Allan Hudson's Blog, page 17

Coming soon. Winter Paths - An Anthology

 Monumental. Remarkable. Extraordinary. Historic. Colossal. (Love those words!)

 

Winter Paths

An Anthology.

 

A year in the making and soon to be published, we're anxious to share the good news. 

Available October 31, 2022

 

From the back cover:

Nine writers – Seasonal Collective - from both sides of the Atlantic, including best-selling and award-winning authors, have created a second miscellany of stories.

From the frozen north, across continents, space and time, these stories will mystify, enlighten, intrigue and perhaps bring a tear to the eye.  With a linking theme of winter - in all its guises - experience the warmth of friendly hearts, find companionship and place, encounter battles, uncover secrets, meet ghosts and witness the strength of maternal love.

There’s a story for everyone in this thrilling new collection.

Introduction - Eden Monroe

Snowdrift - Sandra Bunting

Melvin- Pierre C. Arseneault

The Path to Healing - Chuck Bowie

Zebu - S. C. Eston

Marguerite - Angela Wren

The Weight of a Snowflake - Monique Thebeau

The Abyssinian - Jeremy Thomas Gilmer

The Road of Life - Allan Hudson

Click Clack - Angella Cormier

A terrific follow-up to Autumn Paths.

Review of AP by Author Sally Cronin: 

“Although the theme of all the stories is ‘Autumn’ the stories showcase a number of genres including sci-fi, YA, thriller, mystery and dystopian. This provides an excellent collection with something for everyone... and an introduction to genres you perhaps might not read normally. The authors did a wonderful job creating engaging and thought-provoking stories around the central theme.”

 Review by Author MJ LaBeff: 

“The short stories in this collection are a mix of genres, including mystery, romance, historical, sci-fi, and adventure. They share a common theme regarding life’s paths either taken or to be taken. Don’t let the title Autumn Paths mislead you! These snappy, well-written tales are sure to delight no matter the season.”

 

Read more reviews HERE.

 

If you love short stories, add this one to your list.

Or add both!

Watch here for more details.

Winter Paths - An Anthology

 Monumental. Remarkable. Extraordinary. Historic. Colossal. (Love those words!)

 

Winter Paths

An Anthology.

 

A year in the making and soon to be published, we're anxious to share the good news. 

Available October 31, 2022

 

From the back cover:

Nine writers – Seasonal Collective - from both sides of the Atlantic, including best-selling and award-winning authors, have created a second miscellany of stories.

From the frozen north, across continents, space and time, these stories will mystify, enlighten, intrigue and perhaps bring a tear to the eye.  With a linking theme of winter - in all its guises - experience the warmth of friendly hearts, find companionship and place, encounter battles, uncover secrets, meet ghosts and witness the strength of maternal love.

There’s a story for everyone in this thrilling new collection.

Introduction - Eden Monroe

Snowdrift - Sandra Bunting

Melvin- Pierre C. Arseneault

The Path to Healing - Chuck Bowie

Zebu - S. C. Eston

Marguerite - Angela Wren

The Weight of a Snowflake - Monique Thebeau

The Abyssinian - Jeremy Thomas Gilmer

The Road of Life - Allan Hudson

Click Clack - Angella Cormier

A terrific follow-up to Autumn Paths.

Review of AP by Author Sally Cronin: 

“Although the theme of all the stories is ‘Autumn’ the stories showcase a number of genres including sci-fi, YA, thriller, mystery and dystopian. This provides an excellent collection with something for everyone... and an introduction to genres you perhaps might not read normally. The authors did a wonderful job creating engaging and thought-provoking stories around the central theme.”

 Review by Author MJ LaBeff: 

“The short stories in this collection are a mix of genres, including mystery, romance, historical, sci-fi, and adventure. They share a common theme regarding life’s paths either taken or to be taken. Don’t let the title Autumn Paths mislead you! These snappy, well-written tales are sure to delight no matter the season.”

 

Read more reviews HERE.

 

If you love short stories, add this one to your list.

Or add both!

Watch here for more details.

Where Did That Come From with Author Chuck Bowie

 

Let’s welcome Chuck back. Always a welcome and popular guest. Chuck has the distinction of being the first Author to begin the new year of 2022 with the Story Behind the Story. See it HERE.

He’s got something new in the works and his fans (myself included) are anxiously waiting for the next thriller and/or cozy.

 A little twist to this post as we stray from the SBTS, and we get some background on Chuck’s writing.

 

 

 

Where Did That Come From?

-         Chuck Bowie

 

I am what is known as an ‘intuitive writer.’ Actually, it’s not so much what I am as how I write. I don’t operate with outlines, spreadsheets, number limitations (words per paragraph, words per chapter, size of book…). I just sit down, and well, write. There are times when an idea ‘arrives’, but for the most part, I sit at my desk and wait.

Usually, I wait less than a minute.

I write mysteries: Thrillers and Cozy Mysteries. In general, my stories begin with an individual, an event, or a location. This part doesn’t matter to me so much, but it’s always interesting when an inspirational event – from real life – happens along to get my creative juices flowing.

I had mentioned in a previous episode of The Story Behind the Story: SBTS that my first cozy had been inspired by the true story of an inn renovation where a skull, probably from the 1920s had been found between the wall studs. But I have been inspired as a novelist by individuals, events, and locations since I began to write.

