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.

 

Thank you for being our guest, Monique. We wish you continued success with your writing.

 

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

The Story Behind the Story with Author Robert Stutt of New Brunswick, Canada.

 

Let’s welcome Robert to the Scribbler

 

His debut novel was recently published by 

Merlin Star Press. 

It's generating a lot of attention.

He has kindly agreed to our invitation this week to tell us about it.

Read on my friends.

 

 

Born and raised in Dundas, On, I have been a professional puppeteer and scriptwriter for film and television for over forty years, including ten years with The Muppets. I was a puppeteer on Fraggle Rock, The Jim Henson Hour, Sesame Park, The Big Comfy Couch, Under the Umbrella Tree, The Friendly Giant and others. I puppeteered the lead character, Harry, on over eighty commercials for DSB, the Danish National Railway all shot in and around Copenhagen. I have performed live at the Smithsonian, and with the Ottawa Symphony, and written over three hundred scripts produced for CBC, PBS, CTV and Disney. Most recently, I worked on an eight episode pilot called, Fernsby’s Cryptid Control. Puppet is my first novel.

I live in Fredericton with my wife, Joanne, and my son, daughter and grandsons are also here. Life is good.

 

 

Title: Puppet - A Novel of Suspense

  

Synopsis:

Amiable TV puppeteer, James Tait, sits at the top of the children’s TV world. His show, Beaver Tales, is a hit, and his puppet, Benny Beaver, is becoming a star. It was not always so. From slinging dead cow heads at the lion park, to juggling with Russian killers, Jim’s puppetry career has been varied rather than profitable. Yet somehow he’s created a good life for himself, his wife and young daughter, and now, at last, his big break is here. At least until the police arrive on set and remove Benny in an evidence bag.

Jim’s contented family life is about to be swallowed whole by scandal, blackmail and murder, because there is a dark secret underlying Benny and the show, a secret that forces Jim to reassess his past and future, a secret that threatens his family and leads deep onto the frigid backwoods of Quebec where Benny must finally take his stand.

 

 

The Story Behind the Story:

I think that writers are all compulsive to some degree. I’ve written a daily journal for the last 53 years. I can’t not do it. Script writing under deadlines taught me the discipline to sit down and do the work, and I had long told myself that when I “retired” I would write a novel. Puppet is the result. My goal was to write something I would like to read. Although the book is in the first person and much of it is my experiences, James Tait’s family history and his psyche are certainly not mine. As for writing the book, I struggled plotting and getting down the first draft, but I loved rewriting.

  

Website: Please go HERE.

Buy the book HERE.

 

A question before you go, Robert:

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

RS: I’m lucky enough to have my own office/studio/museum in the house set up just how I like it. I switch often between pen and keyboard. I hand wrote most of the first draft. I am a happy medium between messy and neat, I think, and like to have a water bottle nearby.

 

Thank you for being our guest this week, Robert. Congratulations on the novel. We wish you continued success with your writing.

 

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

The Story Behind the Story with author/poet Richard Doiron of New Brunswick, Canada.

We are most fortunate to have Richard back for another visit to the Scribbler.

This is not his first time as a guest and if you missed the previous visit, please go HERE.

Read on my friends.

RICHARD DOIRON, dubbed Canada's peace poet: work in print for 60 years; published in hundreds of anthologies, periodicals, personal books; author of novels, biographical works, essays, and lyricist. Graduate in journalism and Certified Lifeskills Coach; work read at UN 2000, translated into all major languages at the time; 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award winner World Poetry; 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award with Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry; 2019 named World Poet Laureate by the group Pentasi B World Friendship Poetry. 2019 Nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, via Dr. Epitacio Tongohan, Philippines. Named LAUREATE OF THE IVAN AIVAZOVSKY INTERNATIONAL LITERARY AND ART PRIZE 2022 (Ukraine- USA-Germany). Most recent recognition: July 2024, Yugen Quest Review: WE 

Illumination Award 2024 (Poetry, Participation, Inspiration).

Title: My Mind Could Be A Garden

Synopsis:

Author's latest book of poetry - 154 pages. The book is divided into ten parts: Magic & Mystery; A Poetic Path; Peace & Harmony; Hope, Earth, Enchantment; Kinship & Community; Love; Manifesting Dreams; Navigating Chaos - Conflicts & the Pandemic; Turning Points; Prayers & Healing.

The Story Behind the Story:


Having worked with the people behind this publication for a number of years, I was asked if I would consider having them publish a book of my poetry. Without hesitation, I said yes. WE publication is an independent publisher based in India. They had published some of my poetry a few times, and I had been given a literary award by them in early 2024.The Editor of this new book is a most remarkable person, namely Smeetha Bhoumik, a published poet and author, a tireless worker., who also wrote the Foreword.

