Helen C. Escott's Blog: The Helen C. Escott Book Club: A Novel Idea, page 2

A Novel Idea - Valentine's Day Giveaway

Happy Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day, whichever you celebrate.

Remember a box of chocolates is sweet but once you eat them the gift is gone. But a local book can be used over & over again. It's a gift that never gets emptied.

You could win my Galentine’s Day Prize Box!

It is a six book prize pack to share with your favourite gals (or guys) and includes the award winning five book Operation Series and bestseller, We Will Meet Again.

Winning is easy. Friend me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hcescott/

and tag your best friend.  The draw date is Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. Come on, let's be friends.

Valentine's will be delicious with Raspberry White Chocolate Scones

These are the most delicious scones they’ve ever tasted. You can find the recipe at Rock Recipes, my favourite place to look for cooking and baking ideas. https://www.rockrecipes.com/raspberry-white-chocolate-scones/

Ingredients

3 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

6 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¾ cup very cold butter, cubed

6 ounces good quality chopped white chocolate

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries

Instructions

I start these in my food processor because it is so fast but they can be made just as easily in a large bowl by cutting the butter in with a pastry blender or even 2 knifes held between the fingers.

In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Pulse in the cold butter until this mixture resembles a coarse meal. It is very important that pea sized pieces of butter remain in this mixture.

Transfer to a large bowl and toss in the white chocolate.

NEXT

Mix together the lemon juice, vanilla extract and milk.

Pour this over the surface of the dry mixture. Toss all together gently with a fork only enough to form a dough ball. (Note: some people have replied that they needed another few tbsp flour at this point to make the dough form without being too soft. This is not a problem, it very often depends on how the flour is measured.. You could also try not adding all of the liquid at once and holding back a little if necessary.)

When the flour is almost incorporated, add the frozen raspberries.

Frozen berries work best because they are less delicate and easier to incorporate into the scone dough.

It is important that you work this dough as little as possible or the finished scones will be too dense and heavy.

TO BAKE

Roll to 1 inch thickness and cut out scones with biscuit cutter or in triangles with a sharp knife and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

If desired you can brush the tops of the scones with an egg wash of 1 egg beaten together with 1 tbsp water.

You can sprinkle the tops with turbinado sugar if desired but this is, of course, optional.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Baking time will vary depending on the size of your biscuit cutter.

Notes

These scones are intended to be quite soft and tender and perhaps just a little rustic looking. If you find the dough a little difficult to handle the first time you make them, add a little more flour to the recipe next time (up to a quarter cup).

I prefer to use frozen raspberries in the recipe because they chill the dough, making it easier to handle and cut out. This can affect the baking time by a few minutes.

Make sure your surface is well floured before you drop the dough onto it, you can sprinkle a little flour on top before you form it into a circle to roll out. The goal is to keep the dough as soft and unworked as possible. So, while you can add more flour while working the dough into shape, don't overdo it or your scones will be less soft and tender.

Another alternative

Another alternative to cutting out these scones is to make them as drop scones. Just use heaping tablespoons of the dough (as much as you can stack on the spoon) on a parchment lined baking sheet. Try to keep the dough as high as you can at the centre, so they don't spread too much. A cookie scoop is also a great way to handle the dough as drop scones.

Writing Your Biography

What if your life was a movie? Who would play you? What would the plot, and setting be? Would there be conflict, challenges, or a true hero’s journey?

Biographies are not just for celebrities. In your own unique way, you have made a meaningful impact on the world around you and touched the lives of those in your life. In fact, writing your biography is a powerful experience with benefits that go beyond preserving memories for the next generation, although that’s a compelling reason to put some ink to paper!

Your story is worth telling.

The most important benefit of biography writing is the ability to put a traditional story structure on the events of your life by giving them a beginning, middle and end.

But wait! You say you are no Agatha Christie. Don’t worry, all you need is a plan.

Join bestselling author, Helen C. Escott as she shares some tips and tricks that will get you started on capturing your life on paper, to be passed down through generations.

This course consists of a 30-minute slideshow and 20 minutes of questions. Prices are available upon request. To book Helen C. Escott for the Writing Your Biography course – email the following information to: info@helencescott.com

Name: Full Mailing Address:Organization Name:Phone Number:Group/ Class size:Date requested:Other Details:

Have a wonderful Happy Valentine's Day

Give local books for Valentine's Day. No one wants to share their chocolates, but they love sharing books! It is more important than ever to shop local and support local authors.

