Happy New Year!

http://youtu.be/z_iQe-WJRW0

Books make for great gift-giving at New Year and throughout the year.

Happy New Year to all!   I hope 2014 is your year to realize all your dreams.

To my writer friends, keep that ink flowing.  :-)

 

 

 

"Joshua's Journey", a Kindle short story free today and tomorrow Kindle edition of "Reawakening" is free for one day only

Today on Amazon.com enjoy some free reading.  The Kindle short story "Joshua's Journey" is offered free today (Saturday, Dec. 28th) only.

Tomorrow (Sunday, Dec. 29th) enjoy the Kindle edition of my second novel "Reawakening".  Free for this one day only.

http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Cover design by Yuneekpix

Free Kindle Books on Amazon ........

Today only (Sunday, November 17th not only one of my novellas, a coming of age story titled "Beyond the Blue"  but also one of my short stories, part of the social issues series, titled "Chanti's Escape" are free on Amazon.   Check it out at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca  or Amazon.uk  or Amazon for whichever country you are resident.

My author page is at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Amazon Promotion -- free books

Today enjoy REAWAKENING free.

Tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 10th) enjoy ELLEN AND THE HUMMINGTREE free.

 

 

Check out this promotional offer at my Amazon author page  http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

I'm very happy with my promotional video ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_iQe-WJRW0&feature=youtu.be     is the link.  I hope you will enjoy the video too.  

Special thanks to John Cal for putting it all together.

Special Promotion on Amazon today -- read for free

My three novellas: Recompense; Beyond The Blue; and When God Gives Us Spring are on special promotion today.  You can read these stories free.  You will find them at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin     I hope you will enjoy each story and, if you do, thanks in advance for your positive review on Amazon.

 

 

When God Gives Us Spring is a historical fiction novella that takes place in the days of slavery in America; more about the Underground Railway and the involvement of the Quakers here in Canada.

 

Recompense is a love story.  A man and a woman from two different worlds meet and marry.  All is well until they discover a chatroom and Conrad arrives.

 

 

Beyond The Blue is a coming of age novella.  A young boy learns how to deal with the bullies who do their best to rule his life.  He discovers unknown power through the window and

beyond the blue.

 

My promotional video for Amazon.com

Hi everybody, please check out promotional video for my Amazon.com author site. Have a great day!

Just click the link below:

Books by Audrey Austin - Canadian Author -- available through Amazon.com

Crabapple Court -- Novel #5 :-)

 

Thanks to Susan Ruby K. of Yuneekpix.com

for this beautiful cover design. 

 

Crabapple Court is my current work in progress, my fifth novel.

 

I anticipate the local Elliot Lake launch in the fall of 2014

 

after which this tale of mystery

will join my other works

on my author page at

 

http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

 

"Writers' Social" Elliot Lake

Our first ever "Writers' Social" was a great success with twenty wonderful writers arriving to share good company, good food and great writing thoughts, ideas, and current work in progress as well as published works.

Creative writing, as we all know, is a solitary occupation and for this reason it was wonderful to have this opportunity to be among interesting, creative people.   Elliot Lake is a small town but it is packed to overflowing with creativity and talent.


It was agreed by all that our next "Writers' Social" will take place in the spring of 2014.  I have it on good authority that our next social will include fabulous music written and played by local songwriters and musicians.


To bring together writers of all genres including journalists, songwriters, novelists, short story writers, writers for children, poets and more provides us with an enjoyable learning experience.

At our spring "Writers' Social"  we will also be honoured with the presence of a representative of the publishing industry.

Thank you to all who attended and participated for helping to support the proposed Pet Shelter for Maplegate House for Women.   Together we collected $51.00 for this important, good cause.

We have much to look forward to.  As was the case this time ample notice will be given of the next Writers' Social date in order for you to mark your calendar.

Thanks to all who attended and will attend again in the spring. 

An Invitation

50th Room (next door to Gallery at The Centre), Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre, Elliot Lake.

