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Penny Benjamin

Linked

Benjamin, Penny, author

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Questions for Penny

Q: What is one thing you want people to know about your book?

A: I grew up reading many types of fiction books, however I always felt confined. If I read more than one book at a time it could be confusing yet sitting through a historical novel or contemporary novel could sometimes seem to drag on. It could be I was just the type of person whose attention was often wandering. I wondered if there was a way to break loose of those standard preconceived genres and combine different genres so that the reader wasn’t limited to one journey but instead multiple journeys within the story.

Linked is written to take the reader through many different settings. Set in a contemporary time, the main character Emma is enveloped in a world of the past, bringing a historical presence and new characters to the story. The paranormal aspect is brought in when the reader realizes that all these worlds are connected through dream states and past live connections.

I wanted to create a book that was entertainment for any type of reader and hopefully I have managed to entice the contemporary to the historical and visa versa.

Not all my books may be dedicated to multiple genres, but I do hope that readers will open each book without having a pre-set notion of where or when the story may take them.

Q: Why did you become a writer?

A: We live in a hectic world. Many of us live high stressful lives and high stress jobs. Childhood to adulthood, we could all use an escape. I was no different. From the time I was little I sought out and found different means of escape. At first, I would disappear on horseback, then when that escape became a chore, I escaped into song. When I was no longer able to sing, I turned to poetry and when what I wanted to say could not be held in the lines of a poem, it became a book.

I had always been an avid reader, escaping into many stories to free my mind. It was family that gave me the courage to get my stories out to an audience so that may escape for a while too.

Q: Do you have any advice for new and upcoming authors and illustrators?

A: Write. Draw. Do what you love, even if in the beginning it is only for yourself.

Some of the best drawings and stories may never even be shared. They may be secreted in the hearts of their creators.

If you can find solace in doing what you love, then there will be a time when you want to share what you love with the world, no matter how terrifying and difficult it may be. Never give up, and always remember you did it for love.

Lance Dyjur

The day I learned to ride my bike

Dyjur, Lance, author, illustrator

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Questions for Lance

Q: What is one thing you want people to know about your book?

A:  This book is a true story about my experience growing up dealing with anxiety and depression.  I never learned to ride a bike until I had my own kids and wanted to teach them.  I wanted to teach them not only to ride a bike but to conquer fears.  To learn that anything worth doing doesn't happen over night.  It takes practice. 

Q: Why did you become a writer?

A: I always wanted to write a children's book since I was a teenager.  The lock down of 2020 was the prime time to do so.  I sat down and the story came to me over the course of 2 days and the illustrations over the course of 6 months. I am so very blessed with the gift of writing. 

Q: Do you have any advise for new and upcoming authors?

A: Yes.  If you have an idea.  Just write. Let it flow out of you.  Keep writing until you have something that you can build on and finish.  Most importantly, believe in yourself.  You are destined for great things :) 

Tom Gray

Behold : a collection of Canadian poetry

In the mist : a collection of Canadian short stories

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Questions for Tom

Q: What is one thing you want people to know about your writing?

A:  I am not a novelist; my fiction has appeared online and in anthologies.

Q: Why did you become a writer? 

A: I enjoyed English classes in high school and university and was curious if I was good enough to be published. I took a non-fiction writing course and most of the lesson assignments sold.

Q: Do you have any advise for new and upcoming authors?

A: Write a lot, edit and polish later. 

Charlotte Sloan

Dot on the prairie

Sloan, Charlotte Evelyn, author

Something to say

Sloan, Charlotte Evelyn, author

Sure as the river

Sloan, Charlotte Evelyn, author

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Q: What is one thing you want people to know about your writing?

A: I want my readers to know my books are all about people. In my prairie books, readers meet Liz, a patient for many years at the hospital for the mentally ill. She will give them advice, starting with, “I’ll tell you what!” They will also get to know the motherless Cleaver kids, wish they had grandparents like Stanley and Bessie Fiske, and for just a while, they’ll be transported back to the simpler, harder times on a Canadian prairie farm in the 1950s. They’ll miss the characters when they turn the last page and close the book. I write about the laughter and tears that are packed in between those two basic human events- saying hello and saying goodbye. Each book has a solid theme and is intended to be inspiring. My hope is that my readers receive joy in the experience, and that they become a little more empathetic and more caring towards others, with a determination to “do better”.

