During the past two years of living in a pandemic, I have often been reminded of a quote by Sir Winston Churchill which states:
“I feel devoutly thankful to have been born fond of writing.”
This is so true and I would respectively add to that “fond of reading too.”
Over the past few years, I have not only been writing an historical trilogy—The McBride Chronicles (first in the series Providence to be released soon) —which in itself is an ongoing mammoth project, but I have also been reviewing the books of many other authors for Ormsby Reviews online.
Ormsby Reviews (2016-2022) has recently changed its name to The British Columbia Review which gives a much more accurate description of what they do. Their work is a very worthwhile service for all publishers and authors with a connection to British Columbia, Canada. To qualify for a review the book must be set in BC or be written by a BC author (even if they no longer reside in the province.) Publishers are from anywhere in the world but the majority are provincial.
Consequently, my life has been pleasantly surrounded by books— which makes me very happy as I have been able to escape into many other worlds when I’m writing or reading. This has certainly been rewarding over the past two years.
I have learnt so much valuable information from my own research into ongoing British Columbia history that enabled me to place my fictional family living in the province in The McBride Chronicles during the years from the 1850s to present day. Providence, the first book in the trilogy, covers the years from the 1850s to the 1870s.
Since I started reviewing books a few years ago, I have also been fortunate enough to explore many new worlds from all kinds of writers—mystery writers, historical writers, poets, young adult writers, and others who fall into no particular category or genre.
I have been able to explore pre-war China, travel to India, spend time in the northern regions of British Columbia, climb trees in the forests, travel the wilderness in Jasper, examine naval history, root for women who fought for women’s rights, learn about the horror of loved ones dying too soon, read passionate books about animals, discover more truths about immigration and visit war-time England and Germany. And those topics are a mere drop in a very large bucket of subjects I have enjoyed reading about. It is so much fun to be able to time travel to these times and places—all from my armchair!
The Ormsby Review was originally named in honor of Margaret Ormsby, a trailblazing academic who was born in British Columbia. As a UBC historian, she wrote the first widely-acknowledged modern history of the province of British Columbia: A History.
Today The British Columbia Review’s mandate continues to be to “work with writers, publishers and literary professionals across Canada to promote books published by BC writers or about British Columbia in all its diversity. We include books by all authors, regardless of race, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, ethnicity, religion, political belief, marital or family status, and/or status as Indigenous, Metis or Inuit.”
I am proud to count myself among their reviewers.
I hope I am fortunate enough to receive many (hopefully good!) reviews for my Novel Providence. Reviews are so important to authors and, believe me, we appreciate and treasure each and every one.
ENJOY YOUR NEXT READ!
