Quarter Castle Publishing announced the paperback and eBook release of the second novel in the Castle Romance Series, Twistmas – The Season for Love by Canadian author Diane Lynn McGyver. A member of the East Hants Writers’ Group and Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, McGyver is also a freelance writer and columnist. Her many articles on topics such as gardening, history, genealogy, horses, homesteading and writing have appeared in thousands of publications since 1998. Her genealogy column Roots to the Past appears in several newspapers in Atlantic Canada.
Month: November 2015
Twistmas: Chapter 03
Paperback copies of Twistmas – The Season for Love by Diane Lynn McGyver is available at CreateSpace and Amazon. The eBook is available at Amazon.
Two chapters of the Christmas adult romance have already been posted. You can read them here
To learn more about this story, set in Cole Harbour – Home of Sydney Crosby, check out its book page.
Craft Show Today
Quarter Castle Publishing will take part in the Santa Stop and Shop Show at the Best Western plus Glengarry Hotel, 150 Willow Street, Truro, NS. The show is open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift, this is one place to find it.
Craft Fair Today
Quarter Castle Publishing will take part in the Lawrencetown Craft Fair today (Saturday November 28) from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. It takes place at the Lawrencetown Community Center, 3657 Lawrencetown Road, Lawrencetown, Halifax County, NS. If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift, this is the place to find it.
Twistmas Chapter 02
Twistmas – The Season for Love by Diane Lynn McGyver is available starting today at CreateSpace. It will be available soon through Amazon.ca and Amazon.com. Links will be updated when they become available.
If you missed the first chapter of this seasonal adult romance, click here.
To learn more about this story, set in Cole Harbour – Home of Sydney Crosby, check out its book page.
The story continues with Chapter 02: Sexcapades
Jan returned the digital camera to the display cabinet. She rearranged the matching 55mm lens, adjusted the case and propped up the price sign that had fallen when she extracted the item to show a customer.
The countdown had begun: fifteen shopping days left until Christmas, including today. Saturdays had been the busiest shopping day of the week until that MacDonald premier decided to make it a free-for-all and allow shops to open every day of the year except November 11th. Retail employees weren’t guaranteed to get any statutory holiday off to spend with their family.
“Excuse me.” A customer leant over the counter and peered down at Jan. “Do you do camera repairs?”
Jan turned to face the young man with blonde hair streaked with purple dye and an earring the size of the CN Tower sticking out of his nose. “We don’t repair on site; we send them to our branch at Bayer’s Lake. What’s wrong with your camera?”
This Weekend’s Events – Cancelled
Quarter Castle Publishing will not be at the two scheduled events this weekend: Annual Old Fashioned Seaside Christmas and Musquodoboit Harbour Farmers’ Market. The events are still taking place, so if you’d like to learn more information about them, visit our Events page: https://quartercastlepublishing.com/events/
The vehicle in which we travel to events was struck by a deer last Saturday night while we were returning from an art and craft show. Thankfully, no one was injured—except the large buck—but extensive damage was done to the front of the truck.
Interview with Bridget Canning
Bridget Canning of St. John’s, Newfoundland, is the author of Indonesian Rice, the story that came in third in Quarter Castle Publishing’s first short story writing contest.
Recently Quarter Castle Publishing interviewed Bridget.
Interview Questions
QCP: When did you decide to become a writer?
I think I was in grade two. My mother was a librarian and read to my siblings and me daily when we were kids. So at an early age, I had a long list of favourite books. And my father was a great storyteller. I feel like I was always absorbing a story or trying to tell one.
QCP: Do you write every day? If not, how many days do you dedicate to writing?
I write or rewrite in some form every day. When I don’t feel like it, I force myself. It’s like flossing; it can be an ugly process, but you rarely regret it.
Introducing Bridget Canning
Bridget Canning of St. John’s, Newfoundland, is the author of Indonesian Rice, the story that came in third in Quarter Castle Publishing’s first short story writing contest.
Here’s a sample from the story.
From: Winters, Candice
Sent: March 1, 2013 1:11 PM
To: Pomeroy, Tina; Smith, Claudette; Tenor, Joan; Wells, Moira
Subject: Potluck Ladies Night
Hi all!
So, this weekend—I thought a potluck at my place might be nice for ladies only. No theme, just a get-together. I was thinking Friday at 7:30.
Please do NOT bring seafood or shellfish as I have an allergy. I have lots of wine: Chianti, Shiraz and Chardonnay.
My address is 75 Waterford Cove Avenue. White house, huge driveway. If you get to the recycling plant, you’ve gone too far.
Please let me know by Wednesday if you can make it. Hope to see everyone! Cheers!
C.
The two main things Joan knew about Candice was she was educated about money—she was the senior accountant at work—and at some point in her life, she had lived in Italy for a year and a half. Candice told Italy stories during coffee breaks in the staff lounge: the food and sunshine and wine and fashion. “In order to live in Italy, you must drop any hang-ups you have with people being on time. You must stop expecting meals to be fast. You must not resent beautiful women. Food is pleasure and the Italians draw it out. The women are stunning. If these things frustrate you, you better get over it or get out.”
