Imagine creating a home for yourself and your family that feels cozy, stylish and representative of your tastes, without breaking the bank.

Imagine feeling that interior design does not have to be a daunting task, and that a beautiful space can be achieved with a few creative ideas, helpful tips and tricks, and original finds from independent businesses. 

That is precisely what Kat Mannell offers us with her inspiring interior design blog and Instagram account "Life at Number 63". 

Based in the UK, Kat left her job as an interior design assistant for the affluent and decided to show home enthusiasts that it is unnecessary to spend endless amounts on designer labels and bespoke items to create a perfect home. She is also a passionate advocate for small businesses and handmade items. 

​Kat thoughtfully renovated her Victorian home to create a stylish Scandinavian-inspired interior on a budget. Only 18 months after the start of her journey, her audience has grown to almost 60 thousand followers, with whom she shares her unique finds, favorite brands, inspiring color schemes, interior trends and design tricks. ​

What is special about "Life at Number 63" on Instagram is that Kat takes us through her space at least twice a day, showing us different angles and different ways of styling the rooms. In fact, Kat proves that a decor need not be set in stone! Kat embraces change at home, switching the color scheme and decor frequently. 

"I live in the moment, and if I feel like a room or part of a room isn't making me happy anymore, then I change it. I like to shop my home as well as buying new things, as even moving around furniture or accessories can make an area feel fresh."

Her two little girls Ruby and Molly also embrace a changing decor like their Mum.

"They are used to it! I think that, since we have lived in the same house all their lives, they are very settled children, and so a few colour changes or new items don't daunt them at all."

Kat describes her home style as "scandi, hygge and botanical".

​She loves clean lines, soft pinks and Scandinavian-inspired furniture and accessories.

There isn't a spot of the house that is hidden from our view - we can admire every corner, and sometimes Kat takes us on a tour of the layout in her Instagram Stories.

"It's not a large house, but I try to be creative with my shots, and actually photograph every angle and corner possible!"

Her personal favorite spot at home is simply her side of the bed. "I layer it up with blankets, turn my air diffuser and string lights on and curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Bliss!"

Other than showcasing her own space and guiding others in their home decor projects with her helpful blog articles, Kat also hosts an Instagram challenge she created under the hashtag "#spotthenewtrend", with prizes to be won. "I base the theme on current and future trends, and people use the hashtag on their posts containing that theme, and I share their posts on my stories. There are now over 18000 posts to the hashtag, which I'm thrilled with!"

Kat shares her surprise about the online community she has discovered. "There are so many people whose home is a huge part of their lives, and who want to make a cozy, inviting space to share with friends and family".

Aside from her work as an interior blogger and influencer, Kat is also the owner of the online shop Art House Illustration, where she sells her custom house portraits as prints.

When we talked about how she juggles her numerous projects, passions, collaborations and parenting, Kat confessed that keeping up with it all can sometimes be a challenge. "I have to be organized (which isn't my strong suit if I'm honest). I make a list of things to do at the start of the week, even down to small details and then work my way through them. If it all stays in my head, then sometimes I can feel a little stressed. List making is definitely key!" 

Although Kat is grateful for the huge community support she surprisingly experienced, she attributes her success to her persistence in following her dream. "Just believe in yourself and go for it," she advises fellow bloggers and entrepreneurs. "I really wanted Instagram and my blog to succeed, and I have put in many hours and late nights, which has often been exhausting, but it's always worth it in the end." 

Follow Kat over on "Life at Number 63" on her blog and Instagram to discover her home and her affordable tips and tricks to creating a unique home you adore!

​
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Nous voilà à la fin de septembre déjà!

Chaque automne, Etsy Canada et ses équipes régionales de créateurs passionnés organisent un marché d'automne dans une trentaine de villes canadiennes. C'est le marché Etsy Made in Canada (qui s'appelle aussi «Etsy Fait au Québec» dans notre province).

Le weekend du 29 et 30 septembre au Locoshop Angus à Montréal, plus de 100 créateurs et designeurs seront réunis sous un même toit pour exposer leurs bijoux, papeterie, arts visuels, articles de décoration, accessoires de mode, aliments, articles pour enfants, et produits pour la peau faits localement avec amour!

