Flanker Press

Every family has a story. Some just haven't been told - until now. Outport Woman uncovers the remarkable life of Minnie Beatrice Blake, a woman who spent nearly eighty years on Newfoundland's rugged South Coast. Through Minnie's experiences, readers are invited into a world of resilience, loss, laughter, and love - where women held families and communities together in the face of hardship and change. Drawing from family memories, local stories, and archival discoveries, this vivid narrative brings to life outport communities like Saddle Island, Pushthrough, and Hermitage. Minnie's story reveals the quiet power of women whose work, courage, and spirit shaped not only their families but the province itself. More than a single biography, Outport Woman is a tribute to the generations of women - mothers, grandmothers, daughters - whose lives built the backbone of Newfoundland and Labrador. Heartfelt, moving, and beautifully told, this is the story of one woman - and of countless others - who found extraordinary strength in ordinary life.

Et si le secret du bonheur résidait dans l’art de rire de soi-même ? Still Laughing de Helen C. Escott transforme les galères du quotidien en moments hilarants, entre enfants récalcitrants, mariages à entretenir et Spanx récalcitrants.

Sur la péninsule de Bonavista, des caveaux à légumes deviennent des tombes. Quand une jeune femme est retrouvée assassinée, Corporal Sunny Bronson découvre que le tueur s’en prend à des victimes qui lui ressemblent étrangement.

St. John's, 1996-2023 : deux meurtres atroces, un même rituel macabre. Quand Nick Myra rouvre le dossier, il découvre bien plus qu'un tueur en série — une trahison qui vient de l'intérieur même de la police.

Based on a missing-persons case from 1898, this gripping tale transports readers back to a time when the disappearance of one woman shook the very foundations of a town.   In the quiet settlement of Goddenville, Newfoundland, the year 1898 was marked by a chilling mystery. Rosamond Barrett, a respected twenty-one-year-old woman, vanished on November 11 while on a simple errand to buy material for her wedding dress. Her disappearance sent shock waves through the community, and despite extensive searches, she remained missing for months.   The search for Rosamond became a story of regional interest, covered by newspapers and fuelled by gossip. On April 28, 1899, when Martin Whalen, a young man from the nearby hamlet of the Gullies, reported finding Rosamond's body, suspicion fell upon him, casting a shadow over his family for generations.   This fictional account, which eerily mirrors a true tale from the area, delves into the complex investigation led by Constable Joseph Kent, a troubled officer from the Newfoundland Constabulary. Faced with numerous obstacles, including an unsupportive sergeant and a wayward rookie colleague, Constable Kent must navigate through a web of rumours, sectarian tensions, and a lack of evidence to uncover the truth behind Rosamond's tragic fate.

Transformez votre espace vert en un havre de biodiversité avec My Island Garden : le guide pratique et inspiré de Dawn Baker, illustré de ses propres aquarelles et photos.

Upon the death of the legendary (but reclusive) portrait artist Arthur Cherrywood, six strangers receive an invitation to his remote island mansion known as Painted Place. There, his estate-including his priceless private art collection-will be bequeathed to the guests, who for the first time in history will be allowed to explore the secretive home and studio where the painter created so many of his iconic works. But once the guests have arrived on Painted Place, a storm hits, stranding the group from shore. When morning finally breaks, someone is dead, and all signs point to murder. Together, the strangers find themselves trapped in a secluded mansion with a body, a missing will, and, worst of all, a killer. Set on a remote island off the coast of Newfoundland, Murder on Painted Place is a modern twist on the classic noir whodunit-begging the age-old question: which one of us is the killer?

Et si une valise pleine de cash vous faisait basculer du mauvais côté de la loi ? À St. John’s, Greg et sa bande de marginaux se lancent dans un jeu dangereux où chaque défi les rapproche d’un million de dollars… et d’un point de non-retour.

Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador, 2024 : derrière les murs décrépis des maisons centenaires, des légendes hantent encore les vivants.

Quatre générations de femmes, un secret enfoui depuis la Seconde Guerre mondiale. We Will Meet Again révèle comment Hadley, Patricia, Ava et Christine brisent le silence pour guérir les blessures du passé et protéger leur avenir.

