I am very excited to announce that some of my books are available at The Elliot Laker Store at 150 Ontario Avenue; Simply Charming at 15 Newfoundland Walk; and soon to be available at Party Poppers on Newfoundland Walk in beautiful Elliot Lake.
The original publication of The Silent Star plus a Dozen
although available in Kindle format
is no longer available in print format
apart from a very few copies I have on hand.
This is why I have chosen these selections
to bring new life to the original anthology. I hope you will enjoy the "Selections".
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 wedding 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.
Unlike many of their acquaintances they stayed in love and they stayed married for many years. Jim was now an old man, even by earth’s standards, when he suffered the fatal coronary. He left his young wife a childless widow. She mourned. She grieved. She never remarried. Jim was her only love. Linda grew old as her husband before her had grown old. She died a peaceful death.
And then it happened . . .
Excerpt from: Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy by Audrey Austin Chapter One: SEVEN DWELL NEAR “Tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story and remember what you said.” Ever since that terrible day of the tragic accident each of the residents who live by my side has a tale to tell. Yes, everyone has a story and each story teller speaks his own truth. What I do find curious is the fact that no two stories are alike. Each is unique in its own way. I am of the opinion that truth is multi-sided and speaks from many hearts. A very long time ago I heard someone repeat the words of Winston Churchill who is purported to have said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Yes, indeed, there it is. Truth is multi-sided and it dares to speak from many hearts. I have been around for a very long time. I existed in this very location even before man decided to give me a name. I guess that makes me old and, that being the case, I confess I am very old. I was here before any person chose this place to build a home. I have always thought I possessed a firm grasp on reality but since the day of the tragedy I am questioning for the first time the meaning and the impact of truth. I have more questions than answers. Is it possible that truth is, indeed, no more than one’s personal perception? Each individual’s truth, until shared, is locked in a sacred space in one’s memory. Memory does have its share of weakness. It can be faulty. As weeks turn into months memory is often tested. “Tell me a story and remember what you said.” I find it very interesting that the residents of the seven farms impacted by the tragedy each retain a different personal memory of the accident and its aftermath. Although I am well aware that it would not occur to any ordinary human that an old long-travelled country road could possibly have the capacity to remember, I can assure you that I do. Yes, indeed, I do have a memory. Even though I am very old it remains a good one. I do remember well. Some thoughts give me reason to smile while other memories I would prefer to forget. I have learned that the more painful memories are the most stubborn; the least likely to be forgotten and the most likely to be remembered. Even when a human believes he has managed to bury a painful memory he has not. That remembrance will pop up like a jack-in-the-box. It will present itself at the most odd and unexpected of times and sometimes even in the form of a recurrent dream. Of course, I am not a human. I can assure you that I am a no nonsense road; plain, practical and from my very first appearance on earth many generations ago I have made it my focused mission to do my duty and fulfill my purpose as I see fit. I have always taken great pride in my existence and to this very day I do my best to serve those who choose to travel upon my surface. Unlike humans who are, I have learned, sometimes very superficial creatures, I am not shallow. I don’t blame the travelers for being unable to see beneath my surface. But I assure you I am not just the visible thin layer of gravel you might observe at first glance. I do have substance. Yes, I am old now. I have been here in this spot in northern Ontario, Canada for many interesting and enduring lifetimes. Although I am a road less travelled I am still in pretty good shape. I expect I’ll be here for a few more generations. I can see no good reason why I should not continue to be here. I have never existed anywhere else on this earth and this is my home.
Susie Donnelly is missing. Has she run away or is she just a little girl playing hide and seek? Is it a kidnapping? A murder?
Without exception the residents of Crabapple Court do not like to draw attention to themselves or to their homes. They do not like publicity. They do not appreciate media attention but this day, whether they like it or not, the Fairmont residents are keeping them under strict scrutiny. Indeed the eyes of the entire country are fixed upon them.
Simply BE is a collection of inspirational thoughts, sayings and quotations. This book is a reminder of the importance of striving to be who we really are. It’s all about choice, and knowing that who we really are is a good thing to be.
I wanted to illustrate this book although I am not a visual artist. The most important thing I hope to illustrate is that we don’t have to be perfect. We do the best we can with what we have and give thanks.
It is my hope that Simply BE
Will encourage you to step up
And be all that you know you can be.
BEYOND THE BLUE is a coming of age novella. 12 year old Anthony Breckenheimer is a clever boy with blue eyes, red hair and like his father he is a little on the chubby side. He lives in the big City of Toronto with his mother, his little brother Ronald and his little sister Leona. His father died a year ago and Anthony misses him greatly especially when he is confronted by bullies on his way to and from school; the biggest and baddest one being Jerry Hasselbergen. One day while in his classroom Anthony discovers a magical window. What he sees through this window and beyond the blue changes his life forever.
Dying To Be Popular is the first book in a trilogy of short story anthologies focused on social issues; Shattered and Broken is the second; andWeaving Alice Plus Eleven is the third. Each of these books has received great reviews. I will share one with you here.
A review of Social Studies, Book One - Dying To Be Popular:
By
Amazon Customer
This review is from: SOCIAL STUDIES - Book One: Dying To Be Popular Plus Eleven (Kindle Edition)
I've been following Audrey on social media for awhile and finally had a chance to check out one of her books. I was very impressed with her writing style, but more importantly I felt the characters in the stories. I cried, I laughed and I was moved to a head space that made me want to do more as an advocate. That's what a good book should do.
THE LAST DROP is a short story written in rhyming couplets for young children who can learn and enjoy the alphabet. Alison and Bobby are kept inside on a rainy day but the pink and blue umbrellas save the day.
Ellen and the Hummingtree
by
Audrey Austin
A strong woman of faith, Ellen sits beneath her Hummingtree and talks to God through the yellow quartz rock.
She gifts us with glimpses of her life and shares the import of her personal relationshipwith family, friends and with God.
She allows us to witness her vulnerability and invites us into her heart where we experience her joys and sorrows.
In a few instances the author has drawn from her life’s experience but, in essence, Ellen is a composite of many beautiful, spiritual women the author has known and loved throughout her journey.
It is hoped you will welcome Ellen into your heart and it is hoped you will enjoy the stories she shares with you in this book; her fictional, magical, mystical memoirs titled Ellen and The Hummingtree.
At the outset of this writing journey we met. I became acquainted with her and now I can say that I truly like Ellen. She has the courage of her convictions And no matter what life threw at her, she never lost faith.
Audrey Austin, Author.
All my books are also available in both Paperback & Kindle formats on all Amazon sites.
Check out my author's page at http://www.amazon.com/author/audreyaustin
And come say hello at http://www.facebook.com/audreyaustinca
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