Get the first chapter of We Will Meet Again free by signing up for my newsletter, A Novel Idea. Tell your friends so they can get the chapter free also.

 My newsletter is full of stories, features, and news on my latest books delivered to your inbox monthly. Plus receive the first chapter of bestselling We Will Meet Again for free here https://www.helencescott.com/

All of my books are available at Chapters and Coles. Online at indigo.ca Apple – iTunes, Nook – (Barnes & Noble), Amazon, and Kobo. Flanker Press -National and international orders can be placed by calling 1-866-739-4420 ext. #26 and at https://www.helencescott.com/

​

A Novel Idea - January-the beginning of anything you want

Read local/ Win the January Prize Basket/ Make some good old fashioned Newfoundland Raisin Buns and get excited - there is a new Operation Crime Thriller coming in 2025

Have you made a New Year's Resolution? Have you broke it yet? We all have, don't worry about it. Now that Christmas is behind us we can exhale and relax a little. The key to setting good goals is making them aspirational and yet attainable at the same time.

My favourite New Year's Resolution is to read more local books. It boosts the local arts community and helps an author make a living. At the same time you get to explore a part of where you live that you did not even know existed.

Take a walk through the local section in a bookstore or shop on line at https://flankerpress.com/ or https://www.helencescott.com/books

Operation Betrayal - The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Starting the new year big!

My ninth novel and the fifth in the Operation Series… Operation Betrayal.

Inspector Myra shines a glaring spot light on how a woman’s home address, economic status, and even her clothes can greatly affect the level of justice she receives.

This psychological thriller is chilling, yet moving when Inspector Myra and the families of the victims, realize the saddest thing about betrayal… Is that it never comes from your enemies, it comes from those you trust the most

Coming in in late summer 2025 from @Flanker Press   #violenceagainstwoman #violenceagainstwomanneedstostop

Win! Win! Win!

You could win the 5-book Operation Series, bestseller We Will Meet Again and a limited edition box of the Chocolate Library of Flanker Press.

To enter join my book club, A Novel Idea at https://www.helencescott.com/

You will get the first chapter of We Will Meet Again for free.

A Novel Idea is full of stories, features, and the latest news on books delivered to your inbox every month.

Share with a friend and enter yourself. The contest runs from January 3rd to February 3rd, 2025.

Newfoundland Raisin Buns

There is nothing like a good old fashioned Newfoundland Raisin Bun with a cuppa tea on a cold January day. When I want to make something delicious I go to local food blog Rock Recipes https://www.rockrecipes.com/newfoundland-raisin-buns/ His buns are better than your mothers.

Newfoundland Raisin Buns

Ingredients

3 cups flour

¾ cup sugar

4 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¾ cup butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup evaporated milk, undiluted

1 cup raisins, light or dark, your preference. Use up to 1 1/2 cups if you like.

2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

I start these in my food processor because it is so fast but they can be made just as easily in a large bowl by cutting the butter in with a pastry blender or just rubbing it into the dry ingredients using your hands like Nan did.

In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

Cut in the butter until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Transfer to a large bowl and toss in the raisins.

Make a well in the center of the dry mix.

Mix together the lemon juice, vanilla and milk. Pour into the well and mix only enough to form a dough ball.

Roll to 1 inch thickness and cut out buns with biscuit cutter and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Baking time will vary depending on the size of your biscuit cutter. This recipe makes 16 tea buns.

Notes

Only use real butter in this recipe. Substitutes can cause issues with sticky dough etc. 

Make sure your surface is well floured before you drop the dough onto it, you can sprinkle a little flour on top before you from it into a circle to roll out. The goal is to keep the dough as soft and unworked as possible. 

I usually sprinkle on flour and fold the dough only about 3 times. So, while you can add more flour while working the dough into shape, don't overdo it or your raisin will be less soft and tender.

Do not roll them too thin; never thinner than 1 to 1 1/2 inches. The larger the buns the thicker I tend to cut them.

Make sure you oven is well preheated and use aluminum bakeware when possible. Steel/alloy pans can carry heat too quickly and like they do sometimes with cookies, spread wider on the pan before they get the chance to lift.

Happy January!

Cheers,

Helen

P.S. Don't forget to follow me on Facebook, X, Tic Toc & Instagram

A Novel Idea by Helen C. Escott

Christmas Recipe/ A new Operation Book in 2025/ TV Options

Merry Christmas detectives!

