The Story Behind the Story with Author Kathleen Lippa of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

 

Looking for a terrific book?

 

Kathleen’s new book is receiving rave reviews. 

The  five stars are piling up.

She has kindly accepted our invitation to tell you about it.

 

Hello readers. I’m Kathleen Lippa, a Canadian journalist, and brand-new author of a true-crime book published by independent, Canadian publisher Dundurn Press. I grew up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and obtained a B.A. in English from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1998 before embarking on a career as a newspaper reporter and editor. I’m married to Arctic historian and author Kenn Harper, and we divide our time between Ottawa and St. John’s.

 

 

Title: Arctic Predator: The Crimes of Edward Horne Against Children in Canada’s North

 

Synopsis: In the 1970s, a young schoolteacher from British Columbia was becoming the darling of the Northwest Territories education department with his dynamic teaching style. He was learning to speak the local language, Inuktitut, something few outsiders did. He also claimed to be Indigenous — a claim that would later prove to be false. In truth, Edward Horne was a pedophile who sexually abused his male students.

From 1971 to 1985 his predations on Inuit boys would disrupt life in the communities where he worked — towns of close-knit families that would suffer the intergenerational trauma created by his abuse.

The Story Behind the Story:

I went to the Canadian Arctic to work for the Northern News Services in 2003, and the experience up there changed my life. I had a front-row seat on the creation of a new territory in Canada, Nunavut. I got to travel throughout the Eastern Arctic for my work as a reporter. And while I was spending time in the communities of Nunavut I heard about the crimes of Edward Horne, a compelling schoolteacher who hailed from British Columbia. Horne had won praise from his bosses in the education department of the Northwest Territories at the time, but in truth, in secret, Horne was a pedophile, and abused many children in the North over the 15 years he lived in the Eastern Arctic. The people of the North I met when I was a reporter often spoke of Horne like a mythological figure. A monster. Some wondered what ever became of him. He’d served prison time, but was he now a free man? There was mystery surrounding the Horne tragedy. I wanted to know more. It took me almost 20 years to finish writing the book that is now Arctic Predator. It was the most difficult long-form work of journalism I have ever done. I did it on my own time and using my own money. It was very challenging on every level to get this book out into the world, but most notably, it was emotionally draining - not just for me but the people I interviewed. But ultimately, we all believed it was an important true-crime story to document. And the Canadian public is fascinated – the book is a bestseller in Canada, and I’ve done a number of successful events at independent bookstores.

I wanted to work with a traditional publisher, and preferably Canadian. My manuscript was rejected by 12 different publishers before Dundurn Press in Toronto took it on. I’m very proud that Arctic Predator is printed and bound in Canada, and available across Canada, and internationally.

Website: Please go HERE.

A question before you go, Kathleen:

Scribbler: Where is your favourite spot to write? Are you messy or neat? Your beverage of choice?


Kathleen: I have been working in non-fiction for a long time, in my home office, located just off my kitchen. Home is best for the work I do, although I have always secretly envied people who can write in coffee shops!

The files and books I use for reference tend to pile up and create clutter around my desk. But I know where everything is. I can find necessary files and information rather quickly in those piles, in spite of how bad the clutter may look, and that is something I am rather proud of, to be honest.

I do drink coffee now, although for years I found strong green tea helpful in the mind-energy department. I blend my own mushroom coffee now with lion’s mane powder and real milk. I get to work early, like 5 a.m. every morning, and I find mushroom coffee gives me a warm boost.

An Excerpt from   ARCTIC PREDATOR

TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains descriptions of sexual assault and abuse of children

CAPE DORSET, January 23, 2003

A fire raged in the metal dump, yet no sirens blared. Townsfolk in sealskin and work boots, and women in fur-lined parkas with babies on their backs made their way up the hill to where firefighters had purposely set one of the community’s old school buildings ablaze.

Four hundred people, roughly a third of the community’s population, huddled near the flames, a reprieve from the cold in the minus 20 degrees Celsius temperature. Some people in the crowd were crying. Others picked up rocks and hurled them into the flames, yelling at the disintegrating structure as if it were the living embodiment of a name they shouted — Ed Horne.

