Novels

The Medal

Chronology of the Novel
- Apr. 23, 2015 Book Launch – Victoria, British Columbia
- Nov. 22, 2014 Book Launch – Kingston, Ontario
- Oct. 31, 2014 The books arrive from the printer! Happiest Halloween ever!
- Oct. 26, 2014 The cover design is sent to the printer
- Oct. 19, 2014 The designer is working on the book cover
- Oct. 9, 2104 The corrected pages are sent to the printer.
- Oct. 8, 2014 Final corrections to page proofs are complete
- Oct. 4, 2014 Corrections to the page proofs sent to the typesetter and editor
- Oct. 1, 2014 Page proofs arrive from the typesetter
- Sept. 25, 2014 Final manuscript sent to typesetter
- Sept. 24, 2014 Final revision of manuscript sent to editor
- Sept. 21, 2014 Photo shoot for the author photo by Shayne of SB Images
- Sept. 18-23 Blurb and an author bio prepared for the back cover
- Sept. 8, 2014 Manuscript corrections returned to editor
- Sept. 6, 2014 Information for Library and Archives Canada sent to book designer
- Sept. 6, 2014 Book designer sends me requirements
- Sept. 1, 2014 Editor returns manuscript with comments
- July 23, 2014 Manuscript e-mailed to the editor
- July 7-22, 2014 Manuscript revision
- July 7, 2014 Borealis Press offers me a book contract
- Feb. 28, 2014 Borealis Press receives the manuscript and marketing ideas
- Feb. 18-26, 2014 New ending and a few alterations to the manuscript
- Feb. 18, 2014 Borealis Press requests the manuscript
- Feb. 2, 2014 Submission sent to Borealis Press
- June 2012-December 2013 Four publishers reject the manuscript
- Sept. 2012-February 2014 Manuscript revisions
- September 2012-June 2014 Chapter-by-chapter feedback from my Writers’ Group
- June 8, 2012 Completion of first draft
- Aug. 2010-June 2012 Research and writing continue
- Aug 26, 2010 Novel writing begins
- July 2006-August 2010 Exploration of ideas for a contemporary coming-of-age story
Finding Home

Finding Home chronicles the adventures of Sarah Phillips, an orphaned British maidservant; who is seeking her family in Canada; and Richard Breeze, the son of an Ontario sawmill owner, who must redeem himself in his father’s eyes and then chart his own course. Their individual journeys are brought together by a group of Home Children: poor youth and street urchins from the slums of England sent to Canada as cheap farm labour and domestic help.
While tensions and intrigue mount over an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, an accidental drowning and even murder, the story also pulls back the curtain on many issues of the time: class differences, Protestant/Catholic friction, homophobia, racism and the treatment of child immigrants.
Finding Home was co-authored with Ruth Burke Allen who shares my love of history and writing.