Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories

Successful Book Signing

2011-04-01T07:08:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday's book signing went very well. This is what the press wrote: http://www.emcottawawest.ca/20110331/news/Author+chronicles+extraorinary+Canadians

Family Treasures

2011-02-11T04:59:00.000-08:00

We all have them. Those treasured items that have been passed down from one generation to the next. It might be a painting, a vase, a teapot. These items have stories, tales that connect the item to the family, tales that trace the connection to yourself. These family stories need to be written down, saved for future generations to appreciate, for the next owner of the treasured item to remember the family connection.

Family Photos/Family Stories

2011-02-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

People don't realize how many stories are locked inside family photographs. I recently unearthed a family photo album from the late 1800s. What a find! It was in excellent condition. Each photo was clearly labelled with a name: Aunt Molly, Grandma so-and-so, Uncle somebody; but where they fit in the family tree, I have no idea. The photos are fascinating. I just wish I knew who these people were. It has given me new resolve to go through my own albums and clearly label people with full names so that 150 years from now, someone isn't wondering who is Aunt Molly and how she is related. There is a story in each one of those photos. Once I do my genealogical search on the names and sort out the question of who's-who, perhaps I'll create my own stories about these serious-looking people.

Autumn

2011-01-31T06:14:00.000-08:00

Join your favourite author of "Autumn", (Emily-Jane Hills Orford) for a full day of dialogue, February 25, 2011, at AUTHORS AT THE VIRTUAL PARK.

http://authorsatthevirtual/ park.blogspot.com/

When the World Goes Crazy, Watch your Dog.

2011-01-29T05:57:00.000-08:00

Dog's are not just man/woman's best friend, they are a constant source of amusement. My new puppy, Duke, loves to run around carefree in the backyard, back and forth, faster and faster. When I'm stressed or annoyed, I find just watching his antics relaxes me and I can even find a laugh or two. A big bear hug from Duke also comes in handy.

Journalling One's Daily Life

2011-01-23T05:16:00.000-08:00

I can't stress enough the importance of keeping a daily journal. Every seemingly trivial information about a person's life is important and should be recorded. For the writer, this is essential. Writers never know when somewhere down the road something that happened today might be important as a clue, a setting, a plot for that great story we all want to write. So, writers and everyone else, too, start that journal and write something every day.

What is Your Earliest Childhood Memory?

2011-01-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

I try to think back, over the years, and put together memories from my childhood. I was always amazed at my grandmother's ability to remember the minutest detail of things that happened all throughout her life. There are some years I can't remember a thing. Perhaps it's the fact that previous generations would spend good quality family time reminiscing tales of times past. Now, we're all too busy to talk about our childhood, let alone anything else. What a shame, really, when you think about it! That means a lot of lost stories. Life is, after all, a story waiting to be told.

It's Friday!

2011-01-21T03:48:00.000-08:00

Every week it's the same. We slog it through Monday to Friday, looking forward to that elusive rest that weekends promise. Not a chance! We should know better by now. Weekends are the time to accomplish all those chores we couldn't do during the week. Hence, by Monday, we return to work more exhausted than the week before. It's a never-ending cycle.

Cooking in the Classroom

2011-01-20T04:39:00.000-08:00

Whatever happened to Home Economics classes which were once mandatory at the High School level? We used to learn so much - good nutrition, good health, good cooking. I enjoyed learning how to make new foods and collecting new recipes. Some High Schools are finally bringing back cooking classes as elective courses. What a great idea! Health officials are concerned about childhood obesity. So why not enforce more cooking classes - teach young people how to make healthy snacks instead of picking up the pre-packaged, soy and sugar laced junk they so often crave. Educate healthy eating. Exercise is only part of the equation to fight obesity, healthy eating is the other part.

The Power of Positive Thinking

2011-01-19T06:10:00.001-08:00

Dad always inforced the notion that positive thinking instilled one with the power to do just about anything. Being positive does, in fact, give one a strong life force to drive oneself to complete a task, to strive for excellence, to pursue a challenge one might otherwise avoid. Think positive. It will always get you where you should be, perhaps even where you want to be.

Canadian Stories

2011-01-18T04:10:00.000-08:00

There are so many fascinating stories that need to be told. I remember an elderly neighbour telling the story of watching her mother stare down a big black bear who dared venture close to her children in rural northern Ontario. My grandmother also told stories of how she helped those in need during the Depression. She and my grandfather ran a small grocery store in Simcoe, Ontario. She would allow customers to pay for their groceries by trade - either for other goods that she could sell in the store or for services like cleaning up the yard, fixing something that needed repairs. No one that came into her store left empty-handed and yet, in spite of her charity, no one lost their sense of pride either. Everyone has a story to tell and each story needs to be written down for future generations to understand the life of our ancestors. For more of my grandmother's stories, check out my book, "Personal Notes" (Moosehide Books).

A Good Book Review

2011-01-17T05:01:00.000-08:00

Book reviews are not as easy to write as one would assume. The pleasure is supposed to be in reading the book itself, often given freely by the author or the publisher to the book reviewer. However, sometimes reviewing a book requires reading a book that really isn't that good. How does one be fair in one's review? State briefly the main theme of the book, if you can. Then comment on its presentation. Was it easy to follow? Did it jump around in time and place? Was it poorly written: bad grammar, poor spelling? Make sure to find something positive to say. A good reviewer is not totally negative in his/her review. One has to remember that the author went to a lot of trouble to write his/her book. It deserves a fair chance even if it isn't a fair read.

