Book review: Murder Tales in the Ottawa Valley

 At the onset of the pandemic Regina-based author, Keith Landry picked up his pen and started writing. With plenty of time on his hands, Landry studied newspapers from the early 1900s, analyzing crimes and crafting stories around them. Inspired by his research, he has written five books since the outbreak of Covid.

Taylor Hale releases her first novel, The Summer I Drowned

 Taylor Hale first started writing five years ago on Wattpad, a free online application that allows people to upload their own stories as well as read the ones of others. Popular amongst teenagers and young adults, many aspiring writers turn to Wattpad to start their career and foster a passion for

Introducing Odell’s Fall by Globe and Mail bestselling Author, Norman Bacal

 A forbidden marriage, jealous colleagues, the struggle for power . . . and murder. Introducing  Odell’s Fall by Norman Bacal. From one of the most esteemed entertainment tax attorneys in the world and the bestselling author of Breakdown, comes a heart-pounding, never predictable murder-mystery inspired by Shakespeare’s tragedy, Othello. Odell’s Fall examines

Book Review: Saving Her

 Christian McPherson’s exciting new novel is a portrait of a woman coming unglued after devastating events send her spiraling out of control. Between popping pills and drinking vodka, Julie Cooper tries her best to do what she has always done: carry on. But when the line between what is real

Book Review: Of Myths and Sticks

 Hockey Facts, Fictions and Coincidences TSN stats archaeologist Kevin Gibson, whose book Of Myths and Sticks blows the whistle on all hockey matters from the mainstream to the obscure. Fascinating, and at times unbelievable, the stories behind the National Hockey League are as engaging as the great game itself. Yet

The 411 on Ottawa’s Zine Scene

 Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Look back over the last 10 years, and you’ll spot a resurgence of the old Do-It-Yourself ethos. From self-published zines to craftivism, a new generation is being encouraged to challenge society through handmade items. Zines (pronounced ‘zeens’), in particular, have found new homes both online

Poetry in the Capital

 Poetry has a long history, and while it’s unclear when it started exactly, the oldest surviving poem was said to have been written in 2500 B.C.E. To this day, in every country and at every age, poetry continues to be written, read and listened to for the purpose of sharing

Must Read: The Thin Black Line by Simon Gervais

 Prepare for a whirlwind of a read. Simon Gervais’ newly released debut novel The Thin Black Line, is a must-read thriller based right here in Canada’s capital city. A first time novelist, Gervais delivers a heart-pumping, nerve-racking story with a climactic ending you won’t see coming. In The Thin Black

Fact or Fiction: Common Eye Myths Debunked

 By John-Paul Muggeridge and Dr. Thomas-A. Noël Does eating carrots really improve vision? Can excessive computer use cause permanent damage to your vision? Here are a few truths and myths commonly encountered by eye care professionals. Eating carrots can improve visual functioning: FICTION (mostly)  The Allied fighter pilots in WWII

Five Ottawa Authors Shortlisted for 2014 Trillium Book Award

 The literary world was set abuzz on May 21, as the finalists for the 2014 Trillium Book Award were released. The shortlist features five Ottawa-based authors, who are all French-language finalists for the award. The Trillium Book Award is presented every year, administered by Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC). It

It’s Time for Shorts! Come see the best European Short Films for Free!

 Drama, comedy, and animation --there will be something for everyone at the European Union Short Film Festival: It’s Time for Shorts! running May 8 to May 9 at Club SAW (67 Nicholas St.). Show time starts at 7 p.m. on both days. It’s Time for Shorts! was made possible by

John Ralston Saul’s Dark Return to Fiction

 On October 28, Canadian author, essayist and public intellectual John Ralston Saul spoke to a full crowd at the Knox Presbyterian Church as part of the 2012 Ottawa Writers Festival fall line-up. Saul, who is known for his celebrated novels and essays, being twice elected as the President of PEN International, and

The Facts About Writing Fiction

 A good writer creates a short story or novel based on what he knows - what he has experienced. Something in his past or present state of affairs affects him deeply. The story he writes may be about a person that has made some kind of impact on him - not