Author Archives: randycoates
Paying Attention to Advice About Writing
Over 30 years, I have written six novels and a memoir. My earliest attempts began when I was attending university. When I look back at these initiations into the world of writing, I see the immature and awkward fumblings of … Continue reading
The Mysterious Teacher
There is a teacher in your classroom who has caught everyone’s interest. He doesn’t say a lot about himself; seems grumpy all the time; has no ring to suggest he’s married. Whenever he is on a prep, you can pass … Continue reading
Blue Jays Euphoria
People are caught up in the euphoria of the Toronto Blue Jays. I don’t begrudge people their interest in sports teams, nor their excitement about their city’s baseball team being in the play-offs. I am guilty, myself, of being obsessed … Continue reading
Word on the Street
Last Sunday, I attended Word on the Street which moved its location from Queen’s Park to the Harbourfront. The day was gloriously sunny and the lake provided an exotic backdrop so there was excitement bubbling in the air. For the … Continue reading
Like Pollution, Part 2
I sit at restaurants alone a lot. I enjoy the time to eat a good meal that I didn’t have to prepare, to ruminate about what’s going on in my life, and to be entertained by the antics and conversation … Continue reading
Time: An Enemy to Writers
I quietly anticipate word from a publishing company to see if it has accepted my new YA novel. I wrote it in a year which, by my usual standards, is quick. It helped that I had written the thing in … Continue reading
Under the Sea
My newest children’s novel, Adrift, contains a section in which a teacher and his student embark on a snorkelling adventure in the Caribbean Sea. Miles from the closest island, they get caught up in a sudden, savage storm and must … Continue reading
Stranded
Imagine being stranded on an island with only one other person: a person you don’t particularly want to be with; not necessarily one you hate, but certainly one who has brought you some hardship. Such is the scenario with Javier, … Continue reading
Last Night I Needed to Dream
Yesterday, I was going through some poetry of mine. I came across a poem I had written five years ago when I was experiencing some health concerns. Thought it was better than most poems I attempt to write. To me, … Continue reading
Last Yard Sale
My parents will soon be moving to a seniors’ apartment and so they are in the process of downsizing. They have owned their house for my lifetime, 50 years, and it is now up for sale. On the long … Continue reading
Randy Coates 