J'ai eu la chance de découvrir cette communauté dès le lancement de Veni Etiam en 2015. J'ai fait du bénévolat pour l'équipe pendant quelques marchés et j'ai ensuite été recrutée comme l'une des leaders d'équipe. Ce que j'aime le plus dans mon travail au sein de cette équipe, c'est de constater à quel point notre communauté est incroyablement talentueuse et d'encourager son épanouissement. Non seulement nos exposants sont des superbes créateurs de produits fait-main, mais ils sont également des entrepreneurs super inspirants avec des parcours de vie intéressants.

Leurs parcours de vie et leurs préparatifs sont partagés cette semaine sur Instagram et Facebook dans le cadre de notre défi médias sociaux. Vous pouvez nous suivre avec le mot clic #EtsyMtlChallenge2018. Je vous promets que vous serez inspirés par ce que ces artistes ont à partager sur leur métier et leurs boutiques!

Lorsque nous faisons la sélection d'artisans pour nos marchés, le processus est minutieux et long. Nous évaluons près de 500 candidatures à chaque fois et marquons celles qui se distinguent selon notre liste de critères, qui comprend l’originalité, l’image de marque, la qualité des photos soumises et la pertinence pour nos clients en fonction de la saison. Cette première évaluation est déjà difficile à cause du calibre des candidatures que nous recevons. Nous devons ensuite passer par au moins 300 candidatures, catégorie par catégorie, avec un jury composé de membres de l'équipe. Nous le faisons en personne, souvent jusqu'aux petites heures du matin, puis nous continuons à peaufiner notre sélection avec une discussion en ligne.

À chaque édition, chacun des organisatrices a au moins un coup de coeur pour des boutiques qui viennent de se joindre à notre communauté ou qui ont vraiment amélioré leur marque en tant que les produits proposés et comment ces marques se présentent.

Si vous êtes à Montréal ce week-end, passez découvrir le marché Etsy Montréal! Je serai là moi aussi avec mon art mural, mes photographies encadrées et mes accessoires de déco, y compris certains de mes nouveaux plateaux. Comme plusieurs de ces artistes, je vais également prendre des commandes personnalisées et exposer plusieurs nouveautés qui ne sont pas encore dans mes boutiques en ligne!

Voici la liste complète d'exposants et voici les détails de l'événement.
L'entrée est gratuite et les premiers 30 invités en ligne chaque matin à 10hrs recoivent un sac plein de cadeaux et de coupons rabais! 

Si vous n'êtes pas à Montréal, vérifiez si un marché Etsy Made in Canada aura lieu dans votre région! Je vous encourage fortement de découvrir ce marché pour encourager les créateurs d'ici et notre économie québécoise. 

Avez-vous une boutique préférée dans votre communauté? Laissez le nom en commentaire ci-dessous pour nous la faire découvrir! 

It's that time of year again!

Every September, Etsy Canada and its regional teams of passionate leaders host an annual fall show in almost 30 cities across the country. It's the Etsy Made in Canada market (which also goes by the name "Etsy Fait au Québec" in our province.)

On September 29th and 30th at the Locoshop Angus in Montreal, over 100 makers and designers will be gathered under one (historical) roof to exhibit their locally-made jewelry, paper goods, home decor items, fashion accessories, food, children's items, skin care products and more! 

I was fortunate to discover this scene almost as soon as I launched Veni Etiam back in 2015. I volunteered for the team for a few shows and was later recruited as one of the team leaders. What I love most about working on this leadership team is witnessing how incredibly talented our community is, and encouraging it to thrive even further. Not only are our participating vendors creative artists, but they are also inspiring entrepreneurs with unique life journeys. 

Those unique life journeys and behind the scenes moments are being shared on Instagram and Facebook this week as part of our seven-day social media challenge. You can follow us with the hashtag #EtsyMtlChallenge2018. I promise you you'll be inspired by what these artists have to share about their craft and their shops. ​

If you are in Montreal this weekend, stop by our show! I'll be there with my photographic wall art, framed prints and decor accessories, including some of my new trays. Like many of these artists, I will also be taking custom orders and exhibiting lots of new items that are not listed in my online shops! 

