May 2012
1 post
Oh dear blog, it's been too long!
Q.Why oh why do I ignore you for months on end, dear blog?
A. I’m so busy in my life, I find I have little time left to comment on it, describe it, luxuriate in the past for even a few paragraphs, before I’m on to the next thing. Always on to the next thing!
Q. But don’t you want to let people out there in the blogosphere know what you’re up to?
A. Yes, but I’m too...
September 2011
2 posts
more on Edinburgh
I’ve posted the specific link to the Canadian Poets at SUMMERHALL. We were lucky enough to take part in 5 events, both readings and panels (see link). Thanks to Halli Villegas and Heather Wood who did the heavy lifting, organizing this incredible adventure. I would go back in a second!
A common response to the statement, “I’m a poet from Canada” was met with genuine...
What I did on my summer vacation: The Edinburgh...
I can’t believe it’s been two months since I updated my blog. For those of you who write every day or every week, I applaud you. As for me, I get so caught up in life that I actually forget I have a blog for periods of time, which is probably not a good thing for a writer hoping to attract people to her work. My novel, Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar, was long listed for the ReLit...
July 2011
1 post
birthday update, make a wish and blow out the...
Eve of another Birthday, I guess it’s officially my birthday now. No numbers please; they just don’t add up. It’s a year and a few weeks since my first novel, Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar, was launched at the Proof Vodka Bar. Since then there’s been reviews, interviews — both print and radio — and all kinds of readings close and far. I had a co-launch in...
May 2011
1 post
letters lost and letters found
Today in the news a young couple in Nova Scotia were renovating their house and found love letters written by their late father — when he was stationed in France— written to their mother. She had tucked the missives into the wall, and when her children went to fix old wiring, came upon a cache of about 27 letters. There’s a book or screenplay, or both, I thought, in that...
April 2011
1 post
feminist porn awards
I had the dubious distinction of being asked to be one of the presenters at the 6th annual Feminist Porn Awards (sponsored by Good For Her) held at the Berkley Church this past Friday, April 15, 2011. To say I had fun would be a gross understatement. As my “plus one” Halli Villegas said, “Those people really know how to party!”
There were burlesque performances...
March 2011
2 posts
Sign Up for One Day Erotic Writing Workshop
Due to a scheduling conflict with a workshop conducted by David Clink and Sandra Kasturi being hosted on the same day, Myna Wallin’s fabulous workshop Freeing Your Erotic Self in Poetry or Prose has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 16th, from 12-5 pm.
Reading by "Orally Gifted" Tightrope Authors
A freewheeling night of fascinating fiction with three Tightrope Books authors: Basil Papdemos (Mont Royal), Myna Wallin (Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar) and Heather J Wood (Fortune Cookie).
The reading will take place at The Painted Lady, 218 Ossington Avenue, Toronto on Monday, March 28, beginning at 7:30 pm.
RSVP on Facebook
February 2011
3 posts
Myna Wallin: Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar |... →
Piece about me in Open Book by Patrick Connors
February round-up, a course and a reading
This coming Saturday, Feb. 26th, 2011, from noon to 5 pm, I’m teaching a one-afternoon seminar in Erotic Writing. It’s done through Tightrope Books’ Writing Without a Net Workshop Series. It’s based in Toronto, downtown, on Markham St. in the Annex area. (The complete info is attached in the website link accompanying this.)
How can you teach erotic writing? Well,...
CBC Books - The Book Club - The Bookies, part two:... →
The deadline’s Sunday, Feb. 6th, for nominations for the Bookies. Lots of categories to vote in. Just a simple click and posting, and you could win great prizes!
Nominate Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar ….
January 2011
1 post
Shortlisted Poem
For any of you out there, who thought I was just a smutty Cougar, with no discernible writing skills, I am a “serious” poet, too. Just found out I was shortlisted for the prestigious 2011 Winston Collin/Descant Prize for Best Canadian Poem!
Last year I was also shortlisted and my poem, “Death, Wildlife and Taxes” made the top three, earning me an Honourable Mention and...
December 2010
5 posts
End of year, cougar round-up
It’s the night before the night before Christmas and I’m stirring. Up late again as I’m a part-time insomniac. The year’s been a good one and even cougars look back at what’s been accomplished, what’s left to be done in 2011.
Last January I was off to Paris with Halli Villegas, where we shopped, ate, and met the ex-pat English speaking writers at Shakespeare...
Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar Martini's and... →
I’ve got a new corporate sponsor, how cool is that?
A review by Sue Bowness
Another Confessions review!
"Ice Ice Baby" and other readings
Today I was one of five Tightrope Books authors who made two bookstore appearances, in the morning at Another Story on Roncesvalles and in the afternoon at Nicholas Hoare. The lineup was: Danila Botha, Nathaniel G. Moore, Phoebe Tsang, Daniel Scott Tysdal, and me. Tightrope intern Megan Polley did the hosting honours and we had a decent crowd at each reading. At Another Story the staff set up hot...
November 2010
2 posts
Broken Pencil Review is online! →
Wonderful review of Confessions. This is the kind of moment you chew your nails over and when it comes, breathe a deep sigh, do a jig, and then go back to agonizing over whatever.