Q: Why did you become a writer? 

A: I write because there is nothing quite as satisfying as transforming a story from your mind into a written form to offer as a gift to your readers! I learned the joy of storytelling from my mother. Whether she was milking cows, churning butter or baking bread, we could count on a story. She read good books to us as we sat around the wood heater on winter nights. From her I learned the wonder of words and their emotional impact. I also write because I love the connection with my awesome readers.   

Q: Do you have any advise for new and upcoming authors?

A: “Just go for it!” If you have the desire to do it, you probably have the ability! A framed quote on my office wall: “The worst enemy to creativity is self doubt.” Lack of self confidence has been a huge hurdle for me. When it’s time to publish, I get cold feet, convincing myself that what I’ve written is pure “junk”. With encouragement from my team, I fling out a book with fear and trepidation - and wonder of wonders - the readers love it! So, I then take my courage in hand once again, and write the next one! Don’t waste time doubting yourself. Just get started, enjoy the journey, and see where it takes you.

Susan Carter

I'm fine : a bathroom book for seniors

Carter, Susan (comedian), author

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Questions for Susan

Q: What is one thing you want people to know about your writing?

A: This is the fifth book I’ve written.  Three of them are more booklets than books, but they were great practice!  These previous books are teaching aids for Junior High Teachers.  This last book, I’m Fine is a collection of short stories that I’ve written over the years.

Q: Why did you become a writer? 

A: I started writing during a period when I was laid up from a bad knee-cap break that didn’t heal until the doctor broke it a second time!  I had just retired from teaching and we had moved to Nova Scotia.  All my friends were in Alberta and I’d not had time to make new friends!  So, I decided to write down all the bits of advice I had for Junior High Art Teachers. I thought it would be a good idea to get those thoughts written before time faded the information in my head!  I still speak about teaching Art to Teachers at Conventions. That first book is called Teaching Art with No Art Room, No Budget and Lots of Kids!

This latest book was written because I’ve worked as a stand-up comic for many years.  I often write material for the act that isn’t used for various reasons.  That’s the writing I used for I’m Fine.  I probably would have kept these stories for longer… but COVID became another period where we were all laid up.  I started going through my stories, reworking some and writing new ones.  I decided that sixty-nine was a good number of stories to write – because I had my sixty-ninth birthday during COVID and it was a goal to strive toward.

Q: Do you have any advise for new and upcoming authors?

A:   1) It’s OK to put your writing aside, but never a good idea to chuck it!  You never know when you might want to go back and work on your writing again. 

      2) Know who you are writing for.  I had to become sixty-nine to realize I was writing for Seniors.

      3) When I decided to actually go ahead with my book, I announced through my Christmas Letter that I would have a book to sell by the next Christmas.  This helped me to focus and do what I told everyone I was going to do.  I didn’t want to have a friend ask me what had happened to my book.  So, my best advice is, don’t just talk about it, do it!

Q: What is one thing you want people to know about your books?

A: Misery, contrary to its genre (fiction) and time period, deals with a lot of current society stigmas. As well as, how past events and/or history easily shapes our present and has the potential to effect our futures.

The story offers many different points of views, offering the reader - the all knowing perspective. Parallel to us understanding in our reality, that we dont know someones full story or hardships, until we've walked in their shoes.

Q: Why did you become a writer?

A: I've always enjoyed dabbling in the arts, and have writen smaller things since I was able to write. The thought was always there to write a book, but the confidence was lacking. A conversation with my little sister sparked something within me, and in 2022 I really wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone.  

Q: Do you have any advice for new and upcoming author?

A: Yes, first and foremost, it's okay to make mistakes! As cliche as it sounds, you really do learn alot from your own mistakes and can apply this on future work. Misery really has been a learning stepping stone physically, as well as comprehensively. While I've been writing the second book to the series (Pain) I find myself stopping and remembering to apply what I've learned from past mistakes, into my transforming writting style. 

Last but certainly not least, don't take yourself too seriously. Writing should be fun regardless of the content you plotted, or expectation of the result. When you get to the end, sit back and reel it all in. You did that, and you should be proud of yourself for getting this far.

A cross-canada photo trip

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