The Story Behind the Story with Author/Poet Jane Tims of New Brunswick, Canada.

 

Good news! Jane is back to the Scribbler. 

I’ve known Jane for many years now and enjoy her stories. I’m looking forward to reading this novel and I’m pleased she is here to tell us about it.

Jane has been a frequent guest and if you missed her last visit, please go HERE.

Read on, my friends.

 

 

Jane Tims is an author, biologist and historian. In her writing, she includes themes from her interests in botany and built landscape. She illustrates most of her books. She has published 7 books of poetry, five books in the Kaye Eliot Mysteries, and two children’s books (one as illustrator). Under the name Alexandra Tims, she has published 13 books in her science fiction series ‘Meniscus,’ and six novellas in the Urban Mysteries Series. Her latest book, ‘Open to the Skies,’ is published by Merlin Star Press. Jane won the 2016 Alfred G. Bailey Prize for her book of poems ‘mnemonic,’ and her poetry collection ‘a glimpse of waterfall’ was short listed in the 2022 New Brunswick Book Awards. She is currently working on four novellas in the Rural Mysteries Series

 

Title: Open to the Skies

 

Synopsis:

Sadie, a weaver and writer, and Tom, a retired welder, become interested in repurposing an old, soon-to-be-deconsecrated, church. The building fits into their plans to create a writers’ retreat on their property in rural New Brunswick, as part of their larger plan to give Sadie a future, since Tom is dying of welders’ lung. To acquire the church and move it to their own property, Sadie and Tom must understand the mythology surrounding the church and face antagonism every step of the way. Their plans raise the hackles of the neighbours, including a spiteful claimant to the church land. As Sadie and Tims work to win over the community, fire becomes a recurring threat. Sadie learns that churches are not only stained-glass windows and candlesticks, but places of community memories, stories and deeply held secrets, including the mystery of a blue toy truck and the identity of a young boy who shows up whenever drama unfolds.

 

The Story Behind the Story:

I have always been interested in built heritage: old homes, old churches, empty schoolhouses, and covered bridges. This, coupled with my understanding of biology, constitutes a reverence for protection of landscape and conservation of older buildings. I have been involved in the decommissioning of two older churches in the Anglican Parish of New Maryland and worked with the New Maryland Heritage Association to establish the local Saint Mary the Virgin Church as a Heritage Centre for the community. During this work, I learned about the various stages of repurposing an old church and the important role of the community in the process. I have also worked in various community consultation processes.

          The setting for the story is a part of rural New Brunswick in Queens County where my husband and I have a summer home. We have explored the woodlands and shorelines of the rivers in the area, as well as the shops and restaurants of Gagetown and Cambridge Narrows. Our experiences in the local area are incorporated into the way Sadie and Tom love their property and their local communities.

          I also am interested in the idea of a writers’ retreat where writers can learn and explore their craft. The concept provides a setting that is established in ‘Open to the Skies’ and continues to grow and evolve in three more books/stories yet to be published about the Whisper Wind Writers’ Retreat.

 

Website: Please go HERE. 

A question before you go, Jane.

Scribbler: Who was your favourite author, or story, growing up?

Jane: I loved writer Lucy Maude Montgomery, known for her books about Anne of Green Gables. In particular, I love her book ‘Blue Castle,’ which follows the adventures of a young woman who discovers she has a fatal illness and decides to live her final days in a setting of her own choosing. Her adventures in rural Ontario and her relationship with her naturalist husband have inspired my own approach to living with nature all around me.

 

An Excerpt from Open to the Skies:

 

Some people go to church on a Sunday morning and come home poorer by thirty dollars. My wife goes to church and comes home with, what else? The church.

I should be happy. Sadie, who has resisted the plan for a writers’ retreat from the beginning, is finally enthusiastic. Her specialty is history and of course she wants to save an old building. Wants to preserve the stained-glass windows and the brass bell. I think the writers’ retreat is a convenient excuse.

An expensive excuse. When I left work, I carried a tidy compensation package with me. Enough to keep me from suing the company for hazardous working conditions. Enough to buy the flat-screen TV my friend Paul is always going on about. But enough to buy a church? And a hall and house? And move them more than ten kilometres? Not to mention foundations, renovations and perturbations.

I give a glance at the parking lot in front of the tavern. Look for Paul’s Land Rover. Since I left work, we meet here once a month for a draft and a burger. He and Rigger have barely enough time to drive here, eat and get back to work, but I like staying in touch.

At the table by the window is a thin guy in a ball cap. Older than me, drinking by himself. Whiskey by the dark of it. He uses the tip of a key to scratch his initials into the wood of the table. He sees me looking his way and shoves his keys into his pocket. Throws down a five-dollar bill. Manages to give my chair a jolt as he pushes by, spills my drink. In no mood for a scuffle, I watch him as he climbs into a green pickup. Leaves rubber as he pulls away.

I catch the eye of the server and order another lager just as Paul and Rigger arrive. Paul, lean and lanky, and Rigger with the build of a short line-backer.

We order, sling a little bull, talk about the price of gasoline, and whether there’ll be lay-offs this spring. Getting together with your buddies can be a tad depressing.

“How are the house plans going?” says Rigger. He’s never quite as up-to-date on my life as Paul who drops by most weekends.

“Plans are changing,” I say. “We came across an old church, slated for demolition. And a house and hall that go with it. We’re thinking about moving them to the property.”

“A church! You getting religion in your infirm years?” says Paul, a heathen, especially on Sundays.

“We’d use the church for a teaching space. Live in the house, let them camp out in the hall.” Rigger considers the idea as he ravages a three-decker burger.

“I still wonder about this writer idea,” says Paul who is fond of presenting his pros and cons to open air and arguing with himself aloud. “I mean, who really writes? Everyone talks about writing, but who actually does? Of course, all these baby boomers will be wanting something to do when they retire. Install a wheelchair ramp and you’ll be in business.”

“Sadie writes. Poetry, right?” says Rigger, between gulps of draft.

“I think the guy who won that big literary prize a couple of years ago lives out there,” says Paul. “Wrote a book about a little kid who steals a truck.”

“A kid who steals a truck? What happens?” says Rigger. Like me, Rigger gets all his literary knowledge second hand.

“Don’t look at me,” I say.

“An old church,” says Paul, mulling. “Are you sure it’s even sound? I think about Howie Jessop, you know, the guy who used to run the gantry crane at the yard. I think he does big haul moving. Takes a shitload of money.”

“And what about moving all those power lines,” says Rigger. “To let the steeple through.”

Buy the Book HERE Or HERE.

Thank you for being our guest this week, Jane. 

We wish you continued success with your writing. 

Thank you to all our visitors and readers.

Feel free to leave a comment below.

We’d love to hear from you.