Summer Reads: Young Adult Fiction Must-Reads!

By Kaylie Seed

Young Adult (YA) books appeal to so many different people for so many different reasons. YA fiction is a genre that has blown up over the past few years and 2020 has shown readers that it is definitely the year to pick up some new YA novels. So if you’re new to the genre and don’t know where to start or a seasoned YA reader who is looking for something new to read, check out these 2020 YA releases that you should be adding to your TBR list.

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

Bethany C. Morrow’s YA fantasy novel A Song Below Water follows Tavia as she tries to hide the fact that she is a siren by using American Sign Language while living in Portland, Oregon. Tavia and her best friend Effie experience the drama of high school and family secrets while also trying to navigate what it means to be a Black woman and how to be empowered by that when being who you are is frowned upon. With the Black Lives Matter movement bringing change to our society, A Song Below Water was released into the world at the perfect time and parallels this pivotal moment in history.

Golden Arm by Carl Deuker

Carl Deuker’s YA sports novel Golden Arm follows Laz, a teenage boy, living in poverty with his mom and brother. He also struggles with a speech impediment and a learning disability. Laz dreams of playing in baseball’s big leagues. When finding out that he has the opportunity to play for a high school that can set him on track to accomplishing his goal, Laz struggles with saying yes and leaving behind his younger brother Antonio who is starting to hang out with the wrong crowd. Golden Arm discusses themes such a socioeconomic inequality, drug use, and how family can impact the choices you make in life. 

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Roseanne A. Brown’s first book in a YA fantasy duology A Song of Wraiths and Ruin uses West African folklore to guide the plot of the story. Malik must kill the Crown Princess of Ziran, named Karina, to save his sister Nadia. At the same time, Karina wants to resurrect her mother Sultana. To do this, she must marry the man who wins the Solstasia competition and then take his beating heart and use magic to bring her mother back. Malik manages to get into the contest to get close to Karina and while the two are unaware of each other’s intentions a spark ignites between them creating a new twist on star-crossed lovers.

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust

Melissa Bashardoust’s YA fantasy novel Girl, Serpent, Thorn follows Soraya who has lived her entire life away from the world in her own secret garden because she is poisonous to the touch thanks to a curse. Soraya must decide if she should emerge from her garden to attend the wedding of her twin brother and decide whether she wants to seek out how to obtain her freedom from a demon locked away. Soraya also has to deal with a young man whose eyes seem to follow her and looks past the fact that she is poisonous. Soraya questions who she really is and if this curse is more than meets the eye. 

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper

Phil Stamper’s YA LGBTQIA+ novel The Gravity of Us follows 17 year old social media sensation Cal as he and his family relocate to Houston so that his father can go to Mars with NASA. Cal’s family is pushed into the media spotlight and, at the same time, Cal finds himself falling hard for Leon and vice versa. As Cal and Leon find themselves in the beginning of a love story, Cal must find a way to reveal the true intentions behind the mission to Mars while trying not to hurt those closest to him.

Book Review: Women Let's Rise by The Rising Women (Various Authors)

By Kaylie Seed

Available this Fall from Golden Brick Road Publishing House

Women Let’s Rise is being released into the world this fall and it is a nonfiction self-help book that readers won’t want to miss out on. Golden Brick Road Publishing House brings together women from all over the world so that they can collaborate, empower, and inspire others by each writing a chapter for a book that centres on like-minded themes. Women Let’s Rise was an idea born from author Lola T. Small and her central idea was to have women share their stories on how they have each risen up to challenges in their lives and turned those experiences into something that they can teach others about. Twenty incredible women from all different backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and ages have come together to create Women Let’s Rise, a book that is meant to encourage women to rise up and conquer anything that life throws their way.

            Each of the chapters in Women Let’s Rise introduces the reader to a unique voice and story from a different woman while managing to keep a few strong themes throughout including: how to take initiative in any given situation, how to use positive self-talk, how to listen with compassion (with others and within yourself), and what you can do to live life with purpose, passion, and vision. While each chapter was written by a different author, each chapter ebbs and flows with the others creating a safe space for readers to connect with each woman’s unique experience. Whether you’re fresh out of University at 24; or questioning your career choices at 43, or beginning your family at 32; or rekindling a love towards your passions at 60: Women Let’s Rise is meant to empower women at any stage in their life and to inspire women to listen to their gut and to do the things in their life that make them happy. In the end, it truly is your happiness that is most important. You cannot pour from an empty cup and if you need to make a change in your life but are unsure where to start, pick up this book and become inspired by all of the amazing stories within.

*Thank you to Golden Brick Road Publishing House for sharing this book with us.

Book Review: Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice

By Kaylie Seed

Indigenous Canadian author Waubgeshig Rice’s fifth novel, Moon of the Crusted Snow was first released in October of 2018. This dystopian tale takes place in a small, remote Anishinaabe community where one day things go dark and don’t come back on. As winter approaches, the community must prepare for the long season by hunting and awaiting supplies to come up from the South. In Canada’s northern reserves, they are often difficult to get to and require a plane to fly in but in the winter time an ice road is made so that deliveries can be made. As the community awaits winter’s harsh grasp, Evan Whitesky finds that the community has been completely shut off from the rest of the world as internet, telephones, and televisions stop working. As winter approaches, it is up to the community to come together and collectively help each other out until they are able to figure out what is going on in the world. As the story progresses, eerie things begin happening in the community as people begin showing up seeking refuge from the chaos in the South.

            Rice uses beautifully haunting imagery to describe what is going on in the community as turmoil ensues. The characters in Moon of the Crusted Snow turn to traditional Anishinaabe traditions to help them try to survive this dystopian world by coming together as a community - which doesn’t always work. Rice does an excellent job at portraying what is likely to happen when a society runs low on supplies and people get increasingly desperate: people begin to die, supplies start to run out, and people lose patience as their internal instinct to survive kicks in. 

            Rice uses traditional Ojibwe language throughout Moon of the Crusted Snow as a beautiful way to keep the language alive. When Residential Schools were running in Canada, a lot of Anishinaabe People lost their traditional language and traditions as Christianity was forced upon them. Some Anishinaabe People were able to keep tradition and their language alive in secret and are slowly trying to reclaim who they are through each generation thanks to Elders and this is evident in Moon of the Crusted Snow both in Rice’s writing and through what the characters do and say. Not only will the reader have the opportunity to read an incredible story, but they will also have the opportunity to learn something new if they are unfamiliar with Anishinaabe culture, tradition, and language.

