https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog daily 0.75 2026-10-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/another-year-has-passed monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/506b5e82-feaf-4ee4-83a0-a64f0a8381e2/IMG_3928.jpg Doreen's Blog - Another Year Has Passed - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/984a5631-fe4c-418b-82f1-ef51b3083668/IMG_3925.jpg Doreen's Blog - Another Year Has Passed - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/df3b1542-0adb-4e87-bd7c-89c508192341/IMG_3972.jpg Doreen's Blog - Another Year Has Passed - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/064ce873-ca9b-4b38-9b1e-c082805d59b1/IMG_3984.jpg Doreen's Blog - Another Year Has Passed - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/o-come-immanuel monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/d32a97ae-695e-4943-96f4-4c5c0504c11d/IMG_3978.jpg Doreen's Blog - O COME, IMMANUEL - Make it stand out Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/12cf2966-646d-4ea6-b2dd-3f2d4dec29b8/IMG_3996.jpg Doreen's Blog - O COME, IMMANUEL - Make it stand out O Holy Night https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/autumn-mode monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/5c96f157-6b53-4a96-a4e2-b91119010bb3/IMG_3955.jpg Doreen's Blog - Autumn Mode - First Published September 16, 2016 Oh autumn, you’re such a show-off! You first appeared in the morning stillness as a child who stealthily approaches a parent’s bed to beg an early rising. And now, like a pampered, temperamental diva, you sweep the hem of your gown over the land, leaving a rain of colour in your wake. So, while you’re here, I’ll drink in your beauty, delight in your noonday warmth and the chill of your evening breath, and smile as you clutter my surroundings with leaves. You dropped one in my afternoon cup of coffee-that was a sassy performance on your part-and I know you did it on purpose. Oh autumn, don’t leave too soon; of all the seasons you are my favorite! https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/the-passage-of-time monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/e419c04a-aacf-4d09-aa7c-fccc9bd7874c/IMG_3957.jpg Doreen's Blog - The Passage of Time - First Published November 1, 2016 Today our youngest granddaughter interviewed me for a school writing assignment about my growing-up years. She sat across from me and we engaged in an enjoyable question and answer exchange; she was in charge with her adult manner and control of the discussion. Suddenly I realized she was the interviewer- the role I had had for so many years as a journalist – and I was the interviewee, a situation with which I was unfamiliar. The absolute poignancy of the moment started the words of a sixties gem of a song by The Pozo-Seco Singers threading through my mind: “Time, oh time, where did you go? Time, oh good, good time, where did you go?” In all, as I reflected on the circumstances, I felt a mixture of pride for her and regret at how quickly time passes. Her assignment is due tomorrow and, like grandmother is wont to do, granddaughter is pushing deadline, too. And she’ll do well. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/in-memoriam monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/welcome-summer monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/1767488996863-RRCBBEOVK8QIPLFR9I09/IMG_3925.jpg Doreen's Blog - Welcome Summer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/1767488809505-CPP954YMR059PEKUY33M/IMG_3931.jpg Doreen's Blog - Welcome Summer https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/a-bookish-month monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/fallen-snow-snakes monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/e2ce013e-0133-436b-8eb3-009f65850c2a/FallenSnowSnakes.jpg Doreen's Blog - Fallen Snow Snakes https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/1767483527989-52DVH8JA3QZ1HEFS8RLH/IMG_3914.jpg Doreen's Blog - Fallen Snow Snakes https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/december-2014 monthly 0.5 2026-10-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/17a338de-2baa-4e43-a470-39dd693f8c52/Encore2.jpg Doreen's Blog - Bookends My book launch was upon me before the reality of having published a book had fully reached me. The question and answer session, reading and signing was an overwhelming whirlwind for an inexperienced author like myself. I will always remember and appreciate the kindness of my readers and their many responses after having read my book. A very thoughtful gift from my husband: marble bookends to display my novel. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/the-wonder-of-the-season monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/silent-night monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/9171535b-afee-4d1d-8512-b1509f234dc7/Silent+Night.jpg Doreen's Blog - Silent Night - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/delight-of-an-ear-worm monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/autumn-has-ended monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/october-interlude-part-ii monthly 0.5 2026-01-06 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/october-interlude-part-1 monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/a90b5381-e6c6-4ab9-bb56-bd77df581e75/OctoberInterlude1.jpg Doreen's Blog - October Interlude: Part 1 - Make it stand out The shores of Fundy Bay at the village of St. Martins, NB https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/66b5bd40-c492-4cac-adb7-99cebaab50cc/OctoberInterlude2.jpg Doreen's Blog - October Interlude: Part 1 - Make it stand out Street scenes in Old Quebec https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/7f4cdd71-03f6-48b1-9bf3-1773e43dc0e2/OctoberInterlude3.jpg Doreen's Blog - October Interlude: Part 1 - Make it stand out Chateau Frontenac https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/4db3a1fc-712d-4494-94d0-5f9dbcc30ccd/OctoberInterlude4.jpg Doreen's Blog - October Interlude: Part 1 - Make it stand out Following autumn’s splendor through three provinces. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/september-2015-solitude monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/news-amp-events monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/78704e4d-1448-4449-bf42-7435f7cdc8a3/FullSizeRender-5.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out October 28, 2015: Reading at The Gardens on Tenth, Altona. Photo by M. Hoeppner https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/dda86032-e376-4714-a8bf-0628aac0347e/IMG_0387.