The Write Word

2011-01-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Or do I mean: "The Right Word". Aren't we authors always struggling to find the word that fits the descriptive passage, just right/write? Any word might do the trick; but we don't want to be repetitive in our choice of words. Fortunately, we have added tools now with online dictionary and thesaurus resources. Words are now, quite literally, at our fingertips, rather than just on the tip of our tongues. My quick review site is: dictionary.com - I use this site to confirm the spelling of words that might not be picked up by spell check. I use the site to confirm that I indeed have the right/write word and not some homonym that means something totally different than my intended description. I also use this site to find a wide resource of synonyms to help me avoid using the same word too often. Now, that's definitely the write site for the write words!

Memoir

2011-01-15T12:08:00.001-08:00

What is a memoir? It is a memory, a family story waiting to be told. How does one teach the art of writing memoirs? How does one even encourage others to show an interest in this writing form? Memoirs are a record of our present which will become the future's past. Memoirs are important to state the simple fact that we once lived, we once had a life full of excitement, challenges, love, laughter and sorrow. These are stories that are worth telling. These are stories that need to be told. We don't need to be famous to write our own story. I think we have enough books and tabloids that document the so-called famous. We are each and every one of us, in our own right, an important person and we have important stories to tell.

Showing True Compassion

2011-01-14T05:03:00.001-08:00

Rex Murphy once again hit the nail on its head in last night's presentation on CBC The National. Today's society is too fixed on the idea of laying blame whenever there is a tragedy like the one last week in Arizona. Too many people, Rex pointed out, started criticizing the congresswoman who was shot in the head, criticizing other politicians, criticizing anyone and everyone, it seemed. Instead, they should have shown remorse, compassion; they should have been offering condolences. Today's society is too self-centred to care about someone else. If another person thinks differently, looks different, has different religious or political viewpoints, then people today couldn't care less who suffered, just so long as it wasn't them. It's what my grandmother always called 'the me generation'. We truly live in a very selfish world!

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Writer's Block

2011-01-13T04:14:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Writer's Block

Writer's Block

2011-01-13T04:10:00.001-08:00

There are so many different styles of writing. I find it useful to read all kinds of literature, from simple romance novels to mysteries to memoirs to serious artsy literature. Even reading the work written by my young student writers, inspires and enhances my own writing. There is never a lack of ideas. All one has to do to beat the so-called 'writer's block' is sit down and start writing. My grandmother always said that a long walk may seem long; but by taking it one step at a time, you will eventually arrive at your destination. It is the same with writing. One word at a time and the writer will inevitably reach his/her destination - the end of another great story/poem/novel. In that viewpoint, there is never, really, a 'writer's block'; there's only an excuse for not writing.

Global Warming or Shifting Weather Patterns?

2011-01-12T04:12:00.000-08:00

The intensive flooding in Australia, the extreme cold, snow and freezing rain in the southern US states, extreme snow in Britain and Europe, birds dropping from the skies - global warming or shifting weather patterns? Doomsday-seekers always find something in the news to predict the end of the world. But, perhaps it's more a matter of the earth's changing rotational pattern. Times change and these extreme weather patterns have happened in the past. We do need to be more conscientious of caring for our environment; but some things are going to happen irregardless of what we do.

Eating Without Soy

2011-01-11T04:39:00.000-08:00

Did you know that soy and soy by-products are an ingredient in most of the foods that you eat? Shocking! Yes, it is! What's even more shocking is that the majority of the population has an allergy or food intolerance to soy! And, many more are unaware that they might also have an intolerance. So, why do we let governments allow such additives? That's the big question. The next big question is how do we put a stop to this. I mean, when you think of it, soy is a vegetable. So why do we need soy in, say, chocolate chips? Or, in cookies? Even more shocking is the presence of soy by-products in health vitamins! The best way to fight this is to encourage everyone to avoid purchasing products that contain soy, indeed to boycott soy-anything. Read the label. If soy-anything is listed, don't buy it. Secondly, write the manufacturer of your favourite foods and demand they find a healthy alternative to soy. It's a battle we all must fight!

Senseless Tragedies

2011-01-10T03:52:00.000-08:00

Why do some people believe that they have the right to destroy other people's lives? That is a question that has haunted civilization since the beginning of human existence. No one has the right to take another life. It's written in all of the Holy books that human life is sacred. Yet, it happens again and again. The recent shooting in Tuscon makes no sense at all. Killing or injuring one politician is not going to change the way politics rule. Killing innocent bystanders, including children is just meaningless brutality. Lives were lost; lives were shattered. What kind of world are we living in?

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Snowblowing at 2 a.m.

2011-01-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Snowblowing at 2 a.m.

Snowblowing at 2 a.m.

2011-01-09T06:41:00.000-08:00

People are so thoughtless. They think nothing about doing their yard work, the household maintenance and their snowblowing at all hours of the day and night. They believe that they have the right to do whatever they want to do on their property no matter what time it is. And, when someone else dares to make a sound in the middle of the night, this persistent noise-makers are the first to complain. Whatever happened to common courtesy?