Inspired by True Events Harbour Grace, 1920 Frank Fallon, a veteran policeman, finds himself demoted and transferred back to his hometown. Having left the community in 1905 after being rejected by his first love, Constable Fallon never wanted to return to the place of his childhood. Although they were young budding lovers, Marie Callahan's denial of him for the love of another is still a painful memory. An opportunity to join the Constabulary in St. John's had presented him with an escape from a place he never wanted to see again. However, his growing dependence on alcohol while in the city, at a time when Prohibition was cracking down on the illegal sale of booze in the Dominion of Newfoundland, resulted in Fallon butting heads with the Chief of Police. Now, challenged to police a town where only bitter memories exist isn't going to be easy. Two weeks into his tenure, an anonymous caller reports a fully-clothed body on Martin's Beach. The investigation begins, and Constable Frank Fallon must go up against his most difficult case yet. He becomes embroiled in a tale of intrigue surrounding the victim that leads to a shocking and devastating conclusion.

In 1949, several young Mounties arrived in Canada's newest province to enforce federal law. Like those who followed, they were in search of adventure, and they found plenty. In this book, RCMP veterans, as well as the last living Newfoundland Rangers, tell their personal stories. From laughter to moments of sheer terror, to discovering innovative ways to connect with the communities they police, to investigating the murder of one of their own, these veterans tell the true history of the RCMP's first 70 years policing in Newfoundland and Labrador. "If ours is a 'rich' history, come read of the men and women who made the investment. Helen C. Escott has captured their stories to allow the honesty and humility with just the right dash of quiet pride to come through. It is a remarkable account of a remarkable group." - Sergeant Major D. S. "Doug" Pack, RCMP Newfoundland and Labrador "I thoroughly enjoyed reading, In Search of Adventure. Helen C. Escott did an outstanding job of providing a description of the RCMP policing in Newfoundland and Labrador from 1950 to present. The interviews she completed with all of the members and employees clearly depict the dangers and challenges faced by the RCMP in their first 70 years of policing. If you have an interest in policing or in the history of Newfoundland and Labrador, this is a must-read. It is an interesting and enjoyable collection of stories, yet very enlightening at the same time." - Leo O'Brien, Retired RCMP Superintendent and President of RCMP NL Veterans' Association

On the coast of rural Newfoundland, Hannah Fitzgerald's mother has lived her life in near total isolation. When Hannah returns to the lonely saltbox house to prepare her mother for the transition into assisted living, her childhood home is anything but welcoming. Dilapidated from years of hoarding and neglect, the walls are crumbling, leaving Hannah's wellness crumbling along with them. While packing her mother's things, Hannah discovers a trap door to the house's attic, the one she believed for most of her life had been permanently sealed shut. Blinded by curiosity, Hannah enters the attic and finds a mysterious bedroom riddled with dark secrets. Desperate to know more, Hannah begins to scramble for answers, combing the house for clues that may lead her to the truth. Hannah must navigate through the violent outbursts of her senile mother, the prying questions of a nosy hospice nurse, and the rage of the coastal wind that threatens the structure of the house. Piece by piece, she assembles a picture of her mother's not-so-distant past-a twisted tangle of infatuation, lies, and maybe even murder. The Woman in the Attic is a claustrophobic psychological thriller wrought with suspense. This novel will put you on the edge of your seat . . . and make you wary of the unused spaces collecting dust in your home.

You won't know what's in Newfoundland pea soup until the host starts dishing it out. It may have bits of turnip, potato, carrot, ham bones, chunks of salt beef, or dumplings-along with split yellow peas. If unexpected guests arrive, simply add a bit more water. Grandpa Pike's Pea Soup for the Newfoundland Soul is like that. "I guarantee you will find a good portion of ham," says the author-his tongue planted firmly in his cheek. These are short pieces-easy reads, suitable for reading while waiting for your flight, or after the kids are in bed and you finally have the bathroom to yourself, or while in a two-mile-long lineup for the Port aux Basques ferry during a three-day windstorm. Get comfortable, lean back, and then go hitchhiking with Grandpa in the 1960s, when he got a ride from a lady preacher, a trucker, and a guy in a red Corvette on his way to Mexico. Read about his encounter with "the man from Glad," his worst job interview, his failed attempt at a leveraged buyout of the Bank of Nova Scotia, and about the youngsters sitting at the kitchen table, looking out at the stormy night while waiting for that very last boat to come in through the Narrows-their dad's. You'll laugh or cry, but you won't be bored as Grandpa Pike rollicks his way through his wins and losses on topics as diverse as pets, religion, annoying people, the good old days, hockey, graduation, airport bars, lawyers, doctors, and the three scariest words to an old-fashioned man-scarier even than "hold my purse."

