Eva Matson, the novella, was released on May 26th 2022 in digital format. It will be available in print in 2025 as a triple bill with my earlier e-novella, Fishermen's Fingers, and Passport to Perdita (releasing in e-format in 2025).
Glorious Mud Studio
Art and Books by S.B. Borgersen since 1996
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Monday, January 31, 2022
When Writing is Akin to Knitting
Writing for me is like knitting a pair of socks: one-word-at-a-time, one-stitch-at a-time. One-sentence-at-a-time, one-row-at-a-time. Turning points and turning heels. Weaving threads. Overcoming challenges. Running out of yarn/momentum. Shaping. Adding colour. Changing up the intricacies. Keeping it simple. Unravelling the tangles. And yes, pulling all the stitches from the needle, winding the yarn and starting over. Rewriting. And having confidence and commitment to keep going.
Until I write: ‘The End'. Or I cast off.
I’m a knitter. I have been since nursery school where I was taught to knit dishcloth squares before I turned four. That was when I was taught to read and write. These three skills have equipped me through life.
My approach to writing is so much on a par with knitting I find selecting skeins in luscious colours and textures, winding with the help of another pair of arms, is no different for me to observing human behaviour, being inspired, researching, discussing ideas, and drafting the first elements of a story.
Casting on those first stitches fill me with anticipation of the creation to come. In writing, I build on that, linking ideas, openings, plots, characters, resolutions, settings.
When it comes to knitting socks there are stages—so similar to my approach to writing that I find it hard to separate the two. Once I get started I flow with little to stop me. Like telling a story, I just rattle along. The needles click-clacking to a rhythm. Like the keys of my computer, or pen to paper, just tip-tapping along at speed. In both cases, very often without conscious thought.
Then things come to that, all too often, halt. The story isn’t following the plot, the characters are doing their thing and not mine and it is time to take stock, not unlike like spotting a dropped stitch, knowing it has to be corrected, knowing how to fix it. Recounting stitches. Getting out the tape measure. Asking, what’s the word count again?
Turning the heel for me is a three-part process. Each stage I tackle in one sitting in order not to lose the thread (pardon the pun). These stages hold up the overall process but are so important.
Like my writing—the stage I always refer to as, ‘the mess in the middle’.
And then it’s bashing onward through the foot to the toe. Bringing the story to a conclusion. Closing the toe. Finishing. Writing: ‘The End’.
There are no other activities I can so closely compare, as I have the two. I am so thankful for my nursery school teaching
Which of your early skills do you still find invaluable? Is there anything you do that you can compare with the writing process?
Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Books by S.B. Borgersen
The following are my 2021 book releases. They are available from all your favourite outlets:
Fishermen's Fingers an e-novella, released on January 1st 2021
Fishermen's Fingers, an e-novella for Kobo
While the Kettle Boils. 150 micro fictions released on March 9th 2021. The print edition has the novella Fishermen's Fingers included as a bonus.
While the Kettle Boils for Kindle
While the Kettle Boils, print issue
While the Kettle Boils available from Unsolicited Press
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Of Daisies and Dead Violins will release on December 8th 2021
Available now on preorder
and from amazon Of Daisies and Dead Violins
More books will be released in 2022 and 2023
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
An Interview with the Arts and Literary Journal, ArtAscent
It is May 2021. With the launch of Fishermen's Fingers (my e-novella) in January. And While the Kettle Boils (micro fiction) releasing in March, it slipped my mind that I did an interview with the fabulous arts and literary journal, ArtAscent, a couple of months ago. You can watch it here:
Monday, March 8, 2021
Publication release for While the Kettle Boils
Here's the Press release:
While the Kettle BoilsRemarkable Nova Scotian Author Pens Flash Fiction Collection
PORTLAND, OR; March 9, 2021—Unsolicited Press announces the release of WHILE THE KETTLE BOILS by S.B. Borgersen, a short fiction collection that reaches into the hearts of every reader.
WHILE THE KETTLE BOILS by S.B. Borgersen is a fervent and economical collection featuring 150 perfectly manicured micro-fictions. Jude Higgins, the event organizer at Bath Flash Fiction, called the collection, “Witty and insightful... Borgersen’s tiny stories have inspired other writers from all over the world.”
About S.B. Borgersen
S.B. Borgersen is a British/Canadian author, of middle England and Hebridean ancestry, whose favoured genres are flash and micro fiction, and poetry. She had a diverse career path, an analyst in a shoe factory, the same thing for a children’s book publisher, teaching art, and filing for the civil service, but mostly she climbed a precarious ladder in the IT industry culminating in strategy and project management, which, by necessity in those days, included writing writing writing mountains of non-fiction — always allowing herself to be slightly creative with proposals, reports, technical and training documentation.
Sue turned her back on industry and commerce in the early nineties, escaping the stressful rat-race and finding the simple life and peaceful place she’d always sought to allow for creativity. That place was Nova Scotia where she returned to her skills from art school and made an uncomplicated living as a visual artist and potter. That is, until she got the creative writing bug. Since 2000 her writing has won prizes, been mentioned in Hansard and published internationally in literary journals and anthologies (print and online). The list of publications is extensive and can be found at www.sueborgersen.com. She is a member of both The Society of Authors UK, and The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia.
Sue lives in a crumbling old house on the shores of Nova Scotia with her patient husband and a clutch of lovable rowdy dogs.