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Enter the Frightening World of Chris Hambleton's "The Cell"

2011-01-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Enter the Frightening World of Chris Hambleton's "The Cell"

Enter the Frightening World of Chris Hambleton's "The Cell"

2011-01-08T13:25:00.000-08:00

BOOK REVIEW:

Title: The Cell: Twilight’s Last Gleaming

Author: Chris Hambleton

What has happened to the United States of America? It’s 2020, the four-hundredth anniversary of the Pilgrims landing on America’s shores, a place where Pilgrims and many other groups who followed, sought and found a life free from religious persecution. America, land of the brave, land of the free, was a place where one could freely and safely speak their beliefs. In 1620, John Carver signed the Mayflower Compact and became the first governor of the Plymouth Colony. The Mayflower Compact guaranteed the furthering of Christian faith, individual liberty and a free society. William Bradford followed these principals as the colony’s second governor. Four hundred years later, their namesakes, John Carver and William Bradford, try to re-instate these basic rights. But their numbers are small. Since 2008, the year of the big financial crash, America has become increasingly more intolerant to these basic rights and freedoms. In fact, the very people whom the Christian Americans welcomed into their country, are now stagnating and, very nearly, obliterating Christianity. John and William must operate underground to avoid detection. Their church is in the basement of the local hospital; they operate like a cell, keeping their numbers to less than ten because too many people congregating at one time might alert the authorities, or, worse yet, the warlords, the Husam. Numbers grow and, when they do, the cell breaks off into more cells, forcing the new group to find a different location for secret worship.

Starting to sound scary? Very! Detection by the Husam means instant annihilation, either by contact with a suicide bomber, or a severe beating followed by a live beheading. Forget the Armageddon stories and movies of the late twentieth century. Forget the Mayan prophesy of 2012. Chris Hambleton knows his history. This is obvious in his recent book, The Cell: Twilight’s Last Gleaming. He also knows his Bible. The recent trail of events in North America could well be leading to the downfall of American civilization and the obliteration of basic human rights and freedoms. The Cell: Twilight’s Last Gleaming is a fact-filled, live action, page turner that will have the reader spellbound till its chilly conclusion.

The Cell: Twilight’s Last Gleaming is a work of fiction. With a strong base of both American and world history as well as Christianity, The Cell: Twilight’s Last Gleaming tells a story that is both compelling and thought provoking. It is highly recommended by: Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.

Available at: Ingram, Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Title: The Cell: Twilight’s Last Gleaming
Author: Chris Hambleton
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1609573522
Pages: 364 pages
Price: $19.95 (PB)/ $9.99 (eBook) US
Jan. 2011

For more information: http://www.cwhambleton.com
http://www.cwhambleton.com/default.aspx?tabid=3533
http://www.amazon.com/Cell-Chris-Hambleton/dp/1609573528
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ISBN=9781609573522

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Writing Is More Than Just Writing

2011-01-08T06:09:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Writing Is More Than Just Writing

Writing Is More Than Just Writing

2011-01-08T06:05:00.000-08:00

Everyone who wants to be a writer, thinks that the most difficult part of writing is getting that first word, that first sentence, that first idea written on a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen. Yes! That's difficult! However, once the work is finished, there is the never-ending job of editing, editing and editing some more. Then there is the job of finding a good publisher or any publisher willing to publish the book. Once the book is out, however, the work is not done. Gone are the days when publishing houses promote their writers other than to post new releases on their websites. The author is left to his/her own devices and talents in the art of self-promotion. It is a never-ending job trying to market one's own writing. So why do we do it? Why do we write, if the job itself is so never-ending? We write for the love of writing, pure and simple!

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Commitments

2011-01-07T04:12:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Commitments

Commitments

2011-01-07T04:09:00.001-08:00

First commitments should always come first. It always annoys me when people plan something and then change it last minute because something 'better' comes up. It's inconsiderate, when you think about it. What are we teaching the next generation when we suggest they cancel a previous commitment because all of a sudden there is a game or a practice that wasn't previously scheduled. First commitments first! Unless there is an unforseen, unavoidable catastrophe.

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Cake Boss Coming to Ottawa

2011-01-06T07:15:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Cake Boss Coming to Ottawa

Cake Boss Coming to Ottawa

2011-01-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

I wish I had known sooner. The Cake Boss show at the NAC is this weekend and all of the good seats are gone. It's very disappointing that there were no notices prior to this week. But that's our wonderful Ottawa Citizen. It's notorious for advertising the event after the event, if it bothers to write anything about it at all. Very frustrating. So, how did all these other people find out about it in time to purchase good tickets? I wonder, though, how well one will be able to see what's happening on the stage. It certainly won't be the close-up views that we have on TV. It's entertaining to a point. It's amazing some of the cakes Buddy creates. But there's so much waste! And, I'm sure that it's too sweet for most people to even dream of eating. Sugar, sugar, sugar! That and the eggs and butter and milk - definitely on my list of things I can't eat:(

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Armageddon or Human Ignorance?

2011-01-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Armageddon or Human Ignorance?

Armageddon or Human Ignorance?

2011-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of red-winged blackbirds dropped dead from the sky over a small town in the USA. Similar instances have also been recorded in other small towns. Is this a sign? I don't think so. The Hollywood buffs would probably make a big deal out of the symbolism. I think it's another case of humans encroaching on nature with devastating results. It may have been the New Year's fireworks. It wouldn't surprise me in the least. Those things are lethal, poorly supervised, and, at the very least, dangerous. All for a good show! Humph! We don't need bright lights to celebrate an event. Imagine the poor creatures trapped in the open spaces where these fireworks are set off. Perhaps the blackbirds nests were disturbed in the process. How many other animals were affected? It's a frightening thought. It really makes one wonder if we really need these displays of celebration. I remember when fireworks were banned. Perhaps they should be banned once again.