ELLIOT LAKE WRITERS’ INFORMAL SOCIAL/DISCUSSION GROUP

Tuesday, October 22nd
2 pm to 4 pm
All creative writers, published or unpublished, are invited to participate
in this informal social gathering.

Do you write novels, novellas, short stories, articles, music, plays, reports or ?? All writers of... all genres are invited and most welcome.

Cold drinks will be provided. Feel free to make it a pot-luck snack-wise

Your one dollar admission goes directly to MAPLEGATE HOUSE FOR WOMEN
to assist in the realization of their “Pet Shelter for Women”

For further information: audrey@persona.ca
Thanks for responding by email rather than telephone.
If you are a writer too you will understand this request.

Spread the word. Your friend is welcome

MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

My bio on my Amazon Author Page ....

As a writer I am fulfilled when creating stories, characters, and situations which before never existed outside my imagination.

I'm very excited to have my work made available to you through Kindle Books at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin and also in paperback format.

Whether you choose one of my novels, a novella or a short story, I hope you will enjoy the read.

Currently my Kindle books on Amazon.com are my novels Sara, a Canadian Saga; Reawakening;Ellen and The Hummingtree; and Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy: all published by Wynterblue Publishing Canada and all cover designs by Susan Ruby K. of Yuneekpix.com

"WHEN GOD GIVES US SPRING" is my first novella available as a Kindle Book. "BEYOND THE BLUE", a coming-of-age story, is my second novella. My third novella is titled "RECOMPENSE".

My short story anthology titled The Silent Star plus a Dozen is available as a Kindle Book.
And I am excited to be publishing more shorts on Kindle. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING; JIE KE'S TEAHOUSE; THE BIG BOOK; QUEST FOR CAMMIRAND; JACOB'S SEVEN LETTERS; JOSHUA'S JOURNEY and HOPE OF GLORY are available now. And a short story written for children, AT THE EDGE OF HIS WORLD, is also a Kindle Book.   These are just some of the short stories written for your enjoyment.  In our fast-paced world sometimes a short story is exactly what we want to read.

"Keeping It Simple" which explores the trinity of Meditation, the Seven Major Chakras and Psychospiritual therapy is also available as a Kindle book.

In paperback format available through Amazon.com are my novels Sara, a Canadian Saga and Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy. Soon these will be joined by my novels Reawakening and also Ellen and The Hummingtree.

Currently a very few paperback copies of both Sara and Reawakening are available through the author: audrey@persona.ca

BELOW is a little bit about some of my publications:

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy
Author: Audrey Austin, Cover design: Susan Ruby k.
A tragic accident between a snow plow and a school bus takes place on Moose Road. Who is to blame? Seven farms line Moose Road. Everyone has a story but maybe the road itself is the only one who can come close to the truth in the matter. Each of the residents on Moose Road feels the impact of this tragic event but the aftermath is one that shocks the entire nation.

ELLEN and THE HUMMINGTREE:
Author - Audrey Austin -- Cover design - Susan Ruby K., artist, also did all the illustrations throughout the book.
Ellen and The Hummingtree is a fictional, magical and mystical account of the memoirs of Ellen Dawson exploring many social issues: child abandonment; deadbeat dads; separation & divorce;financial struggle; family relationships; infidelity; love on line; aging; women's issues; Alzheimer's; death and dying. She is a composite of many beautiful, spiritual women I have known.
Ellen always finds the hope, support and encouragement she needs when she prays to her God in the yellow quartz rock beneath the Hummingtree.
At the outset of this writing journey I met Ellen. I became acquainted with her and now, after knowing her for more than a year, I can say that I truly like her. She has the courage of her convictions and no matter what life threw at her, Ellen never lost faith. Feedback from readers of Ellen and The Hummingtree has been very positive.

