Two local authors are serving up some comfort food with their stories that have been accepted in the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul series: O Canada, The Wonders of Winter.
Award-winning novelist Patricia Donahue of Vernon and Diane Nicholson of Armstrong made the cut when their stories were accepted into the popular life improvement books, where people share real stories to bring hope, wellness, inspiration and love to hundreds of millions of people around the world.
“This is only the second issue devoted to Canada and Canadian authors,” said Donahue. “In 2002, the first issue hit The New York Times’ bestseller list in a flash.”
The women’s submissions were in the top one per cent of hundreds of stories entered from across Canada. The collection also includes a story by Lynn Johnston, the cartoonist and creator of the comic strip, For Better or For Worse.
This is Nicholson’s sixth story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
“I have two stories in the first Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul,” said Nicholson, who is also a photographer and is currently working on her first novel. “I’ve been told that the other books are being re-released at the same time.”
All stories in the Chicken Soup books have to be about true happenings and the editors check every detail for verification, said Donahue.
“In my story, Bruno’s Bruin, I was questioned about the mountain and asked if the mountain was named Lone Goat Peak, or Lone Goat Mountain. Tongue-in-cheek, I told them it was just really high,” she laughed.
Tuesday’s launch party for all the authors was held in Toronto, the same day the books were released to bookstores.
This is Donahue’s second published work this year. Her sequel novel, Mighty Orion – Secrets, following 2010’s Mighty Orion – Fate, was published by Borealis Press in Ottawa and follows the story of a crusty, old tall ship sailor who is forced to mend bridges with his family.
Copies of the book are available in Vernon at K&K Bookstore and The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop and book signings take place at Bookingham Palace in Salmon Arm Nov. 17 and at Coles Books in the Village Green Centre Nov. 30.
Donahue is also giving a novel writing workshop at the Vernon library meeting room this Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. The workshop, which is part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), is open to all levels of experience.
Registration is required and spaces are limited. Call 250-542-7610 ext. 1375 to register or e-mail khennings@orl.bc.ca. The workshop is free.