Why do we read crime at Christmas? Is it for escapism, nostalgia, or the charm of the magical holiday? Christmas is the perfect time to immerse yourself in my gripping novels. The holidays provide relaxing moments and offer time to enjoy some engaging plots. The mystery is the only genre that's a game for the reader and what could be more festive than to accept a fun challenge and solve a murder?

The online book shop is the place to go for the mystery-lovers. https://www.helencescott.com/books 

Operation Betrayed - Coming Fall 2025

Operation Betrayal is the sixth novel in the Operation Series from Helen C. Escott. In this fast-paced crime thriller, she digs into the truth behind violence against woman and the lack of police response.  It shines a glaring spotlight on how a woman’s home address, economic status and even her clothes can greatly affect the level of investigation and justice given to her, even when she is murdered.

In 1995, a twenty-year-old bartender went missing, her body was found three days later mutilated in a most disturbing way and left displayed on a walking trail. Twenty- seven years later, a waitress goes missing and as is found in the exact same position on the same trail. Could the killer still be out there or is it a copy-cat?

Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Inspector Nick Myra puts together a team of experts who reinvestigates historical files of missing and murdered women only to discover there are more victims than they suspected. When details only the killer would know get leaked to the media Inspector Myra and his team are left questioning if the betrayal is coming from within their own force.

This psychological thriller is chilling, yet also moving when Inspector Myra and the families of the victims realize the saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies; it comes from those you trust the most.

The Operation Series has been option for TV and movie by Rink Rat Productions. Published by Flanker Press, it is available at https://www.helencescott.com/books

What do you do with that turkey in your fridge?

It's not a mystery that you need to use up the rest of that turkey after Christmas.

If you are looking for a delicious bowl of homemade turkey soup my go to recipe page is Bonita's Kitchen. She serves up traditional Newfoundland food and her Turkey Soup is to die for.

She gives an on line tutorial to help you step by step. Here is a link to my favourite recipe for turkey soup https://www.bonitaskitchen.com/recipe/traditional-newfoundland-turkey-soup/

Free Chapter - We Will Meet Again

We Will Meet Again is the love story of four generations of women and how they healed their past to protect their future.

Get the 1st chapter free when you sign up for the Novel Idea newsletter at https://helencescott.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I have so much to be grateful for. Thank you for supporting me. As a local author it makes a huge difference. I am lucky enough to meet some of my readers at book signings on courses that I teach and I cherish every encounter.

There is no feeling like meeting a stranger who tells you 'I love your writing."

Merry Christmas and I hope you have a wonderful new year.

Helen

Give Local Books this Christmas

If you are giving books this Christmas, please consider local authors. Local books are a unique gift and add a little something special and different to gift-giving.

One of the best things about books is that they have the power to change our lives. Stories help us realize we aren’t alone in our struggles, give us hope, and challenge us to live better lives.

What other gift does that?

I will be at Coles, Avalon Mall, this Friday, December 6th from 4-6 p.m.

Drop by if you can and pick up a signed copy of any of my novels.

If you can not make it, all of my novels are available at https://www.helencescott.com/books

Thank you so much for your support throughout 2024 and I look forward to publishing my next Operation crime thriller in 2025!

Cheers,

Helen

Giving the gift of reading

I love getting books as gifts at Christmas. They are usually the top three things on my list. Of course, I have a never ending pile of books to read at all times. I have always said, you can't be a good writer if you are not a reader.

You can make someone's reading list even better by giving local books. Here are my suggestions.

We Will Meet Again

We Will Meet Again follows the lives of four women from the Hynes family who learn to turn generational trauma into generational strength.

As the story unfolds each woman reveals a secret that has paralyzed their life.

We Will Meet Again is the love story of four generations of women and how they healed their past to protect their future.

Get the 1st chapter free at https://helencescott.com

Available now at Coles, Chapters, Amazon, Indigo & wherever books are sold.

The Wormwood Duology

On the Day of Reckoning, everyone is called to account for their actions. Award-winning crime fiction writer Helen C. Escott brings you to the thrilling conclusion to the Operation Wormwood Duology with The Reckoning published by Flanker Press.

Wormwood is mutating and criminals are dying as the gripping action draws you in and keeps you reading.

In this astonishing new thriller, Sgt. Myra is back with a vengeance and he is looking for blood. Available now at Coles, Chapters, Amazon, Indigo & wherever books are sold.

Give the Gift of Reading this Christmas

Every 24 December, Icelanders give each other books. Then unwrap them with a tasty cup of hot chocolate. The tradition is known as Jólabókaflóð (Jolabokaflod) or 'Christmas book flood'.