Sara, a Canadian Saga
Author: Audrey Austin.
ABOUT SARA, a Canadian Saga
The time is 1916. Sara is a 10 year old girl in rural Prince Edward Island. Roy is a 10 year old boy in mining town, Nova Scotia.
Through their eyes we see, feel and experience their childhood challenges. We follow them through adolescence and their turbulent teen years.
We celebrate their courtship and suffer their lost innocence in the marriage ritual. They take us through the Great Depression and share with us the frustrations, dreams and challenges they face in adulthood.
As parents they introduce us to their children.
This story appeals to all ages because Sara and Roy hold up a mirror and ask the reader to recognize truth about the human condition for many Canadian families through difficult economic times.
We witness love that does not come neatly wrapped and experience the quiet, sometimes desperate, drama of lives unfolding.

You will find SARA, the Kindle book and in paperback format on http://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Some Reviews of Sara, a Canadian Saga:

"Your well-written book brought memories of actual places and people to me. I was a child growing up on Prince Edward Island in the dirty thirties." K. Austin

"I've read your book already and loved the story. It reminded me of the stories my parents and grandparents used to relate about the 20's and 30's, Your story will sell very well with the older audience and educate the younger ones. They were not easy days for anyone." Judy Donovan-McDonald.

"I received SARA on Tuesday and cóuldn't wait to read it. I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the story especially the streets in Toronto. It brought back a lot of memories. It is good for the soul to remember the past. Could that be why we call them the good old days? Looking forward to a sequel. Maureen Jones-Motchan.

"I truly enjoyed reading SARA. At times I laughed and at other times I felt tears welling up. It was such a good story, well written and I loved it." Eleanor Lambert.

I just finished reading "Sara."
I took the book to work with me where I was teaching a grade 7 class. The children were directed to write about a time when they or someone they knew, demonstrated perseverance. I held up the book and used "Sara" as an example of a woman who demonstrated perseverance. I also spoke to the fact that the author demonstrated this quality in her determination to have her story published. You would not believe the response from these kids - many wanted to know if they could get it at Chapters. This story is uniquely Canadian and should be marketed to adolescents as part of their Canadian heritage. "Sara" is a narrative that figures in the histories of Canadian families everywhere. I will be passing this on to my son!
The line that cracked me up and drew me in for good:
"Their mother set the steaming bowls of vegetables in the centre of the large, old, wooden table that no amount of wax and polish could dignify." (p. 11)
I won't over-analyze why this struck me as hilarious, it just did. What sad, sad state Rebecca was in over her table. This table is a silent witness to generations of love, hope, fear, strife, courage, ignorance and finally, understanding. What a beautiful metaphor for an old scratched up, banged around history that none of us can escape and our fear of endlessly repeating it.
Thank-you for inviting us to the table.
Karen Preston.

BELOW IS ANOTHER REVIEW OF MY FIRST NOVEL:

