Miramichi Reader “picks” are awarded to exceptional self-published books and/or internationally published books.
When my son was a teenager, he introduced me to fantasy and sci-fi novels. I enjoyed the stories he shared with me. Both of us ventured into different genres as he got older. When I met SC Eston through mutual friends, I was re-introduced to fantasy by reading Steve’s first two novels. I was hooked. Eston is a unique and talented storyteller and he continues with his newest venture into science fiction – Deficiency.…
It seems that the majority of Canada’s writers live either on our East or West Coasts or in Southern Ontario. A recent call for mid-western Canadian writers turned up a few names, Ruth Chorney’s among them. Ms. Chorney lives in Kelvington, Saskatchewan, and Buried is her self-published book. (Ms. Chorney has also written a guest review for The Miramichi Reader here.)…
Not since I picked up a copy of The Exorcist by WP Blatty, have I read another book in one sitting but Access Point kept me glued to my seat until I reached the last page in this psychological thriller. This author is new to me and I can assure you, I’ll be looking for his other work.
The story opens with Ula Miskin, a neurological researcher, who makes an amazing breakthrough mating the human brain with technology.…
A book that was written by a dog? A dog who is vegan? An audacious undertaking, to be sure. But does it work? Can this dog write? Let’s see.
First of all, it should be said that this is definitely not a children’s book. It is a plea from an animal (A white Boxer named Dori) to humans to be kinder and more understanding in the treatment (or rather, mistreatment) of all animals, but especially those raised to be eaten by us.…
Skiing With Henry Knox represents a bit of a departure for Islandport Press of Maine. This book is not written by a Mainer nor does it take place in Maine. However, Skiing With Henry Knox is really not about skiing either, and you certainly don’t have to be a skier to enjoy it. Henry Knox may be best known as the first United States Secretary of War.…
When it comes to historical fiction, I’m choosy. I want to see you’ve put your back into your work. Stimulate me. Make me set your book on my chest mid-paragraph and go ahhh… that’s good writing! And I’m cautious when it comes to reviewing work I’m unfamiliar with. People I like have asked me to proof, edit, and beta-read their work.…
Kushwaha’s follow-up to her 2018 award-winning first novel (and 2020 longlist nominee) Side by Side is Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters (HarperCollins Canada). It is a generational story of — you guessed it — mothers and daughters and the secrets that they keep from each other, whether it is keeping an adoption secret from an adult child, holding a pregnancy secret, an office affair or any other sort of confidence kept out of love or perceived duty, they are all here in Ms.…
Dangerous Loyalties book series is now up to three installments with the release of Warrior on the Western Waters*. I have been following this series since it’s inception when I was tasked with reviewing it for a U.S. book review website that is now closed. The series deals with the Shirley family, who are American patriots trying to live a peaceful life without the interference of the British Crown.…
The Great Deportation or Le Grand Dérangement, of the Acadian peoples, began in 1755 in the area now called the Bay of Fundy. Homes and farms were burned, and many of the 14,000 inhabitants of Acadia were herded aboard British ships and sent off to the Thirteen Colonies. The following two novels, both suitable for mature young readers on up, focus on this time of upheaval and the separation of families.…
the great fascination with Bigfoot/Sasquatch back in the 1970s and 80s? It seemed to die down pretty quickly, and we’ve all but forgotten about the mythical reclusive beasts living in the Rocky Mountains of Canada and the northeastern U.S.
Ottawa-based author Conor McCarthy’s self-published debut novel cleverly resurrects the Sasquatch (or in their language, Mm’tor) idea and puts them (yes, there are more than one) squarely in a story about survival, wilderness exploitation, property development and environmental issues, so that there’s more to this adventure-thriller than meets the eye.…
