Part 2 of “Friends and colleagues brought out a wealth of new books in 2024”

Kelley Armstrong had another banner year with six books (4 novels and 2 novellas) published: a romcom, Finding Mr. Write (Grand Central Publishing), a mystery, The Boy Who Cried Bear, book 2 in the Haven’s Rock series (Macmillan), a time-travel mystery, Disturbing the Dead, book 3 of Kelley’s Rip Through Time series (Macmillan), a thriller written under K.L. Armstrong, Known to the Victim, (Penguin Random House), a horror novel, I’ll be Waiting (St. Martin’s Publishing Group), and Schemes and Scandals, Rip Through Time novella (Subterranean Press).

You can find Kelley’s books at Chapters/Indigo here, and her novels written as K.L. Armstrong here. Visit Kelley’s website here.

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We haven’t seen Kelley for a while (she’s been busy) but on July 20, she’ll Zoom in from the Yukon to make a rare appearance as my guest speaker for an online “How to Build Your Novel” workshop. Details here.

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Marianne K. Miller brought out her first novel this year, and it’s making a splash. In We Were the Bullfighters (Dundurn Press), a young Ernest Hemingway is sent to cover bank robber Red Ryan’s daring prison break and becomes fascinated with the convict.

In 1923, Ernest Hemingway, struggling with the responsibilities of marriage and unexpected fatherhood, has just made a big mistake. He decided that for the baby’s first year he would interrupt his fledgling writing career in Paris and move his family to North America. No longer a freelancer, he now has a gruelling job with a difficult boss, as a staff reporter for the Toronto Daily Star. On his first day, already feeling hemmed in by circumstances, he's sent to cover a prison break at Kingston Pen.

The escaped convicts, led by notorious bank robber Norman “Red” Ryan, are on the run, making their way from the bush north of Kingston, to the streets of Toronto, and then through towns and cities across the United States. Their crimes become more brazen, their lifestyle increasingly glamorous. Growing more and more preoccupied with Ryan and his willingness to risk everything to be free, Hemingway ponders duty, freedom, and what stops a man from pursuing his dreams.

Available here.

Staying with bestsellers, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn brought out another domestic thriller: Till Death Do Us Part.

A sumptuous, shocking, steamy thriller set in the vineyards of Napa Valley – what happens when the husband you thought died years ago shows up alive?

Till Death Do Us Part, and Laurie's previous novels, The Girls Are All So Nice Here, All Eyes on Her,  and Firsts are available from Chapters here, and Last Girl Lied To is available from Amazon here. Visit Laurie’s website here.

Lana Button brought out three new picture books in 2024: 

My Grammie’s House, illustrated by Skye Ali (Published by Tundra Books, a Penguin Random House imprint). A sweet picture book about a kid welcoming new people into her grammie's old house.

Available from Chapters/Indigo here.

The First Ones on the Ice, illustrated by Alex MacAskill (Nimbus Publishing)

A gentle winter story about a brother and sister and the simple beauty of their neighbourhood outdoor rink, inspired by the author's hometown of St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Available from Chapters/Indigo here.

And The Only Lonely Fairy, illustrated by Peggy Collins (Pajama Press)

Make-believe + melodrama = comedy as one dramatic little girl learns the new skill of finding a friend.

Available from Pajama Press here.

Anitha Rao-Robinson also published a picture book: Sari Sisters, illustrated by Anoosha Syed (Viking Books / Penguin Random House). It's about the tight-knit bond between sisters as they navigate adolescent milestones and the beauty of updating traditional customs for a modern audience.

Sari Sisters is available at splendid independent bookstores like A Different Drummer Books in Burlington and also from Chapters/Indigo here.

 

Brian Slattery published a wonderful juvenile novel in 2024: Escape to Ponti, illustrated by Antonio Jaview Caparo (Red Deer Press).

Fourteen-year-old Bec learned a lesson that day. Be careful whom you rob!

Available here.

 

Barbara Wackerle Baker published her third YA novel, Jillian of Banff X O (BWL Publishing). Available here. 

This is a sequel to Summer of Lies (available here) and What About Me? (here).

 

Emily De Angelis published The Stones of Burren Bay (Latitude 46 Publishing).

After losing her father in a car accident, 15-year-old Norie opens the thin veil between the past and present and encounters the echo of a century’s old spirit, Oonagh.

Available from Chapters / Indigo here.

 

Gail M. Murray published a poetry collection, Reflections and Reveries. 

 Bonnie Thomson says: “Gail M. Murray explores the worlds of nature, travel and love with the heart of a romantic and the skill of a wordsmith.” –

And Professor Miguel Angel Iglesias describes this collection as: “A happy reminder of Emily Dickinson … soft and inviting, intimate and provocative.”

Reflections and Reveries is available on Amazon here.

 Pearl Lee published her YA novel, Zebra-Girl.

Set against the backdrop of modern-day Montreal, Zebra-Girl is a powerful and personal story that digs deep into the turmoil of the teen experience, exploring mental health, unrequited love, the opposing desires for independence and aid, and what it means to love someone-really love someone-for exactly who they are.

For more information or to buy a copy, see here.

And Pearl’s husband Frank Banfield published his memoir of growing up in Granada, Vunga: Tales of an Island Boy.

Frank and his favourite brother explore sugar mills, trap monstrous crabs, teach parrots new (naughty) words, and sneak out to the movie house – throughout, the one constant is their unfailing friendship.

To buy a copy, see here.

 

Jann Everard published her debut short story collection
Blue Runaways (Stonehewer Books)

Some of the women in Blue Runaways are grieving. Some are looking for a second chance. All are at a turning point.

Blue Runaways is available from Chapters/Indigo here.

 

Heather Rath also published a short story collection, Stalker (Manor house Publishing). 

In Stalker, frightening, suspenseful moments in award-winning short stories co-exist with true-life adventure vignettes: a blend of truth and fiction. The stories explore the mind’s hidden fears and desires while the vignettes deliver a slice of reality, sometimes with unexpected conclusions.

Stalker is available from Amazon here.

 

Connie Cook has a new novel out, The Queen of Swords. Many of you who were in my writing classes Burlington and Mississauga before Covid closed us down will recognize chunks of this delightful novel. 

Connie previously published Follow the Money, A Diana Darling Private Investigator Novel.

For more about The Queen of Swords or to order a copy, see here.

For more about Follow the Money or to order a copy, see here.

 

Anne Beaudoin published her memoir, The Truth of Chasing Rainbows: Escaping Suburbia for the Dream Life in Costa Rica, about the time she quit her job, sold her dream house, and moved to the remote mountains of Costa Rica to become a trout farmer and B&B host.

To read more about The Truth of Chasing Rainbows, or to download the Kindle edition, see here. (If you want a paper copy, you’ll have to wait a bit.)

 Grant Linney published his nonfiction book, Outdoor Magic: The Power of Nature Connection. 

Available from Chapters/Indigo here.

 

Finally, Elizabeth Creith published the first two books of her Wings of Valenia fantasy trilogy: The Swan Harp and The Lost King.

These are perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and Robin McKinley.

Available from Chapters Indigo here.

See upcoming weekly writing classes, one-day workshops, and four-day retreats here. 

For Part 1 of “Friends and colleagues brought out a wealth of new books in 2024,” see here.