Here is the full list of participating vendors and here are the full event details.
It's FREE to enter and the first 30 guests in line each day get a special goodie bag!

If you're not in Montreal, have a look whether an Etsy Made in Canada show is coming near you this weekend! I promise you it's a special feeling to support local makers and your local economy!

Do you have a favorite shop in your community? Leave a comment below and spread the love. ​

Ce n'est pas un secret que l'art unit les gens. Mais quand deux artistes avec des styles, des techniques et des parcours personnels différents ressentent une connection spéciale qui les amène à créer d'une façon inattendue, cela peut être encore plus magique!

Cette connection immédiate ressentie par les artistes Joannie Houle et Lysa Jordan a mené à leur nouvelle collaboration artistique.

Profondément inspirée par ces deux femmes et leurs oeuvres d'art, j'étais intriguée par leur nouvelle collection de peintures à l'aquarelle et je voulais connaître leurs inspirations et leur processus artistique.

Bien que les deux artistes vivent proches l'une de l'autre, c'est Instagram qui les a réunies. "Je suivais Joannie sur Instagram depuis un moment et je suis tombée amoureuse d'une de ses illustrations. Je l'ai contactée pour acheter l'originale," dit Lysa, avouant qu'elle a été impressionnée par la qualité des illustrations et le style coloré et fantaisiste de Joannie. "Peu de temps après, je me trouvais dans son bel espace avec son illustration en main. Ce fut une connection immédiate entre nous deux et nous sommes en contact depuis!" 

Joannie a également découvert les oeuvres de Lysa grâce à Instagram et elle est tout de suite tombée sous le charme de ses oeuvres colorées et lumineuses. "Quand Lysa a communiqué avec moi pour faire l’achat de l’une de mes illustrations, j’ai été si flattée qu’une artiste aussi talentueuse apprécie autant mon travail! Nous nous sommes rencontrées et nous avons beaucoup échangé lors de cette première rencontre. Sans le savoir, un projet bien spécial était né en plus d’une belle amitié!"

"Cette nouvelle collection représente cette passion que nous partageons pour la couleur et la botanique. Il s’agit de l’union de deux visions artistiques et de la naissance d’un style unique et nouveau qui nous représente toutes les deux", dont le nom Joannie et Lysa. "Nous souhaitons ajouter un peu de beauté au quotidien des gens. Cette collaboration est très douce et légère. Nos compositions sont apaisantes et nous croyons que c’est une émotion que les gens cherchent à ajouter à leur vie."

Les collaborations sont souvent des expériences intéressantes pour les artistes car elles impliquent non seulement une union de styles et de techniques mais aussi un mélange de personnalités, d'émotions et des expériences de vie.

Joannie et Lysa nous décrivent cette expérience.

"Travailler ensemble était fascinant. C’est super intéressant de voir comment nos méthodes, nos techniques et notre façon de peindre est différente. Pour vous donner un exemple, Joannie travaille assise à sa table de travail, souvent avec une image d’inspiration et de la musique et de mon côté je travaille sur le sol, sans image et sans musique!"

"Nous avons exploré, fait de nombreux tests et fait plusieurs erreurs. Celles-ci nous ont souvent amenées de nouvelles idées, qui étaient plus concluantes. Lorsque le résultat était satisfaisant c’était vraiment plaisant de partager cet émerveillement ensemble."

"Nous avons établi un calendrier approximatif au départ et nous avons tracé les grandes lignes de cette collaboration. Nous étions d’accord sur beaucoup de points alors ce fut plutôt rapide. Nous avons travaillé ensemble une journée par semaine, souvent chez Joannie qui m’a accueillie comme une reine à chaque fois dans son atelier."

Une collaboration enrichissante

Les collaborations peuvent souvent donner lieu à des surprises. Mais heureusement, pour Joannie et Lysa, ces surprises n'ont été que positives et enrichissantes. 