November 9 update & goings on in Cougarland
Read tonight at the Central on Markham St., upstairs, in a cosy little room, packed with people, lots of writers included. I read “The Sommelier and the Bus Boy,” a chapter in Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar that has a little more sex. Sold a few books, so I can only conclude that sex does indeed sell.
Nathaniel G. Moore read from Wrong Bar, and Basil Papademos read as well. We are...
October 2010
4 posts
Zoomer Magazine online -- Cougar tips for dating →
Canadian Jewish News interview of Myna Wallin →
4 tags
Late night cougar musings
There’s been some exciting new press: if you check out the Zoomer Magazine online, they added “5 Tips from the Reluctant Cougar,” in the same newsletter as Deepak Chopra. That’s a first and kind of hilarious. He’s a spiritual guru and I’m a sexual guru. Or at least I like to think I’m one. Or maybe just Olivia, my alter-ego in Confessions is one.
I also...
September 2010
2 posts
WatchLiquid Lunch interview
1 tag
Confessions on "Liquid Lunch"
I had an interview with Hugh Reilly of “Liquid Lunch” on Sept. 7th, 2010, on InternetTV ThatChannel.com
It’s a fun chat about sex, cougars, pumas, and all things pseudo-confessional.
Enjoy! I’ve posted it above.
July 2010
2 posts
The publicity machine rolls onwards!
I must admit that going to the Bay & Bloor location of Chapters/Indigo and finding my book facing out on the shelf is a very cool feeling! There it is, in a prime location, and it’s been ordered in Chapters/Indigo stores all over Canada. TYPE Books has it on order, The World’s Biggest Bookstore has copies, it’s available online at Amazon.ca, and many of the Book City...
Post-launch news
Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar was launched at the Proof Vodka Bar on June 23rd with great style by Tightrope Books! There were well over a hundred and twenty people there, and we all drank the special of the day, Cougartinis of course! Fern Lindzon’s jazz trio, with musicians Bill McBirnie and George Koller, took the stage, and there were surprise vocals from Halli Villegas and Myna...
May 2010
2 posts
Existere launch Saturday night and book launch in...
Saturday night I’m reading at the Existere Launch, here are the details:
Come on out to The Central (602 Markham, Toronto ON) Saturday, May 29th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. for the launch of Existere Journal’s Spring/Summer issue.
Myna Wallin will read from her new book Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar along with Robert Colman and Andrew McEwan.
Once again my book launch is happening at...
Winner of the Cougar story contest announced!
David Chilton has been crowned the winner of the Cougar short story, posted on the Tightrope Books blog. He’s getting a free copy of the book and immortal glory as part of the blog for all to see. It’s a hilarious story to be found at:
http://tightropebooks.blogspot.com/
Meantime, last minute frosting is being added to the manuscript before it goes to the printers. Shall we use this...
April 2010
4 posts
Myna Wallin's website, poet and prose writer,... →
Myna Wallin is a poet, prose writer, editor, and radio host. She’s the author of A Thousand Profane Pieces (Tightrope Books, 2006) and the upcoming Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar (Tightrope Books, 2010) being launched June 23, 2010, at Proof.
Confessions teaser at Tightrope Books
http://tightropebooks.blogspot.com/
If you go to Tightrope’s blog you’ll find a short section of my book, a “teaser” if you will of things to come. Also, there’s a contest running to May 3rd for a free copy. Write a short cougar story of your own and the best will be posted up on the Tightrope blog, winning the author a copy of my book. Also, for men, a cougar-prey...
the date is set!
Celebrate with Tightrope Books as we launch Myna Wallin’s latest book, Confessions of a Reluctant Cougar! Come out to Proof Vodka Bar at the InterContinental Toronto Yorkville Hotel at 220 Bloor Street West, Toronto on June 23rd. Try a famous Cougartini and enjoy the music of jazz singer Fern Lindzon. There will be nibbles available and Cougar attire is strongly recommended.
So there...
due mid-June
Revisions, revisions, revisions. It’s been an exhilarating and sometimes maddening process of writing and re-writing. Nearly there. Waiting on feedback from my last round of changes. Sometimes I make myself laugh out loud while writing — either I am getting punchy from stress and late nights, or I’m actually coming up with some funny material. Time will tell.
My book is due to...
March 2010
3 posts
update!
Wrote the last chapter yesterday and am already booked to read at the Strong Words 5th Anniversary event in June! Details to follow.
Things are looking up and the crocuses are blooming.
Cougars are taking the world by storm. :)
Cougar:
A term of empowerment or a media stereotype?
Would love to hear from you. Manuscript in progress; rants, opinions, personal experiences, all welcome!
xo
Myna
27 days.
27 days until the deadline.
Here’s a taste:
Sex is casual, but conversation is a serious matter in the outrageous adventures of this contemporary cougar.
In Myna Wallin’s second book, a reluctant cougar tells all. She feasts on young men of all kinds, in a world where sex isn’t dirty but love is coated in grime. In these raucous short stories, she runs the gauntlet of men, including a...