Brooks, Willow

by | Oct 27, 2025 | Author

Willow Brooks Willow Brooks is the pseudonym for Nancy Price, a retired elementary school teacher with experience in English as a Second Language and Special Education. Nancy lives in Western Quebec on the Ottawa River with her adopted cat, Gracie, who is kept busy by...

White, Carl A.

by | Sep 22, 2025 | Author

Carl A. White Born in Saint John, Carl White is noted for his activism and community engagement. He worked as an Officer of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission beginning in 1986, until his retirement in 2019. In 1998 he was elected as a councillor for the City...

Lake, Reverend Ernest Lloyd

by | Sep 22, 2025 | Author

Reverend Ernest Lloyd Lake “In all thy ways acknowledge (the Lord), and He shall direct thy paths.” Prov. 3:6 Ernest Lloyd Lake, B.A, L.Th., Dip.C.C., P.H.F., was born in Toronto, Ontario, on July 17, 1918. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army while...

McDermott, Elise

by | Sep 15, 2025 | Author

Ellise McDermott Elise McDermott Weagant’s background includes jourmalism and public relations. She is currently a member of Ottawa Independent Writers. During the year, Elise and her husband Laird migrate between Ottawa, Brockville, and an idyllic retreat close...

Caswell, Bill

by | Aug 25, 2025 | Author

Bill Caswell As a young electronics engineer, Bill was responsible for designs in the radar field followed by a stint helping NASA fire rockets into the upper atmosphere. After setting up a world-wide marketing network for an opto-electronic enterprise, Bill started...

Martin, Brian

by | Jul 7, 2025 | Author

Brian Martin Brian “Chip” Martin, a journalist living in London, Ontario, has published two true-crime books. Ernie Martin was his great uncle.  His first book was Buxbaum: A Murderous Affair, a 1986 paperback about the slaying of Hanna Buxbaum arranged by...

Gaffen, Fred

by | May 20, 2025 | Author

Fred Gaffen Fred Gaffen is  a retired military historian. He has degrees in history from Carleton University and the University of Ottawa. He worked for many years at the Canadian War Museum on displays, collecting artefacts, and editing historical publications. Among...

Mestre, Jenny

by | May 12, 2025 | Author

Jenny Mestre Jenny is a new mom who holds a special place in her heart for dogs. Her journey with this book began when she was just 12 years old. At that time, she was preapring to move to a new town, deeply wishing for a dog and loved to sing. These heartfelt...

Prendergast, Rena

by | May 6, 2025 | Author

Rena Prendergast Rena Prendergast is a Harvard Divinity School graduate and an ordained Interfaith Minister. Married to a wonderful Irishman for over 30 years, she shares her commitment and compassion with her loving family and her community. Contact...

Burchat, Anne

by | Mar 18, 2025 | Author

Anne Burchat Anne is a retired elementary school teacher who grew up in Ontario’s Ottawa Valley. She has long had a keen interest in researching her Kashubian anceestral history as well as Indigenous history, culture and practices. She enjoys spending time...

Krupp, Masha

by | Nov 11, 2024 | Author

Masha Krupp Masha was born in the hardscrabble mining town of Sudbury, Ontario, and grew up on an idyllic working farm located some 40 kilometers east of Nickel City. Masha is a retired business owner who worked in the language services industry for more than three...

Robinson, Doug & Judy

by | Nov 5, 2024 | Author

Doug & Judy Robinson Doug and Judy Robinson have helped thousands of people with the downsizing process since 1996. The seniors usually have two questions: what do I bring to my new place and what do I do with everything else? They have given presentations for...

Marks, Erik H

by | Nov 4, 2024 | Author

Erik H. Marks Erik H. Marks is an author, teacher and child advocate. He has spent the past 30 years working with vulnerable children, youth and families living in the most challenging circumstances, both in Canada and abroad. Domestically, Erik has helped on the...

Bolechala, Josephine

by | Oct 29, 2024 | Author

Josephine Bolechala Josephine Bolechala studied comparative literature and education and it was her joy to teach literature to senior high school students. When retired, Josephine re-focused on her poetry, writing Icarus Don’t Let the Sun Melt Your Wings, and...

Hatt, Joyce

by | Oct 7, 2024 | Author

Joyce Hatt Joyce spent many years as a caregiver to her late husband Cal who eventually lost his battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. During that time, much of her time was spent researching and reading about Alzheimers and how to continue living after the death of...

Byers, Bill E

by | May 13, 2024 | Author

Bill E. Byers Bill E. Byers was born in Winchester, Ontario and spent his childhood summers at the family cottage on the St. Lawrence River. His fascination with the flooding of the St. Lawrence Seaway and the impact it had on the residents of the area has percolated...

J.W.F

by | Apr 30, 2024 | Author

J.W.F JWF, a former Professor of Literature and Eastern Philosophy, has previously published two collections of poetry and two plays. He has two sons, Kaelan and Aidan, and currently resides in Cornwall, Ontario. Contact...