​"Nous avons eu un plaisir fou à créer une collaboration unique, un mélange de nos deux mondes. C’est merveilleux de sentir nos deux touches dans une même oeuvre. Nous sommes très surprises de voir l’équilibre des oeuvres et du mélange de nos deux styles qui en crée un nouveau qui vit par lui-même." 

Les deux peintres nous racontent comment leur collaboration a enrichi leur vie d'une manière qui transcende les oeuvres sur lesquelles elles ont travaillé.

"Ce fut non seulement un plaisir de collaborer ensemble, mais aussi de partager nos vies d’artistes entrepreneurs. Nous avons parlé de comptabilité, de gestion de documents, photos, design graphique, de nos sites webs et aussi des défis de notre métier. Nous avons chacune un bagage très intéressant et ce fut très enrichissant d’en discuter ensemble. Nous avons aussi parlé de ce qui nous inspire, d’artistes que nous aimons et admirons, et échangé sur nos matériaux favoris."

Cette collaboration entre deux artistes basées à Montréal est un rappel rafraîchissant que l'esprit de communauté est (et devrait toujours être) plus fort que la compétition. "Nous croyons qu’effectivement la communauté est extrêmement importante dans notre milieu, par l’entraide, la gentillesse et le respect. L’art visuel est un domaine difficile qui vient avec des hauts et des bas. Nous ne pensons pas que la compétition soit nécessaire. C’est important de trouver sa voie, tracer son propre chemin et définir sa démarche artistique."

Joannie et Lysa sont inspirantes dans la façon dont elles ont trouvé leur propre approche artistique, en tant qu'individus et en tant que collaboratrices sur cette nouvelle collection. Le conseil qu'elles donnent à d'autres artistes est d'explorer patiemment ce qu'ils souhaitent explorer, jusqu'à ce qu'un style personnel émerge.

"Ne mettez pas d'effort pour essayer d'inventer un style. Si vous le faites, vous allez vous diriger vers une série d’oeuvres inauthentiques. Il est préférable de simplement travailler sur quelque chose que vous avez envie d'explorer et de voir ce qui s’en dégage. Vous commencerez à voir votre propre style personnel après avoir travaillé sur de nombreuses oeuvres."

​Par contre, Lysa admet que cela ne vient pas facilement.

"Personne ne sait pour vous. Vous devez trouver votre propre chemin."

Lorsque j'ai demandé à Joannie et Lysa d'élaborer un peu plus sur la collection et leur pièce préférée, elles étaient réticentes à répondre, nous gardant en suspense un peu plus longtemps! Nous devrons donc assister à leur lancement chez West Elm Montréal le jeudi 24 mai de 17h à 21h, où elles nous dévoileront enfin le fruit de leur travail et sûrement quelques anecdotes sur leur collaboration. 

​Merci, Joannie & Lysa, d'avoir créé de telles pièces inspirantes et de partager votre vision artistique avec nous!

Different styles converge on a common passion

Passionate about watercolor and nature, the two artists found a way to merge their very different styles and to initiate an inspiring new collection, set to launch on May 24th, 2018 at West Elm Montreal. 

"This new collection represents this passion that we share for color and botany. It is the union of two artistic visions and the birth of a unique new style that represents us both," hence the name of the collection Joannie & Lysa. "We want to add a little beauty to people's daily lives. This collaboration is gentle and light. Our compositions are soothing and we believe that it is a feeling that people seek to add to their lives."

Artistic collaborations can be a fascinating journey for individual artists, as they not only involve blending styles and techniques, but also personalities, feelings and life experiences.

​Joannie and Lysa let us in on that experience. 

"It's really interesting to see how our methods, techniques and how we paint is different," says Lysa, explaining how working together was fascinating. "To give you an example, Joannie works sitting at her desk, often with a picture for inspiration and music and on my side I work on the floor, without images and without music!"

"We explored, made many tests and made several mistakes. These often brought us new ideas, which were more conclusive. When the result was satisfactory, it was really nice to share this wonder together."

Community over competition

Their collaboration as watercolor painters in Montreal is a refreshing reminder that community is (and should always be) stronger than competition. "We both believe in the importance of mutual help, kindness and respect. Visual art is a difficult field, which comes with its ups and downs. We think competition is unnecessary. It's important to find your own way, to chart your own path and to define your own artistic approach."