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Julie Versus Julia Versus Good Healthy Eating

2011-01-04T04:46:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Julie Versus Julia Versus Good Healthy Eating

Julie Versus Julia Versus Good Healthy Eating

2011-01-04T04:38:00.000-08:00

Perhaps good food is not the rich stuff of French cuisine as Julia Child insisted. European cuisine and eating habits have certainly not created a healthy European population. Healthy eating can also be good eating. One doesn't need the rich sugars, butter and fatty ingredients to make a good meal. It just take a little creativity in how one substitutes ingredients for a healthy alternative and, perhaps, a little time. But it's worth it. A healthy meal makes you feel content and satisfied without feeling bloated and overly full. AND, these healthy alternatives help reduce the calorie intake which, happily, results in weight loss. Imagine, losing weight without feeling starved all the time. Part of the weight problem in contemporary society is the fact that the rich foods we crave do not break down in our system. It doesn't matter how much one exercises, until one eliminates these unhealthy ingredients from the diet, weight gain will continue. Obeisity is a product of unhealthy foods (most of which contain soy which does not break down in the body).

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Old Clothes and Porridge

2011-01-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Old Clothes and Porridge

Old Clothes and Porridge

2011-01-03T06:18:00.000-08:00

Back to routine today - teaching, writing, working. Gran always called it: "back to old clothes and porridge". It's an euphemism for things returning to normal - or as normal as one can get in this day and age of madly dashing around trying to do too much all at once. The excitement of the holidays, the rich food and fancy clothes is now all in the past.

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: New Year's Rejection!(

2011-01-02T07:39:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: New Year's Rejection!(

New Year's Rejection!(

2011-01-02T07:34:00.000-08:00

Oh! How I hate those rejection letters! I know we all receive them from time to time, some more than others. I keep telling my writing students that it's not a reflection on either them or their writing. But! Sometimes it's just a little bit too much. Like, how about, a rejection letter dated January 1st??? I received one of those email rejections yesterday, January 1st, 2011! What a wonderful way to start a new year! Of course, I'm being sarcastic. I mean, really, what kind of editor is mean enough to send out rejection letters on January 1st?!?!? I just hope that's not a prediction of the year to come!

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: All in a Day's Perspective

2011-01-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: All in a Day's Perspective

All in a Day's Perspective

2011-01-01T12:37:00.001-08:00

Another day, another month, another year! Is it going to be a better year than previous years? Only time will tell. When you think of it, though. January 1st of any year is really just another day. So, why the fuss? Why the late night parties? Much better to wake up rested and refreshed to start the new day, the new month, the new year.

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Soy in Bread

2010-12-31T05:07:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Soy in Bread

Soy in Bread

2010-12-31T05:05:00.000-08:00

Did you know that even breads contain soy? Even the healthy, whole wheat and whole grain breads contain soy!!! Why such an abundance of soy products? Why is our diet being compromised by government's need to make a cheap trade deal with another country?

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Soy Allergies

2010-12-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Soy Allergies

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: The Grand Ole' Duke of Orford

2010-12-30T13:52:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: The Grand Ole' Duke of Orford

The Grand Ole' Duke of Orford

2010-12-30T13:47:00.001-08:00

To be a Duke, just ask the Duke of Orford. That's what we've called our year-old, rescued puppy. He's part Border Collie, part Australian Shepherd (hence no tail), and full of love and affection. After a year of living in abusive homes, Duke has come to us to share his love. How could anyone not love our Duke?

Soy Allergies

2010-12-30T08:16:00.001-08:00

Did you know that soy allergies are very common? Did you know that soy allergies are difficult to prove; but they can be life-threatening, especially in infants and children? Soy is in so many products that we eat. It is also in infant formula! If soy is so threatening to the health and well-being of infants, then why is is a major ingredient of formulas? It's cheap! That's the bottom line. It doesn't matter that so many people become violently ill - vomiting and diarrhroea - immediately, or within a short period of time, from eating some food product that contains soy. Governments don't care! Department of Health doesn't care! Soy is cheap and that's the bottom line! Like I said before, it's a conspiracy.

Soy Annoying!

2010-12-29T04:59:00.000-08:00

How can governments justify poisoning our food products with something that so many people can't tolerate? Soy is a government wash-over. Cheap to produce; an easy trade item from third-world countries. Why not use the real thing, instead of this cheap alternative? Did you know that chocolate contains soy by-products instead of the real product of cocoa butter? Why? Because it's cheap. I think we deserve better. Soy-free products, especially soy-free chocolate, tastes more real. Why? Because without soy, the product is the real thing!

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Soy Shocking!!!

2010-12-28T05:41:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Ordinary in Canadian Stories: Soy Shocking!!!

Soy Shocking!!!

2010-12-28T05:36:00.000-08:00

I love to cook and I love to eat. But, so many of my favourite foods have suddenly become my enemy. Allergies and intolerances have overtaken my passion. Julie Powel and Julia Child both claim that butter is the essence of good cooking. OK. What if you can't eat butter, or anything dairy for that matter? Margarine? But what if you can't eat soy? Margarine, and just about everything else on the grocery shelves, contains soy by-products. Shocking! Even more shocking is when you consider how manufacturers extract soy oil from the soy bean. They use a kerosene by-product. Ugh! No wonder my body can't tolerate soy!

Extra-ordinary

2010-12-28T05:23:00.001-08:00

I have always felt special. My parents made sure that each of their children felt special. Why? Because everyone IS special! Everyone IS EXTRA-ORDINARY! What does that mean? It means that we all have something special to contribute to this world to make it a better place. AND, we all have our own unique and fascinating stories to tell. The more I look, the more I listen, the more I read, the more I realize how many wonderful stories there are about REAL PEOPLE - wonderful stories that need to be told.