In Conversation with Arnelle Collins author of Daddy on Duty

With Kaylie Seed

Arnelle, congratulations to you and your illustrator Taiye Okoh on your adorable children’s book! Daddy on Duty brought some much needed sunshine to my life right now. If you wouldn’t mind, I have some questions for you about Daddy on Duty as well as your writing process and some personal questions about what inspires you to write.

 I adore that you focused on parenting styles as the theme in Daddy on Duty. Where did you get the inspiration to focus on parenting styles for your book?

Thank you! My inspiration came from a very basic day that I had with my dad. My experiences with my dad are not the same as the story, but a similar outline—which is mom is gone, dad is in charge, and he does what he wants to do. Me focusing on parenting styles just came as I finished the story if that makes sense. Once I finished the story, I was thinking about what message I wanted to convey and it happened to deal with parenting styles.

 You wrote Daddy on Duty and Taiye illustrated it. How did you find working with, and collaborating with, an illustrator to create this book?

I found Taiye through this website called Fiverr. This website is awesome and has a bunch of freelancers all in one spot that does different things—such as T-shirt designs,growing your YouTube, gaming, and more! Taiye was listed as a children’s author, his picture examples were great, and I thought he would be the missing key in helping to bring my book to life!

What was the most surprising thing that you learned while going through the process of creating and writing Daddy on Duty?

 I learned that going through the process of writing isn’t the hard part. It is publishing week as well as marketing. Those are the two hardest things within the process. 

 With such a great debut children’s book, I have to ask, will there be another book from you soon?

 I am not sure, maybe in the future, but as of right now, no. Although I do have plans to do more with this book so stay tuned!

 Now that you’ve finished this process of publishing your first children’s book, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Do not be intimidated to write a book if that’s what you want to. It is very doable and anyone can do it if they really want to. Take the idea and own it! After that, everything will fall into place and work itself out! Trust me!

 What is your “must-read” book recommendation and what book has had the most impact and influence on your writing?

To be honest, I do not have a recommendation because this was a random idea that came to me one night. I did not have the opportunity to look at other books because everything was closed due to COVID.

Book Review: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

By Ashliegh Gehl

There’s more than 1,400 miles between New York City and Puerto Plata. Most of the space between is composed of water. Ocean, which connects and divides Yahaira and Camino, central characters in Elizabeth Acevedo’s contemporary young adult novel Clap When You Land. A 417-page read published by HarperTeen.

The novel’s poetic structure is transient. The reader, a passenger in perpetual flight, first touches down in Camino’s Dominican Republic where she is anticipating the arrival of her father who is on flight 1112 out of JFK International Airport. A routine three-hour and thirty-six-minute flight that never reaches its final destination. It leaves no survivors, only wreckage, heartache, uncertainty and fear.

As Camino says: 

I am beginning to learn 

that life-altering news 

is often like a premature birth:

ill-timed, catching someone unaware,

emotionally unprepared

& often where they shouldn’t be:

Although fiction, flight 1112 is loosely based on American Airlines flight 587. It was headed to Santo Domingo but shortly after take-off crashed in Queens, New York and killed 260 passengers, including five others on the ground. An incident which took place on November 12, 2001 – two months after 9/11. Often referred to as the “forgotten” plane crash, flight 587 is one of the worst aviation disasters in American history and has not been forgotten by those impacted by the tragedy. 

Connecting this real-life event to a fictional narrative is part of the book’s strength. Acevedo grips the heart of grief and draws from emotions and experiences brought on by flight 587. She gives grief a platform through verse which connects the story of two estranged sisters, born of two different mothers, who are countries apart and united by a hustler of a father whose secrets ballooned like life vests after his plane crashed.

Clap When You Land is a novel of discovery and an exploration into identity. It feels like non-fiction because the characters and everything they go through are relatable, understandable, sad and in full bloom. It’s jaw-dropping beautiful how Acevedo carefully chooses the perfect words to describe the isolated, yet unified, experiences Camino and Yahaira independently navigate. The death of a father is unchartered waters for both.

There’s a heartwarming rawness to the way Acevedo describes Yahaira’s and Camino’s family situations and their respective communities. Neither is ideal, or without complications. It’s easy to be carried away by the stunning structure, powerful storyline and authentic portrait of sisterhood as their journeys unravel.

The arc of Acevedo’s writing resembles the landscape of the ocean. It takes you into the depths of loss and longing, and deeper into a character’s state of being. So deep, that just when you gasp out of shock or beauty, Acevedo pulls you into the shallow waters and brings you closer to shore. The seamless ebb and flow swiftly move the story along; a quiet current, a sneaky tide that rises while you’re not paying attention. Only when you look up from the page do you realize that you’ve travelled through sixty days of heartbreak with two unforgettable characters who will stay with you long after the novel ends. 

In Conversation with Ilze Hugo author of The Down Days

With Kaylie Seed

 

Photo by Stephanie van Gelderen

 

The Down Days parallels the current worldwide outbreak of COVID-19. What emotions did you experience during this time given that your debut novel is also about a pandemic? 

It was a very surreal experience to have this world, in which I’d been living in my head for quite a few years, partly come to life. In the beginning I kept catching myself noting and filing away small details, like how your glasses fog up when wearing a mask, and berating myself for not putting them in the book. Or getting chills when I experienced things that I had dreamt up in the novel play out in real life. The first time I had to drive through an army roadblock really spooked me, and for a moment, the parallels between real life and my imagined world seemed just a little too close for comfort. There were also one or two moments of completely irrational guilt, a part of my over-active imagination telling/asking whether my dreaming up this reality had in some way willed it into existence. I consider myself quite a rational person, but this kind of magical thinking made me really relate to Faith (one of my main characters) in a way that I hadn’t thought possible before. Because of her urge/compulsion to see patterns in random data and the need to connect the data in some way, to make things fit, I’d always seen her, as a character, as very unlike me. But on closer retrospection, I believe I do have Faith-like tendencies. I think we all do. I think humans have an inherent need to make sense of things and put disparate things together, to find patterns in life, to find meaning, and sometimes the things/facts we put together in our search for order/sense don’t end up fitting like we think they ought to. And so, conspiracy theories are born…

 Where did your inspiration come from to write The Down Days and what kind of research did you need to complete for this novel? 