 

The Individual

In Three Wrongs, I was working in Romania with a single (Canadian) colleague, and awakened from a dream with a character fully-formed. Donovan, a thief for hire with little to no conscience carried a contract to steal a chalice from a palace in Bucharest, and I was off to the races.

 

A Location

In AMACAT, inspiration came from locations. I had been travelling to France, London, and New York (not to mention Canada), and as my story unfolded, these locations presented opportunities to narrate specific plot elements. A woman being set up for fraud works in London. A stolen cask of wine disappears from Provence, in France. A mask changes hands as it travels from Provence to Montreal, and back to France via a riverboat cruise on the Rhône. In every instance, I believe that the setting inspires and amplifies the story.

 

An Event

Steal It Allpresents a wonderful illustration of how the story behind the story can unfold. I had made lunch for my son, and while we waited to eat, drinking copious mugs of coffee, Jon recounted a CBC article about the Manchester gangs of the 1980s. I borrowed the concept as a major element of a Manchester gang that (ahem!) caught Donovan’s interest.

 

An Individual (Who disappears quickly)

In The Body on the Underwater Road, I introduce a character who features prominently in the first two chapters, and then promptly disappears for the rest of the novel. While in her brief tenure on my literary earth, she sets off a chain of events upon which the rest of the novel hinges. ‘Kill your darlings,’ indeed!

 

So Much Location!

In Her Irish Boyfriend – my wife gifted me with this wonderful title, by the way – we had set out on a grand adventure to England, almost a month in length. At the last minute my son suggested that if we didn’t mind a detour, flying into Dublin would save us several hundred in flight costs. Did we mind travelling to our original thought for a destination? Of course not. Off we went.

We land in Dublin and the kernel of an idea begins to form. Trips to Trinity College and, yes, the Temple Bar District solidified the genesis of the novel. Off we sail across the Irish Sea, into Wales and off to London by train. Crime two is set. After brief jaunts to Bath and Cardiff, we swan off the York, where Crime 3 falls into my lap. By the time we’re back in London, the climax – in Dublin and Yorkshire – writes itself, so to speak. So, location, location…location.

And here is the opportunity cost of being an intuitive writer, as exemplified in the paragraph above. I had sat down a few weeks ago to write Cozy #4. Before I got three words down, the Muse sat on my shoulder, shook her head (I just discovered that my Muse has a gender!) and said, ‘Did you not read Her Irish Boyfriend? Remember the new character, Loic, from the very end of the book? Well, Loic is in trouble. Donovan must go help him. So, thriller now; cozy later. Off you go, Chuck.

 

Anthologies Have Back Stories As Well

Recently I, with a number of my writer friends have begun a seasonal collection of anthologies. Autumn Paths is in the can, as is Winter Paths. Spring Paths is, of course, on my mind, but I digress.

Anthologies can also contain stories behind the stories. In Autumn Paths, I was inspired by the writing of my friend, Allan Hudson, having just read his action thriller, Wall of War. I decided to write a yarn based on my character, Sean Donovan, meeting Allan’s character, Drake Alexander. By melding a common setting: eastern Canada, I was able to bring the two characters together to solve a mystery. So fun.

Winter Paths was quite different. I had been visiting an older gentleman who was housebound. His daily regimen was solidly etched in stone: coffee first, cat food for kitty, lunch, hockey or curling on the TV, late afternoon news, etc. I decided to write a story featuring such an individual together with his regimen. However, I threw a wrinkle into the mix, and watched what happened. I think it is an interesting tale. You should read it.

In fact, reading novels – all stories, really – and imagining the back story can be a satisfying part of the reading process. At least, I believe it to be so.

 

 

Thanks for being our guest this week, Chuck. Wishing you continued success with your stories.

 

 

And a big thank you to our visitors and readers. Feel free to tell us what’s on your mind. Comment box below.

The Story behind the Story with Chantal MacDonald of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

 

I had the opportunity to meet this week’s guest at a book signing in Miramichi, NB. We were both greeting visitors interested in our books and we had an opportunity to chat.
Chantal is a very personable and positive lady, and I'm glad she agreed to share the Story Behind the Story of her debut novel.
Let’s meet Chantal


A teacher by trade, Chantal has a Master of Arts in English Literature from the University of Ottawa. This is Chantal’s debut novel, but she is actively working on a sequel as well as a children’s picture book series. When she’s not writing or teaching, Chantal enjoys baking and traveling with her family. Chantal resides in Moncton, New Brunswick, with her husband and three young children.

 

Title: Hope at the Ocean’s Edge

 

 

Synopsis: 

Is a Fresh Start Finally Possible After a Life-altering Tragedy?

Sadie Jones experienced extreme devastation at only nine years old. Now on the cusp of her high school graduation, Sadie is more than ready for a future that will take her away from the small town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia…

As the year is wrapping up, she catches the attention of a cute lobster fisherman who works down at the local docks. Tom Carter is everything Sadie would want—he’s charming, honest, and hardworking, but will he ever be able to accept her distrust of God?