About Unsolicited Press
Unsolicited Press was founded in 2012 and is based in Portland, OR. The press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Learn more at www.unsolicitedpress.com. Follow the press on Instagram and Twitter @unsolicitedp.
While the Kettle Boils is available on March 9, 2021 as a paperback (248 p.; 978-1-950730-74-2) and e-book (all major retailers). The title is distributed to the trade by Ingram.
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Press only, Unsolicited Press
Eric Rancino
619.354.8005
marketing@unsolicitedpress.com
For artist interviews, readings, and podcasts:
S.B. Borgersen
sueborgersen@hotmail.com
Available from your regular book shop or library, just quote 978-1-950730-74-2. and check the Borgersen spelling!
Some of the places you can find it too:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/while-the-kettle-boils-s-b-borgersen/book/9781950730742.html
https://bookshop.org/books/while-the-kettle-boils/9781950730742
https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/while-the-kettle-boils/9781005388249-item.html
Friday, December 4, 2020
Announcing Two Books by S.B. Borgersen
Unsolicited Press is a publisher that does not mess around. Once the proposal is accepted—contracts are agreed and the editorial schedule is established. And this is what happened to me in the summer of 2019.
As a result of working closely with Managing Editor, Summer Stewart, two of my books are now available on pre-order from an Amazon near you, and from Unsolicited Press (be still my beating heart):
Fishermen's Fingers direct from the publisher. Or from Amazon.
"Fishermen’s Fingers" peeks into the underbelly of a remote coastal community, revealing how poverty, an unwanted pregnancy, and a bad start in life can lead to a precarious adulthood for those who are different, like Lenny.
There are no real worries in small communities where houses are not locked and children are sent alone to the store for a loaf of bread, but when 10-year-old Betty isn’t in her usual seat at school, her teacher, Miss Watson, has to explain to students the perils of talking to strangers.
Like most aftermaths, this becomes a story of ‘if-onlys,’ where naivety and trust blind those who should have seen, should have known.
But where strong bonds of friendship, love and caring are never far away.
Again, you can pre-order from the publisher Unsolicited Press or from an amazon near you Amazon.ca books by S.B. Borgersen
Sunday, August 2, 2020
S.B. Borgersen, Biography summer/autum 2020
Her e-novella, Fisherman's Fingers was published on January 1st 2021 followed by her collection of 150 micro fictions, While the Kettle Boils (print and digital), in March. Of Daisies and Dead Violins, collected poems, written over 20 years, became available in print and digital format in December 2021. Eva Matson, an e-novella, was released in May 2022. Her publisher is Unsolicited Press, Oregon.
2017 Interview with Hysteria https://www.hysteriauk.co.uk/2017/06/06/an-interview-with-sue-borgersen-poetry-category-judge-for-hysteria-2017/
2017 24 Hours of a Canadian Winter, first prize in Writing magazine’s Numbers Poetry competition.
2018 My short The Blackout takes the 'featured story - Gold' place in June's issue of ArtAscent. The review by Oleksandra Osadcha is overwhelming.
2019 Daniel was accepted in February and published in April by Wells Street Journal https://wellsstreetjournal.com on page 56.
2019 Coming of Age accepted by Setu. Published May 3rd Coming of Age
2019 Daylight Robbery Shortlisted by Strands
2019 Mike and Sophie accepted by 50-words on April 11 2019 https://fiftywordstories.com
2019 - May 3rd Partners published on The Drabble http://www.thedrabble.com
2019 - May 26th The Mackenzies published by Fewerthan500 The Mackenzies
2019 - June 1 - Tunnel Vision was longlisted by Micro Madness New Zealand
2019 - June 21 - Pink Capri finally found a lovely home with Strands Publishing Pink Capri
2019 - July 9th - Trip of a Lifetime published by Cafelit. Trip of a Lifetime
2019 - July 15th - The Escape long-listed by Retreat West
2019 - August 18th - Seeing the Light - Published by Fewer than 500 Seeing the Light
2019 - September - da Vinci's Burlington House Cartoon - poem shortlisted by Writing Magazine
2019 - September - Micro Fictions Collection of 150 - manuscript While the Kettle Boils accepted for publication by Unsolicited Press.
2019 - October - Contract signed and Editorial Schedule for While the Kettle Boils agreed. Publication March 2021
2019 - November - A to Z accepted by Wells Street Journal
2019 - November - letter printed in Writing Magazine
2019 - November - Stiff as Boards to get a 2nd publication by Fresh Ink
2019 - December - Essay 'What is Home' accepted for publication in 2020
2019 - December - A story with a beginning a middle and end published by Storgy Link to story on Storgy
2020 - January - 4 poems inspired by Nova Scotia season in THE POET THE POET - seasons issue
2020 - February - Blue white gold, a short story, is accepted for publication by Strukturris. https://strukturriss.net/current-issue/
2020 - February - Indigo Sweetwater and Joe's Trip to the Library (flash fictions) published by Setu in March/April.
2020 - April - poem The cookbook given to you by your mother - published by Flora Fiction Flora Fiction page 57
2020 - April - The long-distance helpful phone call from your mother - accepted in 42 word stories
2020 - April - my poem - Were you once an art teacher - really published by Blue NibWere you once an art teacher, really
2020 - July - e-novella Fishermen's Fingers accepted for publication by Unsolicited Press. To be published January 1st 2021
2020 - July - Blink Ink accepted Himalayan Yak Chews for publication August 2020 edition