Marj, who lives in Canada, and Kate, who lives in Sydney, Australia, have fallen in love through their letters, which began with a fan letter from Kate to Marj. By now their love has survived a few days of their first meeting in Sydney. From The Time Being (Talonbooks, 1997).

The time: early morning in mid-December. The sky and harbour, the leaves on the trees, the pavements and streets, have been scoured by last night’s thunder