When a stranger from her mother’s past reaches out, Sadie finds herself poised to experience the culture and adventure she’s always dreamed of, but she also is on the brink of emotional breakdown.
Will she open her heart to God’s plan for her life and will she find hope and love at the ocean’s edge?

The Story Behind the Story: As a child and teen, I was a voracious reader. I preferred books that were wholesome romance or coming-of-age stories to which I could relate. However, as a teen growing up in Atlantic Canada, I had to reside myself to the fact that the books I wanted to read would always have an American protagonist (unless I wanted to reread Anne of Green Gables).

And so, when I set out to write my first novel, my primary goal was to create the kind of book that I would have enjoyed reading as a young adult, but to make it Canadian. The setting—Lunenburg, Nova Scotia—and the East Coast flavour of the story were an incredibly important factor.

I also wanted to write a story for young women that would be hope-filled and encouraging in a world that too-often is the opposite.

So, Hope at the Ocean’s Edge was born.

And born it was, with all the struggle and labour pains that tend to coincide with birth. This novel was written over two years, in the middle of a global pandemic, while being a stay-at-home mom to my three young children (aged 4, 2, and 2 months when I began). Finding time, energy, and clarity of mind to write was a daily challenge, but, little by little, I moved toward the finish line.

I am so proud of the finished product and so excited to be working on its sequel as well as launching the release of a children’s picture book later this fall.

 

 

Website: https://chantalmacdonald.wordpress.com/

 

A question for you before you go, Chantal:

 

What is your favorite part of writing and the part you enjoy the least?

My favourite part of writing is the ability to engage my creative senses and get lost in my characters and their stories. I especially love when I am surprised by what a character does or says. When pieces of story bubble out of me unexpectedly, it feels like my words and characters have autonomy outside of me as the writer—and that’s fun!

My least favourite part of writing is everything that comes after the writing is completed. I believe in the message of my stories, but I don’t love marketing. This part is a challenge for me and, because it’s time consuming, it tends to eat up a lot of the time I would rather spend working on new stories.

 

 

**I think we all feel that way about marketing Chantal. Thanks for sharing TSBTS with us. Wishing you continued success on your writing journey.

 

Thanks to all our visitors and readers. Feel free to leave a comment.

It's Back! Six Great Books - Six Great Authors.

 

“A great novel, rather than discouraging me, simply makes me want to write.” — Madeleine L’Engle, A Circle of Quiet

 

 

Todays posting is back to one of my favorites.

I want to share six great books and six great authors.

I’ve shared some others on the Scribbler and if you’re interested, please go

HERE.

I hope you find something you like and check out their stories.

(Do you have a favorite? Tell us about it in the comment box below.)

 

1

Layers by Zuzanne Belec

 

From Goodreads:

Eight short stories on the power of the human spirit.
Layers is a debut collection of imaginative short stories celebrating life and the human spirit despite the ever-present spectre of melancholy in our lives today. With their distinctive blend of wit and humour, they light up any underlying darkness.

From the Americas to India, from Africa to Europe, and through a range of genres, voices and styles, layers are unraveled, revealing the textures and contrasts of old and new in the environments and cultures of today's fast-paced world.

With vivid descriptions, we are drawn into enchanting worlds with characters that leap off the page, leaving the reader lingering long after the pages have been read.

*This is a great introduction to Belec’s writing. Creative, entertaining, each story is different.  If you like short stories, give this one a read.

 

Zuzanne has been a guest on the Scribbler and if you want to read more, please go HERE.

 

2

Memories on the Bounty by Janet Coulter Sanford

 

From goodreads:

For fans of Tuesdays with Morrie, a memoir of friendship in the face of memory loss, and of preserving one man's story of an incredible year about the replica HMS Bounty.

In 1960, Roy Boutilier and twenty-five fellow Nova Scotians set sail for Tahiti aboard the newly built replica sailing ship Bounty. The ship stayed in Tahiti for almost a year while MGM Studios filmed the epic historical drama Mutiny on the Bounty, starring Marlon Brando.

Roy's year on Bounty and his experiences in Tahiti are themselves the stuff of movies, but it took a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease for Roy and his old friend, Janet Sanford, to realize that his fascinating stories would be lost if someone didn't capture those memories.

So began a series of Monday-morning meetings as Roy and the author embarked on a race against time. Memories on the Bounty goes far beyond re-telling Roy's story; it explores the boundaries of memory, the challenges of storytelling, the pain of saying goodbye, and the enduring bonds between good friends.

With dozens of never-before-seen photos from Bounty's maiden voyage and her time in Tahiti, Memories on the Bounty weaves a heartwarming tale of love, loss, adventure, and deep friendship.

 

*Sanford’s memoir not only recollects the memories and once in a lifetime experience of a younger Roy, but it entertains in the telling of the story and the warm relationship of author and a true friend, before he forgets.

An exceptional debut.

 

Janet has been a guest on the Scribbler and if you’d like to read more, please go HERE.

 

 

3

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

 

From goodreads:

Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife.


Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.

*I read the blurb for this book at a friend’s house and I knew right away I wanted to read it. Couldn’t put it down. Excellent story.

 

 4

Daughters of the Resistance by Lana Kortchik.

 

From goodreads:

A heart-wrenching novel of love, resilience and courage in World War II, from the author of Sisters of War – perfect for readers who loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The German Midwife.