Autumn gets Rave Reviews

2010-02-09T11:25:00.003-08:00

BOOK REVIEW
Autumn by Emily-Jane Hills Orford
Autumn
by Emily-Jane Hills Orford
ISBN: 978-1-926596-42-6
Baico Publishing, Ottawa, 2009
Reviewed by Friederike
Knabe
“Life is full of truly extra-ordinary
people and extra-ordinary stories. We
all live a life that is really ‘beyond
the ordinary’ and we all have our
own unique and fascinating stories to
tell.”
There is no doubt that Nepean
author Emily-Jane Hills Orford
enjoys telling a good story,
whether about ordinary or extraordinary
people. Love for music and
for the richness of Canadian cultures
and landscapes has led her to create a
series of novels of which “Autumn” is
the third volume. Each book is named
after one of Antonio Vivaldi’s Four
Seasons’ violin concertos, the Italian
Baroque composer’s best-known
work.
Following the theme of music, it
is not surprising that each novel in the
series has featured musical talent. In
“Spring” (2005) and “Summer” (2008)
respectively we met Melanie and
Hope - each from a different cultural
Canadian background - growing
into world class violinists. They also
have become friends over the years
and have made mentoring young
musicians an important part of their
lives. The central figure in “Autumn”
is Martha Kapakatoak, a young pianist
from Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut.
Martha has inherited a small “square”
piano * from one of her ancestors and,
with no piano teacher available in her
hometown, she works hard to teach
herself to play and to read music. The
love for music, evidently, is in her
genes...
And therein lies the beginning of
the mystery that surrounds her and
her piano. The instrument is a very
special one. Not only was it brought
over from Scotland to the Arctic on a
mid-1850s expedition to find the North
West Passage, it survived close to one
hundred fifty years the transport from
one ‘snow house’ to another. Now,
while seriously out of tune as a result
of the extreme climate variations, it is
still in workable condition.
How do we get to Martha and the
mystery? The novel starts with Tommy,
Martha’s great- great-grandfather.
Orphaned when he was still almost a
child, and having to fend for himself,
he happily accepted a passage into the
unknown as the Captain’s boy on the
HMS Brianag. The ship, like the others
of the time, is doomed and the crew
abandons it. Among the few supplies
they could pack onto a sled for their
onward journey to find help, Captain
McTavish has stacked his beloved
piano. The captain and Tommy are
eventually found by an Inuit hunter,
whose people were referred to in those
days as “Eskimos”. Despite efforts
to treat him, the captain succumbs to
exhaustion in the night leaving young
Tommy the sole European survivor.
He has to promise the dying captain
that he will guard the piano with his
life and return it as soon as possible to
its rightful owners.
Tommy never returns to Scotland;
he is accepted into the Eskimo family
who saved him. Over time, he becomes
the head of the household, completely
integrated into the culture and routines
of his adopted people, distinguishable
mainly by his red beard and his talent
to entertain family and neighbours
with his piano tunes. His commitment
to his captain is passed on to his son
and through the generations to finally
reaching Martha. Tommy’s story is
interspersed with Martha’s and her
growing up into a musician is set
against major and minor historical
events between 2000 to 2010.
The author sensitively portrays the
young pianist who strives to do her best,
practising every day either at home or
in the cathedral of Iqaluit where there
is a ‘digital piano’ with at least full size
keyboard that gives her a better range
for her fingers and a somewhat better
sound for her ears. As she grows in
confidence she also gains in creativity
- composing music that brings together
and even merges her European and
Inuit musical traditions. Martha is
supported in her musical ambition by
her family: her mother and her cousin
Sarah in particular are her fans. The
vast landscape of the Northern Tundra
provides a beautiful backdrop to the
description of the family’s daily life
and Hills Orford describes it with great
skill and evident affection. She shows
how living in such an environment
can enrich a person’s outlook on life
and strengthen the bonds to nature
that city dwellers might find much
more difficult to develop. In these
surroundings music can often say
more than words could express.
Martha’s talent and skills as a
pianist are tested when two well-known
violinists - Melanie and Hope - visit
Iqaluit as part of a northern concert
tour. The result of this first encounter
will direct and guide Martha’s life for
years to come. The author effectively
links the central characters of her
previous novels with Martha’s story.
While it might be preferable to start
the Four Seasons Series from the
beginning, the reader coming new to
it with “Autumn” will definitely be
greatly motivated to catch up with
Melanie and Hope in the earlier books.
Without wanting to give anything
away of the remarkable events as they
unfold for Martha over the next ten
years, I can say that the bond between
Martha and her square piano are tested
more than once and the mysteries
that the piano encompasses take on
dramatic and possibly dangerous
proportions.
Emily-Jane Hills Orford is a
musician in her own right and a music
teacher. Her love for and knowledge
of a wide range of music, classical and
contemporary, is palpable throughout
the novel. This aspect of the book
alone will make it a great read for
young people who have some interest
in music and playing it (as well as for
their parents!). In addition, the author
has created a rich and multicoloured
canvas of people and landscapes.
The themes of friendship, solidarity,
commitment and spirituality are
strong themes here, giving the story
sometimes more than a touch of
optimism and idealism. Still, major
challenges accompany Martha as
she grows into an adult. Last but not
least, Hills Orford so skilfully and
perceptively conveys the power of
the natural environments in which her
characters breathe and live - whether
it is the Canadian Arctic or the deep
forests of northern British Columbia
- that the reader feels transported into
their midst.
The author’s talent and enthusiasm
for her subject matter is evident
throughout. Using aspects of various
real-life events or historical facts such
as those around a square piano or a
dubious fire in a composer’s house
in the nineteenth century, Emily-Jane
Hills Orford loves to spin a good story
of ordinary and extra-ordinary people.
Vivaldi’s Four Seasons not only plays
a special role for the young heroine and
her musical friends and mentors, it also
provides connections throughout the
novel. The original Four Seasons score
of 1725 was published to go along with
a set of sonnets, one for each concerto
with one verse for each movements.
Attributed to the compose himself,
the sonnets beautifully describe the
theme and reflect the mood for each
movement in each of the concertos.
The author introduces key chapters
of “Autumn” with an epigraph citing
from the relevant sonnet. In all, she
has presented us with a rich and
moving reading experience whether
we are younger or older.
* See the interview with the author
on the next page for more details on
this kind of piano.