An advocate for veterans, a photographer, a writer, a suffragist, an opera singer. Five remarkable women who pushed boundaries and made a difference at the turn of the twentieth century. But history then was about men, and no one wrote about these women. Their stories faded from memory and then disappeared for decades. Here now are those stories. May Furlong - Advocate for Veterans Elsie Holloway - Photographer Lydia Campbell - Writer Armine Gosling - Suffragist Georgina Stirling - Opera Singer Five biographies detailing the ambition, intelligence, compassion, and grit they all shared. The obstacles they overcame, the tragedies they endured, the incredible success they achieved. Discover how May Furlong, Elsie Holloway, Lydia Campbell, Armine Gosling, and Georgina Stirling pressed against the social norms of a century ago and helped change life and attitudes in Newfoundland and Labrador.

He's baaaack! The bestselling author of Grandpa Pike's Outhouse Reader is back with a whole slew of new tales, rants, annoyances, and opinions-delivered with his unique brand of humour. Many readers have asked, "Will Grandpa do his Number Two?" He has. Here it is. You'll want to read and reread this book. It's funny, inspirational, and often thought-provoking. Grandpa Pike is a natural-born storyteller who can make the seemingly mundane magical and meaningful. Few writers can reach way down and pull so much up out of their own experiences and make you feel them. Take this book home. Take it to heart.

Humorous, inspiring, and sometimes thought-provoking stories The subject of outhouses must be handled delicately. So we will tiptoe around it, moving from foot to foot, like you would-and you do-when you need to "go" and there is no suitable facility nearby. A novel is too long for one sitting. However, a book like this contains short reads, and you can simply fold down the corner of the page when you are done. Upon your next visit, you might choose a story at random, the length of which you'll determine by estimating the time required to complete the job. You'll figure it out, and we hope some of these pieces will take your mind off the more mundane tasks of the day. Grandpa Pike's Outhouse Reader is not about outhouses, though. It's about history, rural living, family, religion, places that are gone, ordinary people who have done extraordinary things . . . and much more! Laugh, cry, or groan . . . these stories are guaranteed to move you!

Every family has its secrets. In 1935, Hannah Parsons left her home in Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, at the age of seventeen to work in service for Charles and Virginia Sinclair, a wealthy St. John's family. While working for them, Hannah catches the eye of the patriarch of the household, and her life takes an unexpected turn. Now, sixty years later, Charles Sinclair has passed, and his last living will and testament is about to throw his family into turmoil. His children and grandchildren learn that no family is as perfect as it seems, and that some secrets refuse to stay buried forever. From a Good Home is a novel of family legacy among the St. John's aristocracy. It is Trudi Johnson's first book.

"My mother told me about the good old days of long ago, which she'd heard about from her own mother and grandmother, when our ancestors were rootless, roaming mongrels known as the St. John's water dogs. That was before some Lord High Mucky-muck across the ocean got fancy on us and started calling us Labrador retrievers. When we were the old water dogs, she said, we developed our famous, justly admired webbed toes to help us swim out in the oceans and ponds and rivers and rescue people all the time . . ." This is the heartwarming and hilarious memoir of Durf, a yellow Lab who thinks he is the boss of two cats. In fact, he's pretty sure he's the boss of the humans he lives with, too. Durf often dreams of performing heroic and awe-inspiring feats to prove to his family once and for all that he truly is the top dog in these parts. His faithful companions, a blue Persian male cat and a female tabby, can't possibly understand what it's like to be destined for greatness like Durf. They try to keep him grounded for his own good, but Durf knows in his noble dog's heart that his greatest adventures are just around the corner. Inspired by true events, this is the consummate novel for dog and cat lovers alike. The True Confessions of a Badly Misunderstood Dog is Bill Rowe's ninth book. Two of his books, Danny Williams: The War With Ottawa and The Premiers Joey and Frank: Greed, Power, and Lust, have appeared on the Globe and Mail bestsellers lists.