USA Today bestseller!

Ukraine, 1943

On a train from Ukraine to Germany, Lisa Smirnova is terrified for her life. The train is under Nazi command, heading for one of Hitler’s rumoured labour camps. As she is taken away from everything she holds dear, Lisa wonders if she will ever see her family again.

In Nazi-occupied Kiev, Irina Antonova knows she could be arrested at any moment. Trapped in a job registering the endless deaths of the people of Kiev, she risks her life every day by secretly helping her neighbours, while her husband has joined the Soviet partisans, who are carrying out life-threatening work to frustrate the German efforts.

When Lisa’s train is intercepted by the partisans, Irina’s husband among them, these women’s lives will take an unimaginable turn. As Irina fights to protect her family and Lisa is forced to confront the horrors of war, together they must make an impossible decision: what would they be willing to lose to save the people they love?

*I’ve read all of Kortchik’s novels and I’ve never been disappointed. This is a terrific read for WW2 buffs.

 

Lana has been a guest on the Scribbler and if you missed her post, please go HERE.

 

5

Last Winter’s Taken by MJ LaBeff

 

From goodreads:

The murder of Willow Danby, a married woman and expectant mother, thrusts Homicide Detective Rachel Hood into a murder investigation and missing person’s case as she searches for the baby ripped from Willow’s body. The mysterious undertone surrounding the current investigation forces Rachel to reopen a cold case from the previous year. Yvonne Johnson and Willow Danby couldn’t have been more different. Wrong side of the tracks meets white picket fence. The only thing the two women have in common: they’re both dead and their infants are missing.

Even with a long list of suspects to interview, alibis abound, and Rachel is no closer to solving Danby’s or Johnson’s deaths. She worries: where are the children? Rachel’s psychic empathy draws her closer to the taken infants, and she suffers from a haunting premonition. But, how can she be their voice when they are too tiny to speak?

A single clue left at each of the crime scenes links the cases together and leads Rachel to a mystery dating back to the year 1638. Her frightening premonition spirals out of control, but she can’t track the infants’ sobs.

The sinister murders and search for the missing infants reunites her with occult crimes specialist and psychic FBI Agent Nick Draven. Even with his psychic gift of hypersensitive hearing, Nick can’t hear the infants’ cries in the night. Then a mysterious enigma is unearthed for the first time in over 372 years and draws them closer to a modern day sociopath, murdering expectant mothers and taking their unborn children.


*Thriller lovers won’t want to miss this one. LaBeff’s blend of the paranormal and modern day criminal investigation make for a top notch story. It was easy to get lost in this book.




MJ has been a popular guest on the Scribbler and is you’ve missed her previous visits, please go HERE.





6
Senior Management: Parenting my Parents
By Martha Vowles



From goodreads:

At age fifty-five, the author became a first-time parent. Her new charges were reckless, accident-prone, pig-headed, over 80 years old and bigger than her.

In a memoir told with grace, poignancy, and humour, the author chronicles her years of managing the care of her elderly parents as together they slipped into dementia - from a chaotic Christmas, to an addled father who insists on driving, to calls to the police, to trips to the hospital, to a high-priced care facility that lost track of her stepmother.

*An award winning memoir. It was with great pleasure I picked up this book. Vowles story of caring for aging parents is both entertaining and amusing, heart breaking at times. An enjoyable read.


Martha has been a guest on the Scribbler. If you missed it, please go HERE.



Thank you for your stories!






Thank you to all who have visited. I hope you’ve found something of interest.

The Story Behind the Story with Jane Risdon of Great Britain.

 

This week, we welcome Jane back to the Scribbler. She was a featured guest recently with a short story in our SHORTS pages.

She was a guest last year when she talked about her stories and if you missed it, please go .

Today she’s going to tell us the Story Behind the Story.

Read on, my friends.

 

 

 

Jane Risdon is the co-author of ‘Only One Woman,’ with Christina Jones (Headline Accent) and ‘Undercover: Crime Shorts,’ (Plaisted Publishing), as well as having many short stories published in numerous anthologies. She writes for several online and print magazines such as Writing Magazine, Electric Press, and The Writers’ and Readers’ Magazine.

She is a regular guest on international internet podcasts including UK Crime Book Club (UKCBC), Donnas Interviews Reviews and Giveaways, and on radio shows such as theauthorsshow.com, chatandspinradio.com, and The Brian Hammer Jackson Radio Show.

Undercover: Crime Shorts is being used by Western Kentucky University, Kt. USA, in an Introduction to Literature Class, for second year students from Autumn 2021 for the foreseeable future.

Before turning her hand to writing Jane worked in the International Music Business alongside her musician husband, working with musicians, singer/songwriters, and record producers. They also facilitated the placement of music in movies and television series.

Earlier in her career she also worked for the British Ministry of Defence in Germany, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London.

Working Title: The Matryoshka Files: A Lavinia Birdsong Investigation

Book 2 in my series featuring former MI5 Intelligence Officer, Lavinia Birdsong.

 

 

Synopsis: MI5 Intelligence Officer Lavinia Birdsong was given the option of taking voluntary retirement or face the sack and loss of her pension after twenty years working her way up the Security Service. She’d had her eye on being the third only ever, female Director General but all that went south when she chose retirement.

