What’cha Watching?
I did a previous post on TV shows, featuring the Brits. This time it’s Canada’s turn. Well, I am a Canuck LOL! Over the years, the CBC has produced some good stuff, from Cold Squad and Trailer Park Boys to North of 60 and the Beachcombers.
Canada’s current roster doesn’t disappoint. There are reality shows, period murder mysteries, and contemporary mystery thrillers for your viewing pleasure.
My grandfather, grandmother, father, aunts, and uncles were forced to attend these institutions devised by the federal government and run by Christian churches to assimilate Indigenous people into Western culture. These schools started after 1880 with the last one closing in 1996.
To understand this period in Canadian History, I highly recommend A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Buying links: U of M Press; Kobo; Amazon.ca; Amazon.com; Chapters/Indigo; iTunes; and B&N.
Many residential school survivors shared their stories. Although I’m only listing a few memoirs, there are many more available.
Happy Birthday, Canada!
Happy Canada Day!
Today, my First Nations community is hosting a powwow starting at 10:00 AM. Check out this link to find out more about this special day.
Beneath the Shining Mountains by Linda Acaster
I’m really enjoying Linda Acaster’s Beneath the Shining Mountains. I’m halfway through and can’t say enough about her prose, setting, and characters. This is the only Native American book in her backlist. My fingers are crossed she’ll write more.
Here is the blurb:
1830s Northern Plains of America. Among the Apsaroke Crow people Moon Hawk yearns for the love of Winter Man, but why would a man with so many lovers want to take a wife?
Her wry challenge captures Winter Man’s attention and starts a game of tease and spar that threatens devastating consequences to her family and to Winter Man. A story of horse raiding and buffalo hunts, honour among rival warrior societies, and one woman’s determination to wed the man of her dreams.
The book is available at: Kindle ¦ iTunes ¦ Nook ¦ Kobo ¦ All e-formats
The Pony Wife by Beverly Bird
I must say I’m really enjoying Beverly Bird’s Native American historical romances. The Pony Wife is the last in the novels she wrote. I don’t have a web site for her, or any buying links because this book is no longer in print. I had to hunt down a copy on the Internet.
Here is the blurb: They called her Dark Moon, for she was born under the darkened light of a lunar eclipse–and blessed with the gentle gift of healing. As a woman surrounded by superstition, she struggled to gain the trust of her people through kindness and devotion. As a woman of beauty and passion, she was forced to divide her heart between the needs of her tribe and the one man who dared to love her. And as a woman of great power and strength, she vowed to challenge the winds of fate that brought the white man into her people’s world, threatened to destroy it forever. Hers was a special destiny of love, course and pride known only to…The Pony Wife.
This author’s Native American books are worth finding. She breathes life into her characters, settings, and plots.
Running Wolf by Jenna Kernan
I’m still on my Indigenous heroines kick. Here’s the latest book I popped into my old but trusty Sony: Running Wolf by Jenna Kernan.
Rival Tribes…
Running Wolf is a valiant Sioux warrior. During his first raid as war chief, he captures a surprising Crow enemy — a woman! This spirited fighter is unlike any he’s ever met. Her beauty and audacity are entrancing, but threaten his iron resolve…
Rival passions…
Snow Raven must focus on freeing herself, not on the man who keeps her captive. But as she falls deeper under Running Wolf’s spell, she realizes he is her warrior — and she’ll risk everything for him!
This book is available at: iTunes, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
What about you? What’s currently in your e-reader?
Love is in the air!
I’m a romance junkie. I got into romance through Sooner or Later, a young adult tale about a savvy girl in elementary school who falls for a high school senior. Daring, huh? It sure was for the time period when the novel was released by Bruce and Carol Harte.
Thirteen and seventeen is a big gap. Of course Jessie Walters (the heroine) had to lie about her age to win a date with Michael (hero). Since these two are a given on my top couples list, I’ll move on to other pairings I still think of as ultra-perfect for each other long after I read their story.
Love is in the air!
Although I don’t watch a lot of romance movies (go figure because I love romance novels), certain couples grab my attention when I’m immersed in an action movie. There are times when I do pop in a mushy DVD full of romance, and surprise, it’s the secondary couple I prefer. And the other time, it’s the main couple who grab my attention.
So today’s post is about couples who stood out on film.
Fore!
Since the Masters is next week, I thought I’d do a post on golf since many international players will be present from the various tours, the most prominent being the PGA. As for myself, I’m partial to the European Tour. I rather like the commentary of Dougie Donnelly, Sam Torrance, Jay Townsend, and Dennis Hutchinson. The telecast of the European events focusses on live golf, instead of commercials within the game, tons of stats, and other distractions. Because this sport is what I enjoy recording to view at my leisure, I thought I’d list the handsomest men who catch my eye.
Keep in mind these are my top ten.
I enjoy memoirs/autobiographies/biographies about the First People of Canada, so I thought I’d share a few that stayed with me long after I finished the book.
Everyone’s journey is a story.
I previously did a post about memoirs/autobiographies written by the ladies with the band. For this post, I’m going to recommend awesome books about the rockers in the band, whether memoirs, autobiographies, or biographies.
I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!
Read on to find out which books kept me up late at night.
Grass Dance by Kathryn Imbriani
Since I’ve been on an Indigenous heroines kick, Kobo recommended Grass Dance by Kathryn Imbriani for me in my “recommendations for you.” I liked the premise, so I purchased the book. So far, so good.
Here is the blurb:
After General George Armstrong Custer’s defeat at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in June of 1876, the Sioux flee north to Canada seeking shelter and food with the U. S. Calvary in hot pursuit. Irishman Braden Flynn is assigned the task of escorting the desperate Sioux into Canada where the North West Mounted Police wait to act as mediator between the Sioux seeking exile and the U. S. Government bent on imprisoning them on newly established reservations.
