Sweater by Emily Hepditch

I remember distinctly my very favourite nightdress. It was pink and ohhh so soft with short ruffled sleeves and a pretty bow at the rounded neckline.  When I wore them, 7 year old Me imagined being a princess in some fairy tale land. If I could have, I would have worn those pyjamas every single night but they did need to be washed from time to time and on those nights I was left to don the "other ones" that sat pristinely folded in my top drawer; the ones with the long flannel sleeves and the too tight cuffs, the elastic waistband that pinched my sides and made me feel too hot while I tried desperately to dream away the night under my favourite blanket. And then, when my daughter came along and refused to wear anything with collars or long sleeves, I understood completely! Yep, we all have those pieces of clothing that we love to wear and others that eventually make it to the donation bag.  These were the thoughts that came flooding back when I first read my copy of Sweater written and illustrated by award winning author Emily Hepditch. 

Sweater is the delightful story of a school aged boy named Alexander who has been gifted a home knit sweater by his loving Grandma. Alexander isn't entirely pleased with this new present and has second thoughts when his parents think it would be a great idea to wear this thoughtful gift to school for picture day.  As expected, his day at school with his new sweater does not go well and just when he thinks he needs to tell his Nan that the sweater is too itchy, too big and too warm, the unexpected happens and Alexander realizes that this gift of love truly does have some unintended benefits.  

Author of two best selling novels The Woman In The Attic and Alone On The Trail, Sweater is Emily Hepditch's first children's illustrated book. This fictional story intended mostly for children aged 3-7 is simply written with an engaging storyline.  Emergent readers (and their parents!) will easily identify with and relate to the character Alexander and will understand the conundrum in which he finds himself. Afterall, who hasn't been the recipient of a well-intentioned homemade gift that doesn't seem to fit just right?  Hepditch does an excellent job at having the illustrations and text work together to tell the story. The pictures are well placed and allow young readers to contextualize the story by giving visual cues to the words on the page. The illustrations are colorful and simple and the pages are presented in a clean and clutter free manner,  clearly depicting the emotions of the character and the well paced story. As a new illustrator of children's picture books, I was impressed with Hepditch's work and felt the style was well suited to the story. I particularly liked the intricate sensory details of the gable knit sweater and the "warm woolly mittens" and blanket. 

Sweater is a timeless story to be enjoyed by both children and their caregivers. It is a reminder that those "soft" presents we often receive (and sometimes dread) are extensions of the special people in our lives who give them. Hats off to Emily Hepditch and her first foray into the world of Children's Literature...a talented young writer AND illustrator! Sweater is a Flanker Press publication.

Land Of Many Shores ~ Edited by Ainsley Hawthorn

 

We are all familiar with the Newfoundland and Labrador tourism ads that flash across our television screens every Spring;  loaves of Nan's homemade bread cooling on the kitchen table while, just outside the window, colorful quilts dance in the warm breeze against a backdrop of the cool Atlantic Ocean slapping happily against million year old granite. The sun is shining, the grass is a brilliant hue of green and Skipper up the road is on the front bridge tapping his toe to the fiddle. A 40 minute drive "up the shore" or "past the overpass" will confirm that our Irish and English ancestry is still very much alive as evidenced in our dialect, friendliness, and Friday night kitchen parties. This is what we are famous for. This life is what tourists pay to experience. But Newfoundland and Labrador is so much more than just cod fish, colorful houses, and George Street. Land of Many Shores edited by Ainsley Hawthorn and published by Breakwater Books is a personal glimpse into the lives of other Newfoundlanders and Labradorians; citizens whose identities and viewpoints have been misconstrued, neglected or underrepresented. It is a true celebration of the diverse population that inhabits our land. 

Land of Many Shores is an anthology of poetry, essays and short narratives written by 24 authors who call, or have called, Newfoundland and Labrador home.  Through their own words they paint a portrait of their lived experience as Indigenous people and as people living with physical or mental disabilities. Their stories examine the importance and need for community and culture as marginalized and underrepresented peoples.  As workers in the sex industry and as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community these authors explore the heartbreak of being misunderstood and the resilience required to survive. Yet other authors offer praise for the character that the Newfoundland people have become famous for but lament feeling left out of the "proverbial wolf pack". The narratives are wonderfully written, offering unique perspectives while at the same time broaching the elephant in the room; who do we want to become?

