P.D. Workman's Blog, page 46

Questions and Answers – Parks Pat Mysteries

Can you tell me about the series?

Parks Pat Mysteries is a police procedural series, with Métis detective Margie Patenaude investigating, a new Calgary homicide detective, investigating a spate of murders in Calgary and area parks.

Margie is a single mom arriving in Calgary in August/September 2020 in the midst of the covid epidemic, so she has a few things on her plate. She also has a grandfather in Calgary who she reconnects with.

These are quick, easy to read mysteries that are just right for those days when you could use a break from your busy life

What inspired you to write the Parks Pat Mysteries?

I was working on a collaborative project with another author when we came up with a similar idea. That project ended up not going anywhere, but I had already scheduled the time to write it, so I decided to take a run at murders that took place in Calgary area parks on my own. I had been thinking about setting something locally for a while. Most of my stories are set in the USA, which always means doing extra research into those little details like weather and climate, foliage, animal life, and sunrise and sunset times, as well as cultural aspects such as speech/colloquialisms, dress, demographics, jobs/industry, government, and more. Setting a series in Calgary, I could take advantage of my knowledge and experience living here. And I love Calgary parks!

What did you learn when writing Out with the Sunset?

With the stories taking place in Calgary, I didn’t have to do as much research on setting as I have had to in other series. I have also previously written about Indigenous peoples in Canada in Questing for a Dream, so I focused more specifically on the Métis people. One thing I learned was that there are a lot more people with Métis roots than I realized in Alberta, and a lot of people who don’t even know that they have Métis roots.

With this series, I was able to walk through the settings with my husband, scouting out various places where bodies could be found and features of the park that might come into play. I took pictures and immersed myself in the settings. We tried to be careful not to talk too loudly about body dumps or murder around other park visitors, and luckily didn’t have any actual Calgary police officers coming to our door asking what we were up to. In exploring Edworthy Park, we actually came across a Calgary Parks sign itemizing the many ways that you could be killed on the Douglas Fir Trail. How very convenient! Thank you, Calgary Parks.

What does the title Out with the Sunset mean?

I have tried to structure it so that all of the titles in the series say something about a feature of the park they take place in and something about the murder or plot. The victim in the first book goes out with the sunset, and the sky, sunrise and sunset in Fish Creek Park are a big part of its beauty.

Was Marguerite Patenaude inspired by a real person?

Margie is not inspired by any one person. I did a workshop on characterization for When Words Collide in August 2020, and decided to involve the participants in some of the exercises I go through when developing new characters. I indicated that I did not want a main character who was white, and it was one of the participants who suggested that she be Indigenous. I have previously written a Cree character and decided Margie should be Métis. There were also suggestions that she be a single mother, and several other bits that I eventually included.

Will you write more in the Parks Pat Mysteries series?

I have enjoyed writing the series and exploring parks around Calgary, and have written six so far. I think you can expect at least another three in the series.

You were involved in the creation of the Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park?

I was! I have worked for Calgary lawyer Andy Crooks for many years, and one of his long-time clients was the Harvie family, beginning with Neil when he was still alive. We worked with Neil’s four children to help establish the legacy that he had envisioned decades before, protecting the land from urban development for future generations. We helped with the build-out, creating and staffing Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, and getting the initial programs off the ground. As with many of the volunteers, stewards, and neighbours of the park, I consider GRPP “my park.” But it is quite a distance from my house, so I don’t get out there as often as I would like. I recently took part in GRPF’s “Steward an Acre” fundraiser, and sponsored an acre of the park near my murder site in Long Climb to the Top.

How did you deal with covid in the Parks Pat Mysteries? When are the stories set?

The first three books are set in September 2020, one year ago, which is when they were written, and I did take the pandemic restrictions into account, so you will see some unique aspects in the stories. Police detectives and others wearing masks, and the issues that causes during an investigation, NHL playoffs being held in September instead of May/June, and more.

The next three books are set in July 2021, so they include the removal of restrictions by the Alberta government, though there were still masking recommendations in place for Calgary Police Services.

You touch on the issue of residential schools in Out with the Sunset. Why did you address this subject? Was it because of the recent discovery in Kamloops?

The homicide detective in the Parks Pat series is Marguerite Patenaude, a Métis woman. Growing up, Margie saw the impact that the systemic abuses of the Residential School program had on her family. Her grandfather, who features in the story, is a residential school survivor, and his experiences still affect him decades later. He talks with Margie and her daughter about it and warns them about not letting others subvert their culture.

Out with the Sunset was written in September of 2020, before the discovery of the Kamloops graves was announced.