Determined to inveigle her way back into MI5 and to find out why she was given the elbow — after a year she still hasn’t a clue why she was given the ultimatum upon return from a joint MI5/MI6 operation in Moscow — she’s already investigated and solved the case of a missing woman in her locality, but without any indication from her former boss that he would give her even the slightest hope of reinstatement, and despite aiding MI5/MI6 to track down and capture Russian Mafia (Bratva) and Pro-Russian Ukrainian Separatists, Lavinia’s aspirations of working at Thames House again, seem a distant dream in the first of my series, Ms. Birdsong Investigates: Murder in Ampney Parva.

When her home is broken into a year later, and sensitive USB files are stolen from her ultra-secure safe — which operates with a scan of her thumb print — and her young cleaner, Mercy Farthing mysteriously disappears at the same time, Lavinia finds herself investigating everyone around her. Things get dangerous for the former Intelligence Officer, and for her colleagues, as they try to help her find out who has her files and why. Bodies are mounting up; the pressure is on, and time is running out.

The Matryoshka Files will be dynamite in the wrong hands.

 

 

The Story Behind the Story: Since I was old enough to take adult books out of the library I’ve read authors of crime, thrillers, mysteries, and espionage. From Agatha Christie to John Le Carrè, Stella Rimington, Frederick Forsyth, Leslie Thomas, Mickey Spillane, Michael Connolly, Peter James, Kathy Reichs and so many others, I’ve devoured their writing. I dreamed of writing, and I hoped one day I could write similar books.

Before my career in the International Music Industry, working with musicians, singers, songwriters, composers, record producers, and facilitating the placement of music on Movie and TV soundtracks, and my marriage to my musician husband, I worked for Government departments as a Civil Servant.  Not my first choice of a career, I wanted to be a War Correspondent, but my family moved to Germany before I could realise my dream.

My first position was with the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), in Germany in the late 1960s, on an army base which was in a village at the heart of the flooding resulting from the bombing by the Dam Busters in World War Two. It was a fascinating experience.

I also lived in Germany from 1957-1960 and we lived on very secure army base, not far from bomb sites, and we children had an armed guard taking us to and from school. The War was still very fresh in evidence around us. We were warned about the Russian Secret Police who hung around in bars not far from the gates of the base, hoping to kidnap or entice British soldiers into defecting.

Our regiment was there as part of the protection afforded Germany against the Soviets. We were a Guided Missile Regiment — we had weapons with us to act as a deterrent. At first, we were not welcome, understandably.

Upon arrival in Germany, by boat, the families were stranded on the boat for hours because of demonstrations against us by Germans. We eventually disembarked on to coaches to take us to the railway station where we were to get trains to Dortmund where we were to live. However, once on the coaches, demonstrators blocked our way, rocked the coaches side to side and generally terrified us all. After a few more hours, we were able to make our way to the train. More demonstrations and frightening behaviour before we boarded the trains and when we arrived in Dortmund.

Welcome to life in Germany in the later 1950s. We were spat at in the street, chased by women with brooms shouting, ‘go home Englander,’ and prams were overturned with babies in them. An interesting time. But eventually we kids played with German kids on the bomb sites and had quite a fun time. I met black American GI’s and their children with whom I played. Having just left Singapore, where I lived as a toddler, and where we mixed with Chinese and native Singaporeans daily, it just goes to prove kids are kids and will get on with being mates without any prejudices or political awareness.

During my time there in the late 1960s I met and worked with many local Germans — and was entertained in their homes — with whom I’ve made life-long friends. The Sergeant’s Mess was situated in the building where Nazi, Herman Goering, gave many of his speeches. The whole area is steeped in history and my imagination ran riot.

I met people from Eastern Germany who had escaped in hay carts under a hail of bullets, and families who went to Berlin and the Berlin Wall, every Christmas, to see if the names of their brothers and fathers were on lists provided by the Russians, of German soldiers — prisoners of war — who were being released from Siberia, or who had finally died. These soldiers had often been taken as teenagers in the middle of the night by the Hitler Youth to join their organization. Their families were forced to allow them to go under pain of death. I soaked up all these stories; one day I might use them.

I transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall and found myself in paradise. Not only when the ‘Swinging Sixties,’ was at its height, but the Cold War was too. When I first lived in Germany the Berlin Wall didn’t exist. When I lived there in 1968 its consequences dominated Germany.

Working at the FCO during the Cold War was manna from heaven for a would-be crime and espionage writer.

Those who have read about my life before will know that I worked there at an amazing time. The person who Positively Vetted (PV) me regularly, from Special Branch, was a commander who had tracked down and arrested the Soviet husband and wife spies, Peter and Helen Kroger, who were in fact Americans. They were part of the Portland Spy ring, and my ‘Vetter’ would tell me about them and others he’d been involved in bringing to justice.

Whilst I worked there, over one hundred Soviets were expelled from their London Embassy on suspicion of spying. Moscow then expelled a similar number of our Embassy staff in retaliation.

I worked in a section which dealt with people alphabetically, and one such person was our Ambassador to Montevideo, Uruguay, Geoffrey Jackson. He was kidnapped by extreme leftwing guerrillas — known as Tupamaros guerrillas — during my time and spent eight months in captivity before a ransom was paid for his release. The FCO worked day and night to keep his family, and everyone updated, and to strive for his release, which, for a young aspiring writer was mind-blowing.

