All posts by Maurus Cappa
Breakfast Meeting September 21, 2019
Shane Joseph is a graduate of the Humber School for Writers in Toronto, Canada. He began writing as a teenager living in Sri Lanka and has never stopped. Redemption in Paradise, his first novel, was published in 2004 and his first short story collection, Fringe Dwellers, in 2008. His novel, After the Flood, a dystopian epic set in the aftermath of global warming, was released in November 2009 and won the Canadian Christian Writers award for best Futuristic/Fantasy novel in 2010. Shane’s most recent collection of short stories, Crossing Limbo, was published in 2017. His latest novel, Milltown, is set amidst the intrigues of small town Ontario, and will be released in April 2019. His short stories and articles have appeared in several Canadian anthologies and in literary journals around the world. His blog at is widely syndicated.
Shane is the owner and publisher of Blue Denim Press (www.bluedenimpress.com), a literary press he founded in 2011.
His career stints include: stage and radio actor, pop musician, encyclopedia salesman, lathe machine operator, airline executive, travel agency manager, vice president of a global financial services company, software services salesperson, editor, publisher, project manager and management consultant.
Breakfast Meeting October 19, 2019
Max Layton: I was born in Montreal in 1946. My father, Irving Layton, who would later become the well-known poet, was barely making ends meet while my mother, Betty Sutherland, who would later change her name to Boschka, was a painter working as a cashier at a local restaurant.
My parents were, to say the least, unconventional. Atheists and socialists; they were part of a writers’ co-op. I remember the interior walls of my childhood home were lined with books and paintings and I remember there were frequent parties – artists of all kinds: dancers, potters, sculptors, actors and, of course, writers. One of these was a young poet who always brought his guitar. His name was Leonard Cohen. When I was twelve, my mother traded one of her paintings in return for Leonard giving guitar lessons to me. I’ve been in love with the guitar ever since.
My parents split up when I was 13. I remember my mother staring out the window and playing the same Leadbelly record over and over. Eventually, my mother and sister moved to California while I went to live with my father: I moved out when I was 16…
Somehow, I finished high school, then worked odd jobs – picking tobacco in southern Ontario, laying track in northern Manitoba, logging in B.C., apprentice car mechanic in Montreal, etc. – while putting myself through university. It took me ten years but finally I graduated with a BA in Eng. Lit. and Philosophy…
The trouble with being seventy years old is that by now I have too many memories – family, friends, enemies, canoe trips in the wilderness, Aikido, Tai Chi, the delicious loneliness of reading a good book at four in the morning in an all-night greasy spoon, the first time I saw my wife Sharon, the first time I saw an impossible bend in a telephone pole…
A few months later, I was legally blind.
Unable to work, I retreated into the darkness of my room and wrote my first album, Heartbeat of Time. Unable to read, I turned to my steel-string Martin guitar. And then a very strange thing happened – my fingers found new chords and I found myself singing new words and new melodies.
The good news is that, my eyesight restored thanks to the miracle of modern science, I am now able to read again – and write. In fact, I have since published two books of poetry and released four CDs.
No longer blind, filled with love and gratitude, my songs and poems celebrate the new world I see…
Breakfast Meeting November 16, 2019
Lynne Golding was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in History and Political Science from Victoria College at the University of Toronto before studying law at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She is a senior partner at the international law firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP where she leads their health law practice group. Lynne is married with three grown children, and currently lives in Brampton, Ontario. Winner of the OBPO’s “What’s Your Story Short Prose and Poetry Competition,” Lynne is preparing for the release of her second novel, The Beleagured.
Author Lynne Golding’s connection to Brampton runs deep. She’s the fifth generation of her family who has called the city home. She was born and raised in the city, and even lived for years in a house her great-grandfather had built way back in 1905. She still resides in Brampton.
“Brampton is in my bones,” says Golding, released her debut novel, The Innocent (Blue Moon Publishers) last fall. The work of historical fiction is set in the Flower City, appropriate considering Golding’s history with her hometown. The book opens in 1907 and follows Jessie Stephens and her family. A service is taking place in the Presbyterian Church but Jessie’s father won’t let the family enter its hallowed grounds. When she asks why, everyone is tight-lipped. But it somehow involves her grandfather Jesse Brady, who built the church. As she attempts to unravel the mystery, the protagonist learns more about her family, its history and the town she calls home. Golding says there’s mystery in The Innocent. But, the book isn’t a suspense novel. Instead, it’s a look at a small-town Canadian city and the people who live there in an era of innocence that would soon be shattered by the First World War. The novel is inspired, at least in part, by the author’s great aunt Jessie Roberts — who was born and raised in Brampton.
Holiday Gala December 14, 2019
September 9, 2018 Barb Nobel Launches New Book
Long time WEN member, Barb Nobel wishes to invite all WEN members to her book launch on October 20. Here are the details.
