Books make some of the best presents!

Friends and colleagues have brought out a wealth of new books this year.... 

Roger Moore has published his twenty-sixth book of poetry this year: Poems for the End of Time and Lamentations for Holy Week (available here). Those twenty-six books include chapbooks – but still, Roger is wonderfully productive. This year’s he’s also brought out a novel: People of the Mist – a Poet’s Day in Oaxaca (available here), and a collection of short stories and flash fiction: Devil’s Kitchen (available here).

Visit Roger’s website here. 

 

Jennifer Mook-Sang has a new picture book out this year: The Care and Keeping of Grandmas, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang (from Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada).

When grandma moves in, a precocious child shares her tips for making her feel at home in this funny picture book, for fans of How to Babysit a Grandma. Available here.

Jennifer  is also the author of the wonderful picture book, Captain Monty Takes the Plunge, from Kids Can Press, and the acclaimed middle grade book, Speechless, from Scholastic. 

Gila Green has a poem included in Am Yisrael Chai: Poems, Prayers, and Essays – ninety-four authors, one heart – united in solidarity with Israel. 

Am Yisrael Chai (The People of Israel Live) is an emergency response anthology of voices from all over the world, grieving and writhing from the horrors perpetrated upon the State of Israel on October 7, 2023, on the holiday of Simchat Torah. Available here.

Gila also has a new novel coming out in 2024: With a Good Eye; it’s available now for pre-order here.

Previously, Gila’s written dozens of short stories, three novels and one novel-in-stories: White Zion (Cervena Barva Press), King of the Class (NON Publishing, Vancouver), Passport Control (S&H Publishing) and No Entry (Stormbird Press, Australia). Gila grew up in Ottawa, but now lives outside Tel Aviv.

Erin Silver has a new kids’ non-fiction book out this year:  Good Food, Bad Waste, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa. This is a deep dive into why humans waste so much food and the consequences for people and the planet. Available from Orca Books here.

Erin is also the author of Sitting Shiva (Orca Books here), a picture book about a child grieving his mother; Rush Hour: Navigating Our Global Traffic Jam (Orca here); Just Watch Me (Common Deer Press here), a middle grade novel about the perils of the online age; What Kids Did: Stories of Kindness and Invention in the Time of COVID-19 (Second Story Press here); and Proud to Play (Lorimor here), featuring outstanding Canadian LGBTQ+ athletes and allies who have made a difference.

Visit Erin’s webpage here.

 

Lana Button has a number of marvelous picture books, most recently, Percy’s Perfect Friend from Pajama Press (here) and Stay My Baby from Orca Books (here).

Also check out  Tayra’s Not Talking (here), The Cow Said Boo (here) Tough Like Mum (here), What If Bunny's NOT a Bully?  My Teacher's Not Here!  Willow's Smile, Willow's Whispers  and Willow Finds a Way , and Raj’s Rule (For the Bathroom at School).

 

Hannah Mary McKinnon published her seventh novel this year: The Revenge List. People say Franki Morgan’s angry. Ha! Who can blame her? Her clients are bastards, her next door neighbour is miserable, and the driver who killed her mother is still out there, living it up … somewhere.  Available here. 

 

Susan Thomas has brought out another young adult novel: Missing. 

“Madison knows why her cousin’s gone missing, but as time passes, she’s not so sure: is her cousin alive or dead?”

Available from Evenight Teen here.

 

Sharon Frayne also has a young adult novel out: The Sound of a Rainbow, from Latitude 46 Publishing. his spring. 

The novel follows the journey of failed teen pop singer Raven, whose life has been destroyed by vicious social media trolls. 

The Sound of a Rainbow is available here.

 

Photographer Barbara Wackerle Baker and poet Lisa C Reynolds have created photo-poetry collection, She’s Gone.

“Moved by Wackerle Baker’s family story and inspired by her stunning photographs of Alberta’s landscape, Reynolds uses contemporary free verse English language haiku to create a poetic narrative about loss.”

“This book is a gift for us all.”  ~ Bruce Hunter, Poet and Novelist

She’s Gone is available here.

Along with Adair-Tippins, Lyndi Allison, and Evelyn N. Pollock, Lisa C Reynolds and Barbara Wackerle Baker are also contributed to Pieces of Us: a collection of stories and poems celebrating women’s resilience.

These 45 short stories and poems are about abandonment, growing up, growing older, and getting a grip on life. It’s about fate versus self-determination and incarceration – behind bars or inside yourself.

Pieces of Us is available here.

Mark Baker, writing as G.E. Baker, previously published the first two books books in his Cuthbert’s People series last year: The Wistful and the Good and Saint Agnes and the Selkie. This year, he brought out the third and final book of the series: The Needle of Avocation. These are historical novel set in Saxon England, shortly after the Viking raid on the Lindisfarne Monastery, the 9-11 of the Anglo-Saxon world. Available here. 

Mark has also published Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight, a literary fantasy novel. Read more about Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight here, and it’s available here.

Visit Mark’s webpage here or read his essays on writing literature on Substack here.

 

Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein have published Take Me Back to Cairo, a novel full of humour, culture clashes, and romance. 

Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, says, "Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein have written a rollercoaster of a love story that triumphs over a collision of cultures, family dynamics, an old lover, and new traditions. From Kingston to Cairo and back again, this is a compelling and heartwarming tale by two writers who clearly know the inside story."

Take Me Back to Cairo is available here.

 

Beverley Brewer has published Dance into the Light, the story of her recovery from her almost maternal attachment to a younger sister who spiralled into addiction and suicide.

Dance Into the Light is available here.

 

Sally Basmajian has three novels out this year: So Hard to Do, a rom-com available here, Fountain of Evil, a domestic thriller(here), and Apprentices in Magic, a middle-grade fantasy (here).

Gail (Margery) Reynolds has published two books in her Muskoka mystery series: One Winter at Ril Lake and One Summer at Ril Lake,  both available here.

 

Wendy Truscott has published Dead Serious, a psychological thriller /romance set in the world of amateur theatre from Winged Publications.

“Dana Williams never suspected starting a new life might end with her death.”

Available here.

 

Kelley Armstrong has 50+ books, for adults, young adults and middle grade readers, including five novels published this year: A Castle in the Air (available here), The Poisoner’s Ring (here), Hemlock Island (here), Someone is Always Watching (here), and Murder at Haven’s Rock (here).

If you’re not yet familiar with Kelly’s books, the best place to start is by browsing the shelves at your local bookstore or check out her website here.   

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Check out 7 great gifts for writers here; and 77 more  here.

See Brian Henry’s upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and weekend retreats here.