The Story Behind the Story with Anne Smith-Nochasak of Nova Scotia, Canada.

 Let’s welcome our first author of the new year.

Anne has a new novel she’s excited about, as are her readers.

She kindly accepted my invitation to share the SBTS.

This is not her first visit and if you missed the one before, please go HERE.

Read on my friends.

 

 

I grew up in rural Nova Scotia, and now reside there full-time after many years living and teaching in northern and isolated settings. In retirement, I teach part-time, work on my property, and enjoy the many aspects of writing life. My stories have grown from my experiences and perceptions of the world around me. I have completed three novels: A Canoer of Shorelines (a story of homecoming, family, self-acceptance, and love), The Ice Widow: A Story of Love and Redemption (a love story but not a romance, in which youthful infatuation becomes something unique and special in maturity), and River Faces North (the beginning of a dystopian trilogy set in rural Nova Scotia, in which saving River will mean the saving of much more.)

 

Title: River Faces North (Taggak Journey, Book 1)

Synopsis:

The year is 2036, and the land once known as North America is ravaged by environmental decay and ruled with an iron fist by the oppressive Millennial cult known as The Elect. Seventy-eight-year-old Flo is documenting what might be, in her opinion, “the last history of the world,” while managing the diverse, odd, and sometimes dangerous individuals hiding out in her rural Nova Scotian swamp. Flo clings to her granddaughter River, the only light left in this otherwise dark existence. Her Inuit-born son and his Salish partner, River’s parents, have escaped to Quebec to lead the resistance. There is no one left for Flo to trust now, but she holds onto the belief that change is possible and she diligently prepares for the revolution.

As River approaches her twelfth birthday, the Elect’s sinister plans threaten to tear them apart. Forced into a breeding program euphemistically dubbed “The Resurrection,” River faces a grim fate. Determined to defy the tyranny, Flo and River race against time to ensure River’s escape. There will be pain and sacrifice, but there will also be hope—and great love.

Through three books, the stories of some unlikely heroes, little people who set out to save the earth, will be revealed.

The Story Behind the Story:

While a student at the Atlantic School of Theology many years ago, I completed a thesis in the area of eschatology, the study of the “Last Things.” The future of our world and its ending have always fascinated me, and I consider this set of novels to be the secular retelling of my thesis. That is, I have taken a religious topic and turned it into a very human story. Like my main character, Flo Hardy, I have a very practical spirituality.

Ons spring day I was dabbling with ideas, writing short reflections and imagining characters. In one, I sketched a delightful old “rebel granny”, the kind who allowed no nonsense but perhaps secretly took her grandchildren white water rafting. Initially, she sounded comedic. As I got to know her, I realized she was wise, passionate, perhaps slightly off-centre in her perception of the world, and someone I would want by my side if the world were ending.

Someone like my late Aunt Ila—a battle axe with a heart of gold.

In another file, I was musing on my late husband’s history, and wrote: “It begins in fire, and it will end in fire.”

From there, it was a quick jump to the plot! And when the third part is completed, you will see that it is indeed fire that begins the story, that ends the story, and that fills the hearts of our unlikely heroes in between.

Website: Please go HERE.

A question before you go, Anne:

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

Anne: Currently, my favourite spot to write is at my old desk in the loft, overlooking the woodlot with a dog at my feet and a cat draped across the back of the chair. I sometimes have coffee, but usually just have a water bottle close by. It is a mess indeed, with cat hair, dog hair, and strewn papers.

An Excerpt from River Faces North

This excerpt begins our story.

A Rebel Grandmother Takes Her Last Stand. (Concerning June 2035)

I grip River’s hand tight to my side. We stand among the scraggly weeds, the bent stalks, the dead leaves that mark the place where once I had a driveway.

It is June. The heat and humidity pack around us here in the stifling bush; the sun pulses already and it is only six o’clock.

June is no longer lilacs and flowers and plants bursting green from the rich loam. It is waves of heat rolling over a dull landscape, the month that begins the grim journey to the mist and stickiness of fall. The heat clings to the skin, and then there is rain pounding over the unyielding soil, with no relief to body or earth. We work in the night, groping through the darkness and the bugs, senses alert for the first taste of smoke. Even beside the pooling flood waters a fire will rip through the earth without pity. I almost welcome a sudden, cataclysmic end to the world, all things considered.

The tears press my eyes, oozing and burning.

I force my chin up and raise my free hand.

My heart swells as I gaze after my son. He is straight and tall like his father, strong in the ways of the Land, like him with that quick grin, the light in his eyes.

I squeeze River’s hand. The tears are pushing hard and my body is spasming, straining to hold them back. My son and his partner stride down the hill, shoulders set, nylon backpacks snug to their shoulders, canteens bobbing at their sides. Down at the bend, they pause, a trace of dust scuffed up by their battered hiking boots.

My free hand lifts high, an open hand, a hand of blessing.

I have precious little faith left, but I still bless them.

And they smile and turn, a dazzle of light in his eyes, so like his father, and they vanish.

Beside me, River moans as the sobs shake her body. Her tears stream.

My Skye sits at her side, ears perked, tense and watching.

Here is where River and Skye and I will make our revolutionary stance.

It will be a secret one, and it will bring down the Elect.

When River turns thirteen, you see, they plan to take her.

Let them try.

I am a rebel grandmother, and this is my apocalyptic niche, my last stand, with all my secrets and my memories.

I stand tall, still clinging to River’s hand. Today is my seventy-eighth birthday. Blow out the candles and make a wish. Wish for Jacob and wish for Reah. Wish for River, and Skye, and me. Wish for a breeze that is not a tornado, for a spring shower that does not rip out the hillside. Wish for a campfire that does not rain down fire on the earth. Wish for a long and happy life for your loved ones. And for the desert to bloom with joy.

I do not want to tell this story.

But I will. For you.

Your story sounds intriguing and something to look forward to, Anne.

Thank you for being our guest this week.

We wish you continued success with your stories.

And a HUGE thank you to all our readers and visitors.

Feel free to leave a comment below.