One Icelandic proverb says, “it's better to be without shoes than be without a book” and I could not agree more.

It makes books feel extra-special when they're wrapped up as a present and given with love. And the Christmas holidays are the perfect time to snuggle in and enjoy new books.

The bestselling Operation Series from Helen C. Escott, published by Flanker Press, has been optioned by Rink Rat Productions for film and television.

Rink Rat Productions has produced high-quality programing for over 25 years including the critically acclaimed awarding winning feature film, Maudie.

The series is set in Newfoundland and Labrador and follows the careers of Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Sgt. Nicholas Myra and RCMP Corporal Gail McNaughton.

Pick it up for yourself or for a bookworm on your Christmas list.

Get the Operation Wormwood Duology set from Flanker Press for only $29.99 at https://flankerpress.com/product/the-wormwood-duology or the complete Operation Series for $74.99 at https://flankerpress.com/product/operation-series-box-set

Or pick up a copy now in print at Chapters, Coles, Costco, Indigo, Amazon, https://www.helencescott.com/books 

Author signing - Friday, Nov. 08th at Coles, Avalon Mall

The only thing better than giving a book for Christmas is giving one autographed by the author.

Get to know the author behind your favorite books!

Join Helen C. Escott this Friday, Nov. 08th from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at Coles, Avalon Mall.

We Will Meet Again

We Will Meet Again honours the women of Newfoundland and Labrador who kept the home fires burning as the province lost a generation of men.

We Will Meet Again follows the lives of four women from the Hynes family who learn to turn generational trauma into generational strength.

Pick up a copy now in print or ebook at Chapters, Coles, Costco, Indigo, Amazon, or https://www.helencescott.com/books 

Looking for Halloween Spooky Stories?

Looking for a good Halloween mystery full of murder and intrigue?

There’s a plethora of eerie and supernatural stories written by Helen C. Escott that will make you lock your doors and hide under the covers.

Not for the faint-hearted, these unique reads from Flanker Press are perfect for thriller fans and macabre enthusiasts.

Operation Masonic:  The Mason’s Most Worshipful Grand Master is murdered. His body is laid out in the ritualistic Chamber of Reflection at the Masonic Temple surrounded by centuries of secrets.  RNC Insp. Nicholas Myra and Cst. Donna Whiffen dig through thousands of years of history, secrets, scandals, and symbols in a hunt for the killer. A search that leads them back to the Temple of Solomon and the first Masonic murder.  Rumours of hidden tunnels under churches and buildings in the center of old St. John’s leads to an unbelievable treasure hunt in the heart of the Ecclesiastical Circle that a lot of people would kill for. This is the historical backdrop to Helen C. Escott’s engrossing and well-researched new novel, Operation Masonic. This gripping thriller is exceedingly clever and compellingly truthful.

Operation Wormwood: Book one Duology What if there was a disease that only killed pedophiles? Operation Wormwood is an investigation into this dark world and why evil against the most vulnerable goes unpunished by a loving, all powerful God. Is God truly unleashing his wrath on child molesters or is a serial killer targeting them? Dr. Gillespie and Sgt. Myra race to find answers as the Catholic hierarchy cashes in on the miracle that is bringing people back to the church in droves. Just when you think you know who the killer is, this fast paced, intelligent thriller will shock you when you reach the unpredictable stunning conclusion. Operation Wormwood was a finalist in the 2019 Arthur Ellis Awards for Best First Crime Novel.

The Reckoning: Book Two Duology Sgt. Myra is back with a vengeance and he is looking for blood. Years of investigating horrific crimes has become too much, and Sgt. Myra’s PTSD is intense and out of control. He can’t unsee the images that race through his dreams. Now as he investigates the biggest case of his career, he is in a constant state of fight or flight. The hunt continues for a serial killer who is targeting the most heinous of criminals, making them die a slow, painful death. Sgt. Myra partners with Dr. Luke Gillespie in a hunt for a killer targeting criminal, who everyone wants dead. On The Day of Reckoning, everyone is called to account for their actions. With her razor-sharp writing and inside police knowledge, Helen C. Escott delivers a fast-paced, dark, and ingeniously plotted thriller that confirms her status as one of the hottest Canadian crime thriller authors.