FEB 2010 The OSCAR - OUR 37th YEAR Page 21
Interview Emily-Jane Hills Orford
By Friederike Knabe for
OSCAR,
1. You are a musician, a teacher
and a published author. You are also
somebody who loves telling “extraordinary
stories about extra-ordinary
people”. And it seems that you can
even find extra-ordinary stories in the
lives of ordinary people. What or who
inspired your love for story telling?
I don’t think there is any one
person who inspired my love of
storytelling. Actually there are many
people. I come from a long line of
storytellers. My grandmother was a
wonderful storyteller. Everything in
her life was a story. She would come
to visit us for a week and my mother
always claimed that she would start
telling her stories the moment she
walked in the door and she wouldn’t
stop talking until she left a week later.
She was such a wonderful storyteller,
that I had to write her story (Personal
Notes, Moosehide Books 2008). My
parents were also storytellers. We
also had a constant stream of visitors,
missionaries from around the world
and people my parents knew. They
were all storytellers. I used to love to
sit and listen to whoever was visiting
us. There were always fascinating
stories being told.
2. AUTUMN is the third book
in your “Four Seasons’ Series” –
Spring, Summer and now Autumn.
Can you explain briefly why you have
chosen Vivaldi’s Four Seasons as the
overriding theme for your novels?
Music describes life in so many
ways. I think the poems that Vivaldi
wrote to complement the music of
his “Four Seasons” so aptly describe
how life is like the four calendar
seasons. I wanted to write stories
about young musicians, particularly
young Canadian musicians, and depict
their lives, their musical careers, as
they evolve through the four seasons.
Vivaldi’s music and his poems seemed
to me to be the perfect formula, if you
like, on which to develop my stories.
3. Each of the volumes centre
around one young musician with
Martha Kapakatoak, the young Inuit
from Iqaluit the heroine of this most
recent novel. What made you select
young women from different – and
ethnically multi-ethnic – backgrounds,
and Martha in particular? Did
any actual personalities inspire the
creation of any of the characters?
I chose my characters and settings
from different parts of Canada because
I have a great love of the wonderful
multi-diverse regions of this country. I
have a special affinity to southwestern
Ontario, having grown up there. I
spent several years living in British
Columbia, studying and writing about
the various regions of the province,
and the art of the First Nations. I have
long held a fascination with Canada’s
far north. Two of my previous books
are about missionaries in the north
(Ukulele Yukon, Baico Books, 2006,
which is about Bishop Henry Marsh
of Yukon, and The Whistling Bishop,
Baico Books, 2008, which is about
Bishop Jamie Clarke of the Arctic. The
Whistling Bishop was named Finalist
for the 2009 Next Generation Indie
Book Awards). I don’t think there
is any one person that inspired the
creation of my characters. I was more
interested in presenting truly Canadian
personalities, not famous people, just
extra-ordinary people.
4. The story relates some key
historical events and developments,
starting with the mid-eighteen
hundreds to the creation of Nunavut,
the fire of the Iqaluit’s important
cathedral and more recent events.
How important was it for you to relate
the fictional story to reality and fact?
I believe in writing about real
places and real events. I didn’t want
to write about a fictional setting that
may or may not be a specific place
somewhere in Canada. I wanted to use
a real place. I felt it was important,
considering the time period of the
novel, to include specific events that
have had a profound affect on people.
There is a documented story of a piano
that was dragged across the tundra
on a dogsled. One has to remember
that pianos in the mid-1800s were
not the big cumbersome instruments
we have today. The piano in Martha’s
story would be what was called a
square piano, which was really more
rectangular than square, probably the
shape and size of a coffin, and, yes,
it would fit on a dogsled. St. Jude’s
Cathedral did suffer from a tragic fire
that was maliciously set. Making this
story part of Martha’s drama seemed
important in the development of the
mystery surrounding her instrument.
Relating a fictional story to things
that really happened seems to add
credibility to the story. And why not?
Historical fiction does it all the time
.
5. Have you visited Nunavut and
Iqaluit to explore the history of families
like the Kapakatoaks and take in the
beauty of their natural environment?
I have been to Iqaluit and I have
had the pleasure of meeting people
there and exploring its wonderful
landscape. As I wrote Martha’s story,
I imagined myself walking where she
walked, especially the steep uphill
climb from the centre of town!
6. Your novel evokes the different
landscapes that their deep impact on
the central characters – whether the
Northern Tundra or the deep forests
of Central British Columbia. Can
you share why making music in open
spaces plays such an important role in
your story?
Canadian music itself speaks
strongly about Canada’s great open
spaces. Many of the summer music
camps in Canada feature outdoor
practice facilities and performance
opportunities. I had the opportunity
as a young musician to study at one
such camp and the experience was
incredible. Performing with nature
as both your audience and your
counterpoint is a powerful experience.
7. In each novel the chosen
instrument plays a central role not
only for the young musician. Martha’s
inheritance of a nineteenth century
“square piano” is particularly
dramatic. Can you explain why the
existence of such a piano in the
Canadian Arctic had such wide and
important ramification?
There are very few musical
instruments that can survive the drastic
climate of the Arctic. I have been
told that there are no acoustic pianos
in Iqaluit, only digital keyboards.
It’s not just the climate that makes it
impractical to own an acoustic piano
in Iqaluit. It’s the cost of shipping the
instrument to Baffin Island. Iqaluit is
the only capital city in the world that
is inaccessible by land to the rest of
the world. Shipping a piano to Iqaluit
would be very costly, to say the least.
Martha’s square piano is an anomaly.
The mere fact that it survived the trek
across the frozen tundra, let alone be
still marginally playable 150 years
later is nothing short of miraculous.
However, that’s fiction. One can
stretch the imagination through the art
of telling a good story.
8. Your expertise in the field of
music and your love for all aspects of
it permeates your novel. We can all
learn alongside Martha about a wide
range of musical epochs, styles, and
interpretations through different ages
and cultures - – from Bach to Inuit
throat singing. How important has the
educational component been for your
in this novel and the series?
I am a strong advocate of the
importance of music in every person’s
education. Music is such a vital part
of our lives and there have been
countless studies on the effectiveness
of music in improving one’s mind. I
guess I wanted to present a very real
person who had a very real passion for
music and who was, at the same time,
an interesting person. So often music,
especially classical music, is labelled
as dull and the people who perform
this music are equally considered
unexciting. I wanted to tell a story
that was exciting, interesting and
involved a talented classical musician.
I think I’m also a strong advocate for
everything that is Canadian. So much
of Canadian history is taught as dull
facts and dates. So much of Canada
is brushed aside as uninteresting. I
wanted to present the Canada that I
see, that I know and love.
9. Your enthusiasm for certain
composers and piano pieces is
palpable throughout the story and
Martha clearly reflects strong
emotions in that regard. She develops
her talents in amazing speed. Do you
see Martha as a role model for young
people with interest in music? Are
there other role models you would like
the readers to follow? Did you have
a particular group of readers in mind
when conceiving the series? If so,
why?
I would like to think that my stories
might inspire young musicians. I
would hope that my stories would also
spark some interest in those who don’t
have the benefit of a music education,
who see Canada as being void of a
music history, void of music talent. We
do have a lot talent and, as Canadians,
we need to show our national pride and
support and encourage our talented
musicians.
10. When can we expect the last
volume of the Seasons Series? Without
revealing any secrets, can you share
anything about WINTER?
Winter is currently still rambling
around in my mind. I have another
book in the works at the moment.
I think I can safely say that Winter
will take place on the East coast. I’ve
already covered southwestern Ontario,
the west coast and the far north, so it
only makes sense to tell a story from
the Maritimes. I don’t know if Winter
will be the last book. I know it would
certainly finish the ‘four seasons’; but
our seasons have certainly changed
since Vivaldi’s day and perhaps we
have more seasons in a year. There are
certainly more parts of Canada, more
stories, more potential adventures, that
haven’t been included in my first three
books. We shall see.
Thank you