Newfoundland taught me to be proud of who I am and where I come from. Not to feel the need to assimilate to others and maintain the status quo. It also showed me that by being myself, I could create the best connections with people. Connections based on authenticity and sincerity, instead of the fear and ignorance that can prevail when people see each other as anonymous members of large groups instead of individuals. 

                                       From Salaam B'y ~ A Story of a Muslim Newfoundlander

                                                                                                              by Aatif Baskanderi 

Land of Many Shores ~ Perspectives From A Diverse Newfoundland and Labrador is a deeply personal and thought provoking read. Each story provided a source of reflection and caused me to question my own lived experience as a Newfoundlander. Throughout the anthology I found myself constantly questioning my own thoughts and belief systems about the Newfoundland culture, those of the community that I identify with and those of the larger populace. Some of the stories baffled me, others touched me deeply, and others saddened and angered me. I have come to realize that "our" traditional story as the ancestors of Irish and English settlers is important and we must celebrate and hang on to that history but our story continues to be written...it is not stuck in time. 

Some of us play the accordion, step dance, and eat Jiggs' Dinner. Others play the qilaut, dance salsa, or eat shawarma. Some of us roll down Broadway in our wheelchairs instead of strolling on foot. Some of us go to work in the sex trade instead of in an office in Atlantic Place. All of these experiences make us who we are as a people. To dismiss them is to erase the richness of our culture, to discount our collective wisdom, and to alienate members of our own communities. To dismiss these experiences is to impoverish ourselves.

                                               From Mapping A Diverse Newfoundland and Labrador 

                                                                                                            by Ainsley Hawthorn

Land of Many Shores: Perspectives From a Diverse Newfoundland and Labrador is a Breakwater Books publication. 

Angels Crying ~ A True Story of Secrecy and Tragedy by Tom Moore

 

Angels Crying by Tom Moore is the heart wrenching true story of Tammy King, a bright and beautiful child, born in St. John's, Newfoundland on November 9, 1972.  Tammy, along with her siblings,  were brought into a world of poverty and alcoholism to parents who both had a family history of substance abuse, addiction and unemployment. Unable to  properly care for the children they brought into the world, the foster care system stepped in to protect them; to give them a life that their natural born parents simply could not provide. For a time the children thrived in their new homes supported by loving individuals, until 1986, when Tammy and her younger sister were moved to a new home; a home afflicted by generations of lewd and wanton behaviour that was shrouded in secrecy disguised as love and concern. How did Tammy, society's most precious resource, come to view her life as hopeless and decide that it was just not worth living anymore?  Angel's Crying by Tom Moore is an expertly researched narrative that exposes the inadequacies of society's polite assumptions and lifts the veil of silence on how a nation treats its most vulnerable and disadvantaged members.

The three little girls stared in awe as the stewardess explained the safety regulations in English and then in French. The motors were roaring and the plane soon started down the Torbay runway at unbelievable speed. It was their first plane ride and the first time away from St. John's.

The lady in the seat beside them was a social worker, a stranger to the three small travellers. They zoomed down the runway faster than thought, faster than hope, faster than love. They hurtled away from the mother and father they loved in spite of everything. ... 

They were on their way to their new home in Deer Lake, on the western side of the island. 

 

Self published in 1994, Angel's Crying is Moore's second national bestseller.  Based upon 3 years of well-documented research garnered from Royal Commission files, court transcripts and personal interviews, the author presents the true story of a student who once sat in his classroom. Driven by a desire to uncover the truth and dispel the rumors that were circulating throughout the small bay community during the fall of 1988,  Moore notes that "no one seemed to be pursuing the obvious questions about her death. The silence was deafening." In the Preface to the 2nd edition, Moore states that "the story had to be told and the ogre of secrecy challenged."  As a result, the author does an excellent job of conveying not only Tammy's narrative, but also the stories of those who had been placed in the same foster home before her.  In an attempt to understand the role that the criminal justice system and the social welfare system played in its failure to protect these young girls, Moore pens a gripping and oftentimes disturbing tale that was difficult to put down.  In so doing he presents a strong and highly detailed condemnation of all levels of Newfoundland government and the RCMP and highlights a system plagued by human frailties and the desire of most people to remain comfortable within their dome of silence.  It is this silence and the misery that it ultimately inflicts upon the young victims of sexual abuse that this book is written. 

Angels Crying ~ A True Story of Secrecy and Tragedy by Tom Moore is a must read. As an educator, I applaud Moore's sensitive approach and skill in his valiant attempt to slay the ogre of silence and bring justice to the victims of sexual abuse! Well done, sir! Copies of this novel can be obtained from Flanker Press. 