Twenty years was a long time to live with the anger. Horne had left their community in 1983, but the emotions his name engendered were still raw.

As the schoolhouse and its secrets burned that night, a young reporter named Christine Kay was at her desk in Iqaluit working the phones. She called hamlet offices in the territory each week, hearing news and gossip that could be spun into features for her newspaper. This was the best a reporter with no travel budget could do. To actually visit a community beyond Iqaluit required an expensive plane ride. The phone was an economical way in. Christine was curious about the fire she was hearing about in Cape Dorset, but could only eke out a small story for News/North that appeared on February 3. The headline was “Piece of Past Up in Flames”. She reported that the burning was part of Cape Dorset’s settlement in a civil lawsuit against the governments of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. The small structure, one of two portable units — free-standing classrooms not attached to the main school — was no longer in use. A year before this symbolic act was carried out, a multi-million-dollar settlement had been made between the two territorial governments, the employers of Ed Horne, and dozens of young men — once boys — who had been sexually abused by the disgraced teacher.

Tuugaaq* initially attended the burning, but left before the building was razed to the ground. 

“I did see people throwing rocks, but I wasn’t compelled to do anything because that wasn’t where I had the experience with Ed Horne. The older one where we first encountered him is still standing,” he said, many years later, explaining that a construction company was currently using that building. “There were two portable schools. The one that was burned down was from later, it was for the younger guys. To me it was like, why don’t they burn the one where it all started?”

Buy it HERE.

Thank you for sharing such a compelling story, Kathleen. I appreciate how difficult it must've been to write. 

I wish you continued success with your writing.

And a GRAND-CANYON-SIZE thank you to all our visitors and readers.

The Story Behind the Story with Tanah Haney of Ontario, Canada.

 

We are very happy to have Tanah join us this week as our featured author. 

I had the pleasure to meet Tanah at the 

GMRD Book Fair last April.

She was in attendance with Joe Mahoney of Donovan Street Press, her publisher.

 

She has kindly accepted our invitation to be with us today.

Read on my friends.

 

 

When not writing, Tanah Haney divides her time between playing the Celtic harp, teaching music, gardening and cat wrangling. She is a published poet and is co-author of Where the World Bleeds Through with her husband, photographer and digital artist Mark A. Harrison. The character of Aiden in Tanah’s debut novel, A Peculiar Symmetry, was inspired by Tanah’s own experience with neurodiversity. Late diagnosed with ADHD at age 50 but neurodivergent from day one, Tanah is determined to be a more vocal champion of everyone who has ever felt different, and for the free expression of same in a diverse, inclusive, and compassionate society. Tanah lives in Peterborough, Ontario, with her husband Mark and a small but vocal menagerie.

 

Book Title: A Peculiar Symmetry

 

 

Synopsis: 

Aiden and Minnie. Two of the least ordinary people you’re likely to meet.

Aiden’s missing the first eight years of her life, yet she can play Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto without ever having been taught. Minnie can see people’s emotions, in vivid colour, no less. That doesn’t help much when she meets Aiden, who doesn’t seem to have any.

When British Intelligence sweeps in, along with belligerent spies and a half-brother Aiden never knew existed, Minnie soon discovers that whatever Aiden might lack, she more than makes up for in intrigue. Getting to know one another will have to wait, though; when bullets start to fly, and the bodies begin to pile up, the two young women find themselves caught up in a clandestine war for control over the human psyche…and their own lives.

 

The Story Behind the Story: 

Writing A Peculiar Symmetry was a much longer journey that expected, with countless side quests and dead-end paths taken along the way. The initial spark for it though, was two-fold: the concept of an accidental signal, and a single sentence: “It was too early in the morning for things to go so wrong”. The accidental signal idea was inspired by my own personal experience with OCD, the hypervigilant variety that has you checking things multiple times. I had been stuck in a bit of a loop, triple checking that all the doors were locked before bed, which involved flicking light switches on and off. It had me feeling more than a little foolish and wondering what that must look like from the outside. Which in turn brought to mind Mulder in the X-Files, signalling his desire to talk to the mysterious Mr. X, or rebel factions communicating across a river via shuttered lanterns. What if someone accidentally sent a signal out into the world that they didn’t intend to send, and someone received and acted on that? The rest of the story spun out from there. The idea of a rough start to the day inspired the two opening scenes, where we meet both of our main characters struggling through one of those mornings where nothing goes right, which gave them a kind of shared experience while simultaneously showing how different their lives and personalities were before they met.

