It’s quite a thing, isn’t it? Life, I mean. The days pass quickly and slowly and sometimes we pay attention, and sometimes we don’t because everything is too much of a muchness. Especially this time of year. Politics and news and advent calendars and holiday concerts and boxes of chocolates for those whose care we appreciate. Making merry and toasts and champagne and sequins and lists of the best obscure gifts to buy for that one person. Sadness over relationships lost that used to be celebrated. And occasionally, in my world, snow, and sweet silence.
Emerald Lake, BC, Canada
There are quite a few new subscribers to The Wilding, and to all of you, I say - thank you. Thank you for seeing something that sparked your interest and signing up to receive an occasional notification from me. And to those who will perhaps unsubscribe before or after reading - I get it. I feel you. I just unsubscribed from SO MANY THINGS, and it felt glorious. When things get to be too much, get rid of the muchness.
My latest big deal is a book. Specifically, my book. Four years ago I sat down and wrote out a 10 year plan because, apparently, that’s what you’re supposed to do to make things happen in your life. A published art book of my photos was the very last goal in my plan; I thought 10 years seemed like a reasonable length of time to expect a book to happen. And then, I was awarded a Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize for photography, which came with a book deal. Six years ahead of schedule isn’t too shabby.
Ephemerality is a collection of my Ghost images and the landscapes that inspired them, most of which comprise photos no one has ever seen. It’s been a brilliant reason to revisit and choose my best landscapes from Greenland, Mongolia, and the Canadian Rockies, and I must say, I’m pretty impressed with what I shot in 2022 and 2023.
It’s in the two week pre-sale phase now, which means the publisher is collecting the first orders at a discounted price and then printing, with the option for people to order the book at its final price after it’s launched into the world. If you would like your very own copy, check it out here: Ephemerality Book. Warning: it’s expensive. It’s big, and it’s being printed in Germany, but as a friend told me, I’m a bougie bitch, so that’s how things go.
Here’s the real thing - I want to hear from you. What are you interested in reading about in 2025 at The Wilding? Photography stories and accompanying injuries? How to achieve goal-smashing and the crippling paralysis that can accompany it? My analysis of why the kids these days don’t know how to do a proper night out clubbing anymore? Want me to extrapolate a 30 year personal history based on the fragrances I’ve worn since I was a teenager? What about a post-apocalyptic road trip short story? (I’ve been working on that story for like three years, and honestly just need a reason to finish it.) PLEASE LET ME KNOW. So much of creative work is simply throwing things into the void and seeing what, if anything, bounces back. So, hit me with your ideas and thoughts. I’m (mostly) nice and will consider (most) feedback.
I wish you joy and laughter and solitude when you need it these next few weeks. Thank you again for being here.
I would like to hear more about your "midlife" journey into creativity and the doors this has opened for you.
Congrats for the book. I will make one as well, sooner or later.