Community Bench Initiative: This initiative is near and dear to my heart.
The theme of this blog is creative writing. Any writing on this blog by authors other than myself is by permission of the author. I've written many poems, short stories, novellas, novels, and more. I hope you will want to get to know me and, of course, I hope you will want to buy a book or two.
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Let's Make Elliot Lake Walkable for Everyone
Monday, April 15, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
Book Launch of Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy
Sharing a happy memory here! This book launch took place 11 years ago and I remember the celebration like it was yesterday.
Thank you Elliot Lake! The book launch of my fourth novel Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy was a wonderful success. Special thanks to Mayor Hamilton for drawing the names of the winners; special thanks to Dayeton Larson for his rendition of Old Moose Road and the wonderful music provided throughout the book signing; special thanks to Paul Kazulak for being there with his camera and a very special thanks to my daughter Susan Ruby K., not only for the beautiful cover design and illustrations throughout the book, but also for her wonderful emotional support and encouragement. I appreciate it very much and thank you everyone who attended.
To those of you who purchased a book, thank you and I hope you like the story. Thank you everyone for your support of Maplegate House for Women's proposed animal shelter. And thank you Naomi, for being there to explain to us what the project is all about. Oh, and thank you to Jessica from The Standard. I hope in all my excitement I made some sense in the interview.
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Community Market
This Sunday, April 7th, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you will find me at the Moose Lodge, one of the vendors in the Community Marketplace.
With me, I will have copies of some of my books, a few paintings, and I will be available to offer the opportunity of Chakra Readings to anyone interested.
Hope to see you there. And for those of you who can't make it, you will find all my books exclusively on all Amazon sites. Visit my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin
Thursday, March 28, 2024
What are my books about?
This is a bit long, but the reading will give you an idea as to what my books are all about. I will have copies of some of my books with me at The Moose Lodge on April 7th. All my books are available exclusively on all Amazon sites. My author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin
Saturday, March 16, 2024
My Irish Connection
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!
The Dawson family who came to the area in the 17th century has been the main benefactor of the parish ever since. It was Richard Dawson, a banker and Dublin alderman, who in 1729 built the present (Church of Ireland) church on the Dartrey estate. It was established in its own separate parish of Ematris soon after.
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Dull Women's Club
It wasn't until today that I knew there is a Dull Women's Club. The name jumped out at me and invited me to join. Kudos to the individual(s) who started this club.
Monday, February 19, 2024
Family Day 2024
FAMILY DAY 2024
My sister, Linda, has done a lot of work on the genealogy of my maternal grandmother's family which was the Dawson family. I understand that this side of my family originated somewhere in France but that, at some point in history, they moved to Ireland where the name Dossine (sp) was changed to Dawson.
I met my maternal grandmother only once. She lived in her home on P.E.I. and that's where my mother, aunts and uncles were born. I was five years old when I traveled with my Mom and my sister to the little Village of Tryon.
I don't have a lot of memories of that visit but I do remember meeting my Grandma. Unfortunately she passed away when I was still a young child so I didn't have the opportunity to get to know her well. I never had the opportunity to meet my maternal grandfather.
My Mom was born in Tryon in 1906, and that is where she lived with her parents and siblings until the family later made a move to the City of Summerside. My Mom was living and working as a legal secretary in Summerside when she met my Dad.
My Dad was born in 1906. His mother, my paternal Grandmother, had passed away and my Grandfather later married for the second time.
My paternal grandfather was, as I remember, a big, tall man. He worked as the Jailer in the Springhill Jail, Nova Scotia.
I met him on the same trip when I was five years old. It was a thrilling experience as I recall that we kids were allowed to spend the night in a jail cell. So exciting! I'm thankful today to say that it is the only night I've ever spent in a jail.
I did not meet my paternal grandmother but I did meet my grandad's second wife, Florence. I was never close to her and, in fact, I didn't care for her much when I was a young child. She had been employed as pianist for the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, I was told. Yet, when I asked her if she would help me to learn how to play piano, she refused. That, in itself, was enough for me to dislike her.
My Mom and Dad met in Summerside, were married there in the Presbyterian Church. They made their home in Summerside, had two children, my big sister, Eleanor, and my big brother, Ken. Sadly both these siblings have passed away.
During the ugly depression days, in the dirty thirties, my Dad moved to Toronto leaving my Mom and siblings on P.E.I. with family members. Once he was employed and had found a home for the family, my parents reunited. In Toronto four more children were born to my parents. My big sister, Muriel, sadly passed away at too early an age, a victim of cancer.
I'm now the oldest of our three remaining siblings. My sister, Linda, is 4 years younger; my brother, Ray almost 3 years younger. Today we are all seniors, all with children and grandchildren.
My mother was blessed to become a grandmother, but my Dad, sadly passed away at the young age of 49. He did not survive to meet all the beautiful children that later joined our family.
Today, I am very proud mom to two beautiful daughters, grandmother to three handsome and intelligent grandsons; great-gram to one pretty, energetic three year old girl, and soon to be great-gram to another little girl this coming June.
Family means the world to me. I consider myself blessed to love and to be loved by so many.
There was no such thing as 'Family Day' when I was a young Mom raising my kids. I think it's a wonderful idea and, today, with both parents often working outside the home, the long weekend gives a family the time to relax together and to enjoy each other's company.
I wish everyone a very Happy Family Day, 2024!
Below is an AI picture that I put together to honour this occasion. When I was a child, our family spent many, many evenings gathered around the table playing board games, word games, all kinds of fun games. I don't know if families still do this today or not. Maybe everyone is off by himself, phone in hand. I know these family game times were an important part of my childhood and I hold them close in my happy memories of a long-ago childhood.
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy FREE in the Kindle Store
This weekend, Friday, January 19th to Sunday, January 21st inclusive, Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy is FREE in the Kindle Store for your reading enjoyment.
Thursday, January 4, 2024
MORE POartRY and PROSE
Look what arrived this morning! This may be my 26th publication, but the joy I feel holding
a new book in my hand is always exciting. I have just this one copy today ....... but I've ordered
five more so please tell me you want one.