Joannie and Lysa are inspiring in how they have found their own artistic approach, as individuals and as collaborators on their beautiful new collection. Their advice to other artists is to patiently explore what they wish to explore, until a personal style emerges. "Don't put effort into trying to invent a style; if you do, you will create a series of inauthentic works. It's best to work on something you want to explore and see what comes out of it. You will begin to see your own personal style after working on numerous pieces," Lysa says, although she admits that it does not come easily.

"Nobody knows for you. You must find your own way." ​

Don't miss the launch party

When I probed Joannie and Lysa a little more on the collection and their favorite piece within it, they were reluctant to answer, keeping us in suspense a little while longer. We will have to attend their launch at West Elm Montreal on Thursday, May 24th from 5-9pm, where they will finally reveal the fruit of their labor and more anecdotes about their beautiful collaboration. Don't miss it!

A couple of weeks ago, I revealed my new collaboration with the Smitten Italy & Co shop and introduced you to Heather Carlson, a fellow Italophile who became my pal on Instagram. In case you missed it, Heather interviewed me about my love for Italy on her Merry Feast Travels blog.

For the second part of our Smitten Italy series, I interviewed Heather on her love for Italy and her advice to novice Italy-travelers. 

​"It’s based on our love of Italy and is for everyone who is #smittenwithitaly.

The shop officially launched in early 2017 with a small line of clothing for adults & kids. Now the shop has expanded with tote bags, mugs, art prints & digital art. We are thrilled to be adding our first collaboration with Veni Etiam Photography in 2018."

Heather describes how she fell head over heels with not only "vacation Italy" but also Italy's daily, authentic side that she discovered over time. 

"The first time it was all the typically romantic things. The street musicians, the architecture and art. Each time I returned, I learned more and appreciated additional things like the language, the people, the light, the history, and always the food. Food is so different from region to region and also from village to village. It blows my mind
how many wonderful and unique things there are to eat in Italy that many people have never heard of!"

Read Heather's Ultimate Bucket list for Food Lovers

"While living there, I saw a completely different side to Italy - crazy and frustrating yet continuously beautiful. And while I still love “vacation Italy,” living there really enriched my love and passion for the people and the country."

"Definitely Milan. While living there for several years, I really grew to love it. And I always love returning and continue to discover new things each time. It’s an amazing spot to base yourself, just a short train ride away from many wonderful destinations like the Lake district, Parma, Modena, Bologna, the Dolomites, Torino..." 

Read Heather's articles about Milan and daytrips to nearby towns

"Rome and Umbria," it seems Heather couldn't pick just one!

​"I love them both so much and instantly feel at home whenever I return. I now lead food and wine tours in Umbria with my Italian partner who owns a cooking school and Agriturismo near Assisi. I love helping food-loving travelers plan their own delicious Italy adventures."

Heather offered 3 tips for first-time Italy travelers:

1. Slow Down. Less is more for your daily schedule and in your itinerary. Allow breathing time to really sink into a place and experience it. Don’t dash from one site to another, or one city to another. Try to imagine that you will be coming back and don’t try to pack everything in to one trip.

2. Make Dinner Reservations. Book your first night’s dinner reservations before
arriving. I started doing this early on in my travels and have never regretted it
(especially when traveling with my kids) I love the thrill of the hunt of a good place to
eat, but get very grumpy if there is no plan and everyone is tired and hungry from a
long day of travel. Having a plan before we arrive takes the pressure off, and helps us
enjoy easing into our new location.

3. Eat dinner late with the locals. After your first night, adjust your dining times. Italians eat late compared to what we are used to in America. We struggled with that our first trip to Italy, and learned quickly that if you make a reservation for 7:30 when many restaurants open for dinner, you will be the only person there! What fun is that? To truly experience a bustling trattoria, adjust your time. By showing up at 8:30-9 (or later) you will soon be surrounded by the locals, enjoying your delicious homemade tagliatelle complete with delicious Italian ambiance!

Do YOU have an Italy travel tip to share? Leave a comment below. Heather and I would love to hear from you.