All this inspired my Ms. Birdsong crime series, although I don’t draw upon actual events and her stories are more current. I have always been fascinated by Mafia, whether it is Italian/Sicilian or Russian, and the workings of MI5 and MI6. The FCO in the 1960s meant the Security Services worked closely with the department. I loved it.

Today, MI5 and MI6 are often involved in operations involving ISIS, Russian, and other Mafia, and Organised Crime Groups, and it is this area I have researched for Ms. Birdsong. As the series expands, I am planning to delve further into espionage, but for now her stories are about MI5/MI6 and Organised Crime and how its activities finance rogue states and fighters such as Pro-Russian Ukrainian separatists. I began this series long before Russia invaded parts of Ukraine.

My series, Ms. Birdsong Investigates has been a joy to write.

Book one — ‘Ms. Birdsong Investigates: Murder in Ampney Parva,’ is in with my agent.

Book two (being rewritten now to accommodate changes at MI5 and in Ukraine) is called ‘The ‘Matryoshka Files: A Lavinia Birdsong Investigation’.

Book three is also being re-written for the same reasons, updating. It is called, ‘The Safe House’: A Lavinia Birdsong Investigation.

My agent is patiently awaiting books two and three. I need a clone.

If my crime writing interests you, please check out ‘Undercover: Crime Shorts,’ and various anthologies for which I have written. I’m a multi-genre writer so you will find a mix of genres in them as well as crime stories, and of course, my co-written novel with Christina Jones, ‘Only One Woman,’ is about life in the late 1960s UK music scene, with a love-triangle at its heart.

 

Thanks, Allan for inviting me to share my ‘Story behind the Story.’ It has been a blast.

 

Website:   https://janerisdon.com

 

 

A question for you before you go, Jane:

What is your favorite part of writing and the part you enjoy the least?

I wish someone could type it all up for me. I hate typing it all. But, most of all I hate editing. My own edits to begin with, then waiting for an editor to send their findings back. It’s such a big delay in getting the story out there.

 

 

 

 

It’s a pleasure having you as a guest, Jane. Thanks for sharing the SBTS.

 

 

Thank you to all our visitors and readers. Feel free to tell us what‘s on your mind in the comment box below.

The Story behind the story with Kathy Roberts of Ontario, Canada.

 

Let’s welcome Kathy Roberts to the Scribbler. 

 One of the fun parts of having a blog dedicated to authors and stories is sharing new authors to my readers. 

Kathy has kindly agreed to tell us more about her work.

 

Read on!

 

 

 

I have always loved books, and although I was a corporate restructuring and e-commerce lawyer for 15 years, I was always writing. I wrote a children’s book in high school, my first novel when I was Articling at a law firm (which looking back now seems crazy), and I’ve been writing novels ever since. I just got an agent for my last book, so stay tuned!

 

I live in Toronto with my husband, two children, and my very quirky, but adorable dog. I love travel, any sporting event, time with friends and family, cinnamon rolls, and a cold beer in a frosted glass.

 

 

Working Title: Six Minutes

 

Synopsis: Three very different people witness the same horrific event on their way to work. Their lives shaken, each struggle, confused by the past and the decisions they have made. Spanning three years, the story unfolds through each character’s viewpoint of the same events.

 

And then, just as they seem set to move on with their lives, something even more shocking occurs that redirects their paths yet again.

 

Though this tale underscores how alone we can be in our perceptions, and how little we can control our reactions; it also reminds us of the depths of strength and courage we can find to battle through it all and build bridges between us.

 

 

 

The Story Behind the Story: All of my novels begin with one idea, and Six Minutes started with the simple question, “Do we ever really know the truth behind why something happened?”

 

This question hit me when I was driving alone in my car and heard on the news that a small boy had died after falling from a balcony. The story was upsetting, and I realized that I would probably never hear an update or learn what had happened. And then I realized that even the people who were in the apartment, or knew the child, may never know exactly what happened.

 

Six Minutes is really a story about how an event can shape our lives, or more accurately, how our perceptions of an event can shape our lives.

 

 

Website: www.kathyroberts.ca

 

 

 

A question for you before you go, Kathy:

 

What is your favorite part of writing and the part you enjoy the least?

 

My absolute favorite part of writing is watching the characters take life. I just start with an idea, so even I don’t know the characters when I first start writing, and I just love getting to know them.

 

I find the isolation of writing challenging. I miss getting out of the house, having colleagues, and being part of a team. Also, sometimes it’s tough to measure productivity, like when I’ve been working for 4 hours and have 2 sentences to show for it. I know it’s because I was doing research, or plotting out other chapters, or editing other sections, but sometimes hours fly by and it just doesn’t feel like I got much done.

 

Thank you for being our guest this week, Kathy. Wishing you continued success with your writing journey.

 

 

 

And thank you, dear readers and visitors, for stopping by. Feel free to leave a comment. We are always happy to hear from YOU!

The Story Behind the Story with Award winning Author Martha Vowles of Grand Bay-Westfield, NB, Canada

 

Our Guest this week has made a real splash with her debut novel which has gone on to win the prestigious Best Non-Fiction in the NB Book Awards. 

