It’s always a joyous day when I get to hand out books to my students—and today was such a day! STORY STORM is an anthology of stories, poems, and other creative pieces that we wrote throughout our fall term.
He eight-year-old and I had fun making potion bottles over spring break…🧙♂️🧙♂️🧙♂️
Didn’t finish this dragon egg in time for the family’s annual dragon egg hunt, but it did make it to my school visit this past week!
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes comes from Alice Walker:
“If art doesn’t make us better, then what on earth is it for?”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/04/16/w...
The students in my creative writing class decided to launch their own newspaper this weekend. I’m not entirely sure their perspectives are fair.
#creativeeducation #creativewritingworkshop #cwc #creativewriting
The blossom-fall is bittersweet. The flutter of pink is magical, but it’s sad to see them slowly disintegrating. That’s why I took a pic of this blossom that managed to fall perfectly to the pavement, away from its fellows, as if determined to remain a star a bit longer.
#authorsEye #betterthanAI
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes comes from James Hillman:
“When we wrong the dream, we wrong the soul.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/04/02/w...
My son and I encountered this door on a recent family vacation. Someone—or someTHING—has a very strong grip! Also, it seems to me the dents conspire to form a creature’s face.
#authorsEye #artistsEye #betterthanAI #humaneye
Photos from our annual dragon egg hunt! The eight-year-old and I are working on some new eggs—but we just didn’t finish them in time!
#dragonegg #egghunt #dragonegghunt
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes comes from James Hillman:
“When we wrong the dream, we wrong the soul.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/04/02/w...
Big congratulations to my wife Marcie Nestman for launching her new web series, WORTHY. She’s a writer, producer, and star! Please check out her show and support indie film. Proud of her doing meaningful work and continuing to bring her zing to the world.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ij_r...
Very cool! Congrats on the new book!
I love this, Lee. My upcoming May picture book (my 10th one, illustrated by Salt Spring Islander Mike Deas) is in fact dedicated to my three Nanaimo Creative Writing teachers - Rod Brown, Steve Guppy, and Ron Smith. Key place and key people for me.
Headed to Nanaimo in May for the Vancouver Island Children's Book Fest. I’ll be touring schools, meeting kids and teachers, and sharing the things that make me creatively tick. The best part will be the fun interactive brainstorming sessions we do!
#schoolvisit #creativeeducation
Umbrella.
#authorsEye #artistsEye #betterthanAI #humaneye
Finally got my new fox door knocker up in my studio. I have a different one on the other side, but I was tired of the interior side looking so empty during virtual classes!
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/03/26/w...
This author’s eye espied a stern green man keeping an eye on affairs in The BC parliament building.
#AEye #AuthorEye #betterthanAI
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes comes from Robert Louis Stevenson:
“I am told there are people who do not care for maps, and find it hard to believe.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/03/19/w...
More miniature doors designed and created by the pre-teens in my creative writing classes. I really love these hands-on projects as they give a new way for my students to interact with their Author Intelligence. There was a lot of problem-solving in these projects—and a lot of inspiration.
Door handle I passed by many years ago in London. Would you open it?
#authorseye #AEye #betterthanAI #door #london
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes comes from Helen Keller:
“What I am looking for is not out there; it is in me.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/03/05/w...
Winter was over in North Vancouver —until it wasn’t (woke up to 0 degrees C today!). So, I’m posting this photo I took on New Year’s Day when we snowshoed a local trail. The ice is clinging to the pine needles, just as Winter clings to the edge of Spring.
#authorsEye #betterthanAI
There’s a beautiful hotel in the Korean countryside that I have been grateful to visit many times, a place to play& work & teach. And there is a beautiful cat who, one day, decided to create art for me, a tortoise shell resting on a sea of red.
#authorsEye #betterthanAI
Some of the fun door props we made in my creative writing class. This was a great activity for the kids to activate a different part of their brains (their Artist Intelligence!). Also pleased to see some strong door descriptions creep into their writing!
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes, comes from Kate Bingaman-Burt:
“The goal: create a space where ideas bounce around, where mistakes are OK, where everyone feels like they have something to offer.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/03/05/w...
B ads of water cradled by a gentle lotus leaf. Last summer, during my stay in Seoul, I made many visits to Bongeunsa Temple and enjoyed the peaceful walkways and small marvels found in quiet corners.
#authorsEye #betterthanAI
The quote of the week for the teens in my creative writing classes, comes from Craig Mod:
“Boredom: the great engine of creativity.”
More on my blog:
kendrakandlestar.wordpress.com/2026/02/26/w...
This author’s eye brings you a view of the sky from the forest floor. Or, in my imagination, a giant who fell from the clouds and ripped a hole through the canopy of trees.
#authorsEye #artistsEye #betterthanAI #humaneye
It’s Freedom To Read Week, an annual event that encourages us to reaffirm our commitment to critical thinking, intellectual freedom, & education.
The freedom to read can never be taken for granted, even in Canada. Keep the conversation going—and keep reading!
#FTRW26 #FreedomToRead