Visit the Smitten Italy shop for lots of fun Italy-related gift items, clothes and of course the Veni Etiam collection of Italy prints! 

To learn more from Heather, be sure to follow Merry Feast and Smitten Italy over on Instagram. She's always adding new goodies to the blog and the shop!

From my heart to yours.

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It's mid-September, although the weather gods are still totally convinced it's mid-July (fine by me!). And mid-September means one thing for certain every year: it's time for Etsy Made in Canada and our local edition Etsy Fait au Québec Montréal.

Over 100 artists, designers and makers from the Montreal area will gather under one (historic) roof to showcase and sell their incredible products with the community, which is becoming increasingly interesting in buying local.

To see the full list of vendors, follow this link.
To RSVP to the event (it's free!), go here.

Veni Etiam Photography will also be there all weekend long with tons of new items in the Montreal collection, the brand new Havana collection, magnets and gift items, coffee tables, a surprise new product (come see for yourself!) and new frames available on the spot in the exact sizes of my prints! I'll have reduced prices on prints and custom orders, so if you have questions about sizing or anything else, feel free to reach out even before the event!

P.S. If you're curious, this post belongs to the theme #TradeThursday, part of the Etsy Montreal Social Media Challenge. The artists who are participating as vendors in the annual Etsy Fait au Quebec (Made in Canada) market are encouraged to share behind the scenes posts as they prepare for the show. Follow along with all of us on Instagram with the main hashtags #etsyfaitauquebecmtl and #etsymtl. 

We all hope to see you there!

From my heart to yours.

It's no secret that I love to write. But, now and then, I love to lose myself in others' words and photographs. 

Here are 5 books that I keep handy on my shelf and LOVE to flip through:

• Falling Cloudberries. I have always had a weak spot for cookbooks, but those written by Tessa Kiros are just dream-inducing. I first discovered Tessa's series of cookbooks when I landed on her book called Venezia, which is essentially THE perfect combination of scrumptious recipes, dreamy storytelling and gorgeous photography. Fun fact: it was Venezia that made me fall in love with the art of food photography and changed my way of looking at things very early on, when I first began to experiment with a camera. Falling Cloudberries is replete with Tessa's family recipes that blend cultures and generations. As usual, the photography by Manos Chatzikonstantis makes you drool as much as the ingredients do. I highly recommend all her books, but I find this one has a great variety of recipes at different levels of complexity. Find out more about Falling Cloudberries.

• 111 Places in Venice that You Must Not Miss. If you know me a little bit, I don't have to go into extreme detail about why I love this book! I stumbled upon Gerd W. Sievers' book this summer and I was instantly hooked. For someone who has known and loved Venice for decades and has even studied Venetian art history, I was over the moon about how this book has made me discover new interesting facts about my lagoon city. It goes sestiere by sestiere, dedicating two pages to a place - sometimes a monument, an architectural detail or a food - and interwoven in its description are elements of history, culture, myth and legend. It is written in a style that is enjoyable and easy to follow; you can easily pick up where you left off. Photographs and practical information (about opening times, vaporetto stops and other visitor tips and trivia) make the book a multi-purpose guide for Venice lovers. Find out more about 111 Places in Venice that You Must Not Miss.

• The Mindfulness Pocket Book. This book is the perfect book to own if you want to improve in your practice of mindfulness on a daily basis. Gill Hasson has filled this book with meaningful, realistic exercises to help you to slow down, to notice, to feel aligned and peaceful and in control of your perspectives and reactions. What I love about this book is the way the content is organized - it is concise, impactful and super easy to immediately get value out of its pages. You don't have to read the chapters in order and, although it is a small book, it is so rich that you can learn from revisiting its content more than once. It is also filled with quotes to reflect on. I have gifted this book to friends and family, and I love keeping it accessible so that I can refer to it often. Find out more about The Mindfulness Pocket Book.