  

Website: Please go HERE.

 Buy it HERE.

  

    

Where I like to write: Did a lot of cafe writing for many years, until the Covid lockdowns hit. Then it became a challenge, how to turn safe spaces, at home or outside, into a place I could feel truly inspired, could temporarily step away from all the pressing grown-up responsibilities despite being surrounded by clutter. I've started writing outside the home again, but I'll still often end up in the big room upstairs at my standing desk, with a mix of ambient music and nature sounds, windows wide open, with occasional interruptions from cats, or the birds in the apple tree out back.

 

Favourite beverage: Coffee still ranks at the top for sparking energy and creativity, sometimes black tea. But for long haul sessions and staying hydrated, it's a personal concoction of 2/3 carbonated water (that we carbonate at home), 1/3 spicy ginger beer, and some of those sugar-free flavour drops. My favourite at the moment is the strawberry-watermelon, goes surprisingly well with the ginger.

 

 

 

Thank you so much for being our guest this week Tanah. WE wish you continued success with your writing.

 

And another BIG thank you to all our visitors and readers. Feel free to leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

The Story Behind the Story with author Peter Foote of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

 

Let’s welcome someone new to the Scribbler.

Peter is an established author but this is his first visit to the Scribbler.

 

He has been an active participant of the GMRD Book Fairs and always in a great mood.

He has news about his upcoming novel he wants to share.

Read on my friends.

 

 

Peter got locked in a bookstore as a child and has been reading his way to freedom ever since.

As a blue-collar sci-fi author, Peter tells gritty and personal sci-fi and fantasy stories of ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations that resonate with readers and provide much-needed escapism.

Title: “Encrypted Starpath”

Cover reveal soon!

Synopsis:  A HUSBAND AND WIFE WHO DELIVER MORE THAN JUST MAIL…

Liam and Rosario are couriers, delivering messages and cargo across the solar system. Officially, they’re just another small-time operation flying under the corporate radar. Unofficially, they smuggle secrets, disrupt supply chains, and undermine the mega-corporations that keep humanity under their thumb.

But when a distress call from Dr. Santos lands in their lap, the stakes shift from corporate sabotage to a far greater threat. She’s uncovered a dangerous secret—one tied to the Interstellar Gate orbiting Jupiter. And powerful forces will kill to ensure it never gets out.

A MESSAGE THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING…

Hunted by corporate enforcers and facing threats from the unknown reaches beyond the Gate, Liam and Rosario must decide: leave Dr. Santos to her fate, or take a stand and risk everything—because some messages are too important to ignore.

 

The Story Behind the Story:

I’ve always been drawn to stories that put ordinary people in extraordinary situations, rather than “Superman” type stories. For me, being able to relate to the characters, normal people who screw up, fail sometimes, ask for help, etc… is what’s important, even more so in these uncertain times.

What had started out as a fun tale of a husband and wife team delivering mail around the solar system, grew into a fight against mega-corps using people as a resource. But Liam and Rosario's method of fighting isn’t epic space battles, it’s the little things that anyone can do. Helping that neighbour who just lost their child, slip that person some funds so they can pay their bills this month, or simply sit with someone as they have a rough day. I like to think of it as an avalanche of good intentions, and it’s the story I felt compelled to write.

It’s my goal to publish this book by year's end.

Website: Please go HERE.

A question before you go, Peter:

Scribbler: Where is your favourite spot to write? Are you messy or neat? Your beverage of choice?

Peter: I have what I call my “writing nook”, a small desk in our den downstairs. The walls are covered in fan art, personal accomplishments and nerdy pieces that I’ve picked up over the years. I like to think of my spot as an organized mess. I have a stack of papers requiring my attention, my reference books at hand and a patchwork quilt of post-it notes with random thoughts and time-sensitive action items.

Thank you for being our guest this week, Peter. We wish you continued success with your writing. Looking forward to the new book.