SARA, a Canadian Saga -- a review by Patricia McGoldrick ...
SARA, A CANADIAN SAGA-ANOTHER EARLY SPRING READ!
In Canada, many of us grew up reading about Anne of Green Gables, a fictional early 20th century girl who became part of our cultural identity and childhood memories.
In this 21st century, allow me to introduce Sara, a Canadian Saga, written by Audrey Austin from Elliot Lake, Ontario. For first-time novelist, Austin, the experience of "Letting her [Sara] out into the world was like watching my first child go off to kindergarten; hopeful yet frightening". After reading this all-to-brief novel, Audrey Austin's hopes have been well-founded.
A glimpse at the cover image by Susan Krupp takes one into the setting of this historical fiction with its early 1900's clothing styles and older wooden buildings. Rustic and sepia toned, the graphic carries readers back to the early 20th century in a story that follows main character Sara from 1916 to the 50s.
The Maritime setting of Prince Edward Island is home to ten-year old Sara and her family. She grows to adulthood, as does Roy from Springhill, Nova Scotia, through difficult economic times which, eventually, lead to mid-century Ontario.
Austin has integrated the spirit of the Eastern Canadian cultural location with mention of fiddles and step dances, games of cards and crokinole that passed the time in the pre-social media era.
In this book, family relationships play a central part of the story, as in the character of Sara's mother, Rebecca, a strong minded woman, challenged by harsh times and the struggle to raise a family with her husband.
Meanwhile, in Nova Scotia, generations of miners have worked at mining coal, a job that occupies Roy's father, Luke. The family is a part of the Salvation Army with Roy and his sister being involved with playing the cornet and singing. It is a faith-based group but, importantly, involves a social outlet as well for people in the small communities at the heart of this novel.
The children, Sara and Roy, grow up in their communities, helping out with daily chores, forming their own ideas of what they want in the future. However, no spoilers here. Suffice it to say, they do face obstacles, typical for the times in Canada with the "goldanged" Depression being a considerable challenge.
Audrey Austin, successfully, integrates highlights of the early 20th century era along with the everyday aspects such as the Rawleigh Company that sold products to households in Canada and the United States; growing emergence of telephone and cars; even "yellowing scribblers". Sara's discovery of "scribblers" is an element with which many readers will identify. In these notebooks, Sara has shared her thoughts and dreams, an experience shared by many of us!
In a recent e-interview, Audrey Austin noted that "SARA enjoys a general audience from young adult to seniors, some of whom have memory of the Great Depression and its impact on Canadian families". This book is a case in point for the writing of historical fiction. In this genre, one gets a glimpse of the past, from family life to economic hardships and job success in early 20th century Canada. Audrey Austin admits that the book contains "slivers of actual happenings" from life; however, the challenge of creativity in writing historical fiction is met with this new character, Sara, and her companions.
As with Anne of Green Gables, this young fictional character is a character who tells us much about our country's past. For a peak at early 20th century Canada, check out Sara, a Canadian Saga.
For information on obtaining this book, check out the author page for Audrey Austin.
By Patricia Anne McGoldrick, on March 18, 2013 at 11:13 AM, under HERE & THERE, REVIEWS, Reviews and Reflections, SPRING READS. Tags: Anne of Green Gables, Elliot Lake, Great Depression, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.

REAWAKENING
Author: Audrey Austin, Cover design: Susan Ruby K.

An excerpt from REAWAKENING...by Audrey Austin
"Linda and Jim were happy together in their marriage. Each day brought forth new and interesting challenges for the industrious couple. Life was good. Unfortunately, it was too good to last. Years flew by and Jim was now becoming an old man, even by Earth's standards. When he suffered the massive coronary he left his young heart-broken wife a childless widow.
She mourned. She grieved.
Linda was a beautiful woman, bright, vivacious and caring. After her husband's death she had many opportunities to date. Several men admired her and wanted to spend time with her but she chose not to go out with anyone. She had no desire to date and she never remarried. Jim was her one and only true love.
Linda grew old as her husband before her had grown old. She died a peaceful death.
And then it happened..............."

Reawakening is available as a Kindle book at http://amazon.com and in paperback format from the author.

THE SILENT STAR PLUS A DOZEN --
Author: Audrey Austin, Cover design: Susan Ruby K.
Below are excerpts from three of the thirteen stories contained in this anthology which deals with important social issues impacting our lives today.

THE SILENT STAR.....previously published in Confab 3, Wynterblue Anthology, North Bay, 2010
an excerpt: "My dreams made no sense to me. They held no relevance to my reality. As foolish as it sounded, even to me, I wished Joseph would come into my dreams and interpret them for me. But, of course, he didn't. I did love the rose garden I often dreamed of though and I got into the habit of keeping a red rose in a bud vase on top of the dresser in my room. I didn't know why the rose was so important to me. I just knew that it was."

IN CONTROL..previously published in Confab 2, Wynterblue Anthology, North Bay, 2009
an excerpt: "Mary, come with me this afternoon to look at the cottage lots. Come with me, please?" he asked.
"Come with you? Come with someone I know nothing about? You must be crazy!"
"Be crazy with me, Mary. Just once take a chance. Let go of control and have some fun."
"Fun," Mary mused. "I don't remember the last time I had any fun."