Courage at Sea: Newfoundland Sailors in the Great War is a collection of more than forty World War I stories involving the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve and the Newfoundland merchant seamen who delivered goods to Europe in aid of the Allied war effort. Many foreign-going vessels carrying Newfoundlanders were apprehended en route by German U-boats and shelled, torpedoed, or boarded and bombed. Some of the crews were let go, but others were less fortunate. Some of the stories included are . . . Newfoundland's First Decoration: Leander Green's Storm Men of Burgeo Rendezvous with the Enemy Torpedoed Three Times in Three Weeks The Story of Michael Foley, Harbour Grace Dictator's Crew as Prisoners of War A War off Saint Pierre: SS Erik Great Honours to a Man from Pilley's Island The Halifax Explosion: A Reservist Writes Home . . . plus many more. Robert C. Parsons is a winner of the Polaris Award and the author of more than twenty-five books on the nautical history of Newfoundland and Labrador. His book Courting Disaster: True Crime and Mischief on Land and Sea was a Globe and Mail bestseller.

"But I think I have told you a love story. Is there any other word for it? "Sense of place" doesn't seem to quite cut it for Tack's Beach and me. I hope that in my flick around Tack's Beach harbour in the 1950s, I have shed a bit of light upon where we hail from, we Newfoundlanders and Labradorians of the outports-some of us resettled, all of us clinging to every morsel of this place, Newfoundland and Labrador." Out from the Harbour is a long-awaited treat for readers young and old. It is Rex Brown's whimsical, sentimental, and at times outright funny memoir about growing up in Tack's Beach, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. This memoir captures with fine detail and wry wit a lifestyle of days gone by in a small outport community. Fishing, boat building, farming, shopkeeping, and a myriad of other professions in the culture of self-sufficiency, as well as the simpler delights youngsters found for entertainment in those days, are the stuff of Rex Brown's hometown recollections. Rex Brown is the organizer of the March Hare, the longest-running literary festival in Newfoundland and Labrador. This "celebration of words and music" was founded by Al Pittman, Rex Brown, and George Daniels.

The Premiers Joey and Frank is three stories in one. First is Premier Joseph Roberts Smallwood's, whose ego and force of personality dominated every room he walked into, and strained to the breaking point every personal relationship he had. The latter half of the book covers Premier Frank Moores and his mixed personal motives, combined with a singularity of political purpose: Get Smallwood. Entwined in both these stories is that of Bill Rowe's own roller-coaster political life, where family and partisan politics were often inseparable. This is a riveting, entertaining, and often hilarious account of three men who aimed high, Icarus-like, and who earned three very different places in the history of this province.

On the night of November 29, 1929, eleven schooners set sail for home from the comfort and safety of St. John's harbour. They all headed north: directly into the teeth of a deadly hurricane. Here for the first time are the stories of the eleven schooners that were caught in the gale of 1929. Newfoundland's favourite storyteller, Gary Collins, takes us aboard each one in turn to witness the terrifying ferocity of a storm at sea through the eyes of the schoonermen who battled it. These interconnected tales of high-seas adventure illustrate the bravery and ingenuity of a lost breed of sailors, whose quick thinking often meant life or death for the whole crew. Turn the page and set sail for an exciting journey that will leave you breathless!

Among the bays, inlets, and communities of the province, author Gary Collins has earned a seat at the head of the table as Newfoundland and Labrador's favourite storyteller. Now, with six books under his belt, the "Story Man" from Hare Bay is ready to tell you a little bit about himself. The tales that make up this volume are pockets of memories taken from diary entries he recorded during the forty years he spent as a woodsman. Beginning with his childhood, Gary Collins retraces his first steps as a boy growing up in Bonavista North in the 1950s, when his father, whom he idolized, taught him the skills of an outdoorsman and how to be a leader of men. These twenty-two stories are a testimony of the hardiness of men who work amid leaf and bough, and a tribute to the call of the wild that draws these hunters, trappers, and woodcutters-family men all-back to "the ridge." A Day on the Ridge is Gary Collins's seventh book and his first purely autobiographical work.