And another BIG thank you to all our visitors and readers.

Leave us a comment. Tell us what’s on your mind.

The Story Behind the Story with Pierre Arseneault of New Brunswick, Canada.

 

Pierre is going to share the news bout his terrific latest story.

 The raves and reviews are rolling in and we are most fortunate to have Pierre back with the Scribbler. 

He’s been one of our most popular guests and if you missed the last post, go HERE.

Read on my friends.

 

 

The youngest of eleven children, Pierre C. Arseneault grew up in the small town of Rogersville, New Brunswick, Canada. As a cartoonist, Pierre was published in over a dozen newspapers. As an author, he has written solo and in collaboration. Pierre currently lives in the outskirts of his hometown again, near Rogersville in New Brunswick, Canada.

 

Title: Something Happened in Carlton

 

Synopsis:
People used to say that nothing ever happened in Carlton, but there is a lot going on in this small town, and Police Chief Clovis McPhee is in the middle of it all even as he struggles to let go of the life he worked so hard to have. Neighbors Garth Blackett and 93-year-old Eli Woodman's feud over garbage threatens to become more than a war of words as Garth runs into the reality that he's not as great as he thinks he is. Raylene McPhee is doing anything and everything she can to support the man she has loved her entire life, but at what price? Mayor Jack Ledger is furious that the elderly Ms. Musgrave has erected a huge Christmas display in her yard in July, and nobody but him seems to care how this will affect his reputation. Officer Libby Terwilliger must let go of the man who has been like a father if she's ever to step into his shoes while Bonnie Campbell desperately tries to keep the Carlton Gazette from failing before its time. The seemingly mundane and random events of this small town coalesce as something happened in Carlton.

The Story Behind the Story:

This origins of this novel began way back in 2010 when I started putting serious thought into writing fiction. Flashforward a few years and I’m writing in collaboration with a friend and also writing solo as well. My first attempt at writing fiction is the same advice I would give any novice looking to try his hand at fiction. Start with short stories, which is what I did. Much of my early works ended up in a short story collection called Sleepless Nights, published in 2014. The last story I wrote for that book was a novella called Nothing Ever Happens in Carlton. This is the third story in this collection that is set in Carlton. However, the cast of said novella was the inspiration to go back to Carlton to visit with them again and expand on their stories. And so, I did just that. I went back to Carlton and before I knew it, Chief Clovis McPhee was standing in a backwoods driveway, staring at a mountain of garbage, while contemplating how to deal with the man who’d called in what would turn out to be the escalation to a feud between neighbors. A while later, I had written what turned out to be my very first dramatic novel.

Website: Please go HERE.

A question before you go, Pierre:

Scribbler: Where is your favourite spot to write? Are you messy or neat? Your beverage of choice?

Pierre: Right now, I have a desk set up in a back room away from the hustle and bustle of home. It’s the best place I have at the moment to help me focus. However, clutter is my enemy and so I have to keep it as neat as I can. Right now, there is a stack of papers in a corner that are the notes (which I often ignore) for my latest crime thriller novel. It’s going well considering that I know how I want to end the book and have a plan. But the hard part is that I still need to write it.

As for beverage of choice? Coffee tops the list but only when writing during the day. At night, I prefer the ultimate decaf called water. It’s a common misconception that a writer must also be an alcoholic. That is more of a story trope than anything else.

Buy it HERE.

I’ve read this story and it’s good. I truly enjoyed it. I expect you will too.

Thanks for being our guest this week, Pierre. Wishing you continued success with you writing.

And thank you to all our visitors and readers. Leave us a comment if you have a moment.

The Story Behind the Story with A.F. Hudson of Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada.

 Cover Reveal and an Excerpt from the newly published WW2 novel by Allan Hudson.

 

I live in Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada, with my wife Gloria. I began writing in my mid 50s with no intention of stopping. Happily retired, I spend most mornings working on my stories and publishing the Scribbler. The rest of my days are spent with book related projects, time with family and other important issues, such as napping and taking life easy.