THE BIG BOOK..Previously published in Confab 2, Wynterblue Anthology, North Bay, 2009
an excerpt: "Come on into the alley with me, baby. I'll share my bottle with you.
Gwendolyn hesitated, then thought, what am I worried about? He can't kill me if I'm already dead. "I'll come into the alley with you on one condition," she stated.
"One condition? What condition you talking about? I'm not into making deals, you know. I just want to share a little drinkie-poo with you."
"It will cost you."
"Cost me? Are you a pro? Lordy, I never would have taken you for a pro, little lady. Aren't you too old for that kind of monkey business?"
Feeling insulted, Gwendolyn replied, "Why, the nerve! I don't know which is the bigger insult; calling me a pro or telling me I'm too old to be one."

This anthology containing 13 short stories is available as a Kindle book at Amazon.com and also in paperback format from the author.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE - Imagine being whole:

Emotional Healing through Meditation, the Chakra System & Psychospiritual
Therapy
KEEPING IT SIMPLE is available as a Kindle book on Amazon.com and will soon be available in paperback format.
It is a work of non-fiction by Audrey Austin
Cover Design by Susan Krupp: Yuneekpix.com

Simplicity in meditation, as in life, is an admirable goal but it is not always easy to be simple.
Life, with its myriad of challenges, has a habit of doing its best to get in the way. Nevertheless we keep our focus on this goal and feel grateful when it is achieved.

When you visit my author page at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin you will see all my books displayed.  If you click on a book cover you will then see an option to "like" the book.

Thank you to those of you who have read my books for your positive review.
I much appreciate your encouragement and support and your positive reviews are very welcome.

 

Self-publishers are in good company ....

My thanks to Liam Webb for sharing the following information on Linked In.   Wynterblue Publishing Canada has published my novels but I am beginning to realize I am in good company as I carry on self-publishing my novellas and short stories which, by the way, can all be found at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin  

" if self-publishing didn't exist, we wouldn't have works from the following, and in some cases, we wouldn't have the following names at all: Margaret Atwood, L. Frank Baum, William Blake, Ken Blanchard, Robert Bly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Lord Byron, Willa Cather, Pat Conroy, Stephen Crane, e.e. cummings, W.E.B. DuBois, Alexander Dumas, T.S. Eliot, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Benjamin Franklin, Zane Grey, Thomas Hardy, E. Lynn Harris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ernest Hemingway, Robinson Jeffers, Spencer Johnson, Stephen King, Rudyard Kipling, Louis L'Amour, D.H. Lawrence, Rod McKuen, Marlo Morgan, John Muir, Anais Nin, Thomas Paine, Tom Peters, Edgar Allen Poe, Alexander Pope, Beatrix Potter, Ezra Pound, Marcel Proust, Irma Rombauer, Carl Sandburg, Robert Service, George Bernard Shaw, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Upton Sinclair, Gertrude Stein, William Strunk, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Henry David Thoreau, Leo Tolstoi, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, and Virginia Woolf."

Find My Books on Amazon.com

 

I am very pleased to have my books: novels, novellas, self-discovery manual, short story anthology and stories that dare, like Daniel, to stand on their own published on Amazon.com

The address to my author page is http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

At The Edge of His World

Beyond The Blue

Ellen and The Hummingtree

Hope of Glory

Jacob's Seven Letters

Joshua's Journey

Keeping It Simple - imagine being whole

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy

Reawakening

Sara, a Canadian Saga

The Big Book

The Silent Star plus a Dozen

 

My Kindle Books -- novels, novellas, short stories

As a writer I am fulfilled when creating stories, characters, and situations which before never existed outside my imagination.

I'm very excited to have my work made available to you through Kindle Books at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Whether you choose one of my novels, a novella or a short story, I hope you will enjoy the read.