Operation Vanished:  In the 1950s, three young women in rural Newfoundland were sexually assaulted, beaten and murdered. Their killers were never caught. During the same time period an eight-year-old girl disappeared. Her body was never found. These shocking historical cases have haunted the province for decades. RCMP Corporal Gail McNaughton is new to the elite Major Crime Unit. She is assigned a stack of historical cases of missing and murder women and children. Each file has its challenges: witnesses have died, memories fade, DNA didn’t exist. She begins to unravel the murders with the help of Larry Morgan, the archivist for the province and the son of one of the murdered women. Together they come up with a list of suspects who have flown under the radar. People who were beyond reproach. Operation Vanished is a mind-bending sophisticated psychological crime thriller that will keep you guessing who the real killer is. Helen C. Escott weaves Newfoundland and Labrador’s mythology and history into a novel that is anything but predictable. When you least expect it, a ghost from the past returns. Operation Wormwood was awarded a Silver Medal – Best Regional Fiction at the 24th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Operation Trafficked: It is possible to get away with murder if you kill people whose lives are already devalued by society. A spectacular murder in a downtown hotel of a sixteen-year-old girl brings together seasoned police officers Sgt. Nicholas Myra and Cpl. Gail McNaughton in a Joint Forces Investigation. They quickly dive into a twisting, turning breathless race through the $28 billion dollar business of human trafficking. Myra and McNaughton put together a team of experts who investigate this modern-day form of slavery where women and girls are openly sold on the world’s markets. They discover a sophisticated criminal organization that operates with impunity due to vast corruption and hide in the underground hallways of power. They quickly learn it’s not the oldest profession but the oldest form of oppression. When the team learns a seven-year-old girl is up for sale, they race to find her before she is transported over the border and lost forever.  In her most thrilling novel to date, bestselling, award-winning author Helen C. Escott takes you on a lightning-paced, chillingly current, criminal investigation that is surprising at every twist and completely unpredictable right up to its astonishing conclusion.

Pick up a copy now in print and eBook at Chapters, Coles, Costco, Indigo, Amazon, https://www.helencescott.com/books 

Get the Operation Wormwood Duology set from Flanker Press for only $29.99 at https://flankerpress.com/product/the-wormwood-duology or the complete Operation Series for $74.99 at https://flankerpress.com/product/operation-series-box-set

A Novel Idea

The Crime Club

Welcome to Helen C. Escott’s Crime club. This month we are reading and discussing Operation Wormwood on Facebook. Join us at https://www.facebook.com/hcescott

Every Monday during September, I will post a question and answer your questions while discussing your thoughts on this novel.

This fast passed crime thriller asks the age-old question: Why does evil against the most vulnerable go unpunished by a loving, all powerful God?

We will be talking about the story in detail in the comments so if you have not read the book yet, please keep scrolling to avoid spoilers and start ready asap.

Pick up a copy to join in. Available now in print and eBook at Chapters, Coles, Costco, Indigo, Amazon, https://www.helencescott.com/books

Get the Operation Wormwood Duology set from Flanker Press for only $29.99 at https://flankerpress.com/product/the-wormwood-duology or the complete Operation Series for $74.99 at https://flankerpress.com/product/operation-series-box-set

Book Signing

I will be signing We Will Meet Again this Thursday, Oct. 03 from 3-5 pm at Costco in St, John's.

We Will Meet Again – A Testament to the strength of Newfoundland and Labrador Woman. It honours the women of Newfoundland and Labrador who kept the home fires burning during the Second World War while the province lost a generation of men.

While cleaning out the cupboards of her grandmother's home, Ava finds a hidden box of love letters from a Newfoundlander Sailor. It begins a journey of discovery into a generational trauma that becomes generational strength.

We Will Meet Again is available at Chapters, Coles, Costco, and stores throughout the province. Available online at Amazon, Indigo, https://www.helencescott.com/books

https://flankerpress.com/product/we-will-meet-again

Library Book Club Kits

Are you in a book club? Newfoundland and Labrador Libraries offer book club kits. They are available for: The Wormwood Duology: Operation Wormwood and Operation Wormwood:  The ReckoningOperation VanishedOperation MasonicWe Will Meet Again

Each kit is packed in a canvas library bag and contains:10 copies of one bookDiscussion questionsInformation about the author

How it works:The kit is checked out to a single group member who is responsible for all the materials. The loan period is 6 weeks (with one 6-week renewal if no other groups are waiting).

The group member checking out the kit is responsible for returning the kit in its entirety and any replacement costs for missing items, if applicable.

