Is relocating to Chatham-Kent conducive to writing and living life?
Barb Godin thinks so. The author and her husband relocated here in 2019 from London and haven’t looked back.
The author of six books – and counting – said shifting from a condominium in London to a home in Chatham has been a boon.
“We were in London and we were looking for a house – we were in a condo – we saw an open house (in Chatham). We came and looked. We both loved it and bought it,” she said.
Good things began happening. In 2019, Godin received a first‑place award from the Professional Writers Association of Canada for her short article Mary’s Story.
In 2023, she received The Editor’s Choice Award of Excellence from The Reader’s House UK.
Godin’s writing started during her time at Athabasca University. She began writing for the school paper in 2003, with her advice column Dear Barb.
Godin went on to obtain her bachelor of arts degree from the university and continued with her advice column.
But her flair for the written word didn’t end there. The Windsor native has put together collections of her advice columns, and has written in a manner showing her inner self and well-being.
That includes Glimpses in Time, and Can I Come Home Now.
In Glimpses, Godin showcased snapshots into her own life, penned in a journal-style approach.
With Can I Come Home Now?, she opened up about her past even more. It’s a recounting of her own personal journey – from childhood abuse and neglect to ultimately finding healing, resilience and hope.
Godin said her writing has been cathartic.
“I think it started out that way. It was a traumatic childhood and this helped me get through all that,” she said. “It was always in the back of my mind to write a book.”
Six books later, she’s focused on another. Following the publishing of a holiday book last year, Christmas Stories, she said she’s working on expanding the collection of short stories and having it ready for this Christmas.
Godin realizes the online world can be a challenging place, with some harsh critics. But she said on Amazon and Good Reads, the reviews she’s received have been very positive.
“It feels really good. People are saying how the book has helped them,” she said. “It’s a really good feeling that you are doing something.”
Godin’s books are available in most libraries, at local independent bookstores, and online.
For more information, visit barbaragodin.ca.
