New Beginnings - A Collection of Creative Writings from BC Authors

by Erik D'Souza (Contributor)

Everyone has had a New Beginning at some time in their life: births and deaths, leaving home or creating a new one in a strange land, finding love for the first time, or losing it and starting over.

In this book you’ll find many ways humans, and animals, experience transition and change as told by BC writers who vary in age, background, gender, and religion.

What they have in common is their strength and ability to thrive during their New Beginnings.

Thirty-nine authors from British Columbia have contributed the anthology, New Beginnings. All of the proceeds are being donated to SHARE Family and Community Services.

335 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2019

About the author

Erik D’Souza is an author and publisher who lives in Vancouver, BC. He is the co-owner of the publishing company Timbercrest Publishing. Death in Halfmoon Bay is the second novel he’s written and the third that he’s published. Previous titles were: Straight Men in Gay Bars (creative non-fiction/memoir) and New Beginnings (an anthology of BC writers). He organizes and hosts the popular reading sessions, Writers in our Midst, at the Port Moody Library.

All titles are available on Amazon. To learn more visit timbercrestpublishing.com or erikdsouza.com.

Reviews

[Melanie]

This is a fine collection of stories, personal essays, poetry, and flash fiction put out by the Port Moody Writer's Group with the proceeds going to SHARE, an organization that serves a lot of families in need. The anthology circles around the theme of New Beginnings, and the writers' interpretation of that theme. The stories are set in different locations around the world, by a diverse group of authors, the youngest being 12 years old, and the oldest, well past retirement age.

There is clearly talent among the ranks. Some of these authors are much accomplished and are expert wordsmiths. The stories and poems span a wide variety of life transitions, including divorce, death of a loved one, immigration, and starting a new life in whatever capacity and form that takes.

Overall, the stories were enjoyable and entertaining.

Unfortunately--and I hate to even mention this, but I wouldn't be honest if I didn't-- the collection was not well-edited, and sad to say, that tainted my enjoyment of the book. I actually wondered, at one point, if the wrong edition was uploaded and printed because some of the editing errors seemed obvious so that did make me wonder. I wrestled with mentioning this, but perhaps the publisher might want to check that the right edition was uploaded and correct that. I would have given it a four out of five stars, but for the editing issues, so hopefully they can be addressed.

Nevertheless, this is a worthwhile read and with the money going to a charity that helps families, you really can't go wrong.

Oh, one other small criticism, if the Port Moody Writers Group puts out another anthology, I'd really recommend putting the bios after each story. It was bothersome having to flip to the back to read about the author after each story. I'd much rather read about each author immediately after reading the story and before going on the next.

Well done Port Moody Writers.

[Mallee Stanley]

This is a diverse collection of both fiction and non-fiction short stories and poems covering a wide variety of topics and countries. Tales of Russia, East Africa, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Syria, Iraq, India, South Korea, China as well as adventures within Canada from thirty-nine Canadian writers — stories that made me laugh and sometimes cry.

See more of my 5 out of 5 reviews on https://readandwrite.blog/malleestanley/

[Lyn E.]

I loved reading the stories in this book. They were so uplifting, sometimes sad, and always worth the time. I read a story every night before I went to bed, and too fast, it was all done. I highly recommend this book, and hope you enjoy it, too.

[Bella Sebastian-Neufeld]

Amazing book spotlighting Canadian authors!!! Definitely recommend