Turcotte, Juliette

by | Apr 8, 2024 | Author

Juliette Turcotte Juliette Turcotte, DSW, is a mother of four children. Her career path includes providing treatment sevices to children, youth and families. A transition to work as an organizational design and development consultant led to a specialization in change...

Lubimiv, Greg

by | Apr 8, 2024 | Author

Greg Lubimiv Greg Lubimiv (MSW; RSW: CACPT-S) is a father of five children and has worked in the mental health field serving children and families for over 40 years. He has received recognition for his work to improve mental health services with a number of awards...

Veen, J.A.R

by | Mar 18, 2024 | Author

J.A.R Veen Hanna’s story arose from the author’s dream – filled with gnomes, dwarves and elves, a reminder of his long-held boyhood imaginings of fairy folk and his fascination with the unseen world. The dream stayed with John and he eventually set...

Bramburger, Jamie

by | Jan 30, 2024 | Author

Jamie Bramburger Orginally trained as a broadcast journalist, Jamie Bramburger spent thirteen years in radio and television before becoming Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus, a position he has held for the past...

LeGear, Margaret

by | Dec 4, 2023 | Author

Margaret Legear For thirty years, Margaret LeGear, now retired, was the director and swim coach of her private Swim School. She is passionate about increasing water safety with her learn-to-swim-safely literature and [email protected] Contact...

Rutz, Gillan

by | Nov 21, 2023 | Author

Gillan Rutz I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to write down and share memories with the writings within the pages of This Valley I Call Home. I continue to enjoy my love of music, meeting new people and reacquainting with so many over a lifetime as I...

Brown, Robert

by | Nov 14, 2023 | Author

Robert Sefton Brown From humble beginnings, in a family of eight, I achieved every goal I yearned for. I stood toe to toe with both the powerful and the humbled. Worked the trenches, gambled running my own business, sang and danced in the Orpheus House stage...

Mulholland, David

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Author

David Mulholland David Mulholland was born in Kinsgton, Ontario and raised in the Ottawa Valley town of Arnprior. He moved to Ottawa in 1970. Mulholland began his writing career as an advertising copywriter in private radio. He went on to work as a researcher, story...

McKenzie, Lynne

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Author

Lynne McKenzie Lynne McKenzie has always had a passion for stories. As a child she would sit for hours listening to her parents and grandparents talk about their lives when they were young. Everything they said was interesting to her. Now in retirement, Lynne has...

Lecours, Melanie

by | Nov 6, 2023 | Author

Melanie Lecours Melanie was born and raised in rural Ottawa, Ontario. She is a third generation volunteer firefighter in her community, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather. Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in nursing and works full-time as an...

Langenegger, Anne-Marie

by | Oct 2, 2023 | Author

Anne-Marie Langenegger Anne-Marie Langenegger is an avid reader and collector of books. She changed careers many times throughout her life, including 38 years as a farmer. Now retired, she has returned to her love of writing. As a lifelong observer of people, she...

Tallon, James

by | Aug 28, 2023 | Author

James Tallon James Tallon lives in Kingston, Ontario. This is his second book, and his first work of fiction. His first book, Running the Sheets, was the number one selling book in the Rideau Lakes region in Eastern Ontario in the summer of 2013. Contact...

Campbell, Wayne

by | Apr 11, 2023 | Author

Wayne Campbell Wayne Campbell is a biochemistry graduate from Queen’s and University of Toronto. He spent most of his career as a science writer.editor for government, a freelancer for newspapers (Globe & Mail, Maclean’s, New Scientist), and finally a...

Meehan, Susan Taylor

by | Mar 8, 2023 | Author

Susan Taylor Meehan A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Susan Taylor Meehan now lives and writes in Ottawa, Ontario, lovingly supported by her husband Ralph, her daughter Amanda, and her stepson Phil—along with a host of family and friends. As an air force brat, Susan grew...

Metcalfe, Donna

by | Dec 20, 2022 | Author

Donna Metcalfe Donna Metcalfe was raised on a farm in Ramsay Township, Lanark County. It was a world of woodstoves, kitchen gardens, and horses. There, she learned to value her heritage and tell a good story, listening at the knees of older folks. She attended the...

Bell-Laroche, Dina

by | Nov 15, 2022 | Author

Dina Bell-Laroche Dina’s life changed dramatically in 2001 after the death of her youngest sister, Tracy. Since then, her journey through grief has inspired her to advocate for greater grief and loss literacy. As a death educator, Integral Coach™ keynote...

Van Dusen, Mark

by | Nov 13, 2022 | Author

Mark Van Dusen Mark Van Dusen has reported for major news organizations (Ottawa Citizen, CTV, CBC) and advised the Canadian government on major media issues such as food safety, human rights, and refugees. He won a prestigious intrenational award for his TV...

