The new collection of Cape Breton’s Christmas will be launched December 8, when several authors read their stories and memories at the McConnell Library in Sydney.
Reindeer stepdance on the rooftop in Charlotte Musial’s short story, and Posey MacKinnon remembers children finding their way home through the Great Blizzard of 1947. Sheldon Currie’s immigrant child wants a horse made out of horse, and Fr. Charles Murphy remembers the fall of Hong Kong on Christmas Day. And through it all, parents sacrifice to make Christmas a rich and memorable time.
“Making this book has meant that it has been Christmas for me all year long,” says Breton Books editor Ronald Caplan. “As soon as last year’s version of Cape Breton’s Christmas came out, people have been bringing me their stories and family memories. Add for the cover another lovely Christmas tree built from lobster traps, and the all new Cape Breton’s Christmas, Book Two quite sweetly fell into place.”
With fifty-three contributions including stories from writers such as Wanda Robson, Lesley Crewe, Paul MacDougall, LeRoy Peach, Frank MacDonald, Mike Finigan and many more, Cape Breton’s Christmas, Book Two is a generous treasury of holiday stories rooted in Cape Breton experience. Mabel and Alexander Graham Bell challenge each other over gift giving while in Maureen Hull’s story two young girls welcome delightful, if inappropriate, presents from their Montreal Aunts.
Everyone is invited to join Cape Breton writers for the book launch party and signing for Cape Breton’s Christmas, Book Two — at the McConnell Library on Tuesday December 8, from 4 to 6 pm. There will be punch and cookies, and CBC Mainstreet’s Wendy Bergfeldt will broadcast the party live.
“This event is free,” adds Caplan. “And, just like last year, all the royalties from the sale of Cape Breton’s Christmas, Book Two, will be donated to Feed Nova Scotia through CBC Radio’s Light Up a Life campaign.”