The first seed of an idea was sown when I visited a medical museum in Cape Town that had a display on the history of disease and the relationship between disease and culture. The exhibition set my brain on a path that would eventually, after quite a few years, become the starting point for The Down Days. I read a lot on the history of disease, particularly how disease shaped culture and societies as well as how various diseases shaped the landscape of Cape Town. The work of South African historian, Dr. Howard Phillips, was particularly useful to me.  I also read up on the history of Cape Town and the history of slavery and colonialism in the city, as well as books about everything from the nature of truth to why we hallucinate. I read other pandemic novels. I read news articles about the Ebola epidemic which was happening in West Africa. I also read up on various other topics that I touch on in the novel – Venezuelan data dealers, Nigerian hyena men, digital sangomas, amakhosi possession, the South African occult police, how and why fake news spreads, conspiracy theories and why people believe them, etcetera.

The Down Days is a heavily character-driven story. Why did you decide to tell this story through multiple narrators? Specifically, Faith and Sans seem to be the main characters. Where did your inspiration come from for their voices?

It was very important to me to have multiple narrators for this story. One of the main themes I wanted to explore with the novel was the impact of disease/epidemics on culture.  I wanted to focus on how what is happening in this city is a kind of microcosm of the problems/ailments that existed in the larger society before the epidemic and how an epidemic manages to magnify these issues.  Another theme is how different people react to the same situation and how the different characters interpret and understand the same situation. I’ve always been interested in how something that seems to be a fact to me can be interpreted as fiction by someone else. For example, how something that seems black and white to me, such as the benefits of vaccination and the science behind it, can be interpreted so differently by someone else. Using multiple narrators was a way for me to look at the same situation from different angles, without being judgemental. It was a way for me to get a grip on how people can look at the same set of facts and interpret them so differently. And then, of course, the effect that this has on the spread of misinformation, particularly during times of crisis. Linked to this is the idea of how history is shaped by those who have the most power and therefore the loudest voice. I think in a sense the two main characters in the novel, Sans and Faith, are two different parts of my own personality. But they are also their own people entirely. Sans appeals to my more science-minded, fact-based, rational, and somewhat pessimistic side, while Faith is more of a humanist, more of an optimist who believes (or tries to believe) in the goodness of people.   She does hold some dodgy beliefs at the beginning of the novel and is drawn to conspiracy theories, but I think if you are living through a crisis situation in which it feels like there aren’t any clear-cut answers and your government isn’t open and clear in its communication and has essentially abandoned you, it is natural for people to grasp onto conspiracy theories and alternate facts. We have seen it during the Covid-19 crisis and in every epidemic throughout history. Pandemics are the perfect breeding ground for conspiracy theories. When people feel at a loss for answers they will grab at all sorts of straws.

 What was the most surprising thing that you learned while going through the process of creating and writing The Down Days?

I guess the most surprising part for me was just the fact that I had managed to write a novel until the very end and managed to get an amazing agent and an amazing editor who connected with the book and were willing to take me on and publish it. Or the idea that there are people out there in the real world who are reading the book and connecting to it in some way, however small. When a reader reaches out to me through Instagram or Twitter to say that they connected to the story in some way it’s an absolute delight every single time. Now I just have to figure out how to do it again. 

With such a wonderful debut novel, I have to ask, will there be another book from you soon? 

I am about 30 000 words into a second novel that I’m hoping to finish by the end of this year. Wish me luck.

Now that you’ve come to the end of this process of publishing your first novel, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Don’t give up. I know, it sounds cheesy, but that really is the hardest part of writing a novel and getting it published. Also: don’t believe people who tell you that being a writer is an impossible dream. Don’t be afraid of rejection. It’s part and parcel of the job. Don’t give up when you receive 1, 5, 10 or even a 100 rejections. Being a writer is more about perseverance and having a thick skin than anything else. Never take criticism personally, see it as an opportunity to learn and grow and look at your work from a different angle. Read! Widely! Read, read and read some more. And then some. Writing is ninety percent editing/re-writing. I think a lot of first time writers fail to get published, because they send out their work too soon. 

 What is your “must-read” book recommendation and what book has had the most impact and influence on your writing?

Some fantastic books have been coming out of Southern Africa lately. Some that I can recommend are: Triangulum by Msande Ntshanga, Intruders by Mohale Mashigo, The Theory of Flight by Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu, Apocalypse Now Now by Charlie Human, The Zulus of New York by Zakes Mda.

It’s tough to say what book has had the most impact on my writing. I read quite widely in different genres and I think everything I read has an impact in some way. I think The English Patient by Michael Ondaatjie is one book that really inspired me to be a writer.  The book is not only a joy to read and an old fashioned adventure, but it’s packed with layers of meaning and has so much to uncover. It is a bit like a puzzle inside a puzzle and you get more out of it from every read. Another author who does this is David Mitchell. I loved Ghostwritten especially. And how there are so many Easter eggs and hidden connections and layers of meaning to uncover that the book feels a bit like a scavenger hunt and a great story rolled into one. I also love books that are a mash up of literary and genre fiction, providing both an enjoyable read and lots to learn and ponder on. And children’s books for their pure, unadulterated magic: His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman is amazing. And also anything that’s just a crazy, absurd, and unusual. Fun, literary roller coaster rides like the Library at Mount Char by Scot Hawkins or Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson. 

Book Review: Crazy Cat by Marta Pona

By Ashliegh Gehl

Marta Pona tapped into her daughter’s love of furry animals and her son’s weekly karate classes for inspiration for Crazy Cat, her debut picture book published by FriesenPress in 2019. 

“His black-belt test was the most excruciating, endurance-testing 3-hour experience of his life at the time, and heart-wrenching for me to watch! Oh, but a character-building event,” writes Pona, on her Goodreads profile, about her son’s experience. 

In this 24-page read, Pona focuses on a dashing feline’s not-so-cat-like characteristics. Bike riding? Crazy Cat does that. A master at karate? Crazy Cat is a master among cat masters. Dogs that are new to the neighbourhood quickly learn that Crazy Cat can’t be pounced on when she lazily relaxes in the sun. Crazy Cat is a fighter and stands up for herself. She’s not afraid to unleash those sharp claws and take a swipe. 

The warm illustrations aptly depict Crazy Cat as she is – free spirited, adventurous, fearless (puddles and sharks aside), and confident.   

By focusing on what makes Crazy Cat different, Marta invites the reader to self-reflect and acknowledge their own unique differences. It’s a base for self-discovery and self-appreciation. At the back of the book there are prompts which position the reader to go beyond the page and think about animal behaviour. The normal and the not-so-normal (we all know a Crazy Cat), and how our differences are often our strengths. 

Pona is a certified Ontario educator who has taught students from Kindergarten to Grade 8. She lives with her family in West Lincoln, Ontario, and is currently working on her second book, The Lonely Lion. Take a mouse-hunting cue from Crazy Cat, and be on the lookout for Pona’s next story.

