http://thenancyduffyshow.com/shows/NancyDuffyShow-No.084-VanessaShields.Thimbles.mp3

"Crossing the ocean form Genoa, Italy to Halifax, Canada..."

Show Notes Welcome to episode no. 84 of the Nancy Duffy Show!

On April 29th, 2021, Vanessa Shields debuted her latest book in the quiet of a film set with the help of her talented filmmaker partner, Nicholas Shields, and in the company of close family and friends. It was poignant and beautiful (I've included the video clip below).

Thimbles by Vanessa Shields

Vanessa and I connected to record this episode shortly after. And then, quite serendipitously, we connected again. Just two months after this recording, I walked into the local cafe and heard my name. I looked over, and Vanessa was having tea with a friend, waving. Oh, to hear a familiar voice who knew me! It's been a while at that (with moving and all)—what a welcome sight.

These past two years have forced us all to experience work, friendship, love, and loss differently from before. For starters - funerals - which were never fun, to begin with, have been anything but typical. Visiting family in a hospital? Forget about it. Nothing is normal. But it doesn't mean that nothing good can come from terrible circumstances. Vanessa Shields wrote a book amongst the chaos of this sorry pandemic because someone she loved was leaving - and by the time the book was finished, she had already gone.

Maria Giuditta Merlo Bison -- Nonna, Maria

Thimbles, which made CBC Book's 2021 Spring Poetry List, is a poetic tribute to the life of Maria Giuditta Merlo Bison, Vanessa's grandmother, Nonna, Maria, who had been suffering from dementia. Maria was a seamstress from a small town in northern Italy who came to Canada to forge a new life that would profoundly affect so many. Listen in as Vanessa talks about this generational love story laced with life lessons, love, grief, and humour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UABFJ-jrrxM About Vanessa Shields Vanessa Shields has made her home, her family and her work life flourish in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Her passion for writing was discovered at a very young age through the vein of writing in a journal. Her first book, Laughing Through A Second Pregnancy – A Memoir, was published by Black Moss Press in 2011 to rave reviews. In April 2013, Shields edited a poetry anthology entitled, Whisky Sour City (Black Moss Press). I Am That Woman (Black Moss Press), her first book of poetry, was published in January 2014 and had its third printing in 2015. Look At Her (Black Moss Press) launched in September 2016, and went into its second printing in December 2016.

In 2017, Shields was part of a Group of Seven poets published in an anthology about the history of Windsor, entitled Because We Have All Lived Here (Black Moss Press). In June 2018, the chapbook Feminism: Revisit, Revise, Revolutionize: A Two-part Harmony was published by the League of Canadian Poets’ Feminist Caucus with Shields as co-editor/introduction writer. She writes a monthly blog for the League of Canadian Poets on being a writing parent. She is passionate about promoting poetry and the writing life and is often on a jury (or two!) for major awards and/or contests. She has self-published a collection of children’s poetry entitled From A to Ziffery Zanks with Windsor illustrator Glen Hawkes. This collection launches in the fall of 2019. A new collection of poetry, (working title) Thimble will be published by Palimpsest Press in 2021.

Her poetry, short stories, and photography have been published in various literary magazines. She mentors, guest speaks, teaches creative writing, and does Poetry On-Demand (on-the-spot poetry-writing that helps make poetry fun and accessible for all). Shields is the owner of Gertrude’s Writing Room – A Gathering Place for Writers. Gertrude’s Writing Room offers creative writing classes and workshops. Show Links Where to Listen to Past Shows