Not Too Long Ago is back by popular demand in this newly revised and expanded edition! In this volume, today's senior citizens talk about some of the more exciting and memorable moments of their lives growing up in Newfoundland and Labrador. Read these richly detailed biographies, and meet: Charlie Bown - Bell Island Miner Arthur Clarke - Ambulance Driver Howard Elliott - Big Game Outfitter Margaret Giovannini - Outport Nurse Gordon Lannon - Train Conductor Howard Lethbridge - Trapper Jack May - Lighthouse Keeper Frank Mercer - Newfoundland Ranger Florence Michelin - Grenfell Nurse George Snow - Lumberman Hubert Waterman - Twillingate Fisherman Millie Young - Port au Port Midwife . . . and many more who share experiences from various walks of life: true stories of shipwrecks and sailors, moonshine and home remedies, the seal fishery, the 1959 Badger riot, and young men and women who survived the 1929 Burin tidal wave, who cooked on the Labrador, and who marched off to war.

Embedded in a rock in an obscure, pristine brook in the wilds of Newfoundland is a legendary quartz vein. The story of the vein and the wealth trapped in it is well-known, but its location has eluded six generations of Newfoundlanders. The source of the legend is Soulis (Suley) Joe, and the precious metal trapped in the vein is silver. Along the Trans-Canada Highway in Newfoundland, just west of the turnoff to Benton, is a brook called Soulis Brook, which flows out of Soulis Pond, the second major pond named after Soulis Joe, an intrepid explorer whose name is recorded for all time on old Newfoundland maps. In the summer of 2008, writer Gary Collins teamed up with Allan Keats, a great-grandson of Soulis Joe, and they set out to unearth the secret of Soulis Joe's lost silver mine. After many weeks and months spent combing the island of Newfoundland, Gary Collins figured it out. Come along for the trip and discover the location of Soulis Joe's Lost Mine. Canadian Aboriginal Books for Schools 2010-2011 Selection

Based on a missing-persons case from 1898, this gripping tale transports readers back to a time when the disappearance of one woman shook the very foundations of a town.   In the quiet settlement of Goddenville, Newfoundland, the year 1898 was marked by a chilling mystery. Rosamond Barrett, a respected twenty-one-year-old woman, vanished on November 11 while on a simple errand to buy material for her wedding dress. Her disappearance sent shock waves through the community, and despite extensive searches, she remained missing for months.   The search for Rosamond became a story of regional interest, covered by newspapers and fuelled by gossip. On April 28, 1899, when Martin Whalen, a young man from the nearby hamlet of the Gullies, reported finding Rosamond's body, suspicion fell upon him, casting a shadow over his family for generations.   This fictional account, which eerily mirrors a true tale from the area, delves into the complex investigation led by Constable Joseph Kent, a troubled officer from the Newfoundland Constabulary. Faced with numerous obstacles, including an unsupportive sergeant and a wayward rookie colleague, Constable Kent must navigate through a web of rumours, sectarian tensions, and a lack of evidence to uncover the truth behind Rosamond's tragic fate.

With only two days until Christmas, Hope Cove is pushed to the breaking point. The close-knit Newfoundland town is rocked when word spreads that Susan Critch - a beloved daughter, friend, and soldier - has been declared missing in action overseas. As fear settles in, other families are quietly falling apart: a sudden layoff leaves the Sextons reeling, while a devastating diagnosis threatens to shatter the Stamp family forever. Watching his parishioners struggle, Father Walsh - himself no stranger to loss - wonders whether faith can survive when hope feels all but gone. Then, on Christmas Eve, the impossible arrives. Warm, emotional, and filled with unmistakable Newfoundland charm, Christmas in Hope Cove is a heartfelt story of resilience, love, and miracles both large and small - a reminder that even in the darkest winter, the light of Christmas can still shine.

