Turn of Phrase Blog

  1. Follow writers on social media and subscribe to their newsletter, blog (thank you!) or website. My social media handles are: https://www.instagram.com/carmengfarrell/, (21) Carmen G. Farrell | LinkedIn, https://www.facebook.com/carmen.farrell.142/. On Instagram and Facebook, you’ll see more of the day-to-day life of an emerging writer and her muse (Ges, family life, motherhood…). Here and on my website, www.carmengfarrell.com, you`ll see more writing and publication-related developments.
  2. Support the magazines (especially literary ones that operate on shoestring budgets) that publish writers. If it’s not possible to purchase the issue, borrow it from the library and if the library doesn’t have it, ask them to purchase it.
  3. Promotion: put a book title on your TBR (to be read) list on Goodreads and Amazon, then post reviews of books in these places afterwards.
  4. Word of mouth and recommendations…if you liked a writer’s work, tell your friends about it, post on your social media feeds, invite the author to an event or book club if they’re nearby. Attend the author’s events.
  5. To request your local library purchase a journal or book, google your local library and “suggest a title.” For my community, it’s https://www.nvdpl.ca/suggest-a-title-form.

This month, a story of mine about the aftermath of an upsetting personal event was published in the UK journal, Autism Parenting Magazine. You can read it from my website; it’s titled, Ges (Jess) Do It.

Photo Credit: Lumena Photography 2025

Written by Carmen G. Farrell

An emerging writer and mother of two, Carmen Farrell (she/her) lives in North Vancouver. In her memoir-in-progress, she explores both personal and societal ableism, sharing her experience of raising a son with impairments in a world that devalues disability.
Published January 18, 2025

Archives

Calling the Police Isn’t the Answer

Chase DeBalinhard was shot dead by police in a suburban Vancouver neighbourhood one afternoon in mid-February. His parents believe their fifteen-year-old boy was on his way to his schoolyard to make a video, something he enjoyed doing. Like Ges, this boy had ASD...

“Hey, Chiquita!”

Normally, going to the grocery store doesn’t make me angry. But this multinational conglomerate picked the absolute wrong day to flaunt their transnational corporate attempts to sanitize their treatment of employees—especially women—in my face. stop wrecking the...

I Want the World to Be Kind to My Son

Every parent of a neurodivergent child understands and embodies this wish. It’s dangerous for me to suggest I can read the minds of other parents, but for me—someone whose child will never live independently—I am confident other parents in my situation universally...

Who’s Your Hero?

We go to every animated movie that comes to the theatres. That means this month “Inside Out 2”, “The Garfield Movie”, and it means “Despicable Me 4” next month. I love movies in theatres, and while most children grow out of cartoons, I’m okay that Ges (“Jess”), aged...

Different is Normal

I’ve been keeping a secret from you. Those of you who follow this blog, and know me and my family know the secret. Following the travel adventures on these digital pages, you wouldn’t know one of its members has disabilities that encompass physical, social, and...

How many Trinity’s Can One Province Have?

On our way to Bonavista, I read about historic Trinity Village which sounds super charming. Admittedly, I might have paid more attention to the veracity of my source material, but after my connection to the world, aka my smartphone, DIED in St. John’s I had been...

How to Enter a Newfoundlander’s Home

Here’s part of a fun quiz I read in our Newfoundland travel guide (if you’re from Newfoundland or related to a Newfoundlander, no yelling out the answer): Let’s say you’re visiting a friend, perhaps for the first time, at their house. At the front door, do you: Knock...

New Found Land

Fogo Island, Newfoundland Newfoundland. Not Newfoundland, I tell my husband.  Newfoundland. Maybe as a local told us, Newfoundland. Or as a vintage travel poster from the halls of the fabulous “The Rooms” museum in St. John’s proclaimed Newfunland. In any event,...

In Indian Head, We are All Treaty People

Qu'Appelle Valley and Lake Katepwa near Indian Head, Saskatchewan The land acknowledgement was thought-provoking.  I’ve lived in or been coming back to these Saskatchewan places for decades, but not for public events. I’m not used to hearing these sorts of words in...

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“Hey, Chiquita!”

“Hey, Chiquita!”

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Location

Carmen is honoured to work and live on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tslei-Waututh people in British Columbia, Canada.

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carmenfarrell@shaw.ca