I’ve had the opportunity to read Martha’s fine book and I enjoyed it tremendously. 

The Scribbler is pleased to have Martha as our guest this week. 

Read on, my friends.

 

 

 

Martha: I grew up in a rural community in Quebec, along the Ottawa River. I was surrounded by nature and a  wonderful mélange of Quebecois and Celtic culture. A retired speech-language pathologist, I now live beside the St. John River, with my husband and a household of rescued dogs and cats. I devote much of my time to writing and gardening. I’m currently working on a second memoir, a collection of poetry, and I have a novel on the back burner, next to the stew pot.

 

 

Title of my first book: Senior Management: Parenting My Parents (published in April 2021 by Nevermore Press, Lunenburg, NS)

 

 

Synopsis: This is the story of how, at the age of fifty-five, I became a parent for the first time. My charges were reckless, accident-prone, pig-headed, out-of-control, over eighty years old, and bigger than me. In my book I chronicle the roughly seven years I spent trying to ensure the safety and well-being of my father and stepmother, as they both slipped into dementia. The story takes the reader on a journey from a chaotic Christmas, to the shenanigans of an addled father who insisted on driving long after he had lost his license, and to a high-priced care facility that lost track of my stepmother.  

 

 

 

 

 

The Story Behind the Story: My parents lived in Quebec, over a thousand kilometres from our home in New Brunswick, so I wore a rut in Highway 7 and the Trans-Canada going back and forth to deal with one crisis after another. The phone calls and text messages from my parents were constant and they always resulted in a need for me to spring into action. One of my coping strategies was to write about these events and post them on social media. My friends would respond with concern and support, but more importantly, with laughter. Apparently, my tales of woe came across as humourous. I discovered that I loved to write and share my stories, and I loved to elicit an emotional response, particularly laughter, in the folks reading my posts. In the course of those seven stressful and chaotic years, a number of people told me I should write a book. My husband, Bill, strongly endorsed the idea. Then I met Author Gerard Collins at a writing retreat he hosted not far from our home, and I presented the idea to him. He thought it had merit and, fortunately for me, became my mentor and a dear friend. 

 

 

Website: https://riverandbunions.ca/

 

A question for you before you go, Martha:

 

What is your favorite part of writing and the part you enjoy the least?

 

As strange as this might seem to some people, my favourite part is editing and revising. That’s the stage when you already have the blueprint for the story. What’s left for the writer to do is to whittle, refine, and polish. I love reading a paragraph and thinking, “I know how to make that better.”

 

The part I enjoy the least – hmm. I enjoy the whole process, so it’s hard for me to answer this. I think my lowest moment was when I had the actual book in my hand and found two typos in it that we had all missed, despite the many pairs of eyes that had looked at the final version before it was sent to the printer.

 

 

 

Thank you for being our guest this week, Martha. Congratulations on your award. Wishing you continued success.

Thanks to my visitors and readers. Please leave a comment.

The Story Behind the Story with Author Darlene Foster of Alberta, Canada.

 

 

The Scribbler is most fortunate to have Darlene Foster back. A charming and incredibly friendly lady.

If you missed her previous visit, please go HERE.

 

I invited Darlene to share her Story Behind the Story and I’m happy she agreed to be our guest this week.

 

Read on, my friends.

 

Darlene Foster grew up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, where her love of reading inspired her to see the world and write stories. She is the author of the exciting Amanda Travels series featuring spunky Amanda Ross, a twelve-year-old girl who loves to travel. All ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another in unique destinations. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her books, Darlene relaxes at her home in Spain with her husband and rescue dogs, Dot and Lia.

Working Title: Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral

 

 

 

Synopsis: Amanda is in love! With Paris – the city of love. She’s in awe of the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. While there, she gets to work as a volunteer and stay in a famous book store, along with her bestie, Leah, and Leah’s eccentric Aunt Jenny. A dream come true for a book lover like Amanda.

Except, while she’s at the Paris Opera House there is a bomb threat. Then the lights go out during their visit to the Louvre. Worst of all, a devastating fire blazes in Notre Dame. Why does a mysterious man, who claims to be a busker, writer and artist, show up every time something bad happens?

 

Join Amanda as she explores the exciting streets of Paris, the fabulous Palace of Versailles, and the gardens of the painter Claude Monet, all the time looking for clues as to who would want to destroy such a beautiful, historic cathedral.  

 

 

 

The Story Behind the Story: My dream to visit the romantic city of Paris came true when we took our dog on a road trip to visit friends living on the outskirts of the city. Paris, and the surrounding area, was everything I imagined it to be and more. Our friends kindly took the time to show us around this fabulous city as well as Monet’s gardens in Giverny and the amazing Palace of Versailles. I was so excited and knew it would be a perfect setting for Amanda’s next adventure.

 

While there, I visited the famous book store, Shakespeare and Company, and learned about their Tumbleweed Program where book lovers and writers can actually stay at the book store in return for volunteering there. I knew Amanda would like that.

 

A year later I sat in front of the television sobbing as I watched Notre Dame Cathedral burn. I knew immediately I had to include this terrible event in the book.