In 1683, Luke Taylor escapes England with his young son, Nate, seeking a new life in a remote Newfoundland cove. Survival is harsh - ruled by an unforgiving ocean, the threat of pirates, and the looming danger of French invasion - but everything changes when Luke discovers a newborn infant beside her murdered mother. He names her Rosina and raises her as his own, though the mystery of her past never loosens its grip. Years later, as Rosina comes of age, she is violently torn from the only home she has ever known. While Luke and Nate search desperately, war engulfs the Avalon Peninsula. Separated by invasion and fear, each believes the worst - yet Rosina remains alive, hiding in deadly peril. From a quiet cove to the growing port of St. John's, Rosina is drawn into a brutal world shaped by power, prejudice, and control. Forced into service under a rigid religious authority, she must endure cruelty few survive - while forbidden love and filial devotion refuse to be silenced. Set against the savage realities of seventeenth-century Newfoundland, The Servant Girl is a sweeping historical novel of survival, identity, and the enduring power of love in the face of injustice.

In 1821, fourteen-year-old Devon Crimmin watches his closest friend die at the hands of a brutal ship's captain - and learns that justice can be bought. When the killer walks free and Devon's father pays with his livelihood and his life, a seed of vengeance is planted that will shape Devon's future. Years later, Devon becomes a police constable in Brigus, carrying the weight of loss, a forbidden love, and a hatred that has only deepened with time. His heart still belongs to Julia Danson, now promised to another man, while his loyalty and conscience are tested by duty, desire, and regret. When a promotion places Devon within reach of his enemy at last - and a seemingly proper duel offers the perfect opportunity - he must decide how far he is willing to go for justice, revenge, and love. Set against the harsh beauty of nineteenth-century Newfoundland, To Kill for Julia is a gripping historical novel of obsession, power, and the dangerous price of settling old scores.

When a plane ticket arrives from Newfoundland, Terri Withers is forced to confront the past she's spent ten years running from. Her grandfather is dying. The place she swore she'd never return to is calling her home. Withers Cove is not just a town - it's a fault line of betrayal, devotion, and buried truths. It's where Terry's mother was rejected, where her father stayed behind, and where a family fracture has festered for decades. As Terri steps into her grandfather's care and reclaims her childhood name, Tara, she is drawn into stories of wartime love, sacrifice, and choices that reshaped generations. But the version of the past Tara has always believed begins to unravel. As long-hidden secrets surface - especially from the grandmother who once turned her away - Tara realizes the story of her parents' escape was not an act of weakness, but survival. And the truth carries a cost. In a land as unforgiving as it is beautiful, grief becomes reckoning. Love becomes dangerous. And when a single misstep leaves Tara fighting for her life, she must decide whether she's ready to claim not just her inheritance, but her future. Powerful, haunting, and deeply human, Windswept is a story about family legacies, devastating secrets, and the courage it takes to choose who you become - when the past refuses to stay buried.

What happens when the uniform comes off - and the memories don't? End of Watch is a gripping first-person account by Superintendent William Malone, RCMP (Ret'd), tracing a twenty-six-year career that moves from small-town policing in Atlantic Canada to elite national-security operations and international conflict zones. From Newfoundland and northern New Brunswick to Haiti, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Niger, Malones service reveals a world where crime, war, and global instability collide - and where the decisions carry life-and-death consequences. Spanning the late 1980s to 2015, Malone recounts fatal accidents, suicides, homicides, child-abuse investigations, kidnappings, and disaster response with honesty and restraint. But the most difficult battles unfold after the call ends. Raised in a profession that demanded silence about mental health, he confronts the cumulative trauma of the job - PTSD, anxiety, and depression - and the ripple effects on family, relationships, and self. Blending memoir, reflection, and advocacy, End of Watch speaks to anyone who wants to understand the hidden cost of public service. It is a vital reminder that first responders are human, psychological injuries are real, and with the right support, healing - and a meaningful life beyond the badge - is possible. "This book shines an important light on PTSD, moral injury, and the silent burdens carried by so many first responders and their families." - AMANDA LINDHOUT, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF A HOUSE IN THE SKY "A powerful and deeply human account." - MISCHA KAPLAN, CEO TEAM RUBICON CANADA "Beautifully narrated and candid." - CHRIS O'NEILL-YATES, GLOBAL SECURITY SPECIALIST, FORMER CBC JOURNALIST "This book should be on the reading list for all new first responders." - DR. PETER M. GERMAN KC, PH.D., RCMP (RET.)