In Conversation with M.S. Lawrence Author of The Tao of Flower

With Kaylie Seed

 

 

Congratulations on your debut novel! I admire anyone who takes the time to put in the work to write and publish a novel - it is amazing! I’m pleased to be able to do some promotion for The Tao of Flower and to interview a fellow Canadian! If you wouldn’t mind, I have some questions to ask you about The Tao of Flower as well as your writing process.

Where did your inspiration come from to have the main theme be about Tae Kwon Do and fighting in general? Did you have to do a lot of research?

I have always been a fan of stories of determination, perseverance, and competition. My inspiration for this story I cannot pinpoint. The idea came to me fourteen, maybe even fifteen, years ago. My eldest was a taekwondo student at a club owned by friends of mine and my wife. We brought her to classes three and four times a week for a few years. I have always been a daydreamer and the seed of my story I would say was planted there. Beyond that I do not have much intimate knowledge of this specific form of martial arts. Over the years, many story ideas came and went but the story which eventually became The Tao of Flower never left me. It grew, details changed. I have many scattered notes, some I was unable to find, but the story was in my mind for so long that I didn’t feel the need to hunt them down. I chose taekwondo simply because of the Olympic event. There is no martial arts event with a larger worldwide audience than the Olympic Games which was part of Flower’s dilemma. My protagonist was not striving to please an audience, she was seeking to measure herself amongst the greatest fighters due to her relentless contemplation.

I love reading stories about father/daughter relationships because I find that there aren’t a lot of them out there. Being a father of daughters yourself, did you find this to be an easy topic to write about?

Yes, I did for the most part. Particularly with the dialogue. However, it was challenging to create a bond between two characters who were so different in every way. Another challenge was writing about some of the subjects the two conversed about. Some are topics of conversation I have never had with any of my daughters so I worked to make them as fluent and believable as I could not having firsthand experience to help me along.

What was the most surprising thing that you learned while going through the process of creating and writing The Tao of Flower?

For me, the most surprising detail of the writing process was envisioning an event, a conversation, or even plot points and how they are either altered, removed, or added upon through the entire writing process. The story you read, compared to the one in my head before putting finger to keyboard is vastly different but I feel my end product, which of course is the result of my initial ideas, became far more engaging as I wrote and revised portions of the story. A lot of the book was made up of my old original ideas but details came to me as late as my third or fourth rounds of revision.

Now that you’ve written your first book and decided to publish independently, what did you learn and what would you do differently for your next book?

I published independently but could not have done it without the help of the folks at Friesen Press Publishing. They were there to answer all the questions I had - and I had a lot. I feel I got my money’s worth using them, maybe more. One thing I plan to do differently with my current manuscript is edit and revise a little more thoroughly before submitting it to their editors. First time through their editing process, I found a lot of things I was unsatisfied with on my end. Had I been more thorough and a little more critical of my work before submitting my manuscript, I feel it would have made things easier on their editor and in turn on me in the later revision rounds.

Speaking of next books, are you in the process of writing something new right now?

I am currently working on my next book. I have completed a first draft and gone through a round of revision of this manuscript. I have had it read by a couple people who I felt would give their honest feedback and they have. I am glad they did because there are elements I was not happy with and through discussion with the readers my thoughts were reaffirmed and I have to work to fortify these elements of my story. But all who have read it say they did enjoy the overall story which was refreshing. Not sure how many details I should give but my next book is an origin story of another character within The Tao of Flower. It tells the story of this character and the two books intersect shedding light on undisclosed details in the original story. The stories are related but in no way the same. I would say The Tao of Flower would be classified as a light, coming-of-age story. The follow up story is a love story with an ending that none of my readers saw coming. My wife was not happy with me but loved the story.

What is your “must-read” book recommendation and what book has had the most impact and influence on your writing?

Although I can’t call it a must-read yet, I am getting into a book named ‘Mess’ by a delightful young lady named J. Wray. I met her this past winter and overheard her saying she was an author. We got to talking and she really is an inspired individual. As for inspiration from my reading, I don’t know how to even incorporate the two. To this day, my favourite fictional novel is Casino Royale by Ian Fleming and I read it over twenty years ago. Most of my reading interest is given to autobiographies, primarily of athletes. I would not say they inspire me to write but I guess hearing actual figures share their most intimate secrets regardless of the shame or embarrassment they feel makes me feel that there are no boundaries in the fictional world.

Book Review: Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay

by Kaylie Seed

Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay parallels what is happening in the world today in regards to reactions of COVID-19 that is devastating the world. A genius writer in the horror genre, Tremblay has created a story about a fast spreading rabies-like virus that causes humans to become incredibly violent and no longer able to function as themselves. Tremblay places the reader in Massachusetts at the home of Natalie (Nats) who is a very pregnant woman. Natalie and her husband Paul are attacked and bitten by a rabid man in their home and when the attack is over, Nats seeks out the help of her long-time friend Ramola (Rams) who is a paediatric doctor. The two set out to find help for Natalie before it’s too late.

            The story weaves through both Nats and Rams perspectives as they try to navigate through a very violent and unprecedented time. Nats is a loud, tell-it-how-it-is kind of person. She swears like a trucker and is incredibly sarcastic. During Nats narration she records voice recordings on her phone that she is leaving for her unborn child in case she doesn’t make it out alive. Rams is the opposite of Nats. She is a sensible English woman who has moved to the States for work. Rams tries to provide a beacon of hope for Nats as they travel from hospital to hospital trying to find help for Nats and her unborn child. Through engaging prose, Tremblay does an excellent job at making each woman’s voice unique and their story believable.

            Tremblay uses Survivor Song as a way to shed light on human nature in times of extreme duress. Not only does Tremblay use a pregnant woman as the forefront of this novel, but he also portrays teenagers who believe this is the zombie apocalypse and men who feel the need to stop the spread themselves. These characters show just how desperate people can become to survive in unlikely times. Survivor Song is a horror novel and what makes this book so compelling is that we are dealing with uncertain times in real life. While horror books about demons and ghosts can be scary, it is the books about scary humans, about viruses, and about things that can actually happen in our daily lives that make the horror genre petrifying.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing for providing this E-ARC through NetGalley.

Book Review: We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly

By Ashliegh Gehl

Prepare to be transported to 1986 in Erin Entrada Kelly’s middle grade novel We Dream of Space. This delightful 391-page read, published by Greenwillow Books (an imprint of Harper Collins Canada), explores the internal and external journey of the Nelson Thomas siblings – Cash, Fitch and Bird – as they navigate middle school, grapple with family life, and look to the stars for answers.