 

Amanda in France: Fire in the Cathedral will be released September 13th, 2022. It is available for pre-order. A free digital ARC can be requested for review from NetGalley.  http://netgal.ly/eLELmj

 

Website:http://www.darlenefoster.ca/

 

 

 

A question for you before you go Darlene:

 

What is your favourite part of writing and the part you enjoy the least?

Doing the research is my favourite part as it usually involves travelling to the location the story will take pace in. Since I enjoy visiting unique locations, historic sites, old churches and cemeteries this is no hardship for me. I also love trying out the local cuisine and learning about the culture which I try to incorporate in the story. Part of my research is people watching, something I can do all day. Later, when I am back home with my notes and pictures, I start writing the story and am able to relive my experiences. I also enjoy researching things on the internet, although I do get lost down some rabbit holes at times.

I didn’t used to like the editing part of writing. When I am finished a project, I like to move on to the next one. But I soon learned how important editing is and how you need to go over each manuscript numerous times until it is as error free as possible and good enough to be published. I once said to my husband as I went through a book for the twentieth time, “It’s a good thing I like these stories as I almost have them memorized by the time they are published.”

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to be a guest on your blog, Allan.

 

 

 

It’s my pleasure to have you return Darlene and thanks for the SBTS for your latest work. Wishing you continued success with your stories.

Thanks to all you readers and visitors. Please feel free to leave a comment for Darlene and the Scribbler.

The Story Behind the Story with Phyllis Humby of Ontario, Canada.

 

 

I had an opportunity to read Phyllis’ debut novel, Old Broad Road   and I enjoyed it tremendously. She’s published her second novel - On The Rock - a sequel, and is our guest today. She’s going to tell us about her books.

I hope you’ll take the time to visit her website (URL below) and read more about this talented author.

 

 

 

Phyllis Humby lives in the municipality of Lambton Shores, Ontario, Canada. Although her passion is crafting novels, her short stories, often scheming, twisted, or spooky, appear in anthologies and journals in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, she has won national awards for her stories and appeared as a Fringe reader at Eden Mills Writers’ Festival. She is the author of Hazards of the Trade - Memoir (Crossfield Publishing 2020), and novels Old Broad Road (Crossfield Publishing 2020) and On The Rock, a sequel to Old Broad Road (Crossfield Publishing  2022).

 

Working Title: Old Broad Road/On The Rock

 

Synopsis:

The rugged East Coast seems like the perfect refuge for Sylvia Kramer, but life isn’t perfect. This two-book series set in Newfoundland and Labrador begins with a woman in her mid-to-late sixties who flees her elite urban lifestyle in Toronto following a shocking revelation. A psychological roller coaster of tragedies, betrayals, even violent assaults leads to unorthodox coping mechanisms, but it will take more than out-of-body experiences and superstitious tattoos to heal the damage. Despite the trail of disasters in her wake, Sylvia keeps doing what she loves: hosting lively parties, supporting her community, caring for her loved ones, and cooking outrageously good meals. The large and memorable cast of Old Broad Road and On the Rock will take you on a journey through heartbreak and laughter, flirtation and affairs, new beginnings and bittersweet endings.

 

The Story Behind the Story:

Without the setting, Old Broad Road and On The Rock wouldn’t exist. Newfoundland is the most important character in these books.

The youngest of six, I was the only family member not born in Nova Scotia. Ontario was my home but the Maritimes remained close to my heart. Then I married a Newfoundlander. During a visit to my husband’s birthplace I fell in love. To someone from Ontario, it seemed like a different world. Newfoundland and Labrador was like nothing I’d ever experienced, yet at the same time I felt very much at home there. The culture, cuisine, and dialect were wonderful, yet unfamiliar. I suppose it was these contrasts that inspired the niggling of a story. Then, of course, I imposed mayhem and volatility, and the protagonist Sylvia Kramer began to take shape.

I’m often asked if it had always been my intent to create a two-book series, but the thought hadn’t entered my mind as I was writing Old Broad Road. If was only after the early readers of my manuscript encouraged me to write a sequel that I began On The Rock. Admittedly, I didn’t need convincing. We were all reluctant to let go of the characters.

It’s difficult to pin down the genre of these books. They’ve been categorized as Drama, but I believe the genre is Life: the experience of happiness, tragedy, love, and loss.

Readers ask if they have to read Old Broad Road first. I respond that though On The Rock was written as a standalone book, if they plan on reading both books – and why not? – they might as well begin with Old Broad Road to learn how the first three years in Newfoundland influenced and shaped Sylvia’s identity.

Old Broad Road and On The Rock are available for purchase through your local bookstore and online at Amazon. They are also available through your local library!

 

Website:https://www.facebook.com/PhyllisLHumbyAuthor

 

 

A question for you before you go, Phyllis:

What is your favorite part of writing and the part you enjoy the least?

The entire writing process excites me. I love to create unique characters with realistic flaws and insecurities. Invariably they take over the story and it’s all I can do to keep up as they brave the difficulties of life. Every aspect of penning a novel is gratifying, even the research needed to create a credible and ‘true’ story. I would say that the hardest part for me is typing The End. That generally involves tears.

Thank you for being our guest this week, Phyllis and for your stories. All the best in your writing journey.

And thank you to our readers and visitors. Feel free to leave a comment.