As he rides alongside these tragic people and learns their ways and sorrows, he cannot help but admire the resilience and loyalty of Sitting Bull’s niece, Dancing Bird. Fearful for the future of her people, Dancing Bird trusts no white man, not even the kindly, scarlet-clad North West Mounted Policeman sent as their protector. Now, amidst the clash of two governments and murderous upheavals, Braden comes to know that Dancing Bird is meant to be his wife. But to win her trust – and her love – he will have to overcome years of broken promises and mistrust between their people.
This book can be purchased at: Smashwords, Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese
I received a text from my mom this morning, telling me the bad news. One of my favourite authors, award-winning Ojibway writer Richard Wagamese, had passed away. Immediately, I went online to check. Sure enough, the Globe and Mail confirmed the worst. At the time, Richard was working on a sequel to his acclaimed novel Medicine Walk. What strikes me as ironic is that after I finished reading this book, I wished for a sequel, wanting to read more about Franklin Starlight’s (the protagonist) journey into manhood.
Richard’s other book, Indian Horse, is being adapted for a movie, according to the Globe and Mail, and what a movie that will make. I can’t stress enough how much I enjoyed this fictional work by Richard.
I did an Author Alert for him just a couple of week ago, after finally acquiring a faster Internet connection so I could begin updating my blog once again (up until then I was stuck on dial-up and unable to use WordPress).
I do hope many honour Richard’s memory and read his works, both fiction and non-fiction. His latest publication, Embers, is full wisdom from the elders and his own learned experiences during his life’s journey.
Sleep well, Richard. You will be greatly missed.
It’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll
Being a die-hard music fan, I enjoy memoirs and autobiographies by groupies and WAGS (wives and girlfriends)–the lovely ladies who inspired many of the songs we love. What about those who work in the music industry or became part of the band’s inner-circle? They’re included, too, because these gals kicked some serious ass.
Have a peek at some of the books I’ve read over the years in case you’re interested in purchasing what kept me awake while I should have been sleeping.
Who’s on the Cover?
I can’t think of one reader who doesn’t enjoy a nice cover on a romance novel. Covers are important to readers and writers. If you see an awful cover, it makes you go “hmmm.” See a good cover and you want to find out more. And what author doesn’t dream up the perfect model to sell her/his story?
Being such a golf fanatic, I thought I’d do something fun today by casting professional golfers as models for romance novels, starting from YA (Young Adult) to MA (Mature Adult) and all genres in-between. Okay, I covered some genres, because if I went with every single one out there, I’d spend my day trying to finish this post LOL. So my apologies in advance if I skipped your favourite. Continue reading
Heads Up!
If you enjoy First Nations literary and non-fiction, I highly recommend the works by Richard Wagamese. My dad introduced me to this author a couple of years ago when he gave me Richard’s For Joshua: A Native Father Teaches his Son for Christmas–a novel about what occurred to Richard as a result of the “sixties scoop.”
The memoir takes the reader through Richard’s life, from being placed in care at the age of three through the Child Welfare System to his escape from his adoptive family at the age of sixteen. His journey of finding where he belongs takes the reader all over Canada as Richard attempts to come to terms with his life and what happened to him. As he recounts his life, he provides lessons he hopes his son will use. Continue reading
What’cha Watching?
I won’t mention the golf tournaments I record, because I think a lot of readers aren’t too interested in watching men hit little white balls off the grass LOL. I will talk about TV shows that have captured my attention in hopes I can entice you to become a viewer. Sound fair?
For this post I’ll focus on British shows. I really enjoy what they produce, from Poirot to Jekyll and Hyde. Both aren’t current programs, though, and this is what my post is about. I’m a sucker for period pieces and murder mysteries, which is why I’m drawn to the literary works of Maureen Jennings and James Runcie. Continue reading
Anishinaabekwe in 1901
I read a lot of historical romance. One problem I’ve encountered is finding books starring Indigenous heroines. Continent doesn’t matter. I’m game for North America, South America, Africa, Australia, etc. After digging and digging, I came across a few authors who write aboriginal women in starring roles.
Vella Munn: I featured this author in another post. She writes contemporary and historical romance. I fell in love with her Soul Searchers series: Soul of the Sacred Earth, Blackfeet Season, Cheyenne Summer, and Daughter of the Forest. In her Soul Survivors series, two of the four books star aboriginal heroines. They are: Spirit of Eagle and The River’s Daughter.
I highly recommend her work. She captures a time period of long ago with real characters and believable dialogue. Her research is impeccable that she weaves seamlessly into the story. Sometimes her settings feature Europeans, while other books occur when only Indigenous people inhabited North America.
Heads Up!
Now that I finally have a connection faster than dial-up, I thought I’d start something new for my blog–Author Alert. Every time you see the alert badge to the right, it means I’ve come across an author I’ve discovered and wish to share with the world. My hope? To introduce you to the writer who drew me into her/his imaginary world and turned words into reality as I devoured page after page until sadly seeing “the end.”
The first alert is for Vella Munn, a writer of historical and contemporary romance. I found her by accident after searching and searching for Native American/First Nations historical romances with an indigenous heroine in the lead. I was fortunate to hit pay dirt with Vella Munn’s Soul Survivors and Soul Searchers series. Yes, I’m quite unorthodox when it comes to hunting down books because I scour the ‘Net until I find what I want. My approach may be “needle in haystack,” but I locate that needle each and every time. Continue reading
Maggie Blackbird 