• How to Be a Wildflower. My Mom gave me this book and it is literally filled with inspiration, childish wonder and fresh air. Katie Daisy is an illustrator who is deeply inspired by the natural landscape that surrounded her during her childhood. Wildflowers, creeks, cornfields, hummingbirds, fireflies, and star constellations are alive and well between the colorful pages of this magical book of illustrations and quotes. As you flip through its pages, you can feel the summer breeze, smell the earth, the trees and the flowers, you can see the golden light of the setting sun in the cornfields, and the movement of the fresh linen hanging on the line. Katie has captured childhood and nature in her pages. She calls it a field guide and encourages you to travel with it and record your own inspirations, even giving you space to press flowers between the pages. Reading it, you can't help but feel more aware, more grounded and more connected to nature and life. I loved it so much, I bought some of Katie's prints for my garden. The book makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves nature, illustrations, quotes and the simple joys in life. Find out more about How to Be a Wildflower.

• 52 lists for happiness. This is another book I am currently "reading", as you may have noticed from another recent post. I put "reading" in quotation marks because this book's mission is actually to inspire you to fill its pages - it is a book of lists, as the title suggests, that prompt you to contemplate what brings you joy, to reflect on your past experiences, and to invest in your values, passions and goals. When you read Moorea Seal's table of contents, her 52 lists may seem daunting at first. But, the truth is, they are extremely rewarding to explore. At the bottom of each list is a little "take action" bubble, which gives you the impetus to do something with the list you just thought up -- something that will align you more clearly with what brings you happiness and makes you feel fulfilled. I have tremendously enjoyed sitting in my little urban garden this summer and taking 10 minutes at a time with this book. I like to open it up a random page and see whether the list speaks to me at that moment. Focusing my thought and my energy onto this exercise of reflection has left me feeling content, fulfilled and empowered each time. Find out more about 52 lists for happiness.

I hope you found a little bit of inspiration in this edition of Feature Friday.

Tell me: Have you read any of these 5 books? Do you plan to pick one up?
Leave me a comment and let me know. I love to hear from you!

From my heart to yours.

As part of my brand new "Feature Friday" project to highlight inspiring members of the community, I interviewed Canadian author Jeremy Ethan Cohen to discuss his intriguing first novel "An Apocalyptic Legend".

Jeremy is an ESL teacher at Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montreal, and has been writing for as long as he can remember. While unpublished short stories and a children's book are tucked away in his home office, "An Apocalyptic Legend" is his first work to grace the shelves of several Montreal bookstores. Jeremy describes the novel as a descriptive, multilayered psychological fantasy, and gave me a tour of its style, themes and his process of writing in our interview. 

WITHOUT SPOILERS, WHAT IS THE STORY ABOUT?
In short, after a battle between divinities, one god has resurfaced and is trying to manipulate an individual to bring about the end of the world. Two adolescents have discovered what is going on and are trying to stop this from happening.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES IT SPECIAL AS A STORY?
I don’t think it’s a story that’s been told before, with its own organic twists, turns and unpredictability. Once you’ve finished reading it, you might feel a sense of satisfaction at seeing at how it all wraps up.

WHAT GENRE DO YOU THINK YOUR NOVEL FITS MOST IN? 
I like to call it a psychological fantasy, but it also mixes the mythological and spiritual. Plus, the style could be considered Gothic, to an extent, because of the tone and descriptiveness.

IF YOU THINK OF YOUR STORY, WHAT 3 WORDS COME IMMEDIATELY TO MIND? 
Complex, intriguing and descriptive.

YOU SAY YOUR BOOK IS MULTILAYERED. CAN YOU ELABORATE A BIT ON THAT?
I think the book looks at different levels of consciousness, awareness – so, levels of the psyche, in a way. Plus, there’s an understated level of magic, not quite at the forefront but which plays an important part nonetheless.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MOST POWERFUL THEMES IN YOUR STORY?
Faith, brotherhood, memory.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PASSAGE IN THE BOOK?
I always think of one chapter. I like the imagery, the emotion, the raw naivety of one particular character in the scene. It takes place in a sort of purgatory.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN THE STORY THAT SURPRISED YOU OR TOOK A DIFFERENT TURN THAN YOU EXPECTED?
As I was writing, sometimes something would happen that would actually surprise me. It’s like the ideas were coming out and taking the plot in an unexpected direction. But, I can’t fully answer this question without giving too much away. Once finished, and seeing how the plot wrapped up, I was surprised to see little connections throughout the book that I hadn’t intentionally planned out.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR WRITING A BOOK?
I had originally written it as a short story. Then, one day, it’s like a door opened and I saw its potential and where it could go. From that point on my only inspiration was getting the story out, which was just pure enjoyment.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE IT? 
About six years. I’m quite a slow, meticulous writer. I started it back when I was at Concordia University – I spent a lot of time writing rather than studying!