As a whole, the Nelson Thomas family is a solar system. Its members are planets, spinning at their own speed, and passing at different orbital frequencies. 

Fitch and Bird may be twelve-year-old twins, but they’re poles apart. Fitch spends his days in arcades, mastering the fine art of pinball, and struggles to contain his explosive temper (kind of like Venus). Bird is a thinker. She’s curious about the mechanics of everything, creates her own instruction manuals, and dreams of commanding a spaceship. (Sorry, Bird. I mean space shuttle.) And yet, she feels unseen and somewhat isolated, not just from her family but from her friends at school. She’s like Pluto. (Am I a planet? Am I not a planet? What am I?) Cash, the oldest among them, is into basketball and at risk of failing school (again). He’s kind of just floating out there without any sense of purpose, in search of direction, and feeling a little sideways, like Uranus, due to a broken wrist.

The novel’s multi-perspective structure gives Cash, Fitch and Bird their day in the sun by isolating their experiences and putting their worldviews into focus. Despite their differences, they desire the same things. They long for family, friendship, and belonging. They cling to flittering glimpses of hope as they grapple with a sense of self. These easy-to-love characters are relatable, more so during those awkward growing pain moments that are necessary, but uncomfortable to witness.

Entrada Kelly’s crisp, clean writing takes the reader straight into the middle school experience where harsh words are spoken, cliques are formed, and there’s a lesson to be learned around every corner. Sharp dialogue swiftly moves the story along, so much so that 1986 feels as if it’s a character unto itself. 

We Dream of Space is more than just a deep dive into the personal and social lives of Cash, Fitch, Bird, and their self-absorbed parents. It takes the reader through January 1986, the month the space shuttle Challenger was scheduled to launch. It was a time when many school children across the United States were learning about the astronauts, their mission, and the significance of Mission Specialist Christa McAuliffe, who was primed to be the first teacher in space. 

Through satellite, NASA broadcasted the launch into classrooms so America’s youth could have a front row seat to McAuliffe’s space debut. On January 28, seventy-three seconds after lift-off, Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean. A moment, for students like Bird, which revealed that pursuing your dreams can be dangerous. This emotional journey is a ride in which readers of all ages will most certainly enjoy.  As Bird writes, “The universe is waiting.” So, what are you waiting for?

Book Review: Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

By Rebekah Dolmat

First published in October 2018, Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan (Henry) is a work of historical fiction inspired by the life of New York writer Joy Davidman and her improbable love story with the Oxford don, and famous Christian author, C.S. Lewis.  What begins as an exchange of letters overseas—questioning life and discussing both faith and spiritual beliefs—evolves into a deeply profound spiritual and intellectual friendship, and eventual romance.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a story told entirely from Joy’s perspective and it begins with a focus on her as a wife to her husband, Bill, and mother to her two sons, Davy and Douglas.  From the start, you can sense that something is amiss in her marriage; Bill is a man who drinks far too much and lashes out from extreme mood swings.  Even though there is a love shared between them, there is also a distance and a growing disconnect.  Bill merely wants a wife who is a stay-at-home mother and who is ready to answer to his every beck and call, but Joy is so much more than that.  Yes, she is a wife and mother, but Joy is also an intellectual, a deep thinker, and a writer.  

One evening, after a terrifying experience involving her husband, Joy begins to question, explore, and test her faith, resulting in her first letter to Mr. C.S. Lewis (Jack), written on behalf of her and her husband.  This letter marks the beginning of their back-and-forth correspondence and the beginning of their friendship.  After two years of constant writing, Joy travels to England from America, in a leap of faith, to meet the man who will change the course of the rest of her life.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a beautifully written story.  Callahan’s elegant writing and her attention to detail in her descriptions pulls the reader directly into the events of Joy’s life—from the hardships of her first marriage, to the joyous moments spent with her children, and finally, to her travels and intimate conversations with Jack.  As their relationship develops, readers are able to see how their friendship is just as important to Jack, as it is to Joy.  Jack is Joy’s mentor, best friend, and in the end her lover and husband, but to Jack, she becomes his muse and inspiration, his sounding board and editor, as well as his best friend and beloved wife.  Their relationship is a beautiful thing to see unfold throughout the entirety of this book.  It is also important to note that this story does not shy away from the bigger topics of religion, faith, and morality, as they are interwoven throughout the book—in Joy and Jack’s letters to each other, in their deep conversations with each other, and in both of their personal and professional writings. 

Readers who enjoy strong, independent and courageous female characters, romantic historical fiction, as well as C.S. Lewis’ work, will thoroughly enjoy Becoming Mrs. Lewis.

Summer Reads: A Selection of Must Reads!

By Kaylie Seed

Summertime brings BBQ’s, beach days, and enjoying days in the sunshine. So far though, summer 2020 is shaping up to be one where we will have to spend more time in our backyards than at the beach. This is good news for bookworms though, we love reading anywhere and reading out in our backyards with an iced coffee is the perfect way to spend days outside. I’ve put together a collection of the hottest books that you need to add to your to-be-read list this summer.

 Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Silvia Moreno-Garcia takes the traditional gothic horror story and makes it something brand new. Mexican Gothic follows Noemí Taboada as she is summoned to High Place, a house set up in the Mexican countryside during the 1950s, when her cousin calls for help. Not aware of what dangers may lie ahead, strong-willed debutant Noemí heads out to High Place to help her cousin and in the process becomes enchanted by the unknowns that High Place holds.

Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin

Do you enjoy witty satire? If you said yes, then you need to get your hands on a copy of Happy & You Know It. Claire ends up becoming a singer to a bunch of entitled babies whose mothers are addicted to wellness culture and all things “healthy”. Shockingly to Claire, she ends up becoming friends with the gossipy glamourous mothers and learns a thing or two about motherhood along the way. This satire looks at how motherhood is just another way for society to judge women and how at the same time women of different walks of life can come together to become unlikely friends.

The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John

A voyage on a yacht in the Mediterranean should be a dream vacation, especially when you need a break from your mundane life. Belle goes on a voyage with her friend Summer and some other ladies however their Mediterranean escape becomes more of a nightmare situation than a relaxing getaway. The Lion’s Den is filled with deceit, secrets, and finding out people’s true colours and true intentions. This psychological thriller is bound to keep you entertained during these hot summer days.