I have been concerned for a number of years about the intergenerational trauma caused by residential schools, living conditions on reservations, and discrimination faced by the Indigenous peoples in this land, and have written about some of these issues previously in Questing for a Dream. It is my hope that my writing can raise awareness and educate readers on both the history and the current conditions of those who have lived these experiences.

If you are also concerned about these harms, I would encourage you to write to your MP (if you are Canadian), encouraging the federal government to follow through on the calls to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in their final report in 2012 and the promises they have previously made with regard to such things as clean water, medical care, and keeping Indigenous families together.

You can also make a donation to a charity that benefits residential school survivors, such as the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

Your books often deal with serious real-life issues like mental illness, addiction and abuse.  Why do you take this approach?

It was my compassion for others and outrage over injustices that pushed me into writing as a way to express my feelings and to tell the stories of the vulnerable and marginalized. These issues will always find their way into my books, no matter the genre.

The topics that I feel the need to tell stories about may be in the news, something I have seen or experienced, or topics that my friends and readers email me about or send me articles on. They have talked to me about EDS, hair strand testing, electric shocks of autistic individuals, medical kidnap, the marginalization of aboriginal youth, and other topics that I’m sure I’m not remembering right now. It is incredibly gratifying to get an email from someone who says “thank you for writing about this” because it helps them not to feel so alone.

It is also so good to hear “I never knew that this was happening. I googled it as soon as I finished reading your book, and it’s a real thing! I couldn’t believe I’d never heard it before.” Because that means I’m doing my job. I’m educating at the same time as I’m entertaining and people are really “getting it.”

What is the most wonderful thing about being a writer?

I love to write and to create. I probably get more joy and satisfaction out of writing a book than my readers do from reading them. I love to explore characters and find out what will happen next. I love to reread them again later.

I also love hearing from my readers and seeing the excitement on someone’s face when they find out that I’m a “real writer.”

Edworthy Park

Hazard of the Hills is set in Edworthy Park.

Created in 1962, Edworthy Park has been around for a while. There are picnic shelters and BBQ pits, plenty of washrooms, playgrounds, and trails. The trails are very popular for mountain bikers as well as walkers. The paved pathways join up with the Bow River Pathway and run all the way downtown to Princes Island Park and farther east all the way to Valleyview Park. It is hoped that one day a path will run from Edworthy to Haskayne Park, Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, and through to Cochrane.

A longtime favourite for family reunions, school class trips, and throwing rocks into the river. Angel’s Cafe is close to the north entrance if you’re in the mood for a dinner not cooked over the campfire.

As a crime writer, it’s nice when you’re visiting a park to get ideas of how to kill your characters, and the parks authority provides you with an itemized list.

Elliston Park

Skimming over the Lake is set in Elliston Park.

Elliston Park is home to Elliston Lake, the second largest body of water in Calgary. There are a couple of walking loops around the lake, an off-leash dog area, playgrounds, including an accessible or inclusive playground, picnic tables, a rose garden, and a sundial. Calgary’s Globalfest Fireworks competition is held in Elliston Park each year.

Home to many waterfowl, from ducks, loons, and gulls to the occasional Canada geese, the park was named after the Ellis family in 1995.

An RC boats group meets here a couple times a week, though meetups were less frequent during covid restrictions.

Valleyview Park

Immersed in the View is set in Valleyview Park.

While Valleyview is the tinniest of the parks so far, it packs a punch, with a pond, a playground, a children’s splash park, beach volleyball courts, baseball diamond, and soccer field, along with a few park benches and picnic tables. There was also a fire pit there for a few months earlier in the year, though it has disappeared again.

Just across 26th Street from the multi-use pathway, leash-free area, and a lookout platform, Valleyview Park is well-used by neighbourhood walkers, runners, and dog-walkers. The red-winged blackbirds, ducks, and a muskrat enjoy the use of the pond, and you can occasionally spot coyotes, foxes, and rabbits in the fields.

The multi-use pathway runs under 17th Avenue to the Max Bell Arena pathways, then over Deerfoot Trail to the east side of the river, past the zoo, and downtown. There is also a connection over Deerfoot Trail beside the Max Purple bus route, then under 17th Avenue/Blackfoot Trail to the Bow River Pathway (west side of the river), through Pearce Estate Park and Inglewood downtown.

Ralph Klein Park

Dark Water under the Bridge is set in Ralph Klein Park.

The Ralph Klein Park is much smaller than the previous two parks in the series, but this little place packs a punch with manmade wetland features, public art installations, a community orchard of apple and pear trees, a unique playground with a zip line, a small platform where children can dip for tadpoles and minnows, and an education center. 

