the simple truth is
that I miss you so much
everything about you
that words cannot express…  –Vanessa Shields

Show Notes

On April 29th, 2021, Vanessa Shields debuted her latest book in the quiet of a film set with the help of her talented filmmaker partner, Nicholas Shields, and in the company of close family and friends. It was poignant and beautiful (I’ve included the video clip below).

Vanessa and I connected to record this episode shortly after. And then, quite serendipitously, we connected again. Just two months after this recording, I walked into the local cafe and heard my name. I looked over, and Vanessa was waving and having tea with a friend. Oh, to hear a familiar voice who knew me! It’s been a while at that (with moving and all)—what a welcome sight.

These past two years have forced us all to experience work, friendship, love, and loss differently from before. For starters – funerals – which were never fun to begin with, have been anything but typical. Visiting family in a hospital? Forget about it. Nothing is normal. But it doesn’t mean that nothing good can come from terrible circumstances. Vanessa Shields wrote a book amongst the chaos of this sorry pandemic because someone she loved was leaving – and by the time the book was finished, she had already gone.

About Vanessa Shields

Vanessa Shields has made her home, her family, and her work life flourish in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. She has written several books of poetry, including Laughing Through A Second Pregnancy – A Memoir, Whisky Sour City, I Am That Woman, and Look At Her. Palimpsest Press published her latest poetry collection, Thimble, in 2021.

Her poetry, short stories, and photography have been published in various literary magazines. She mentors, guest speaks, teaches creative writing, and does Poetry On-Demand (on-the-spot poetry writing that helps make poetry fun and accessible for all). Shields is the owner of Gertrude’s Writing Room, A Gathering Place for Writers that offers creative writing classes and workshops.