Twistmas First Chapter
The second romance by Diane Lynn McGyver is coming just in time for Christmas.
Jan Cooper doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. The jolly old elf had failed to deliver the one true gift her heart desired. The single mom’s only wish is for Christmas to pass quickly, so life can return to normal, and she can forget about the two men who had disappointed her most: St. Nick and her ex-husband.
Delanie Taylor is regional manager for Dreamland of Toys. Divorced and struggling to control his teenage daughter and overbearing ex-wife, he has no time for romance. When he meets Jan’s daughter at the toy store searching for the perfect gift for her mother, he unknowingly discovers the perfect gift for himself.
Here is the first chapter of Twistmas – The Season of Love.
Chapter 01
Not Receiving is Unbelieving
Emmie Cooper stiffened when she heard the exasperation in her mother’s voice.
Twistmas Cover Reveal
The cover for Twistmas – The Season for Love by Diane Lynn Tibert is now official.
Three-Day Craft Show
Quarter Castle Publishing will take part in the 4th Annual Art and Craft Sale at the Waverley Legion this weekend. More than 40 talented local crafters will display their wares. If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift, this is the place to find it.
Admission is FREE and the canteen will be open for…
Interview with Bretton Loney
Bretton Loney of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the author of The Beggar’s Shoe Box, the story won second place in Quarter Castle Publishing’s first short story writing contest.
Recently Quarter Castle Publishing interviewed Bretton.
Interview Questions
QCP: When did you decide to become a writer?
I decided to become a journalist first. I decided to become a journalist during my first undergraduate degree at the University of Lethbridge and joined the student newspaper. From my late teens on, I thought about becoming a writer but didn’t seriously think about it until my late 20s. I didn’t really act upon it until my early 30s.
Remembrance Day
Remember: We are here because they were there.
In remembrance of my father, three of his brothers and three of his cousins (all serving in the Second World War) and my grandfather (First World War). Diane Tibert
Introducing Bretton Loney
Bretton Loney of Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the author of The Beggar’s Show Box, the story won second place in Quarter Castle Publishing’s first short story writing contest.
Here’s a sample from the short story.
Aside from the shoe box, he didn’t stand out from other beggars downtown. He rattled coins around in a Tim Horton’s cup, muttering, “spare some change,” in a scratchy voice as he sat cross-legged on the sidewalk.
I had walked past him and was heading down the street when a friend, Diane, called out my name. I turned and waved. The beggar pulled a shoe box from a gym bag by his side, opened it and took out a slip of paper. He scribbled one word on it with a stubby pencil, put the lid on and slid the box into the bag.
I wouldn’t have given it another thought if not for the way he did it: like a miser stashing his gold.
I started to notice him after that day. He was tall and lanky, and always wore a red Hawaiian shirt and stained ball cap. He sat in the shade of a provincial building in the mornings and on other corners near my office later in the day.
When he thought no one was looking, he would pull out the black shoe box, take out pieces of paper and write frantically for a few seconds. Then he’d put them back in the box and bag in one smooth motion.
In Hants Craft Show
The In Hants Craft Show starts today and continues until Sunday evening. This is a large craft show with items by 50 local crafters. The show was featured on Canada Am on Thursday.
Admission is FREE, as is the door prize ticket and the tea/coffee and snacks. They accept cash, debit and credit cards. Tell your friends, stop in for a tea and cookie and do a little shopping.
Hours of Operation
- Friday November 6: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm
- Saturday November 7: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sunday November 8: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Directions
Milford Recreation Hall (behind the Milford Volunteer Fire Department), 2288 Highway 2, Milford Station, Hants County, NS.
Interview with Ashleigh Rajala
Ashleigh Rajala of New Westminster, British Columbia, is the author of Working Title, the winning submission in Quarter Castle Publishing’s first short story writing contest.
Recently Quarter Castle Publishing interviewed Ashleigh.
QCP: When did you decide to become a writer?
Ashleigh: I remember a moment as a book-obsessed child where I realized that someone created those books and that I too could do that. The first story I wrote was about a dinosaur, and my mum sewed a cover onto it and everything. Sadly, this opus has been lost to history. So I never really decided, it was just something I have always done.
QCP: Do you write every day? If not, how many days do you dedicate to writing?
Ashleigh: I write every day. Sometimes life gets in the way, but that’s okay. But I try to never let myself stop if I’m feeling blocked or less than motivated. I set a goal of 1000 words per day. It can be anything: part of a novel, a short story, a blog post, or even just an exercise. For me, the more I write, the more I want to keep writing. An object in motion…
QCP: Do you use an outline or do you write free style?
Ashleigh: I almost always use an outline. I think an outline is an example of one of those times where having limits opens you up creatively. Free-style can seem overwhelming and near-paralyzing in the possibilities open to you.
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