The Subtweet by Vivek Shraya (Canadian Author)

We’ve all seen and read love stories throughout the ages: how they go through highs and lows and how some end in happy endings while others end tragically. But how many stories have we read that focus on falling into a friendship? Neela and Rukmini are both musicians and quickly become friends. The pair’s careers take different paths which leads to a falling out but then a single tweet blows up their entire friendship and throws the two of them into an internet fight. The Subtweet explores friendship in the internet era and just how quickly things can disintegrate when we let our insecurities get in the way of our relationships.

Book Review: Dark August by Katie Tallo

By Kaylie Seed

Canadian author Katie Tallo’s debut novel Dark August will be published on June 30, 2020 and lovers of fast-paced thrillers need to get their hands on a copy. Dark August follows Augusta (Gus) Monet as she begins to uncover parts of her past that were buried deep in her mind after the death of her great-grandmother which leads her to things that her late mother left behind seemingly for Gus to discover. What Gus isn’t prepared for is the dark past of her mother, an RCMP officer, who was suspended in her last years on earth and how she became intertwined with a wealthy family who lived just outside of Elgin, Ontario - a town that would later burn to the ground due to an explosion. With her loyal dog Levi by her side, Gus becomes her own detective as she tries to fit puzzle pieces together so that she might be able to make sense of what happened to her mother and the family she was so obsessed with.

Tallo has taken the traditional thriller book and made it into something new and fresh. Dark August is filled with twist after twist and the reader will always be wondering what is going to reveal itself next. As the story progresses Tallo introduces a slew of characters that are all somehow connected and it is up to Gus to figure out where all the pieces fit together. While the amount of characters can seem overwhelming, they all play an important role for both the plot and character development and once they serve their purpose they aren’t necessarily brought back in. What is so nice about this is that the reader is able to learn new information while being able to move forward with the story and not feel like they are missing anything. Tallo ties everything together so flawlessly leaving the reader satisfied with how Gus’ story ends.

Dark August is an exquisite debut that is sure to have readers holding their breath as the plot develops and more twists are unveiled. Tallo makes sure to reveal information to the reader on her terms and often leaves the reader with their jaw dropped. Dark August is an easy-read-thriller that is engaging and hooks the reader from the very beginning. Dark August can be read over a weekend spent outside enjoying the summer sun. I cannot wait to see what Tallo brings into the world next; she is an extremely talented writer and storyteller so she is bound to create another twisted thriller down the road.

Readers who enjoy Gillian Flynn’s work such as Sharp Objects and Gone Girl will absolutely enjoy Dark August. Dark August is also reminiscent of the TV show The Killing that is on Netflix, created by Søren Sveistrup (author of The Chestnut Man).

*Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for the gifted E-ARC of Dark August by Katie Tallo*

Book Review: Depression & Other Magic Tricks by Sabrina Benaim

By Kaylie Seed

Reviewing poetry is not a simple feat as poets and poetry can play with the rules of grammar, punctuation, and layout. There are types of poems out there that are subject to certain rules such as a Haiku poem that needs to contain 17 syllables and will include 3 lines of 5, 7, 5 syllables that do not need to rhyme. Modern poetry however has taken tradition and thrown it out the window. Very rarely do we see poems that resemble traditional poetry and it is amazing to see. By moving tradition aside this allows modern poets to have an even broader platform to share their voice.

Spoken Word poet Sabrina Benaim published her debut collection of written poetry, Depression & Other Magic Tricks in August of 2017. This poetry collection contains 53 unique poems which all tell their individual stories while being part of a collective thought process throughout Depression & Other Magic Tricks. Benaim’s overarching theme is about mental health, specifically depression. She dives into describing how depression has made its way into her life and how it has impacted her. She does this with powerful and elegant prose. Benaim’s poems not only focus on depression and herself but they also talk about discussing depression with loved ones and opening up to her doctor about her depression - something that can be just as difficult as reaching out to family. For anyone who has read The Upside of Being Down by Jen Gotch, they will appreciate Benaim using her mental illness as a way to channel her creativity which is admirable. When poets choose topics that speak powerfully to them, they are able to ignite a creative spark. Benaim’s spoken word poetry is just as phenomenal as her written work and I cannot wait to see what she has to bring to the table in her future poetry.

Book Review: See Me by Hailey Rodgers

By Kaylie Seed

In December of 2019, Hailey Rodgers published her debut nonfiction novel, See Me, a guide to living and being your authentic self. Rodgers created thirty insightful, raw, and real principles that are meant to teach the reader how to live their life authentically. At the end of each principle Rodgers breaks down the most important points that the reader should take away and provides points to ponder to get the reader thinking. This book is split into three different sections: Authenticity, Happiness, and Success. Each of the principles and sections dance with one another to show how to embrace your authentic self. 

Incredibly perceptive herself, Rodgers not only uses her own experiences to shape out the story but she also has included peer reviewed articles and uses interviews that she has conducted (with a diverse array of young adults) to back up each and every one of her points. See Me is exceptionally well-researched and the structure of the novel is clean and crisp. In the beginning of See Me, Rodgers explains how this book is meant to be used as a guide and how readers can jump to-and-from different sections depending on what it is that they may need more guidance with. While See Me is mainly targeted towards young adults, Rodgers shows the reader that there are always ways that we can improve on our self-worth, self-esteem, and self-acceptance and how accepting your authentic self brings out a happiness like no other. Touching on topics such as emotional intelligence, mental health, and how failure leads to more success, Rodgers has cultivated a guide to living your authentic life while appreciating and accepting the differences that you have with others. Rodgers is wise beyond her years and See Me shows just how insightful she truly is. With this being her first book, I cannot wait to see what she does next. We need to stop being social chameleons that blend in and start becoming and living our most authentic lives unapologetically.

Thank you to Hailey Rodgers for this gifted copy of See Me.

Book Reviews: Yorick and Bones by Jeremy Tankard and Hermione Tankard

By Jodene Wylie

Hear ye, hear ye! Alas, this is Yorick. But hark! This is Bones.

-       Jeremy Tankard and Hermione Tankard

Yorick and Bones is a graphic novel designed for middle grade readers and is the perfect introduction to some familiar Shakespearean nods and references told through the eyes of Yorick, a skeleton (think back to Hamlet and his wonderful speech with a skull), and Bones – a dog who likes to dig holes and chew on a good bone. This graphic novel is broken down into three acts: Love Bites, Man’s Pest Friend, and Best Fiends Forever and follows a journey of awakening, a small quest, and a realization about life and friendship. 