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out July 12, 2015 - Reading and signing at The Langham and District Heritage Museum, Langham, SK. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/61b32474-ed40-4a5f-a69f-af51807926ba/IMG_0103.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out July 12, 2015 - Reading and signing at The Langham and District Heritage Museum, Langham, SK. (M. Gossen) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/5464411d-e128-4731-bab7-1b0c40c8080b/SSRL+Reading+and+Signing+2.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out February 26, 2015 - Reading & Signing at the South Central Regional Library, Altona, MB, during Reading Week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/7fc60b02-9520-4193-bf97-efa7c9567cad/EBE3DE0B-8CCC-4E72-A052-11503F3693F154B48F50-68D3-4031-9C4B-8C24DA85D85B.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out February 26, 2015 - Reading & Signing at the South Central Regional Library, Altona, MB, during Reading Week. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/c918564e-0475-446f-9022-c8eb3bf78254/IMG_0388.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out DECEMBER 8, 2014 - BOOK LAUNCH at the Gretna Prairie Centre, Gretna, MB. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/84489b43-b934-4389-a829-ad3009f61775/Novel+on+Stool.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/877a13dd-2ea1-4b1e-83bf-2f745e070d99/DSC01189.jpg Doreen's Blog - News & Events - Make it stand out Engaging in Question & Answer before reading from The Lost Encore. My son-in-law, English teacher and poet Mick Friesen, interviewed me about the novel and my approach to writing. (Photo by Jim Toews) https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/july-2015 monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/ef0d6d20-6243-4326-9d6f-bed797312d88/DoreenEncore.jpg Doreen's Blog - About Writing - I Answer Questions From Gretna Poet, Mick Friesen. MF: Could you describe the mundane details of writing: How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)?Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. DM: I have seldom found writing mundane, except for an occasional hard news story on a topic that held no interest for me. It was easy to write for hours at a time during those years I freelanced and our children were in school and later when I worked as a newspaper reporter and editor. It wasn’t uncommon for me to spend eight, sometimes nine, even ten, hours each day when I wrote my novel. I found it energizing. A first draft was and is always written on paper, a second draft was done on a typewriter and now on a computer. MF: Where do you write? Can you describe the space? 11040882_412979152195523_4143888245943413567_n DM: In a 40-square-foot space with two windows, one of which is of glass blocks. There’s a file cabinet and two bookcases on either side of me, all within easy reach of my chair. I am privileged to write at my maternal grandfather’s drop-leaf, pigeon-hole desk. Above it hang framed copies of a Celtic prayer, the prayer of St. Francis, a scene of the shore line at Saint Martins, NB, and a reproduction of Van Gough’s Sunflowers that I bought in Amsterdam. A coloured glass ball, a gift from my dear friend, hangs from the ceiling near the window. There are photos of our grandchildren on nearby shelves; it’s a cozy place. MF: Any writing rituals? DM: I prefer to have a cup of coffee nearby and classical music playing in the background. MF: This is something of a stereotype, but it seems people often consider writers to be solitary and nonsocial. Agree? Disagree? How would you describe yourself? DM: I agree to a point, but I can only speak for myself. I enjoy socializing, preferably one on one, and know when I’ve had enough. I love solitude and I don’t fear silence. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/february-2015 monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/f1a9752c-f662-44b6-ba4a-31e12140ab04/SSRL+Reading+and+Signing+2.jpg Doreen's Blog - Reading Week - Altona Reading Reading Week was special for me in that I did a reading and signing at the South Central Regional Library in Altona. It was a pleasure to answer the questions of those attending and hear various comments from those who had already read my book. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/84489b43-b934-4389-a829-ad3009f61775/Novel+on+Stool.jpg Doreen's Blog - Reading Week - Altona Mennonite Church Auxiliary I participated in Book Night with the Altona Mennonite Church Auxiliary. What an enjoyable evening of hearing Sarah Sawatzky read from Sarah’s Book of Memories, reading and signing The Lost Encore, and swapping books with a group of engaging women. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/november-2014 monthly 0.5 2026-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/70f21465-3cfc-442f-8fe5-10443a35ef46/GrandchildrenReadingEncore.jpg Doreen's Blog - Gramma’s Book - Make it stand out Doreen’s grandchildren reading The Last Encore. https://www.doreenmierau.ca/doreens-blog/tag/Christmas monthly 0.5 https://www.doreenmierau.ca/about-1 daily 0.75 2026-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/ef0d6d20-6243-4326-9d6f-bed797312d88/DoreenEncore.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/643a24e5-40d3-4f8c-b1fa-307e4ad33898/DoreenReading.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/bffe4a4e-1344-4df2-afbc-c04c01937e6c/DoreenMierauPortrait.jpg https://www.doreenmierau.ca/contact daily 0.75 2026-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/c75ac8cc-b4cb-4b4d-a872-07c7478d65d8/imgg-demo-6jSeaYFW.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/2f4eb41f-5d94-40f6-82f6-c3ff69331c1b/imgg-demo-ENjOSIkh.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/3acea1ef-2b1b-496f-8336-9579ab787164/imgg-demo-yfXcNFeX.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/75bed1d4-b7eb-4c72-a1f4-b6022c65489e/imgg-demo-JBF3SmQJ.png https://www.doreenmierau.ca/buy-a-copy daily 0.75 2026-01-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/433c5eb0-fbdc-4a5d-98e1-0ce775aa4fe6/TheLastEncore.jpg https://www.doreenmierau.ca/home daily 1.0 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/4f666cb3-03b3-4557-af43-7b99354ef850/TheLastEncore.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/617f303e7e45813a6fe790bf/c461939a-41c6-4355-bd78-0de6cb85ae7f/DoreenMierau.jpg