Letter from Joy
May 20, 2026
Hi, everyone,
Wow - the middle of May already! Although here in Toronto, winter is still hanging in there. One day it’s really hot and humid and the next day it’s cold and raining. No wonder everyone is getting sick. I recovered from my bout of strep throat, but now my daughter Shannon has a bad case of bronchitis (or possibly pneumonia), and that’s put a damper on a trip she and her husband were planning to take to Dallas to attend a wedding. Not sure yet whether they’ll be able to go tomorrow as planned. Which also determines whether I’ll be looking after my sweet little grand puppy for the next four days. Hopefully, my daughter will feel better enough by tomorrow, but right now, it’s looking pretty iffy.
We left Florida near the end of April, and it’s nice to be home. Still, I got used to golfing four times a week, and basically letting my brain rid itself of all conscious thought, so it’s a little hard to get back into the thick of things. I’ve been working on revising my latest novel. Unfortunately, the editor I’ve been working with departed for another publishing house, and so I’m starting over yet again with someone new. This has happened to me many times over my long career, and it’s hard. You just get used to one person, learn to trust them, and then they’re gone. So, hopefully, my new editor, who sounds lovely enough, will prove to be a keeper. Also, fingers crossed that the revisions I’ve made will be to everyone’s satisfaction. I’m at the point where I’ve read the manuscript so many times that it’s very hard for me to know what’s working and what isn’t, what I’ve taken out of which draft and what I’ve left in, how it reads to someone coming to it fresh. Luckily, there were no structural changes necessary, so the revisions haven’t been too onerous. The novel itself won’t be out till the summer of 2027, so lots of time for further improvements, if necessary.
Since we’ve been back, we’ve been golfing all of once, and then we got rained out in the middle of the ninth hole. They’re calling for a similarly grim weekend coming up, so not great. And my golf was really starting to improve. But, oh well. I can’t really say what else I’ve been doing over the last few weeks, asset’s all a bit of a blur, so I guess it hasn’t been much, other than working on the revisions. I haven’t been to any movies, although I do want to see Obsession and Is God Is, two movies that have garnered wonderful reviews and sound very interesting. Also want to see the movie on Netflix starring Sally Field, who I think would make a wonderful Linda Davidson if anyone ever gets around to optioning JENNY COOPER HAS A SECRET. Other actresses I think who would be wonderful in the role are Goldie Hawn (with her daughter Kate Hudson playing her daughter, Kleo), Kathy Bates, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep. So, if anyone out there has connections to any of these women, please give them a call. Tell them, Joy sent you.
I just read an interesting book called FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN - not a great title - by Elvis’s daughter, Lisa Marie and granddaughter, Riley Keough, and while it’s not the best written book I’ve read, it tells a very interesting story and paints a compelling picture - and a very sad one - of what it was like growing up in Elvis’s orbit. I’ve also started number of other books: Lena Dunham’s latest memoir, FAMESICK; Toronto author Hank Idsinga’s THE HIGH ROAD, CONFESSIONS OF A HOMICIDE COP; and novelist Elizabeth Strout’s THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY, all of which look to be very interesting.
I’ve also had a few recent speaking engagements - one at a library in Thornbury, Ontario, and another for a charitable organization in Hamilton, both of which went very well. Lots of people, loads of interesting questions. I always enjoy talking about writing and meeting with people who enjoy my books, so that’s been great. I’m also gearing up to teach the course at the University of Toronto this summer on writing a bestseller. I think we should probably rename the course How To Write Popular fiction, since nobody’s really knows what will produce a bestseller. As they say, if there was a simple formula, everyone would be doing it.
As for TV, I’m almost through season 2 of The Pitt, and it’s as good as everyone says it is. I also enjoyed Running Point. And I’m currently watching Half Man, by the writer and star of Baby Reindeer. It’s very intense and not always easy to watch, but I’m enjoying it, although enjoying might not be the right word. I’ve also started watching Euphoria (starting all the way back to season 1) and The Comeback (again, starting with season1), which I like but am starting to find a bit annoying, so I’ll give it to the end of the season to decide whether I want to continue. I’m also planning to watch M.I.A. and the documentary on Martin Short that I hear is terrific. I also like Rock The Block on HGTV, but someone at the network is really messing things up by putting shows from another season on in the middle of the season we’ve been watching. It’s happened twice now, and it’s infuriating. Whoever you are - WAKE UP!!!
Of course, baseball season has begun and my husband is a die-hard Blue Jays fan. There seems to be a game on almost every night. Unfortunately, I have very limited patience, so when they start to do stupid things like not scoring with bases loaded or sending in one of their many terrible pitchers to blow the game in the last inning, I have to leave.
And that’s about it for now. I’m going to go out now for a walk in the sunshine because they’re calling for a miserable few days ahead. Till next time, stay healthy, be safe, and please be kind to each other.
Warmly,
Joy