U of A alumni share their new books, including selected writings of Nellie McClung, a collection of recipes from Edmonton's best chefs and the first children's book by New York news anchor Pat Kiernan.
Compiled by Stephanie Bailey, '10 BA(Hons)
The Week the Tooth Fairy Got Sick
Children's Literature
by Trent Gillespie, '03 BEd, self-published, available on Amazon
Being the Tooth Fairy is a very busy job. When she gets sick, who can cover her work? Find out what happens when the Vegetable Fairy, the Dragon Prince, the Tickle Monster and many more decide to help her out.
Mushroom Essences: Vibrational Healing from the Kingdom Fungi
Health and Well-being
by Robert Rogers, '71 BSc, North Atlantic Books, northatlanticbooks.com
Mushroom Essences explores the use of 48 fungi extracts for physical, emotional and psychological health, including information on how to create each essence, indications for use and the healing effects the author says users might expect.
De poussière et de vent (From Dust and Wind)
Historical Fiction
by Laurier Gareau, '74 BA, '87 MFA, Éditions de la nouvelle plume, plume.avoslivres.ca
Fransaskois author Gareau follows the story of Hubert Lupien as he fights to preserve his language and culture during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Written in French.
Life Lessons for Women: Finding Purpose, Ease & Love
Self-help
by Aunti Says (Patricia Ogilvie, '77 BEd), self-published, auntisays.com
The fourth instalment in a series of inspirational colouring books for adults, designed to reduce stress, Life Lessons for Women features 50 motivational sayings accompanied by mandalas and other designs for colouring.
Belly Full of Rocks
Poetry
by Tyler B. Perry, '06 BEd, Oolichan Books, oolichan.com
These poems imagine the fates of fairy-tale characters as their lives unravel after their "happily ever afters," their cautionary endings and their viciously delivered justice.
Racing Apollo
Fiction
by Daniel Owen, '77 BA(Spec), '80 BEd, self-published, available on Amazon
One day, while secretly watching a Spartan general receive a prophecy from his oracle, 14-year-old Dip overhears the Spartan's plan to use this prediction to conquer Athens and the rest of the Greek city-states. Pursued by the Spartans, Dip races to save his friends, warn the Athenians and fulfil his destiny.
Ladder
Creative Non-fiction
by Brian Hau, '04 BDes, self-published, brianhau.com
Hau writes a collection of personal essays that explores how we define success and how we learn to recognize and cherish the valuable things in life. Written in traditional Chinese and includes a section in English.
The Meanings of J. Robert Oppenheimer
History/Science
by Lindsey Michael Banco, '01 BA(Hons), University of Iowa Press, uiowapress.org
Scientific director of the Manhattan Project, physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer is a controversial historical figure. Banco examines representations of Oppenheimer in American cultural texts since 1945 to understand how they have influenced public perception of the atomic bomb, the figure of the scientist and the role of science in war.
The Valiant Nellie McClung: Selected Writings by Canada's Most Famous Suffragist
History/biography
by Barbara Smith, '81 BA, and Nellie McClung, Heritage House, heritagehouse.ca
Though her name is synonymous with the women's suffrage movement, Nellie McClung's long and varied career included stints as a social activist, elected politician, novelist and journalist. The Valiant Nellie McClung highlights a selection of her syndicated weekly newspaper columns from the late 1930s that served as social commentary for the years leading up to the Second World War.
Separation Anxiety: A Coming-of-Middle-Age Story
Memoir
by Miji Campbell, '83 BEd, '03 MA, Writinerant Press, hgdistribution.com
Miji Campbell grew up in a close-knit family in the 1960s and '70s. Her life proceeds in an orderly fashion - coming-of-age, university, first job, first apartment - and then suddenly, inexplicably, it begins to unravel. In this memoir, Campbell confronts the stigma still surrounding mental illness as she recounts living with, and overcoming, an anxiety disorder.
As If
Short Fiction
by Alban Goulden, '64 BA, Anvil Press, anvilpress.com
Set in Vancouver and the Canadian Prairies, Goulden's stories feature characters whose successes and failures are rooted in abrupt changes to their physical world. The way the characters react to those challenges tests their understanding of who and where they are.
Ten Canadian Writers in Context
Literary Anthology
Marie Carrière; Curtis Gillespie, '85 BA(Spec); Jason Purcell, '15 BA (editors), University of Alberta Press, uap.ualberta.ca
The Canadian Literature Centre/Centre de littérature canadienne presents a sampling of the country's most exciting writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Each piece is introduced by a critical essay, serving as a point of entry into the writer's work.
Good Morning, City
Children's Literature
by Pat Kiernan, '90 BCom, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, us.macmillan.com/fsg
While the baker, the ferry boat captain and the TV anchorman are busy at work, most people are cozily snuggled in bed. Then dawn's first light peeks through the tree branches. Wake up, city! There is much to be done in neighbourhoods all across the metropolis.
Evaline: A Feminist's Tale
Fiction
by Sheelagh Whittaker, '67 BSc(HEc), Departure Bay, available on Amazon
Baby boomer Eva Sadlier is clear-sighted in her pursuit of a good job and a happy home life. Her story is full of struggle and success as she determines whether a work-life balance is a pipe dream or a real possibility.
Edmonton Cooks: Signature Recipes From the City's Best Chefs
Food and Drink
by Leanne Brown, '07 BA, and Tina Faiz, Figure 1 Publishing, figure1pub.com
A celebration of Edmonton's vibrant culinary scene, this compilation of more than 75 classic and contemporary recipes from the city's finest chefs is accompanied by photos and professional tips.