Chapman, John

by | Nov 1, 2022 | Author

John “Chappy” Chapman John was born in Stettler, Alberta and met his wife Janny there, sixteen years later. Together they raised two daughters and travelled throughout Canada and the United States, as John pursued a career in hockey. They settled in...

Nasrallah, Elie Mikhael

by | Oct 24, 2022 | Author

Elie Mikhael Nasrallah Elie Mikhael Nasrallah who, since 1998, is a certified and authorized immigration consultant, with an active international practice in Ottawa, Canada. He holds an Honours BA in Political Science from Carleton University and a post-graduate...

McCabe-Berardi, Deirdre

by | Sep 19, 2022 | Author

Deirdre McCabe-Berardi Deirdre McCabe-Berardi was born in New York City and spent most of her childhood in upper Michigan. She is an elementary teacher and lives with her husband and family in Arnpior, Ontario. She loves to watch movies and dance and read true crime...

Josefchak, Patricia

by | Sep 19, 2022 | Author

Patricia Josefchak Patricia Josefchak passed away in November 2019. She had several passions, including history, music, her marriage and family, and their home and garden on a tiny slice of lakefront in Eastern Ontario, Canada. She earned a Bachelor’s in...

Seymour, Don

by | Aug 9, 2022 | Author

Don Seymour Don Seymour was born and raised on an agricultural area of Eastern Ontario. During college, he spent a summer working with the Forest Service in Bristish Columbia, gaining a background in wood lore and firefighting. After graduating as a Biochemical...

Hume, Gord

by | May 16, 2022 | Author

Gord Hume Gord Hume is the creator of the popular “Samantha and the Sheriff” adventures. This is the seveneth book in the series, which has generated enthusiastic readership in North America and beyond. Gord is also the author of nine non-fiction books on...

Armson, Ken

by | Dec 6, 2021 | Author

Ken Armson Ken Armson was born in Newtonbrook, Ontario and attended secondary school in England. After service in the Canadian Army overseas, he studied forestry at the University of Toronto graduating in 1951 and worked in the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests....

West, Terrence Rundle

by | Dec 6, 2021 | Author

Terrence Rundle West Some of you will recognize me from schools I’ve taught at or administered in and around Ottawa (Hillcrest, Brookfield, Glebe, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Ottawa Tech, Eganville) or from community work in Ottawa’s Hunt Club/Riverside area. Others with...

Urlocker, Shawn

by | Dec 6, 2021 | Author

Shawn Urlocker Shawn Urlocker is a transplanted Montrealer living in Pembroke, Ontario with his wife Lynn. They have five children, one, a redhead, still at home, and two dogs, Ruby and Loup. Contact...

Tremblay, Wayne M.

by | Dec 6, 2021 | Author

Wayne M. Tremblay Wayne M. Tremblay spent three years in accounting, twenty-five years in the Royal Canadian Navy as a radio telegraphist, electronic technician and self-proclaimed lower deck lawyer extraordinaire. His second career lasted sixteen years in the...

Thatcher, Guy

by | Dec 6, 2021 | Author

Guy Thatcher Guy Thatcher served in the Canadian regular armed forces from 1955 to 1980 as a tank officer, helicopter pilot, anti-tank missile instructor, and computer analyst, serving in Germany, Belgium, Cyprus, Texas, and Alabama, as well as at various bases in...

Taylor, Geoff

by | Dec 6, 2021 | Author

Geoff Taylor Geoff Taylor has been telling stories and paddling Algonquin Park for over fifty years. He is a stay-at-home defenceman and a proud dad who grows garlic and plays sloppy mandolin. Geoff lives in Millbrook, Ontario. Tom Thomson’s Last Bonfire is his...

Smith, Bill

by | Nov 30, 2021 | Author

Bill Smith Bill Smith was born in Shawville, Quebec .He graduated from McGill University with a B. Ed in 1966 and subsequently taught school for thirty-nine years. Retired now, he lives in the peaceful rural community of Bristol, Quebec, with June, his wife of...

Shelley, Jane

by | Nov 30, 2021 | Author

Jane Shelley ORIGINALLY FROM A farm in Waterford, Ontario, M. Jane Shelley was self-employed in the flower business in Toronto and the coin machine business in Parry Sound and northern territories. She went back to school for five years at the age of forty, attending...

Schaber, Wallace

by | Nov 30, 2021 | Author

Wallace Schaber Wallace Schaber was born in Ottawa in 1950. He graduated from the University of Waterloo in Environmental Science in 1974. While at university, he created Black Feather Wilderness Adventures Ltd., which formed the foundation for his summer employment....

Rockburn, Ken

by | Nov 30, 2021 | Author

Ken Rockburn Ken Rockburn has been a broadcast journalist for over four decades. He has worked in private radio, atCHEZ FM in Ottawa; for CBC Radio and CBC Television; for CPAC, the Cable Public Affairs Channel, where he hosts Rockburn Presents; and has written for...