When The Dead Are Razed by Samuel Martin

Feisty hipster Teffy Byrne is not one to take a back seat to anyone. Part owner of an independent newspaper and always on the lookout for a story, Teffy is about to become involved in a sinister plot in an attempt to protect her boyfriend Ger from his former drug boss, Troy Hopper.  Teffy will stop at nothing even if it means becoming a drug mule for the newly released convict; a transaction that quickly gets out of hand when Teffy finds herself stranded on a remote Newfoundland island with a pound of Troy's heroin hidden inside a dead woman's urn. On top of all this, the stolen coded journal in her possession that once belonged to Ger's old flame from his former life, contains information that could blow everything wide open, exposing sensitive information about the illicit drug and sex trade that exists within the nooks and crannies of the island province of Newfoundland.  When The Dead Are Razed by Samuel Martin is a harrowing North Atlantic noir that explores the dark underworld of ordinary people living a not so ordinary life. 

She dives into the rain and finds her way to Ellie Strickland's gallery.  Pushes the door open easily - no alarm, thank God - and digs the gum wrapper out of the striker plate and pockets it.  The door clicks shut behind her and she heads up the stairs to the gallery, avoiding the clank and grind of the rickety lift.  She steps into the gallery, the only sounds her ragged breath and rain slashed against glass.  Shadows blue the fishbowl room, cast from the faint glow of unseen harbour lights out the rain-pelted windows.  The whale's tail seems to flick in the strange light and the whole room tilts nauseously toward her, making the humpback look as if it's diving deep from outside the storm, its maw wide to swallow her whole. 

Just pick up the package, she tells herself, gulping against the sudden urge to vomit.  Call the cops on the way back across the island. Say Troy blackmailed you into playing delivery girl and abducted your boyfriend to force you. 

Yeah right, she thinks.  

When The Dead Are Razed is Samuel Martin's third novel, following This Ramshackle Tabernacle (2010) and A Blessed Snarl (2012).  Hailing from the mainland province of Ontario, Martin moved to the east coast in 2008 to begin studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland.  It was during this time that he fell in love with his new island home and embarked upon this latest novel as "a love letter to a place" he terribly missed before leaving to teach in Iowa in 2012.  Readers will be mesmerized by multiple plotlines and will be propelled mercilessly through the harrowing and sometimes jarring details of Martin's vivid and unrelenting prose.  A suspenseful read, I occasionally got lost in the fast paced action of the many ordinary characters and the things that happened to them.  Martin's crime thriller does an excellent job at highlighting the many complex reasons for the crimes these regular people commit.  In this narrative, love is the bright light that eventually triumphs over evil, but at what cost? The formidable protagonist Teffy Byrne's strong desire to protect Ger from harm and avenge the death of his ex-girlfriend is what propels the narrative.  Readers will find themselves immersed in Teffy's world of poor decision-making and at times, utter mayhem, shaking their heads but wanting more.

She jolts awake yelling and whips the covers against the wall.  A second ago, Jake had been riding her like an old hag, prying down on that scraper's bar.  Choking her. 

Spitting in her face. 

Then the sleep paralysis broke. And now it's just her in the room. Christ on the wall there, holding out his Sacred Heart.  The house quiet but for the wind knocking the window frames.  That breath on her face.  Ger's breath.  She listens.  A roundabout wind by the sounds of it. How did Fin say it? Anything can happen in a roundabout wind.  

Out the toilet-side window, she sees Ellie's car in the drive still and Daryll's goats grazing freely beside the house.  Still not a sound.  So she zips up and thinks it's now or never to make that switch and call Troy.  Find out where she can drop this shit, then get a hold of Ger. 

 

When The Dead Are Razed by Samuel Martin is an explosive, well written novel.  Readers will tread lightly with one eye covered as they are thrust into the violent underbelly of the criminal side of Canada's friendliest province. This novel is published by Slant Books.