 

 

 

Title: Code Name: Iron Feather 1942

 

Synopsis: Camp Debert is an army base being built next door to Royal Canadian Air Force Base in Debert, Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada in 1942. Thousands of thousands of men and women will pass through on their way to Europe. Units will be mustered, weapons handed out and training for war. The contractors are erecting buildings as fast as they can.

The new mess on the army base is partially completed until work stops when the foreman finds a dead body hanging from the rafters. Not a soldier, but an airman.

Everything is hush-hush. The commanding officer has asked for the investigation to be handled by Warrant Officer Stefan Kravchenko of the Air Force Service Police. He’s ordered to Camp Debert, immediately. Upon arrival he discovers the scene is all wrong. The medical examiner suggests it may look like a suicide, but …

 

The Story Behind the Story:  I’ve always been intrigued by WW2 stories and wondered about the people who served during the war, but never went to the European or Pacific theater. There were many women and men who served right here in Canada, right here in the Maritimes. Did German spies walk among them?

When I explored all the bases in Atlantic Canada, I was impressed by how many there were. I expect there are many stories within those forgotten walls or bases.

My previous novel with Warrant Officer Stevan Kravchenko of the Royal Canadian Service Police has become one of my most popular stories. It is based at the Air Force Station Scoudouc, New Brunswick, Canada.

Iron Feather is set in Debert, Nova Scotia, where there was an air force base, a naval gunnery school, ammunition dumps and a huge army camp.

 

You can buy your copy HERE.

 

Scribbler: Where is your favourite spot to write? Are you messy or neat? Your beverage of choice?

Allan: I have a desk and computer in the second bedroom where I spend most mornings writing. I like a neat spot and keep my clutter organized. I enjoy coffee and cold water.


An Excerpt from Iron Feather.

Berlin. Thursday, June 11th

Gestapo Headquarters. Prinze-Albrecht Strasse.

 

JACARANDA

 

Other than his name and rank, Oberstleutnant Otto Müller, the memo contains only one word. Neat, precise, Germanic. The boldness of the letters emphasizes immediate action. Delivered moments ago by his assistant Stabshauptmann Schulz, the torn envelope now lies upon his desk. The paper he holds is note size, embossed on the top with the Meyer coat-of-arms. Directly from his superior's office upstairs. At present, there are only four people who know of Jacaranda. With his recent promotion he happens to be one of them. It will be his first opportunity to initiate an operation.

Rising from his plush leather seat, he turns to the left of the office where a capacious filing cabinet sits under the Führer's picture. Inherited from his father who was a doctor, the cabinet is made of birch, polished to a yellow gleam. The sole piece of furniture belonging to him. Catching his reflection in the glass, he tips his head so he can see his new haircut again. He likes it short on the top and shorn on the sides. Notices his forehead getting longer, though. Too many wrinkles around the eyes for a man of forty-two. Ignoring them, he slides the top drawer cover up and in, exposing a row of files. The bottom three rows are empty. He's only had the opportunity to start several of his own folders, the others inherited from the previous occupant who now fights on the eastern front. His punishment for Iron Spear going bad. They even lost a submarine in Canadian waters, none of the crew survived. Oberst Jörg Meyer blamed his subordinate entirely. Saved his own neck.

In the folder marked Agent Jacaranda is one sheet of paper. It reads:

 

Klaus Schroder

Age: 48    DOB: 11/17/1893

Father: Wilhelm, deceased 1918. Mother: Adalee Baumann, deceased 1918. Both war casualties from allied invasion of Germany. One sibling, Roburts – serving Wehrmacht.

Eyes: Blue    Hair: Light brown    Hgt: 1.8 meters/5 ft. 11''    Wgt: 88.45k/195lbs

Alias: Samuel Thomas (Tommy) Wright

Code Name: Jacaranda

Placement: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Secondary: Debert, Nova Scotia, Canada

Recruited: February 1938

Date of Dispatch: December 1938

Profession:   Recent: Heavy Equipment Operator

              Former: Construction Worker

Decorated soldier. Served in German Imperial Army 3rd Engineer Battalion 25 Corps. 1915 - 1918

 

Laying the paper on his desk, he sits and reaches for his own notepad. Unadorned, simple blue lines. On it he prints:

 

To: Iron Feather. ACTIVATE JACARANDA. ASAP. Details on first target to follow.