Currently my Kindle books on Amazon.com are my novels Sara, a Canadian Saga; Reawakening;Ellen and The Hummingtree; and Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy: all published by Wynterblue Publishing Canada and all cover designs by Susan Ruby K. of Yuneekpix.com

"WHEN GOD GIVES US SPRING" is my first novella available as a Kindle Book.
 "BEYOND THE BLUE", a coming-of-age story, is my second novella.

"Keeping It Simple" which explores the trinity of Meditation, the Seven Major Chakras and Psychospiritual therapy is also available as a Kindle book.

My short story anthology titled The Silent Star plus a Dozen is available as a Kindle Book.

And I am excited to be publishing more shorts on Kindle. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING; JIE KE'S TEAHOUSE; THE BIG BOOK; and JACOB'S SEVEN LETTERS are available now and soon I will be publishing more short stories for your reading enjoyment.

You will find it all at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Elliot Lake Writers' Discussion Group ....

“It’s a go and you are invited.”

ELLIOT LAKE WRITERS’ DISCUSSION GROUP

What happens when a group of writers without agenda get together for discussion?

 We are about to find out.

Tuesday, October 22nd

2 pm to 4 pm

50^th Room (next door to Gallery at the Centre) Lester B. Pearson Civic  Centre, Elliot Lake

All creative writers, published or unpublished, are invited to participate
in this informal social gathering. 

Your one dollar in the jar goes directly to

MAPLEGATE HOUSE FOR WOMEN

to assist in the realization of their “Pet Shelter for Women” 

For further information:   audrey@persona.ca 

Elliot Lake Writers' Discussion Group is an informal social and support network of creative writers

 residing in and near Elliot Lake.

Writers meet oneTuesday afternoon 2 pm to 4 pm each month to share friendship and discussion.

 

Do we want snacks?  If you think so feel free to bring something along.

Cold drinks (non-alcoholic) will be provided. 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE.

Making a Video ...........

Making a video is a huge learning curve ...... but I'm doing my best to learn.  I hope I can do so before the whole process drives me around the bend.

I understand I can make a short video; upload it to YouTube and from YouTube I can bring it back to a post here in Calling All Writers.

It is all very complicated to a tech dummy like yours truly.

Visit my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/audreyaustinca  and there you will see a short video of friend, talented musician Dayeton Larson who performed his rendition of Old Moose Road at the launch of my fourth novel, Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.

And now I will return to the classroom.  If I succeed in learning how to create a video on this site you will be the first to see it. :-)

And if all else fails please visit  http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin --  buy one of my Kindle Books and enjoy a wonderful evening.

Indiegogo Campaign -- a letter from author, Alex McGilvery

Alex McGilvery

 

Hi Audrey, I was hoping I could get you to pass the word on about my indiegogo campaign to publish Playing on Yggdrasil. The basic level of support gets you a free ebook when it is published.

If I can get a good bit of support now it will boost my campaign and make it easier to bring other people on board.I think this is the one you pre-read for me. Here is a rough blurb of the book:

Playing with Yggdrasil is the story of Justine and her father, Patrick. Two years after Justine's mother died they have adjusted their lives around missing her. Not everyone understands Justine's feelings and when she is bullied by a girl at school it becomes overwhelming. She befriends a tree in the schoolyard that she calls Drasil.

Patrick doesn't know if Drasil is any more than a tree, but Justine begins to talk about visiting a people with very different ideas of how to live. What he does know is that his daughter is changing the people and the world around her in ways that he could never have imagined.

Yet no world is without darkness and as Justine's stories grow more painful, Patrick worries about her. Then the unthinkable happens and they must choose how they will respond to evil.
And the link again: http://igg.me/at/Yggdrasil/x/890554

Playing on Yggdrasil

www.indiegogo.com

 

Alex is looking for money for professional editing, cover and first print run of his second novel.

Pet Project ........

It is my great pleasure to help share awareness about the Pet Shelter Project the achievement of which is an important goal of Maplegate House for women. 

And it is one that we can help to make a reality.