"Autumn" gets rave review!

2010-02-08T05:22:00.000-08:00

Check out page 20-21 of OSCAR

http://www.oldottawasouth.ca/documents/oscar/2010/2010-02-February.pdf

Share the Sault: Jane Johnston Schoolcraft

2010-02-04T11:36:00.000-08:00

Share the Sault: Jane Johnston Schoolcraft

Tony Cosier's prose is poetry

2010-02-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

Just finished reading Tony Cosier's novel, "Thunder River". It's very poetic, very descriptive and really describes one sense of space in beautiful B.C. Good history and suggestive prose that makes one really think about what we whites have done to both the land and its first peoples. A great read.

Autumn is a hit

2010-01-16T04:32:00.000-08:00

"Autumn" is on the shelves of a bookstore near you. It's receiving rave reviews. Check out the trailer. You may order copies directly from me.

Tracy Chevalier's truly "Burning Bright"

2009-09-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

I have always loved William Blake's poetry. It's very earthy, real. I like the way Tracy Chevalier tells the story of Blake without making him into the main character. And yet he was. His art of poetic story-telling is the story itself which swirls around him.

Anne Perry's masterful style of Victorian drama

2009-09-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

I'm reading another one of Anne Perry's masterpieces. I love both her series - the one that follows private investigator Monk and the other one that follows inspector Pitt. The drama is exceptionally well portrayed, drawing the reader into the era of Victorian London. I truly admire the supporting roles of the two dominant women, Mrs. Monk and Mrs. Pitt. They are exceptionally bright and intelligent - very powerful forces in helping solve the mystery. They are strong characters in themselves, as well. Great works!

Emily at Steinways

2009-09-11T12:32:00.000-07:00

The Creative Spirit

2009-04-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching 24 young people how to write creatively. We're doing everything from writing personal family history stories to writing book reviews. Allbookreviews.com has been supporting my project and they have offered my students a prize for the best book review. I have some pretty amazing creative young minds - and some pretty lazy ones, too. But isn't that always the case!

Marley's a great dog

2009-04-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

Watched the movie, "Marley and Me". There's a great dog-message here. A great people-message, too. People-dog-people bonds can teach us so much about how we can learn to accept differences and care for people/animals, regardless of the differences.