 

Reaching for his intercom, he presses a large black button. It's followed by a hiss and a weak voice.

"Ja, Oberstleutnant?"

"Come to my office at once, Alfons."

"Ja, Oberstleutnant."

Twenty seconds later a skinny man enters, not tall enough to meet the minimum requirements for field duty, but with his attention to detail and above average IQ, he is invaluable as a staff member. A pointy chin confirms a V-shaped face. The black-framed glasses appear too big for his pert nose. Not one to give in to his mousey features, his demeanour is one of efficiency and business.

"Ja, Oberstleutnant."

Müller passes him the folded note.

"Take this to Communications. A message to Unterseeboot 501. It will surface somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean at midnight local time. Tell them to be sure this message reaches our agent in Nova Scotia."

"Is that all, sir?"

"Ja, do it right away."

"Heil Hitler."

"Heil Hitler"

Schulz is off like he has diarrhea. Müller swings around in his chair, smug from having an assistant at his command, when mere months ago he was the assistant. With pursed lips and tented fingers before him, he stares at the photo. The scowl, the bangs diagonally across the man's brow, the shadows under the eyelids and the shadow moustache under the nose makes him look formidable with crossed arms and a penetrating stare. He shivers at the man's power emanating from the image. Seeking his own glory, he speaks to the empty office.

"No one threatens the Third Reich. No one!"

Buy your copy HERE.

Thank you for taking the time to visit and read about my new novel.

I hope you’ll leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

The Story Behind the Story with M. A. Ferguson of New Brunswick, Canada.

 

Monique is a new addition to the Scribbler. Please join me in welcoming her to the blog.

She has kindly accepted my invitation to be our guest this week. 

Read on my friends.

 

                  

Monique Ferguson is a crime fiction author who blends fast-paced storytelling with rich character

development. The Blake & Turner series follows journalist Sienna Blake and RCMP detective Megan Turner as they tackle dangerous cases, uncover dark secrets, and push the boundaries of justice. Monique strives to craft stories that offer readers both thrilling suspense and complex emotional depth. When I’m not writing, I enjoys cooking, spending time with my family and relaxing with a glass of wine or coffee with friends.

 

Title: Blake & Turner: Trafficked Secrets

 

Synopsis:    

In the shadowy world of wealth, power, and betrayal, Sienna Blake finds herself entangled in a

deadly conspiracy that cuts closer to home than she ever imagined. A wealthy socialite living a life of privilege, Sienna’s world shatters when a murder occurs at an exclusive event. As her suspicions grow, she begins to uncover dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of her carefully curated life—secrets that lead her down a dangerous path.

Enter Megan Turner, a by-the-book RCMP officer with a military background and a sharp eye for justice. New in town, Megan crosses paths with Sienna, quickly realizing that this case is far more complex than it seems. But when these two fiercely independent women clash over their vastly different methods, the tension between them becomes palpable.

Can Sienna and Megan set aside their differences to uncover the truth, or will the very forces that bind them to this conspiracy tear them apart? As the stakes rise and the body count grows, they’ll need each other more than they realize.

In a high-stakes game of survival, loyalty, and deception, Sienna and Megan must rely on each other as they face their final showdown. But in a world where no one is what they seem, can they trust each other enough to make it out alive?

 

The Story Behind the Story:  

I’ve always been drawn to crime fiction—it’s something my late mother and I had in common. I remember sitting with her, watching Dateline, Law & Order, and similar shows, trying to guess who the “bad guy” was. But for me, it wasn’t just about solving the case—I was fascinated by the psychology behind it. What makes someone snap? Why do people behave the way they do? That intrigue has never left me.

Beyond the thrill of the chase, I’ve always been drawn to crime fiction that explores the emotional and psychological toll on those seeking justice. That’s what led me to create Blake & Turner. Their story came to me organically—I loved the idea of strong women, but not necessarily in the way we traditionally see them. Strength comes in different forms. Some women are into beauty and fitness, while others fit the more stereotypical “tough” mold. With Sienna Blake and Megan Turner, I wanted to show that strength isn’t one-size-fits-all. They’re entirely different people—different ages, backgrounds, and marital statuses. And yet, they complement each other in ways I never expected.