Kits are available to patrons anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador - ask your local library staff about bringing in a book club kit via Interlibrary Loan.​

If you need more information about the kits please see the Book Club Kit Info Guide at: https://guides.nlpl.ca/bookclubs

Social Media:

Let's Get Social

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChQkZrk0-hjSypqZHqMce_A

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hcescottTwitter: https://twitter.com/hescottInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/helencescott/Tic Toc https://www.tiktok.com/@helencescott?lang=en

Learn to Write Fall Courses

This fall, I am offering two fun writing courses for groups, libraries, and schools. See the complete details below.

Writing Your Biography

What if your life was a movie? Who would play you? What would the plot, and setting be? Would there be conflict, challenges, or a true hero’s journey?

Biographies are not just for celebrities. In your own unique way, you have made a meaningful impact on the world around you and touched the lives of those in your life. In fact, writing your biography is a powerful experience with benefits that go beyond preserving memories for the next generation, although that’s a compelling reason to put some ink to paper!

Your story is worth telling.

The most important benefit of biography writing is the ability to put a traditional story structure on the events of your life by giving them a beginning, middle and end.

But wait! You say you are no Agatha Christie. Don’t worry, all you need is a plan.

Join bestselling author, Helen C. Escott as she shares some tips and tricks that will get you started on capturing your life on paper, to be passed down through generations.

This course consists of a 30-minute slideshow and 20 minutes of questions. Prices are available upon request.

To book Helen C. Escott for the Writing Your Biography course – email the following information to: info@helencescott.com

Name:Full Mailing Address:Organization Name:Phone Number:Group/ Class size:Date requested:Other Details:

The Art of Murder – How to Write Crime Thrillers

It has been said that a good crime thriller consists of 25% puzzle, 25% characterization & 50% what the author knows best. From planning the murder to making it believable to solving the crime. Bestselling author Helen C. Escott takes you on a journey through writing that you will never forget.

Put on your detective hat and learn to create a credible hero, villain, protagonist, the importance of an authentic setting, and how to… kill your darlings!

Remember when mysteries were not complete without a butler, a library - the most lethal room in England, a detective & a dinner with everyone in evening dresses? They’re not like that anymore. This is a remarkably interesting and fun class that will encourage budding mystery authors to think about writing in a whole new way.

This course consists of a 30-minute slideshow and 20 minutes of questions. Prices are available upon request.

To book Helen C. Escott for the Art of Murder course – email the following information to: infor@helencescott.com

Name:Full Mailing Address:Organization Name:Phone Number:Group/ Class size:Date requested:Other Details:

The Crime Club Newsletter

Welcome to the September Book Club - We Will Meet Again.

Join me on social media for weekly questions and discussions about my latest novel, We Will Meet Again.

Here are the four questions I will be discussing in September.

We Will Meet Again honours the women of Newfoundland and Labrador who kept the home fires burning during the Second World War while the province lost a generation of men.

Was your family affected by WW1 or WW2?

Did your family lose a loved one?

Did you have a loved one come back ‘shell shocked?’

Do you know what 'shell shocked' is?

In the 1940s women could not open a bank account without the signature of a male relative. Without a bank account, she could not buy a house, rent, or buy a car. She even needed her husband’s permission to work. So, when a woman lost her husband in the war she was left to fight her own war at home.

That is having a ripple effect in our province to this day – because of ancestry tests, people are finding out that their parents are not their parents.

Do you know of anyone who found out through a DNA test that their adoption was the result of losing a father in WW1 or WW2?

How did the wars affect your family?

The idea for We Will Meet Again came to me when I was walking my dog in Bowring Park and stopped at the Fighting Newfoundlander statue. I asked myself – where is the female version of that? The statue to the women who fought the war from home.

Do you think there should be a monument for the women who kept the home fires burning?

Who spent hours working for the war effort – collecting clothes, knitting socks and mitts, writing letters?

Or for the women who lost their fathers, husbands, sons, uncles, brothers, and loved ones?

While cleaning out the cupboards Hadley’s granddaughter comes across a hidden box of love letters from her first love, a Newfoundlander who volunteered to serve in the British Royal Navy. It is only then her family discovers that he died during WWII and Hadley married his best friend.

As the story unfolds each woman reveals a secret that has paralyzed their life. They discover how each of them has nurtured a generational trauma and turned it into a family tradition until one of them turns it into a generational strength.

 

Have you ever dealt with a generational trauma?

Have you also passed it down like a family tradition?

How have you dealt with family secrets and generational trauma?

Do you have any questions or comments about the book? Let’s discuss it.

Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter during September. https://www.facebook.com/https://x.com/hescotthttps://www.instagram.com/helencescott/

We Will Meet Again is available at Indigo, Amazon Books, Flanker Press and https://www.helencescott.com/books