The Body On The Beach ~A Novel~ By Patrick J. Collins

Constabulary officer Frank Fallon has just returned to his seaside home of Harbour Grace after 15 years with the Constabulary in St. John's. Demoted from his position as Corporal because of behavior unbecoming of an officer, the seasoned policeman finds himself on the beat in a town where he is forced to relive the painful memories of his past and the loss of his one and only love, beautiful Marie Callahan.  Bitter recollections quickly turn to a quest for justice, when Marie turns up dead on Martin's Beach.  As Frank sets out to investigate the suspicious death of his former lover he is forced to revisit past relationships and confront personal demons that continue to plague him at every turn.  The Body On The Beach is a well crafted piece of detective fiction that offers both suspense and a sense of vicarious satisfaction. As Officer Frank Fallon embarks upon his criminal investigation, hidden secrets and collusion are revealed and the sad tale behind the body on the beach is one you just don't see coming. 

"My Lord. Oh my God. It's Marie."

Seeing the love of his life, the woman he once hoped to marry, a victim, sprawled lifeless and cold, was too much to bear.  Too crushing.  He wanted to hold her.  Cradle her.  Comfort her.  Save her.   But he knew it was futile.  It was too late.  Fifteen years too late.  After all these years, discovering his very first love in such a horrifying context was beyond disturbing. 

He was numb with shock, his face buried in his hands.  But he had to come to his senses.  He was a policeman. As Frank rose to his feet, he glanced around, hoping that he hadn't been seen. Thankfully, it appeared he was still alone.  

 

The Body On The Beach by Patrick J. Collins is Collins' eleventh and most recent book. Written in memory of Alice Williams who tragically died in 1902, this mystery narrative is inspired by her suspicious death; a death whose cause has never been revealed.  Set in the 1920's, the bustling town of Harbour Grace is under the rule of the Prohibition Act and the judicial brass are tasked with maintaining law and order.  Officer Frank Fallon is a skilled officer but bitter about his demotion and seeks the comfort of forbidden spirits to help him get through his day.  Readers will relate to Fallon's flaws and will sympathize with his heartache but at the same time will be impressed with his investigative skills and dogged determination to find out what happened to his beloved Marie.  Readers will also be intrigued by the beautiful Christine Sullivan, daughter of the Chief Inspector who demoted Fallon, and will enjoy how the criminal investigation unfolds while a new story of love and romance develops. Collins cleverly crafts a completely new level of entertainment through the interplay of these two characters. 

Collins has done an excellent job at creating a story that flows seamlessly. It is well paced, making the story interesting and keeping readers hooked until the very end. The Body On The Beach by Patrick J. Collins is a wonderful read for any armchair detective who enjoys an escape from reality and an opportunity to step back in time.  It is a Flanker Press publication. 

Operation Trafficked by Helen C. Escott

 Lena pulled at the loose skin around her eyes and dabbed more concealer at the corners, the bruises from the last client almost hidden beneath the thick cream.  These men didn't seem to notice or care about the cigarette burns on her legs or whip marks on her back. 

Her thin fingers ran down her neck, tracing the covered bruises from her last client's fingers.  She gasped when his face flashed before her.  He giggled as he squeezed the life from her body.  His rotten teeth and putrid breath stabbed her nostrils.  Thick spittle dripped from the corners of his mouth and fell on her face as she slipped into darkness......

She had survived, but it left her dead inside.  The nightmare continued.  There were clients waiting.

Sgt. Nicholas Myra and Cpl. Gail McNaughton have teamed up in Helen C. Escott's fourth crime thriller, Operation Trafficked.  After the murder of a young sixteen year old girl in a downtown hotel,  a special joint forces operation headed up by Myra and McNaughton seeks to investigate a sophisticated ring of international criminals specializing in human trafficking and the sale of women and children for sex.  As they attempt to piece together the events that led to the gruesome and untimely death of the young polish girl, they discover that what was once considered the oldest profession in the world is very much alive and well in the city of St. John's, Newfoundland and its surrounding areas. Suddenly a new realization emerges; these girls aren't just sex workers; they are sex slaves, often held against their will for the pleasure of powerful men who occupy the upper echelons of society.  

Dedicated to the thousands of women and children who are trafficked everyday,  Helen C. Escott crafts a story that is both shocking and gut wrenching.  Told in the third person point of view,  the author does a superb job at providing insight into the backstory of each woman, drawing readers into the plight of each of the female characters and elevating them to real people deserving of our empathy and support.  Whether it's the young mother, herself abused as a child, and now sending naked photos of her 7 year old daughter to her unknown boyfriend in a foreign country or a young Russian teen who has just discovered she has become pregnant by one of her johns,  readers will be sickened but also saddened that such a market exists in our very own neighbourhoods. Though the subject matter is heavy, there is relief!  Throughout the narrative, Escott also weaves the continuing story of Sgt. Nicholas Myra, first introduced to readers in her first crime thriller Operation Wormwood and that of Cpl. Gail McNaughton, whose investigative skills are revealed in Operation Vanished.  The duo and their team of cracker jack investigators are undaunted in their efforts to seek justice and in turn are able to provide closure to the families whose loved ones have gone missing.  Readers will have a hard time putting this book down.

