IWSG, ROW80, WRiTE CLUB, and Montreal Photos

Insecure Writer's Support Group day is here.

Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh for starting this group; I look forward to it every month.

On top of feeling insecure, there's also sad news - author Maeve Binchy and actor Geoffrey Hughes have passed away.

On the other hand, there's actually no time in August to be insecure:

There's my contest

There's DL Hammons' WRiTE CLUB (vote in Round One now!)

There's keeping up with ROW80 (I'm still writing every day!)

And... there's the Book Blog Olympics!

So far we've got the following categories: "funniest blog post, innovations in interviewing, speed reading or most books read in a 24 hour period, best flash fiction, and 'Twit-kwan-do', in which contenders would go head to head in 5-minute Twitter one-up contests."

If you have further suggestions for events, feel free! Funniest blog post ended last night, and I submitted a Nasreddin Hoca joke. Looking forward to that speed reading, of course.

I realised the other day that I keep sharing photos of travels, and hardly ever post any of Montreal! Michael has shared some of the skyline and architecture in his own gorgeous shots. Here're a handful I've taken in the past two months:

View of the downtown skyline from the Lachine Canal

John Cabot statue near Atwater Square, in Saughnessy Village

Close-up of Giovanni Caboto

I happened upon a filming of a Just for Laughs Festival Gags episode!
The little girl pretended to need help reading the map, and when an unsuspecting adult approached the map, a face appeared in it! Really just a little boy behind the booth. Notice the camerawoman/attendant in the back by the trees, with the headphones... (though I might have compressed the photograph too much for this to show up clearly)

Mural near the Burgundy Lion Pub

Old car in the same neighbourhood

I wish I could have ridden in it!

Tony the Sharpener!

Close-up of Tony Vecchiarelli's van. I always feel badly that I don't have any knives or scissors for him to sharpen; he's been in my neighbourhood since I was a kid, and I don't want him to go out of business!

Meanwhile, I leave you with a question... How would you take a snail to Constantinople?

Comments

stu said…
There are some nice photos there.
Unknown said…
I'm going to Montreal in the fall and can't wait!
It's really sad those writers have died. What a loss to the writing community. ROW80 looks interesting.
Jemi Fraser said…
I've never been to Montreal, but I'd love to go one day. My son played in a few hockey tournaments as a teen there and thought it was a great city :)
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks, stu.

Yay, Clarissa! We should have coffee!

Oh that's neat, Jemi. Hope you get a chance to visit soon!
Beautiful pictures. I'd love to visit there and watch a live hockey game.
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks, Michael!
Zan Marie said…
Assume pics, Deniz! You make me want to come visit.
Deniz Bevan said…
Oh that would be lovely, Zan Marie!
Vicki Tremper said…
Well, I wouldn't bring a snail to Constantinople, or anywhere else. But I guess I'd put it in a container (so it won't get squashed) with a hole in the lid.

Great pix! I love Montreal!
Unknown said…
I love these photos of Montreal. I'm hoping to visit next summer, it's one place I have always wanted to visit.

Good luck with your contest and ROW80 and the rest of your endeavors. I think I just might be participating in some of this stuff. :)
Anonymous said…
You do so many things! You're so busy! Wow. I wish you luck on everything and I think you have no reason to feel insecure (of course that doesn't stop it from happening).
Denise Covey said…
So much happening isn't there? Gore Vidal just died too. I love his edgy writing. Maeve will be sadly missed too. Think I've just about read all her work.

Montreal is definitely on my list when I hit Canada and US in the future.
Melissa said…
'Twit-kwan-do' - Love it! :D
Love your pics, too.

IWSG #179 (At least until Alex culls the list again. :P)
I don't know. I'm kind of afraid of snails, even though I could outrun them. They're the only things I can outrun (unless you count turtles), which is why I'll never compete in the Olympics.
I liked Maeve Binchy's writing. My favorite was Circle of Friends, because it was nice to read a story about a plus-sized heroine.
And those are some nice pictures! I want to ride in that old car.
Thanks for the photo tour. I need to visit there someday.
Michael Di Gesu said…
Hi, Deniz,

OH, I WANT TO COME BACK!!!!! NOW!!!!!! This time of year is so beautiful there. I dream about those amazing LATTES!
Anonymous said…
Great pictures.

That is sad news about those deaths. :(

I wouldn't take a snail to Constantinople. They freak me out.
DL Hammons said…
You're right...insecurity is for those who have the time!! :)
Hi Deniz .. love the photos - I'd love to visit Montreal sometime ..

The snail - does he/she/it need an export licence, and I'd have to get permission to take a growing lettuce with me .. on the other hand - a visit to Constantinople would be great!

Cheers Hilary
Deniz Bevan said…
Thanks Vicki and Melissa!

Aww, thanks Gloria :-)

I saw that, Denise - Neil Gaiman had a great link to an essay of Vidal's on E Nesbit

Thanks Melissa # 179! :-)

I agree, Neurotic - I loved the book so much more than the film

Thanks, Theresa!

Ooh, I'll drink one for you, Michael! Or two. Or ten.....

That's funny, Neurotic and Medeia - I guess you guys don't want to hear about the time I had a snail as a pet...

True, DL!

Oh, I like that, Hilary - bringing lettuce along for the snail!