne Kingston's Maclean's article:

The Jian Ghomeshi verdict is in. But the story isn't over.



1 -  Here Comes Flash  - The Kinks 







2 - Hello, Little Girl from  Into the Woods  - Johnny De...