Operation Trafficked by Helen C. Escott shines a very bright light on the heinous crimes that exist when a marginalized group are exploited for pleasure and gain.  Kudos to this award winning author for giving a voice to the voiceless! Operation Trafficked is a Flanker Press Publication.

  

The Stolen Ones by Ida Linehan Young

Yearning to discover her roots, Emma Carter of Boston, Massachusetts is on a quest to discover her biological family using an online DNA service when a pandemic strikes claiming Emma as one of it's earliest victims.  Emma's daughter Darlene and grand-daughter Tiffany are now left to navigate the craziness that plays out before them while trying to deal with the sudden and tragic loss of the matriarch of their now, small family of two.  However, Emma's DNA search has uncovered a wealth of information with a direct connection to ancestors in Newfoundland.  In an attempt to complete her mother's final work of uncovering the mysteries of the past, Darlene and Tiffany travel to the island province in search of answers.  Little do they know that they would be so warmly welcomed by Aunt Ammie and her entire kin and that Newfoundland would begin to feel like home.  As Darlene pours through the century-old journals left by her ancestors Doctors Peter and Mary Nolan,  she begins to form a strong emotional bond with her long lost relatives and begins to unravel other mysteries  yet to be discovered.  The Stolen Ones by Ida Linehan Young is a modern day story of love and loss, heartbreak and healing and provides proof that knowing one's roots can serve as a powerful antidote against adverse life experiences.

Darlene's pasted smile didn't leave her lips as she gazed around the room.  A tall man was helping an old lady from the rocking chair in the corner.  Once she straightened, he let her go, and she scuffed across the kitchen toward them.  Every eye in the room - and there were many - was fixed on them. 

" I'm Ammie," she said as she held out her hand.  "Most folks call me Aunt Ammie or Nana."

Darlene and Tiffany moved forward to meet her.  She didn't immediately take their hands but moved her fingers instead along Tiffany's red hair as her eyes brimmed with tears.  In the coveted silence, Ammie lived out some long-ago memory.  Her eyes changed with the waning intensity of the recollection, and she returned to the present.  "You're the spit of my grandmother, Mary," she said breathlessly.  "From my earliest memories, her hair was the colour of yours." 

Tiffany blushed. 

"There's no mistaking, you're our family," Ammie said with resolution as she held their hands.  Darlene was surprised by the strength of her grip.  She pulled each of them to her and hugged them.

The Stolen Ones is Ida Linehan Young's fourth novel complementing three previous works of historical fiction that were issued the Silver Medal for Best Series - Fiction by the Independent Publisher Book Awards.  Being Mary Ro (2018), The Promise (2019), and The Liars (2020) chronicle the 19th century lives of the fictional characters of John's Pond and North Harbour.  Inspired by a curiosity of the past instilled by her grandparents, this latest piece of fiction by Linehan Young continues to tell the historical tale of Mary and Peter Nolan through the lens of a modern day story.  The author does a superb job at crafting a tale that begins in modern day Boston and then seamlessly moves back and forth from the present day to that of John's Pond, 1878.  Readers will delight in the authenticity of the story and it's main characters Darlene, Tiffany and Aunt Ammie and will likewise be inspired by the tragedy and triumphs of the ancestral Nolan family.  It is this mingling of past and present where the true story unfolds, new questions arise and old mysteries are solved.   

Having read the first three books in the Linehan Young series, I was keen to read the continuing story of Peter and Mary's life together and really enjoyed watching their lives unfold before my very eyes.   I also appreciated the tidbits of factual information researched by the author which are detailed in the historical notes at the end of the novel.   Linehan Young's ability to weave these facts into the fictional storyline is a testament to her love for the culture of her home province of Newfoundland and the rich art of storytelling that was passed down to her by her father and grandfather.  Though not required, I strongly suggest reading the entire series from the beginning and getting to know the wonderful characters of John's Pond and North Harbour. Once you start, each book is sure to captivate you and propel you to finish the series.  The Stolen Ones by Ida Linehan Young is a Flanker Press publication.