At my book launch of Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy Naomi shared information about this worthy project and it was my pleasure to offer ten percent of sales which took place at the launch to Maplegate for this reason.  Thank you to each person who bought a copy of my fourth novel at this launch because in doing so you made a generous contribution to help women in need help their pets in need.  Your giving to this project is what I like to call a double whammy.  Not only were you helping women who need to escape an abusive home life but also you were helping their pets to escape abuse sometimes to the point of death.

Representing Maplegate House for Women 

at my recent book launch is Naomi.

 

A friend who shall remain nameless shared with me a nightmare past experience she endured with an abusive partner several years ago.  She had simply said to her husband, "He is not eating again," in reference to her beautiful dog.   Her husband in angry response took that dog for a walk and the poor dog never returned.  This abusive man shot the dog not once but thirteen times making sure that the innocent animal was dead.

 

Another friend of mine shared with me that when she was a very little girl her father in a fit of rage shot and killed her beautiful little dog in front of her eyes.

 

These nightmare kinds of stories are not the vivid imagination of a fiction writer.  No.  Indeed these are true stories and they are just two of too many.

 

I am Mom to my pet, Ki.

 

Yes, Ki is my dog.  But anyone who knows me knows that Ki is my boy, my love, my child.  He is a much loved and respected family member.

 

I am grateful that I am not in an abusive relationship.

But I can easily imagine that if I were and if I were in a terrible situation where I needed to escape my home there is no way on earth I would leave without my children.

 

And thank God in our little town we have Maplegate House for Women where, if I needed to get away, I could find comfort and solace there, and I could take my children with me.

 

But what about my Ki?  What about my boy?

 

I can't take off knowing I am leaving this beautiful fellow in an abusive situation with no one to protect him or care for him or love him.

 

I have no money so I can't afford to take him to a shelter.

 

No, I will stay where I am.  I will try to stay alive to take care of my children and my beloved pet.

 

What we need here in Elliot Lake is a place where a woman in an abusive situation can escape her environment with her children and with her pet(s).

 

The wonderful people at Maplegate House for Women agree that this is what is needed. 

 

And this is the goal that you and I can help them to achieve.

 

We can find ways and means to support Maplegate's "Pet Shelter Project"

 

Maplegate can be a place that is sheltering Animals and Families together

 for Safety.

 

They need our help.

 

Let me share some important information from their Pet Shelter Project Poster.

 

Did you know?

 

(1) Twelve independent surveys have reported that between 18% and 48% of abused women have delayed their decision to leave their abuser or returned to their abuser out of fear for the welfare of their pets (Ascione 2007)

 

(2) Beween 71% and 85% of women entering domestic violence shelters reported that their partner had threatened, injured or killed the family pet (Ascione, Weber & Wood, 1997)

 

(3) Research has shown that 62% to 76% of animal cruelty in the home occurs in front of children (Favor & Strand, 2003).  Children often intervene to protect their mothers and pets from being abused.  Some children may even allow themselves to be victimized to save their pets from being harmed or killed (Edelson et al., 2003).

 

 

We can find ways to help.  I am sure that we can.   Anything that you can do to help Maplegate House for Women achieve their dream and make their Pet Shelter Project a reality will be appreciated.

 

Maplegate House for Women         705-461-9868          elwgacc@persona.ca

 



You will also find Maplegate House for Women on Facebook. 



 

 

 

I have only 23 books left in print format but Kindle Books are available ...

I spent most of my evening creating Facebook pages for each of my six published books. Thank you for "liking" each page.

At this time I have only five print copies left of my first novel, SARA, a Canadian Saga.

 

I have eighteen print copies of my second novel titled Reawakening

 

 

But all my books with the exception of Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy

are available as Kindle Books at

http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

Thank you for your "likes".   Positive reviews on Amazon.com or on Goodreads

are always most welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a novel; a short story and a poem .......one, two and three ..

This has been a wonderful weekend for writing.

(1)  My novel titled "Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy" celebrated its launch Saturday, September 7th.

I am overjoyed to announce that the first numbered limited edition of this, my fourth novel, is now sold out.