There is wonderful word play and language reminiscent of Shakespeare – thou, thee, dost, thine, tis’  which makes this book ideal to be read with an older friend or family member who can assist with some of the interpretation. Yorick’s old English language is mixed with the contemporary language of the modern day people he and Bones interact with which makes this book accessible and engaging on a variety of levels. The story line is also whimsical and completely hooks the younger reader which features games of marbles, soccer, and hot dog stands. 

The images are bright and colourful though Yorick and Bones lean towards greyscale except for a pair of bright orange pants and blushing cheeks as all skeletons should feature. The characters are designed with soft edges and there is a playfulness and charm to the composition of the graphic images in each of the cells. At times, you’re bound to laugh aloud.

This novel is written by Jeremy Tankard, author and illustrator of the bird series - Grumpy Bird, Sleepy Bird, Hungry Bird and so on, and his daughter Hermione Tankard. It was developed over many years and in fact began as a sketch when Jeremy was seven years old. He and his teen daughter developed and designed this story to be rich and playful for the young reader and I encourage you to give this a read. 

Indigenous History Month Reads: A Celebration of Indigenous Authors and Stories

By Kaylie Seed

In Canada, June is Indigenous History Month with June 21st being National Indigenous Peoples Day. While we need to celebrate our Indigenous brothers and sisters every month and not just in June, having this time dedicated to Indigenous People in Canada is a wonderful way to reflect upon the good, the bad, and the ugly that has happened to the first people who were on this great land.

Bone Black by Carol Rose GoldenEagle (Daniels) (Indigenous Canadian; First Nations; Dene; Denesuline (Chipewyan); Cree (Nehiyawak))

Carol Rose GoldenEagle has written a breathtakingly haunting story that focuses on the missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. After Raven goes missing, her twin sister Wren StrongEagle takes justice into her own hands as she begins searching for her sister that no one seems to be looking for. A powerfully written story about the bond of sisters and an all too painfully true situation in Canada, Carol Rose GoldenEagle has created a story that not only pulls at your heartstrings but also forces Canadians to look at what is happening right before their eyes.

A Girl Called Echo: Pemmican Wars (Volume 1) by Katherena Vermette (Indigenous Canadian; Métis)

Katherena Vermette has created a graphic novel series called A Girl Called Echo that currently has three volumes: Pemmican Wars, Red River Resistance, and Northwest Resistance. Each of Vermette’s graphic novels follows Echo Desjardins as she learns about her Métis heritage by traveling back in time while sitting in her history class and gets to experience her heritage firsthand. Each of the graphic novels focuses on an important part of Métis history, so not only is the reader going to experience this history through reading they will also get to watch it unfold through gorgeous artwork.

A Two-Spirit Journey: The Autobiography of a Lesbian Ojibwa-Cree Leader by Ma-Nee Chacaby (Indigenous Canadian; First Nations; Anishinaabeg; Oji-Cree) with Mary Louisa Plummer

This is the harrowing story of how Ma-Nee Chacaby overcame multiple hardships throughout her life including the social, economic, and health impacts of colonialism. A Two Spirit Journey teaches us that with the right supports and mindset we can overcome anything that life throws at us. Chacaby allows readers into her traditional upbringing and surviving multiple instances of abuse, both from others and herself, while explaining how she overcame those hardships to become a successful leader who even lead the first Pride Parade in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott (Indigenous Canadian; First Nations; Haudenosaunee (Iroquois); Tuscarora)

Alicia Elliott asks difficult questions revolving around intergenerational trauma surrounding Indigenous People’s in Canada. Elliott draws conclusions between the past and present and touches on topics such as: race, parenthood, mental illness, poverty, and gentrification. Elliott takes a look at colonialism and how it has impacted the loss of language and history of her Indigenous ancestors. A Mind Spread Out on the Ground is a must-read book for Canadians because it calls out white privilege and puts Non-Indigenous Canadians in a position where they must learn the uncomfortable parts of our history.

21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph (Indigenous Canadian; First Nations; Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl); Gwawaenuk)

This fantastic nonfiction read is one that all Canadians should be reading. Bob Joseph uses this novel to dissect complex issues such as truth and reconciliation, and explains how The Indian Act in Canada is hindering Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Joseph explains how Indigenous Peoples can step out from under the clutches of The Indian Act and return to self-government and self-determination that would be better for all Canadians and the country in the long run.

Inuit Kinship and Naming Customs edited by Pelagie Owlijoot (Indigenous Canadian; Inuit) and Louise Flaherty (Indigenous Canadian; Inuit)

Instead of using given names like many other Canadians, Inuit Peoples have a network of kinship names, known as tuqurausiit (turk-thlo-raw-seet), that they use to show respect to one another and to form close familial bonds. Editors Pelagie Owlijoot and Louise Flaherty discuss how the traditional naming system is slowly disappearing and interview four Inuit Elders from Nunavut on the importance of keeping the tuqurausiit names thriving.

The books that I’ve chosen for our Indigenous must-reads is only a small sample of books written by Indigenous authors in Canada and I highly recommend doing your own research to find some more must-reads not only for June, but to incorporate into your reading regularly. A fantastic website where you can find Indigenous Canadian reads is https://www.strongnations.com/

Book Reviews: Daddy on Duty by Arnelle Collins

By Kaylie Seed

Arnelle Collins together with illustrator Taiye Okoh published the children’s book Daddy on Duty just in time for Father’s Day! Daddy on Duty is an adorable book for fathers and their children to read together. Little Anellia wakes up on a Saturday morning to learn that her Mommy has gone to the spa for the day leaving her Daddy in charge. Their entire day is spent enjoying time together and maybe breaking a few of Mommy’s rules as Anellia learns how her Daddy does things differently than her Mommy.

Collins main theme throughout the story is about how parents have different ways in which they parent their children and that it’s okay! Anellia learns that she enjoys both her Dad’s and her Mom’s way of parenting and reminds the reader that we need a balance of fun and serious in our lives. This book is perfect for children who may be struggling with their Dad or Mom’s parenting style and can help them learn that the balance of each style is meant to keep things interesting in our lives.

