My Dad A life of adventure, love and curiosity has come to an end. Ninety-one years of working hard, traveling, raising a family, and learning. Always learning. A farm boy, train-hopper, self-taught electrician/carpenter/roofer/engineer and motorcycle rider. A man of faith acquainted with grief as well as joy. He routinely checked on his neighbours, often lending…
Author spotlight: Elizabeth Raum
Elizabeth Raum is a prolific writer of history in both fiction and non-fiction. Her most recent title, A Kidnapping in Kentucky, 1776, is available from Chicken Scratch Books. Q: Where did you get the idea for your most recent book, A Kidnapping in Kentucky, 1776? A: I've always been fascinated with our country's history. I…
Jeff Pennant’s Field Guide to Raising Happy Parents
Every time Jeff tries to make his parents happy, disaster inevitably follows so he decides to turn his life into a science experiment. The results aren’t exactly what he hopes for but along the way he learns a lot and discovers even parents sometimes make mistakes. Available now from Chicken Scratch Books, Jeff Pennant’s Field…
Beyond the veil of grief
Our society prizes the young, youthful beauty, supposed innocence, unlined and unmarked faces. But, if you look into an old person’s eyes, if you wait and if you have patience, there beyond the drooping lids, missing eyelashes, unruly brows and crows feet, if you look deeply you’ll find that person, that soul, is still there.…
Searching for Letters in the Woods
Story time at the Cochrane Public Library What a perfect backdrop for Letters in the Woods! The Cochrane Public Library hosted a story time this morning and everything from the mural behind me to the faux tree slice cushions the children sat on complemented the story. We had a great time searching for the letters…
A “Perfect” Read
Perfect, a new middle grade novel by Kiri Jorgensen, combines mystery and wonder with a compelling protagonist to create an unforgettable adventure. Sal's carefully constructed world keeps her classmates at a distance and that's where she wants them. Then she discovers snowflake science and suddenly she has to decide whether to let some of them…
The Gatekeeper’s Daughter: in revision
When I first started writing, I naïvely thought that once the manuscript had been accepted for publication, the hard work was done. Now that my middle-grade fantasy, The Gatekeeper's Daughter, has found a place at Chicken Scratch Books, I'm learning that the hard work is just beginning. My editor's letter set out the changes that…
Coming soon: The Gatekeeper’s Daughter
Today is a very big day! I am so excited to announce that I have signed with Chicken Scratch Books to publish my middle grade fantasy The Gatekeeper’s Daughter! Look for it December 2024!
New adventures
Welcome to our new adventure! Like many folks, we have decided to leave city life and find some land in the hopes of being more self sustainable. We are not off grid; we are not those people! I have a deep admiration for anyone who is attempting to live that way but we know our…
Daring to dream
Like many high school graduates, Penelope Kildare is confronted with planning for her future. Unlike most of her peers, Penelope has Down Syndrome. Sweet and stubborn, Penelope has grown up challenging stereotypes but when she applies for college, she finds opposition lies closer to home than she ever imagined. https://read.amazon.ca/kp/embed?asin=B09QZ9987H&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_VHKNDERV75HT6M7HGZY5
