Episode 9. The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jiggs

May 19

“I love whatever generation it is, whether you’re making daisy chains or sewing pigs or putting together rainbow loom bracelets, there is something so communal and fun about coming together to do that craft together with friends. Chit chatting as you work on something all together.”

I loved this conversation with my guest Laura Bontje, especially as we specifically talk about the individual creative pursuit of writing.

Laura Bontje is a fiction editor and children’s book author who writes stories that celebrate childhood curiosity, language, and STEM. A former teacher, Laura worked in the not-for-profit industry before taking the leap into freelance editing. Her first book, Was It a Cat I Saw?, was released this past March. Her second, When the Air Sang, comes out on April 8, 2025, with more to come!

When she’s not reading and writing, Laura likes to follow her whims toward new hobbies: having tried out crossword puzzle creation, cookie decorating, and watercolor sketching, she’s currently teaching herself to crochet. Laura was raised in Calgary, Alberta, and now lives in London, Ontario, with her husband, two young kids, and a fluffy grey cat who behaves like a dog.