Ralph Klein Park is on the east side of Calgary, and like Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park, opened in 2011. 

It is named after former Calgary mayor and Alberta premier Ralph Klein, who lived to witness its opening and passed away in 2013.

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park

Long Climb to the Top is set in Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.

In 2006, the children of Alberta rancher Neil Harvie sold 3,246 acres of land to the Government of Alberta to conserve the land, fulfilling the vision of their father. At that time, I was working as a legal assistant with Andy Crooks, the family’s lawyer, and had an insider’s view as plans for the park rolled out. I was involved in and present at the park opening in 2011.

I have worked closely with the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (a non-profit organization that handles many of the visitor services for the park) on a number of levels and like many of the stewards and Calgary west/Cochrane residents, considers it “my park.”

As indicated in the title and storyline, the park features some challenging hills. It is a dry park, so when you visit, be sure to bring your water bottle!

Fish Creek Provincial Park

Out with the Sunset is set in Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Fish Creek Provincial Park was established in the Fish Creek valley in southern Calgary in 1975 and is the second largest urban park in Canada, featuring over 100 km of trails for walking, running, and biking. 

It offers Sikome lake, a man-made lake, for swimming. Boating and fishing is permitted on the Bow River and Fish Creek. There is an environmental learning center, a visitor center, aquatic center, and day use picnicking areas. 

It is a great place to go for a campfire, family reunion, or a cooling swim in the summer. It has a wonderful learning center and programs for students.

Most of the park remains in its natural forested state.

The Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization which helps to provide visitor services and many essential functions around the park.

Zachary Goldman Cases 1-4 just $0.99

For a limited time, you can get the ebook containing the first four books in the Zachary Goldman series are on sale for just $0.99.

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From Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author, P.D. Workman!

Zachary Goldman, Private Investigator, is flawed with a capital F.

Shattered by the tragedies of his own life, he will somehow still manage to pick himself up and dig just a little bit deeper than anyone else to find the vital clues.

Maybe being broken makes it easier for others who have faced tragedy to trust him.

Walk with Zachary as he solves four cases that will stretch his abilities to the limit.

Even with his own life in shambles, Zachary Goldman is still the one you want on the case.

A case is only unsolvable as long as it remains unsolved.

This set includes:

1 She Wore Mourning – Private Investigator Zachary Goldman’s life isn’t all roses, but he tries to put his own shattered life behind him to investigate the death of five-year-old Declan Bond.

2 His Hands were Quiet – Hired to investigate the death of an autistic boy in a treatment facility, PI Zachary Goldman is concerned about the therapies he sees there.

3 She was Dying Anyway – Zachary’s ex, Bridget, is determined to discover what happened to her friend… and what was thought to be death by natural causes becomes an active police investigation.

4 He was Walking Alone – Richard Harding was walking alone when he was struck by a vehicle and died. A tragic accident that was no one’s fault. But if that was so, then why was his girlfriend so sure that it was intentional homicide?

Looking for a gritty, contemporary mystery with complex, imperfect characters who will keep you guessing?

Zachary Goldman Mysteries are great for the cozy mystery reader who is looking for something just a little bit edgier, without having to deal with f-bombs and gore.

Investigate Zachary Goldman today!

Back to school with new books

Students are heading back to school soon or are already back. I imagine it is with mixed feelings as they try to navigate not only the usual school stuff, but the possibilities of masking, online learning, and some of the other new challenges they have been going through for the past two school years.

Maybe it’s time to escape into some new-to-you books? Here are some of my books which include teens facing challenges at school.

@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-dc8dfc8 .ugb-img{width:671px;height:auto !important}}Endless Change

She was a broken bird
He was a mender of wings

Parker’s mother always said he jumped into things without thinking first, and that’s exactly what he did when he saw Dakota, cold and hungry, fending for herself on the city streets. How could he ignore the pain and fear in her dark eyes? Dakota was eager to go to school and she made friends quickly, eager to make up for a dismal childhood full of deprivation and abuse by enjoying every moment she could.

But there was something wrong with Dakota. It wasn’t just the hollowness in her eyes or her traumatic past. Others sensed it too and warned Parker not to get too close to Dakota. But despite his questions, he just can’t help falling for her.

Dakota holds her secrets close, and Parker is worried that if he pushes too hard for answers, she’ll just run away.

Placed on the In the Margins Committee Recommended Reads, 2018 by Library Services for Youth in Custody.

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In a genre dominated by kick-ass heroines in post-apocalyptic dystopian worlds, wizards and magical realism, Ms. Workman is carving out her own niche. Her books show us real kids facing scary real-life problems in the modern world. Her work is both an invitation to empathy and a cautionary tale.