Writing them has been an amazing experience. They feel so real to me that sometimes I’ll have an idea for a scene, but then I’ll stop and think, Sienna would never do that, or Megan wouldn’t react that way. It’s fascinating how much they’ve taken on lives of their own. I feel more like a facilitator than a creator at this point.

Trafficked Secrets, the first book in the series, was born from something that kept nagging at me. I’d been seeing more and more stories in the news about young women disappearing. I started keeping track of them, and my gut kept telling me something wasn’t right. Some of these women reappeared, while others vanished without a trace. My overactive imagination ran with it—what if they were being trafficked? That unsettling thought became the foundation for Trafficked Secrets.

The second book, Cost of Silence, stirred up some controversy. I’ve had to apologize to friends and readers who struggled with it, but I’ll let you figure out why. It’s a book that pushes boundaries, and I stand by it.

Right now, I’m working on two more books: The Final Watch and Prime Obsession. And I’m also toying with the idea of launching a new series about a CSIS agent. Keeping my stories Canadian is incredibly important to me. With everything happening in the world, I want readers to see that Canada has just as much to offer as the U.S. when it comes to crime fiction. Canadian books can be just as thrilling, intense, and engaging.

I know this is a bold statement, but I’ll just say it—I want to be the Canadian James Patterson. If life has taught me anything, it’s why not? Right?

Website: Please go HERE

Buy her books HERE.

A question before you go Monique:

Scribbler: Where is your favourite spot to write? Are you messy or neat? Your beverage of choice?

Monique: Most of my writing happens in my office—it’s my little creative bubble, cozy and comfortable, where I feel the most inspired. But honestly, I’ll write anywhere if an idea hits. I always keep my phone close because inspiration never waits for a convenient time. Whether it’s a book idea or a single line for a scene, I have to write it down before it disappears into the void of forgotten thoughts. I also love writing at my favorite local coffee shop, just hanging out, watching people, and soaking in their mannerisms. There’s something about observing real human behavior that’s endlessly inspiring.

I have to admit—I’m a bit of a neat freak when it comes to my writing space. My brain already feels like a chaotic crime board most days, so I need a clean, organized environment to work. Maybe that’s why I love my office so much. I have a big whiteboard (or as I like to call it, my "murder board"), where I map out all the important details for my stories.

As for my go-to drink? Well, I know it’s a total writer cliché, but I love coffee—strong, dark, and absolutely necessary. But after a long writing session, especially if I’ve been deep in the trenches of editing (which is my least favorite part of the process), I reward myself with a nice glass of wine. It helps take the sting out of all those rewrites!

 

 

An Excerpt:

 

The evening air carried a crisp chill as Sienna Blake sat at her vanity, preparing for yet another political event. Her husband, Andrew, had a habit of overcommitting them to such functions. As a prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Silver Creek, these events were vital stepping stones in Andrew's career—though they often felt more like obligations than occasions.

Though Sienna was a stay-at-home wife and mother, her children—Ethan, 16, and Lily, 14—rarely needed her except for rides or money. She was grateful that they were both intelligent and excelled in school. Sienna had once aspired to be a journalist, and she had completed three years toward her bachelor’s degree before Ethan was born. She finished her degree the following year, a decision strongly encouraged by her parents. While Sienna knew she could return to the workforce, she was very happy to stay at home for now. She planned to reenter the job market once her children were older. Sienna wanted to provide her kids with the stability she had missed during her own childhood. Although her home with her parents was stable, her father, a retired judge, and her mother, a socialite, were rarely home, leaving her primarily in the care of nannies.

“Hi sweetie, are you ready?” Andrew asked, walking into the room as Sienna sat at her vanity. “Wow, you just look outstanding!” he added, his eyes lighting up as he took in the sight of his wife.

Sienna, always strikingly beautiful with her blonde hair and green eyes, applied the final touches to her red lipstick. She stood up and smiled, admiring the way her red satin dress hugged her figure, with its low-cut back revealing a hint of her lower back. Though she knew she was attractive, she often felt that her looks were the least interesting aspect of who she was.

 This is her newest novel, published this week - go HERE.

 

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