Home Is Where Your Wall Art Is... Guest Post by Holly Kent

For several months my friend Holly was on the fence about whether or not she wanted to leave Toronto.

As any good friend would, I discouraged her from leaving me our fair city, and wouldn't you know it, after great consideration she's staying put. Hooray!

We all know the mere idea of moving begs the question, when you're seeking a fresh start and about to create a new home for yourself, what do you take with you from the last one?

Read on to find out what Holly just couldn't live without...

Earlier this year, I got it in my head that I was going to pack up my car and move over 3000 kilometers away. I had the whole thing planned, right down to where I would stop along the way. 

I knew exactly what I was going to pack. I planned on getting rid of most of my books, to the surprise of everyone, and almost all of my clothes. 

The only things I knew I would hang onto at all costs were the things on my walls here in Toronto, where I stuck around. 

I even figured out how I was going to wrap my wall art in quilts and duct tape.

Here are a few pieces that made the cut...

My Leonard Cohen poster is the  pièce de résistance. 

It's from a concert in Belgium in the 1970s; I wasn't there. I bought it on ebay and spent a fortune getting it framed. 

My mom hates it - she has this idea that Leonard Cohen is going to seduce me. 

She's probably right.

Next is my gorgeous poster of the Giller Prize-shortlisted This Cake is for the Party by Sarah Selecky. 

It's so near and dear to me; I loved the book. 

One of my best friends, and Krista's sister, Jenna Illies, did the publicity, and I helped plan the launch that the poster was made for, which is how I stole it. 

Plus, it's a really, really pretty cover.

Lastly, these photos of my grandmother and uncle. 

He was the New Year's Baby in 1954. 

I love that you totally can't tell that he would grow up to be a hermit in Death Valley, California who we once suspected to be the Unabomber. 

Isn't my grandmother gorgeous? 

I have a lot of other stuff on my wall that makes up for the fact that I never painted, but I don't want to take up the whole blog. 

Thanks for having me over, Krista!

Side note: I'm really glad that I didn't move.

HK

Thanks for sharing, Holly! YOU STAY HERE.

I also love the cover of This Cake is for the Party and remember that poster standing tall at the book launch... nice steal! 

My sister is good friends with author Sarah Selecky and is currently working on publicity for her latest venture, an online writing course called Story is a State of Mind.

I may not be writing manuscripts over here at NofW, but I think the course is a wonderful idea and I have a sneaking suspicion that most bloggers would agree with me...

Just because you're writing about something you love, or writing what you would want to read, that doesn't make it easy... and making time for it is another battle altogether!

If you want to hone your writing skills or focus your creativity, check out Sarah's program here - the program launches December 12th! 

KLI