BOOK LAUNCH: eDgy pEopLe Barb Nobel
DATE: Oct. 20, 2018 at 7 pm. to 8:30, or however long you want to stay. Coffee and snacks and author readings
PLACE: 516 Rogers Road, Toronto – a most unusual space
The 40 short stories in this collection are stories of regret, revenge, imagination, humour, sadness, introspection, peculiar events, and peculiar people. The stories will yank the reader from rage to triumph, sorrow to joy, cruelty to compassion. The individuals are your grandmother, your child, your friend, or your foe. But none are dull. They are eDgy pEopLe.
September 8, 2018 Wayne Cusack Featured in Two New Anthologies
New WEN member, Wayne Cusack is featured in two publications.
The first is an anthology called Strange Economics. It is the first in what is planned to be a series of anthologies in the science fiction and fantasy genres, all of which will have a “strange” focus. The publisher is based in Toronto. Submissions to Strange Economics were received from 125 authors located in North America, South America, Europe and Australia. From those submissions, 23 short stories were chosen for inclusion. The quality of writing is quite high. The anthology is now available on Am
azon. The links to it are as follows:
paperback: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1999403908/
eBook: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07GZ89QH2/
The second is another anthology produced by the same Toronto-based publisher. This one is called Sanctuary. Its stories are in the science fiction , fantasy and horror genres. As you may guess from the title, the theme was sanctuary. This anthology involves a very difference approach. Twenty-five writers gathered at the Imperial Pub (Yonge Street at Dundas) on the afternoon of August 26th, 2018. The idea was to write and edit from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and complete the anthology in a single day, with the intention of having it published within two days. Advance writing was not permitted, though authors were allowed to develop story and character outlines in advance. It was assumed that the finished product would not be as highly polished as works completed with more time. The organizers felt that the participating writers had the ability to produce pieces that would be well-worth reading. I believe they were right, though as might be expected, there is some variation in the quality of the stories. The intention of the exercise was to see how well we could do in producing an anthology under those time constraints. Twenty-one short stories are included, of which two are mine. Given the time constraints, stories are necessarily short, ranging from about 1,000 words to about 3,000 words.
This anthology is also available on Amazon. Here’s the link to it:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1999403924/
For each of these anthologies we are hoping to obtain favourable reviews on Amazon to assist in the sales effort. Any such reviews left by members of WEN would be greatly appreciated.
Wayne Cusack
August 31, 2018 Anubha Mehta Launches Her First Novel
New WEN member Anubha Mehta is launching her debut novel titled Peacock in the Snow September 28, 2018.
Peacock in the Snow transcends the boundaries of time and country to give a fresh perspective on patriarchy, migration and courage Anubha Mehta is set to release her new publication – Peacock in the Snow – on SEPTEMBER 28 at Ben McNally Books ( 366 Bay Street, Toronto) at 6 pm.
Peacock in the Snow a genre-bending thriller about the power of love, sacrifice and the tireless capacity of people to hope, strive and succeed despite impossible circumstances. This is a story of shy and naïve Maya and how her perfect life with her new husband Veer is thrown into complete disarray when she accidentally stumbles on an ancient family secret. What begins as unwelcome behaviour by Veer’s family soon turns into something sinister. Trapped within the dark walls of her married mansion, the secret begins to haunt Maya and draw a wedge with Veer. To escape the malicious spirits lingering in the house, Maya and Veer migrate to a distant land and start rebuilding their life amongst adventure and hardship. Not knowing that the ghosts of their past have followed them, in a race against time, Maya is put to a final test. Armed with conviction and courage, she sets out to face the dark forces that lie await.
Will Maya ever be free of a dark past? Will she be able to survive so far away from home? Will her marriage stand the test of time, displacement, and hardship in a new country? “Peacock in the Snow is a story of belief, vengeance, and forgiveness,” says Anubha. “It is a story of optimism rooted in the imperfections of life. Maya’s hope makes her resilient and her courage leads to her redemption. The only way to overcome past wrongs is to face them, to conquer our fears and confront our inner demons”
“This book talks about those sides of issues and isms, that fall within the shadows and silences of the noise- those aspects that are not often talked about. In Patriarchy’s forceful dominance – often women get indoctrinated as its gatekeepers and vulnerable men surrender their personal lives, dreams or love in a show of allegiance to this system.
“Across the globe, these issues and isms don’t change, nor are they contained within geographic boundaries. They mutate with different cultures and colours and are manifest in a diversity of context, circumstance, and behaviours according to the tolerance and norms of the place,” adds Anubha.
“Set in both East and West, Peacock in the snow, is a journey across continents, cultures and generations. It bring to life the possibilities of myth and magic that exist on the fringes of reality.”
“I am truly humbled by all the love and support that I’ve received. I hope I am able to hold everyone’s attention in the future too with my story-telling.”