Daddy on Duty gives the opportunity for parents to teach their children about different styles and methods of raising children. Collins writing style is up-beat and fun which is enjoyable to read out loud. Parents who are looking for a creative way to teach their children about how moms and dads sometimes do things differently when it comes to parenting should pick up a copy of this beautiful children’s book. Daddy on Duty will not only help teach children something new but the adorable pictures and story will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

Book Review: Stay Where I Can See you by Katrina Onstad

By Kaylie Seed

Stay Where I Can See You by Katrina Onstad was published in March of this year and is Onstad’s fourth novel. Onstad’s story follows the Kaplan family after they have won nearly ten million dollars from a lottery ticket that mom, Gwen, purchased on a whim. After accepting their winnings, the Kaplan’s are unaware just how different their lives will become. The story is told from Gwen’s and her daughter Maddie’s perspectives as Onstad weaves in and out of Gwen’s past (that she has kept secret from family) and the present time with the Kaplan family moving to Toronto, Ontario. It is here that things start changing for the family. Stay Where I Can See You works to parallel Gwen and Maddie’s own coming-of-age stories but instead makes the novel feel like it could be two completely different stories with a plot that tries to connect the two and an ending that makes you go ‘huh?’.

Gwen has kept most of her life a secret from her family and only after they win the jackpot do things in her life start making their way to the surface. This includes themes such as domestic abuse, homelessness, and single parenting. While these are important topics and themes that need to be discussed, they leave the reader not feeling the empathy towards Gwen that Onstad intended. The reader learns quickly that Gwen is an overbearing, protective, and neurotic mother who will do anything to protect her daughter from the bad things in the world. A lot of what Gwen does seems extreme such as constantly following her daughter around well into her teenage years. This makes Gwen difficult to relate to for some readers. There were also a couple of characters in the story that were recurring yet the reader may find themselves forgetting who that character is having to then back track to remember what that character’s place is in the story. The reader may find themselves asking more questions than finding answers as the story goes on. 

I appreciate the hard work that goes into creating a novel such as Stay Where I Can See You. I was intrigued to want to finish the book to see what was going to happen and it is a fairly easy read.

If you enjoyed Lisa Jewell’s The Family Upstairs then you may also enjoy Stay Where I Can See You by Katrina Onstad.

In Conversation with Ed Ruggero author of Blame the Dead

With Kaylie Seed.

 

Photo by Leah Servin

 

Ed, I thoroughly enjoyed Blame the Dead. It was a gripping read and the perfect combination of a murder mystery along with elements of war. I’m honoured to be able to ask you some questions about Blame the Dead, your writing process, and to be able to do share your novel with our readers.

I’ve always been a huge fan of WWII historical fiction and this is the first novel that I’ve read that has a murder mystery woven into a WWII plot. Where did you get the idea to write Blame the Dead? What drew you to combine a historical fiction narrative with a murder mystery twist? 

I was drawn to the idea that the military’s job, in combat, is to create maximum chaos for the enemy. You want the enemy thinking that the world is coming to an end so that he forgets about his mission, so that his only concern is escape. But as soon as the battle lines pass by, someone has to restore order: everything from food distribution to the rule of law. I was intrigued by that point of friction. You have tens of thousands of young men (exclusively men in WW2) heavily armed and, sadly, inured to violence; yet someone has to reintroduce civilization. Medical people work hard to heal physical wounds; Military Police work hard to restore civilization.  In this book we see how both the medical and police function. 

Where did you gain your insight and knowledge about Italy during WWII? What kind of research was involved and most helpful to your writing? Tell us more about why you chose this setting for your novel?

One of my non-fiction books is a work of military history covering the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily, so I was on familiar ground here. The non-fiction work was based on interviews with scores of veterans, so I had a pretty good feel for the time and place. I also relied on some terrific histories and memoirs, including some by Army nurses. I’ve been reading military history since I could read, and I spent eleven years in the US Army; I have a feel for how soldiers think and act.  I chose to make the protagonist a Military Police officer because that job allows him great freedom of movement.  He can get caught up in various kinds of adventures.

Eddie Harkins is a very likeable character. Where did you get your inspiration for his voice and character and was he based on anyone living or historical?

The characters probably—I’m not 100% certain—come from people and events I’ve observed, especially when it comes to soldiers.  No character is a straight riff on a real person, the idea is that a reader can see a real person doing those things. A friend of mine, also a veteran, said of Dominic Colianno (Harkins’ driver/side-kick), “He reminds me of every jeep driver I ran across in the Army.”

What was the most surprising thing that you learned while going through the process of creating and writing Blame the Dead?

I enjoyed learning about US Army and Allied nurses, who shared battlefield risks and operated under trying conditions—and all this at a time when most people thought women shouldn’t even be exposed to hard work, much less combat conditions.  

With such an intriguing and well-conceived story, I have to ask, will there be another book from you soon? 

Blame the Dead is the first in a series I’m calling “Victory in Europe.”  Book 2, Comes the War, finds Eddie Harkins in London on the eve of the Allied invasion of France, investigating a murder. The victim was an analyst for the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services, the blandly named US spy agency that was a forerunner of the CIA.

Since you’ve completed the process of writing and publishing a novel multiple times, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Read, write, persevere.

Read. I doubt you can be a writer unless you’re a reader. But piling up books on your night table isn’t enough; you must be an active reader. If you like something, ask yourself why you liked it. Parse it and try to figure out why it worked so well.  

Write. Practice. The more you do it the better you become. Try different styles and even genres. Blog posts, journalism, thank you notes—it’s all helpful.  Imitate writers whose work you admire; pick someone with a distinctive style.  Stretch your muscles.  When I taught composition years ago, we had the students write in imitation of Tom Wolfe in The Right Stuff. We did not want the students to adopt Wolfe’s distinctive voice forever and always, but in order to imitate you have to discover how the writer achieves that distinctive voice.  You may adopt some aspects, or you may not, but you will have added to your toolkit. 

Persevere.  I read a story recently about a woman who went to her doctoral defense wearing a skirt made out of all the rejection letters she’d received from professional journals.  

I’m never going to tell someone that if you try hard enough, anything is possible. I think that’s patently untrue—I was never going to play pro baseball—but unless you stick to it, I mean really work your butt off, you can’t honestly say, “I gave it my best shot but I just don’t have the goods.” 

What is your “must-read” book recommendation and what book has had the most impact and influence on your writing?

I don’t know about “the most” influence, but I can name two books I’ve been recommending for years for their style and storytelling: True Grit by Charles Portis and News of the World, By Paulette Jiles.  Both books offer lots of samples of exquisite writing—Jiles is a poet—and humor.  Mattie Ross of True Grit is one of the most distinctive voices in modern American literature, in my book right up there with Huck Finn. She’s funny as all get-out, often without intending to be funny. She’s also preachy, opinionated and fierce, in short, a three-dimensional character.  Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd of News is more quietly determined, but quick-witted and, at the last, a good person.

Thank you to Ed Ruggero for this interview and please be sure to pick up his novel Blame the Dead to see what a great story this is!