@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-cd7551b .ugb-img{width:678px;height:auto !important}}Tattooed Teardrops

Winner of Top Fiction Award, In the Margins Committee, 2016.

I don’t plan on getting in any trouble.

Tamara had thought that when she got out of juvie, things would be easier. But before long, it seems like her life is spiraling into chaos.

If she can’t prove to her probation officer that she is innocent of the allegations against her, she’s going back to prison, and Tamara just can’t let that happen.

Readers will appreciate the realistic details about Tamara’s release, her issues dealing with a foster family, her emotional triggers, and the challenges facing someone trying to maintain the conditions of parole. For those teens who love books where all that can go wrong does go wrong (isn’t that almost all of them?), this is a winner.
– School Library Journal

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-57c45c6 .ugb-img{width:676px;height:auto !important}}Chloe

Chloe had always been the perfect daughter. Diligent, obedient, good at caring for the other children when Mom wasn’t home. She always worked hard and did everything she was asked.

But she couldn’t please her mother and the parade of stepfathers. It seemed like the harder she tried, the worse the abuse got.

Chloe had known for a long time that she was two people. The Chloe who watched and the Chloe who experienced. She had been watching for so long, she wasn’t sure she could feel anything anymore. But if she can’t overcome her past and start living in the real world, she knows she will lose herself forever.

Placed on the In the Margins Committee Recommended Reads, 2018 by Library Services for Youth in Custody.

“I read a lot of books, and often struggle to remember the plot points a few years later. But this is a book that I will never, ever forget.“
—Talena, Amazon Reader

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-f9f8636 .ugb-img{width:677px;height:auto !important}}Toxo

Caleb, an autistic teen is mistakenly arrested.
Bad turns to worse when he is then apprehended from his family by DFS.

His mother could never have predicted the chain of events in a million years.

In trying to protect him, DFS has actually put Caleb in harm’s way.

Once again, Gabriel and Renata have teamed up to right injustice and to get Caleb to safety. But Andrew Searle is on the case, and it’s his job to see that they don’t succeed and that Caleb remains in foster care.

Ripped from the headlines, you won’t want to miss this intriguing plot!

Just like every other P.D. Workman book I’ve ever read, the gritty, raw realism of Toxo does an absolutely incredible job of taking my breath away.
—Britt, Goodreads reviewer

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-934ff42 .ugb-img{width:640px;height:auto !important}}Making Her Mark

Secrets and lies.

When everything changed, Kelli thought she would be happy. But nothing really changed.

Kelli’s life has never been easy. She’s always faced her problems head on. She’s strong and savvy and in charge of herself. All of that is about to change.

Her life is turned upside down when she discovers the secret that her mother has been hiding from her for years.

Kelli thinks this is her one chance at happiness. But is it?

“I cheered for Kellie, hoping she would find the love and validation she always lacked and would finally find peace within herself. If you’ve never tried PD Workman’s novels, then I recommend you do. If you’re already a fan, you won’t be disappointed with this story.”
—Victoria, Goodreads reader

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-a3d1b9d .ugb-img{width:675px;height:auto !important}}Questing for a Dream

Nadie is a bright, caring teen growing up Manitoba Cree growing up in abject poverty. She tries to balance school attendance, caring for her younger cousin Luyu, and spending time with handsome, impish Mouse, her best friend and confidante. Together, they strive to find the path to happiness on the reservation.

But tragedy strikes and Nadie’s is devastated by Luyu’s accidental death. Unable to find comfort in Mouse’s arms or Grandfather’s traditional mourning rites, Nadie leaves the band and strikes off on her own, searching for meaning and a new life in the outside world.

Can Nadie find happiness and a place of her own in a foreign world where she is abused and discriminated against? Completely alone for the first time in her life, it is a challenge such as Nadie has never before faced.

“Easily one of the most thought-provoking and compelling reads of the year, Ms. Workman has written a masterful contemporary account of one native teen’s journey from home and the possibilities for hope even for those drowning in poverty, prejudice, and addiction. Examining hard concepts such as death, rape, abuse, neglect, addiction, and wounds passed down from generation to generation, this story is full of raw emotion that will bring the reader to tears, yet unable to put the smoothly-paced story down. With true-to-life characters both good and bad, Nadie is inspirational. It isn’t because she’s perfect but rather because she is far from it and somehow manages to find the courage in the end to become someone who can help bring her tribe forward. A must-read tale for any book lover!“
Sarah E. Bradley, InD’tale Magazine

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-44df0b3 .ugb-img{width:640px;height:auto !important}}Don’t Forget Steven

Things never have been easy for Steven. He accepts that, and just makes the best of things. He might not have parents or a happy home. Or enough to eat most days. But at least he has a couple of loyal friends who stand by him and help out when they can. At least he has school, someplace he can go to escape the abuse.