Get Smart Gets Smart

2009-04-14T17:59:00.001-07:00

I've been watching the original Get Smart series. What a great sitcom! Nice, clean, wholesome, good humour. Too bad current sitcoms are not as good.

Interview with Tony Kay on ArtistFirst Radio

2009-04-13T05:37:00.000-07:00

CENSORSHIP OF SOAPS

2009-03-24T05:41:00.000-07:00

Can you believe this? The only liquid hand soap that WAS ONCE available to purchase, is now discontinued. Dove quotes:

"We apologize for the error in regards to the information you were provided in our previous response to your inquiry. We have been recently informed that these products have been discontinued. We are sorry that we do not have any remaining stock.

Our company's goal is to provide consumers with a variety of products to meet their needs and preferences. As you know, marketing is complex function, and many business factors are taken into consideration prior to discontinuing a product. However, consumer demand is a major factor. When the level of demand is insufficient to ensure that consumers receive high quality products at an affordable price, the product may be discontinued.

We apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused and hope you will continue to enjoy our products."

My question to Dove is:

Well, I assume you have come up with a product to replace this. I am very annoyed with Dove, as you have done this before. First with my hand lotion, then with my shampoo. I'm one of the hundreds of thousands of people who suffer from allergies and can't use heavily scented materials. At the present, there is nothing else on the market in the liquid hand soap that is scent-free. If I can't depend on Dove, who can I depend on for scent-free products????

Live Radio!

2009-03-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

I was just interviewed on live radio: www.artistfirst.com

Tony Kay interviewed me for almost an hour. I had to talk for an hour! Not my forte, really. Now writing? I can write for hours given the time.

The Whistling Bishop

2009-03-03T04:24:00.000-08:00

“The pages of this book are filled with well-deserved pride in a man whose life was an example of the intrinsic value of charity and the benefits of opening one’s heart to the many positive abilities of humanity.” Nancy Morris, Allbooks Review, http://www.allbookreviews.com/

For thirty-five years, James Charles MacLeod Clarke (1920-2006) toted a military-issue rifle and a Bible as he sledded, walked, boated, and flew across thousands of miles of northern tundra to minister to his scattered congregation. He slept in whatever shelter was available: tents, snowhouses, and poorly insulated houses. Most important to his service in the North, James Clarke (Jamie to his friends and family) was loved and trusted by the Inuit and all who lived in the North. Fluent in Eskimo (Inuktitut), German, and several other languages, he is best remembered for his mischievous smile, quick wit, and his glorious whistle. Wherever he went, he whistled. He whistled popular songs, children’s songs, folk songs, operas, as well as his favourite music, church hymns. The Whistling Bishop is the story of the late Bishop James C.M. Clarke’s life. It chronicles a life that began as a minister’s son through his growing-up years in Belleville, Ontario, and Toronto, until the Second World War took him overseas trained as military intelligence. After the war, his ministry began in Calgary before taking him to Canada’s far north at Fort Chimo (now Kuujjuaq) on Ungava Bay. The Whistling Bishop is a story of love and courage. It is also the story of how the power of music (even in the form of whistling) can transcend the many language and cultural barriers to win hearts and bring all humans together. For more information, check out the author’s website at: www3.sympatico.ca/mistymo

book trailers

2009-03-01T05:06:00.000-08:00

Check out the following book trailers. My books are going places!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkwwpqzY0Vs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qiT8gTwtc0

Personal Notes Book Trailer

2009-02-19T12:11:00.000-08:00

TAKE NOTE

2009-02-16T12:07:00.001-08:00

Ottawa-Barrhaven writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford, will be signing her newest book, Personal Notes (published by Moosehide Books) at Book Stop, 1 Jockvale Road (Barrhaven) on Saturday, March 28th from 2-4 p.m.

2009-02-16T11:46:00.000-08:00

2009-02-16T11:43:00.000-08:00

PERSONAL NOTES

2009-02-16T11:34:00.000-08:00

www.allbooksreviews.com www.allbooksreviews.ca

Genre: Biography
Title: Personal Notes
AUTHOR: Emily-Jane Hills Orford
Margaret “Peggy” Murray Downer lived her life out of the spotlight, but for the family and friends who knew her, she was a grand lady whose story should be shared.

Peggy isn’t sure why her granddaughter wants to know about her life, but Peggy isn’t about to refuse the request. She struggles with what exactly to talk about, especially since she is in her 90s and admits that her memory isn’t what it used to be. She wrote in journals every day of her life and held on to written treasures from loved ones. She loves sharing stories, but knows she’d need at least another 90 years to get all her current stories recorded and organized. She’s willing to share her life with whoever is interested.

Orford uses her grandmother’s early journals and tape recorded stories to create a biography of a woman who will forever remain close to her heart. She pulls the reader in immediately with Peggy’s voice in the prologue. The engaging writing feels more like a conversation with friends than a book being read. Peggy’s story is told with compassion and love and succeeds in letting a large audience get to know a wonderful human being.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford divides her time between her growing family, her music studio, and her writing. She believes in writing about ordinary people. Many of her stories include the people who were most important and influential in her life, including her grandmother, the source of Personal Notes.

Personal Notes is a touching glimpse into the past. A great family read filled with real adventures and delicious recipes. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.
Available through www.moosehidebooks.com.
Title: Personal Notes
Author: Emily-Jane Hills Orford
Publisher: Moose Enterprise Book and Theatre Play Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-894650-70-0
Pages: 252
Price: $17.97
Jan 2009