PEACOCK IN THE SNOW will be available in bookstores across North America on September 25, 2018 and is currently available for pre-order online at : Inanna Publications; https://www.inanna.ca/index.php/catalog/peacock-snow/ Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/Peacock-Snow-Anubha-ehta/dp/1771335572/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1531576671&sr=8-2&keywords=peacock+in+the+snow Watch the Book Trailer Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTlqy4UyNyI “This is a thrilling page-turner that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It combines several themes commonly found in Canadian literature woven together in an arresting story. The foreground story is the conflict faced by immigrants facing a new land and a different culture … This is a highly entertaining novel that also says much about contemporary Canadian society.” — David Siegel, professor of political science, Brock University, Canada “This book is like cinematic story-telling. As a filmmaker, I am drawn to the scenic imagery that is evoked in both India and North America…. The story had the capacity of a rare connectedness – of pulling the weight of small details, incidences and characters from the past, to the present to the future. .”
ABOUT ANUBHA MEHTA: With a doctorate in Political Science and over two decades of Canadian public service experience, Anubha’s writing has been widely published in Canada and abroad. Anubha led a singular portfolio of The Diversity Officer at the Regional Government of Peel for more than half a decade ( 2005- 2012) and has been awarded and acclaimed for innovative program planning, education as well as working with diverse Canadian communities. Anubha has always balanced academics and public service with art and has been a classical dancer, theatre-actor, painter and poet. Born in India and travelled extensively across the globe, Anubha’s narrative is influenced by insatiable curiosity, imagination, and spontaneity, reflecting reality in East and West. Anubha’s Personal Stories and Articles are drawn from her ancestors, childhood, her daily life and capture the spirit of epochs lived through turbulent and peaceful time. Anubha’s immensely popular blog Tell – Tale invites tales of natives and immigrants, from past and present, from lonely corners and loud hubs to share their stories and their messages. Anubha published her first non-fictional book, The Politics of Nation Building and Art Patronage in 2012.
August 22, 2018 Braz Releases 3rd Volume of His Matata Series
AMONG THE JACARANDA,
Buds of Matata in Kenya,
A Novel Based on Real Events,
Matata Books, Toronto, 2018,
ISBN-13: 978-1724274847 (USA);
SBN 978-0-9877963-7-0, Paperback (Canada).
This is the long anticipated sequel to two previous novels by Braz,
to complete the trilogy. It is like a longed-for and missing part of a trip-tic image to complete a painting on one’s literary wall. We are being treated to the author’s style of taking the reader on another fascinating journey consisting, in fact, of many travels through life in a personal, cultural, historical, and geographic sense.
Lando, who we have had a chance to get to know in considerable detail in the preceding two accounts, has determined to return to London to further his education, and to complete his studies as a future urban planner. He does so with the blessings of his parents, and with a granted scholarship to facilitate the completion of his plans, hopes, and ambitions, and the fulfillment of his dreams. We are being introduced to his new-found friends, and accompany them on their exciting vacation trips in Europe.
Braz’ narrative is fast-paced, and invites the reader to relish all that is being done, seen, heard, taste-tested, explored and discovered: countries, cultures, fine food and drink, good people, occasional crafty schemers, the exciting sights and sounds of history, diverse geography, fascinating flora and fauna. Lando meets and falls in love with Eleanor, a fellow student. They share personal interests, travels, adventures, learn to solve problems and face challenges together. They become a couple, bringing together diverse families of different cultural origins in two countries on two continents. Let me not give away all the delightful details and secrets in this brief review…
Lando and Eleanor move from the UK to Kenya, to establish themselves, and to adjust to the demands and conditions of life in a newly independent country, with a traumatic history, and a very complex multi-cultural setting which is not without conflicts and in part also with tragic consequences. Lando and Eleanor welcome Alice Emily into their family. Lando attempts to establish himself as an architect in his own right, and is hopeful for a successful future in a new and very competitive economy.
Braz weaves a fascinating literary fabric, which combines the colorful threads of race and ethnicity, language, religious differences, and cultural traditions. He builds bridges between Goa on the Indian subcontinent, the land of his ethnic, religious, and cultural ancestry, and Kenya as a British colony and subsequently as a struggling independent nation with incredible political challenges, and not infrequent turmoil. Braz also fashions various historical, geographic and personal links to England and Europe in a style of writing which is simply fascinating.
It is a book I found difficult to put down for even a momentary pause to fetch another cup of coffee… I recommend it highly, and it even foreshadows the possibility and prospect that this literary trilogy might in due course welcome a literary sibling to form a quartet. I can hardly wait! I am certain that it also promises to be great!”
Gerhard A. Fuerst,
August 14, 2018
Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA;
retired Adjunct Professor of Social Science,
Western Michigan University
July 27, 2018 Alan Joe Launches His New Book
Alan Joe recently launched his new book “Of Ox and Unicorn” at the Islington Golf and Country Club. There were up to 100 attendees, many of whom were WEN members. Alan stated that he sold many books and graciously donated 75% of the proceeds to The Hospital for Sick Children. This donation amounted to $1800.00. In the photo are his wife Juliana along with son and daughter-in-law.