Thank you to all who purchased a copy.

(2)  My short story titled "Passion to Stay Put" I am excited to learn is one of twelve semi-finalists in the John Kenneth Galbraith Award competition.   I hope this story will be one of the three finalists but even if it is not, I already feel like a winner.

(3)  Thank you, Linda, for bringing home from New Liskeard my copy of  "Spirits in Stone" which is volume 18 of the Northern Ontario Poetry Collection.  I am very happy to have my poem 'Mustard on a Hotdog' included in this anthology as one of the Judges' selections.

I was unable to attend the launch of "Spirits in Stone" as it took place on the same day as the launch of  my novel, "Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy".

My greatest pleasure is writing fiction.  However I am trying to become more at home and more expert in the art of writing poetry.  I am grateful to White Mountain Publications for their offering of the annual Northern Ontario Poetry Competition.  It gives me the opportunity to learn and to hopefully improve my poetic writing.

In 2006 one of my poems was selected to be published in Volume Eleven, Sylvan Jottings.  Two years later in 2008 another of my poems was published in Volume Thirteen, Moments in Time.
I know God loves a tryer and so I entered again in 2011 and I was pleased that another of my poems was published in Volume Sixteen, Scripted Inspiration.   Then again in 2012 I was overjoyed that three of my poems were selected for publication in Volume Seventeen, Arising From The Mist.

And now as I admire the Certificate of Poetic Achievement recognizing publication of my poem in Volume Eighteen, Spirits in Stone, I feel honoured to have my work included in an anthology containing amazing poetry from poets across northern Ontario.

Will I enter again next year?  You bet I will!  :-)

If you like poetry and are interested in having a copy of this wonderful collection just contact the publisher, White Mountain Publications.  You will find them on Facebook.

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy -- Elliot Lake Book Launch

Brian Fletcher attended and made a video of the event.  Thank you, Brian

Dayeton Larson sang an amazing rendition of

Old Moose Road

I am very grateful to Dayeton for also entertaining everyone

with his music throughout the book signing

The lovely Fran was front row centre :-)

John Sewell was a winner of one of Susan Ruby K's illustrations on parchment

Special thanks to Mayor Rick Hamilton

for attending and for drawing the names of the winners.

 

Can you tell I'm happy?

Thank you to all who attended the launch.

Here I am setting up the table in preparation for the book launch.

Dayeton Larson entertained us beautifully.

He is a very talented musician/singer/songwriter.

Thank you, Dayeton.

Dayeton and me before the guests arrived.

Thank you to ARIEL for the lovely venue, The Gallery at The Centre

Brian, Shirley, Alexandra and me

awaiting the arrival of guests

Thank you Elliot Lake!

Attendance was wonderful!

Shirley was there -- and she purchased a copy of

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy

and also my very last copy of The Silent Star plus a Dozen.

Dayeton Larson -- what a talent!

Mayor Rick Hamilton and Brenda receiving her copy of one of

Susan Ruby K's illustrations on parchment

Thank you Naomi, representing Maplegate House for Women.

Wishing you success in establishing the Pet Shelter at Maplegate!

Another winner (Anne's husband) coming up to

receive his copy of REAWAKENING.

Photographer, Paul Kazulak with Mayor Rick Hamilton

John Sewell, another winner of a copy of one of

Susan Ruby K's illustrations on parchment here

with Mayor Rick Hamilton and yours truly.

Photographer, Paul Kazulak..

My dear friend, Shirley Green.

Thanks for being there, Shirley.

Your support and encouragement means much to me (hugs)

And my dear friend, Vesna, thank you.

 

 

Thank you Elliot Lake for your wonderful reception of Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy.  The book launch was a wonderful success and I am feeling

very happy and very grateful.

 

I hope that all who purchased a copy will enjoy the story.

This has been an amazing day!

 

The numbered limited edition of this, my fourth novel, has sold out.

 

The Kindle Book will be available soon at

http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin