Writing...Just because!

On December 1, we had the great pleasure of releasing Halifax-based author/Illustrator E.M. Gales' first children's book, Orange Kitty and the Mouse Parade .  After spending twenty years working with seniors, creating programs and day-to-day activities that utilized art, music, and dance, Gales decided to retire early to work on projects that have been on the back burner. A recent move from British Columbia to Nova Scotia was a way to re-invent herself and become the children's author she'd always dreamed of being. "Writing and art have always been my joy, but like for many people, life takes us in many directions and work we love often gets sidelined," said Gales. "When I retired, I wanted to live the work I have always loved - poetry, writing, and illustrating. The Orange Kitty series is but the beginning." E.M. Gales Gales' first book in the planned series, is a playful, colourful, vibrantly illustrated, counting and rhyming picture book about...

Cindy Tingley Recently we released Lily's Egypt Adventure , the third in Cindy Tingley's first chapter book, children's bible story series, Lily the Donkey's Adventures. What a great time of year to be reflecting on the meaning of Christmas, as the story of the life of Jesus is told from the perspective of a feisty little donkey named Lily and a menagerie of animal friends, through their heart-talk. In this book, Lily and The Holy Family depart Bethlehem in the dark of night to escape King Herod's Clutches. After crossing the desert, they arrive in Egypt and the adventure unfolds as new and old animal friends join the entourage and learn and share lessons of love, kindness, and forgiveness.  Our virtual book tour is underway now and we invite you to join in, read and listen to the reviewers who have come on board, and like and follow their blogs and vlogs. If you're a reviewer and would like to participate, please contact me at anne@ocpublishing.ca. Here's t...

On November 1, OC Publishing will launch the next in author Cindy Tingley's bible story series for children, Lily's Egypt Adventure . Former Sunday school teacher, Darcy Gillis says, "Tingley speaks to the heart of all readers with a message of hope, freedom, and how all creatures great and small can be transformed by the power of God's love." In this book, the third installment in the series of first chapter books, Lily the donkey continues her travels with the Holy Family as they depart Bethlehem in the dark of night to escape the clutches of King Herod who has put out a decree to execute all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two (known as the Massacre of the Innocents). After crossing the desert, they arrive in Egypt and Lily's Egypt Adventure unfolds as new and old animal friends join the entourage and learn and share lessons of love, kindness, and forgiveness. "I think young readers will relate to my main character, a feisty carrot-munchin...

*Updated October 10th... Happy September! So hard to believe summer is over. That means that fall is right around the corner and the launch of our next children's book, Charlie and the Tire Swing , written by Diann Floyd Boehm and illustrated by Judy Gaudet, is coming. It releases on October 8th and our virtual book tour will begin on September 26. It's a beautiful intergenerational story told from the perspective of a little boy named Charlie, and his Grandpa Jack. Over a cup of hot chocolate Charlie's grandfather tells the story of how he planted an acorn with his own grandfather, Charlie's great-great-Grandpa George, and how he tenderly cared for it and watched it grow, from one season to the next. He shares that over the years, as the acorn grew into a mighty oak tree, how each generation enjoyed the shade of the tree, climbing it, reading under it, and gathering together as a family around it. It's a story of growing strong family ties, of sharing stories from ...

The next title coming out from OC Publishing is written by a woman who spent the early years of her professional life as a nurse and, after raising her children, making history in Nova Scotia Politics! On September 23, we will launch Francene Cosman's memoir, Nurse! in celebration of the 60th anniversary of her graduation from the Saint John General Hospital nursing program. The milestone follows shortly after she was awarded a Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal. To say we're thrilled to be partner publishing her memoir is an understatement! Francene felt it was timely to tell the story of her nursing training in the 1960s, a reflection on how training was done in the past, as the spotlight on healthcare increases, and demand for change intensifies. "Given the chronic nursing shortage it may be time for a dialogue about how nurses receive their education," said Cosman, "and to examine a return to early hospital training on the job, a model that worked well."...

Lynda Faye Schmidt's The Holding - a Prequel to The Healing , launched on April 23rd as a #1 New Release on Amazon and rave reviews that keep coming! Below is the line-up of some of the bloggers and reviewers who have joined in on the virtual book tour. Feel free to visit their blogs and take a look-see and we'll update the links as the tour progresses. If you're a reviewer and would like to join the tour, email me (anne@ocpublishing.ca) and I'd be happy to send you an ARC! February 21 - Fit for Joy - a preview, Discovering, Re-discovering & Re-defining the Meaning of Healing & Love March - Fit for Joy - listed as a "Must Read Healing Book"  March 21 - The Lily Cafe - author guest blog - Family is the Foundation of Resilience April 20 - Words from the Heart - book review - "A story woven with hope and healing" April 22 - Laura's Books & Blogs - author guest blog - Rock of Resilience and Scars that Fortify April 23 - The Author Jou...

Studies have proven that the bond between a father and daughter has a direct impact on a child's future emotional well-being. The Holding (a prequel to The Healing ) by Lynda Faye Schmidt, launching April 23, chronicles the early years of protagonist Cate Henderson's life, setting the stage for the drama that unfolds in both novels.  "Lynda Faye Schmidt invites readers into a close examination of a life filled with troubles and triumphs. While Cate's journey holds surprises, what we ultimately see is how her scars fortify her," said Alison DeLory,  author of Making it Home . The Holding, based on real life experiences of the author, takes us back to the beginning, where Cate is born in a small prairie town in Canada, six weeks premature. The heart of this novel is the relationship that develops between Cate and her father, William, and how a father's devotion can instill a powerful sense of resiliency. Lynda Faye Schmidt "I'm delving into some very ...