But just when he thought things couldn’t get much worse, they did.

Steven is accused of murder. But that isn’t the worst part. The really bad part is not even knowing if he did it.

“Super good book. So full of emotion and so interesting to read about the main character and what he is going through. Beautiful written and a good message.

I just re-read this book and it was still just as good as the first time. I am in love and heartbroken for Steven.“
—Ahsoka, Goodreads reader

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-91102c1 .ugb-img{width:640px;height:auto !important}}Those Who Believe

On the run from Social Services and others who do not understand their beliefs, Nathan and his mom, faith-healer Billie Ashbury move into yet another a new town.

Nathan again faces the challenges of making new friends and of keeping his family’s secrets. But what he really struggles with is his wavering faith and reconciling his actions with what his devoted mother has taught him from the cradle. Could disobeying her ever be right?

His very life could depend on the answer.

“Another look at life through the eyes of mental & physical illness—a boy with all the odds stacked against him“

“I chose this book because it talked about a young boy trying to please his mother and yet afraid his faith wasn’t strong. All the test and trials he went through showed how strong he really was.“

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@media screen and (min-width:768px){.ugb-549c8d8 .ugb-img{width:640px;height:auto !important}}Stand Alone

Is Justine crazy?
Everyone thinks so…

Her mother. The kids at school, and the teachers and administrators too. Even the police who pick her up from her night rambles. Maybe them most of all.

Justine’s therapist says she is ‘troubled’, but it means the same thing. He thinks that her vivid, reoccurring nightmares and atrocious behavior point to some trauma in her past; but Em, Justine’s mother, can’t explain it.

Justine used to have Christian, her best friend and skateboard partner. He was the only one who accepted her. Maybe because skating is the only time that Justine is really free to be herself. Now that Christian is gone… Justine keeps thinking things can’t get any worse.

Even as she sees her life spinning further and further out of control, Justine can’t give up her sense of who she is—someone far different than the loving daughter Em expects her to be—to just fit in and be happy. She is sure that Em secretly holds the key to who Justine really is. But if she does, Em isn’t talking.

The portrayal of Justine felt very true to me. I had a troubled childhood and youth myself and I really identified with Justine’s feelings, words, and actions. Some of the things Justine said and did were things I said and did when I was her age. The characters felt very three-dimensional and real. The story pulled me in and I just had to know how it ended! I swayed back and forth in my opinions about all the characters and was very satisfied with how everything played out in the end.

—Sparrow, Amazon reader

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And don’t forget that I have edited a number of books for home schoolers or family study as well.

Take your time with This Tender Land

Before I start in on my teaser, did you see that I released a new book this weekend? Check out Without Foresight and some other new releases on last week’s blog post. Without Foresight is book #12 in the Reg Rawlins Psychic Investigator series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Things were already bad enough for Reg Rawlins, Psychic Investigator. As if being the target of bigotry and hate crimes wasn’t enough, she fears she may finally be losing her grip on her own sanity.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme. Read the rules and more teasers at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along.

This is my second read by William Kent Krueger. The first was Iron Lake, a story in the Cork O’Connor series.

This Tender Land is not part of the Cork O’Connor series. It is an epic travel-across-the-country-during-the-depression story, with four orphans escaping a residential school and trying to get themselves somewhere safe. I see a few reviewers complaining that it is a children’s story, but it certainly is not. It isn’t a mystery like the Cork O’Connor series. Teens and other YA readers who enjoyed Hatchet, The Journey of Natty Gann, of Huck Finn might enjoy it, but it is not for the very young.

Krueger does a great job of portraying setting, both time and place, and it feels quite real. The narrating character is likable and relatable, and you both sympathize and admire these children who are trying to find themselves a better future. I am only halfway through at this point, but would highly recommend it.

“My Clyde is nothing if not softhearted,” Mrs. Brickman said. “A failing, I fear, when dealing with children who need to be guided with a strong hand.”

William Kent Krueger, This Tender Land

In the summer of 1932, on the banks of Minnesota’s Gilead River, Odie O’Banion is an orphan confined to the Lincoln Indian Training School, a pitiless place where his lively nature earns him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee after committing a terrible crime, he and his brother, Albert, their best friend, Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.

Over the course of one summer, these four orphans journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an enthralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.