The person assigned to write the Introduction is Gargi Sarkhel Bagchi, an internationally award-winning poet and artist.

WE Literary Community is a community known for poetry and a poetic engagement with the world to amplify voices that need to be heard. While 'also' into publishing, the "Community" does not consider itself a publisher, per se. WE had started off its journey with "Women Empowered India" and then, when the Yugen Quest Review (YQR) blog - GO HERE  - came into being, it became the Community's main focus and the earlier site stayed static, though highlights of the Community's journey are captured in its original pages. Over time the name transitioned to WE Literary Community. When inspired to publish, it is solely poetic considerations that guide decisions. In this context, for the WE Literary Community to consider independently publishing a poet, that poet's work is the deciding factor.

When I saw the original cover, applicable to the paperback, I fell in love with it: crop circles. Being a lifetime fan of the mysterious and the unexplained, I wanted that without doubt; meanwhile, each of the three versions of the book, Kindle, paperback, and hardcover, has a different cover photo, and that's alright too.

As for a book title, that was entirely my call. I opted for one of the poems inside the book. That title poem came to me in a flash (as so much of my writing does), and the poem basically speaks of a mind, such as my own, whereas poems sprout (a whole lot of them), though I cannot claim to know where the poem comes from, so much remaining a mystery to me; in that sense I have long said that I perceive myself as a channel of sorts. Some of my poems I can easily say came as a result of word play, but then there are those poems I have no explanation for, considering the speed at which they come to me, and the given subject matter...




A question before you go, Richard:

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



Richard: Allan, I don't know that I have ever had a favourite spot to write; writing is automatic for me, and wherever I am that becomes my writing base. I have written poems sitting under a tree, on a train, in a tree house, in my gazebo, in a hotel room, even in a noisy dance hall, and of course my home. I have periods when I write more than others; sometimes there is so much else getting in the way that there may not be any new poems for a few days. At one point in time, that may have bothered me a bit; as I age, however, looking at tens of thousands of poems penned over 60+ years, I can accept that there are other legitimate things that might impede the flow.

I am not particularly tidy, especially living as I do, off-grid, especially in winter, burning lots of firewood, which is messy as heck. For my advanced years, I probably work longer and harder than most, and the more I do, relative to writing, the more I have to do, It works this way, a few months ago, I might have had 500 friends on Facebook, and now it's around 1100. The better known I become, the more requests for friendship and what that might entail, a lot of it related to writing, having work published, being asked to review the work of others, even doing Introductions for books. So, my home gets cluttered up, and I not so rarely fall asleep on my computer chair. (But, then, if I know someone special might be coming by, I will make an effort to either tidy up or hide the clutter.)

As for a favourite beverage, I struggle with caffeine, an issue I have had most of my life; I can handle decaf, but that means going out of my way a bit; at home, I will make decaffeinated green tea and occasionally decaf coffee. If old Bacchus drops by, he may well induce me to sample a good Pinot Noir, but that's no fun if you're alone, though I keep the old boy nearby, just in case...



About the Book.

While I think the poetry is pretty good in this latest book, some poems new and some a bit older, what has been said relative to this book, by persons with input in the book itself, that to me is more important than the poems. Those persons connected with the book are qualified writers and what they have said about the work shows they value my work as well as their unique grasp of literature.

Quotes from a six-page Introduction:

"'My Mind Could Be A Garden' is not just a collection of poems; it is a poetic garden in itself, where each verse is a seed, each stanza a tender bloom, and each page a step along a path that leads us to the very heart of existence.

"In this remarkable volume, Doiron invites readers into the expansive landscape of his mind, which, like a garden, is cultivated with intent and nurtured by the eternal forces of nature and of spirit."

- Gargi Sarkhel Bagchi, recipient of prestigious awards such as ‘The Reuel International Poetry Prize 2022,’ ‘The Poiesis Award for Excellence in Literature 2023,’ and ‘The Indian Women Rising Star for Literature 2023.' Ms. Bagchi is also a professor and educator in German and is an accomplished artist.

Comment relative to the new book:

"Richard Doiron, a poet the literary world is in awe of, for the effortless grace, flow, and depth of his verse."

-Toolika Rani, published poet, Professor of history (Ph.D), Tedx Speaker, former Squadron Leader in the India Air Force, former mountaineer, having participated in 26 major expeditions, one of only a handful of women to have scaled Mount Everest, the Mount Kilimanjaro Range and other mountains of note in various parts of the world.

Thank you for being our guest this week, Richard. We wish you continued success with your writing.

 

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