WHAT AUTHORS OR STORIES DO YOU THINK HAVE SHAPED YOU AS AN AUTHOR?
Frank Herbert’s Dune, for instance, and other novels with the themes of “destiny” or “fate”. Also, Ursula Le Guin, especially for her Earthsea novels.

WHAT HAVE YOU READ THAT HAS MADE YOU CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION ON FICTION?
For one, Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man. It pushed me to look at the depth writing, the subtext and subtleties. I believe An Apocalyptic Legend has a multileveled style, which asks the reader to be a bit patient and attentive. Also, Margaret Atwood’s novels – her writing technique is at a level that awes and inspires me.

ARE THERE AUTHORS YOU DISLIKED AT FIRST BUT THEN GREW INTO?
Edgar Allan Poe’s stories and other Gothic literature. When I got more and more into reading classic science fiction, fantasy and horror, I picked up Poe’s stories again and really started to appreciate how the English language could be manipulated and used with such complexity and beauty. I started to see how English could be used in a more nuanced way.

YOUR STORY HAS POWERFUL CHARACTERS. HOW DID YOU CREATE THEM?
I’ve always been drawn to characters that are wise beyond their years – how knowledge and intelligence sets them apart, but brings with it challenges and conflict.

DO THEY REMIND YOU OF OTHER CHARACTERS OR ANYONE YOU KNOW? 
As I was writing, I didn’t have anyone in mind, but after rereading and talking about it with others who have read it, I realized, hey, there are people from my life who helped to form some characters.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOUR CHARACTERS RELATABLE FOR YOUR READERS?
Due to the conflicts they face, the devotion and emotions they feel, and the difficult choices they have to make.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF WRITING FOR YOU? HOW DID THAT EVOLVE OVER THE COURSE OF WRITING YOUR NOVEL?
​I think the grinding attention to detail – in every sentence or bit of dialogue – makes the writing process emotionally demanding for me! In terms of how it evolved…I think after having finished writing An Apocalyptic Legend, I felt a sense of accomplishment and relief, but I am sure it will still take as much creative energy (maybe even more) to write my next book. I feel a bit of self-imposed pressure. I’m mulling over new ideas and am excited about continuing to write, but sometimes I feel even more critical towards my own writing.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL MARKET FOR YOUR BOOKS?
Older teens who are perceptive readers, and adults as well.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT YOUR READERS HAVE READ AND ENJOYED?Well, Dune and the Earthsea novels, as mentioned, because of the similar style, and how the reader can gather a lot from the subtext and insinuations.

IF YOU COULD COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR READERS, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?
If you do choose to read my novel, give yourself a chance to get immersed in the story. If you feel that it’s at first challenging to read, I can pretty confidently tell you that you’ll find your rhythm and almost adapt to the style.

WHAT ARE THE GOALS AND DREAMS YOU HAVE FOR THIS NOVEL?
It would be great if a publisher picked it up. My immediate goal is just to get exposure and for people to read it, hopefully like it (haha!) and to, also hopefully, give me feedback.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU? WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
Well, I’ve got a sequel in mind. In the first story, fairly hefty decisions were made and I feel that there might be some fallout. The idea is still brewing, but I’m getting close to breaking the ice. I also have some short story ideas that I’d like to get started on. They’re all linked by a common theme, but I’d like to try writing each story in a separate style.​

For more about the book and upcoming events, follow Jeremy on his blog and Facebook page. You can currently find "An Apocalyptic Legend" at Chapters, Indigo Books & Music and Drawn & Quarterly in Montreal. Thank you, Jeremy, for such an interesting and insightful interview! 

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