This week we talk to Chris Cameron, well known to our listeners as a co-host of this programme. Chris enjoyed a successful career as a professional opera singer, retiring in 2009. A number of years ago he began a new career, as a freelance writer and editor. His first book, a memoir of his singing years, Dr. Bartolo’s Umbrella and Other Tales from my Surprising Operatic Life (Seraphim Editions) was published in 2017. In June of that year, Chris and his wife Karen moved to the banks of the Trent River in Campbellford. Now he brings his passion for the arts and his respect for the beauty and power of the written word to his editing portfolio at Watershed. He has written for and performed at Westben, produced the drama and dance evenings at the 2019 Festival of the Arts in Cobourg, and this year his one-act play Nail Polish will be performed at the Northumberland Festival of the Arts 2022. He has edited many of the interviews loaded to the festival’s website (festivalofthearts.ca) and continues to edit Word on the Hills and to co-host the series. His new book Thorneside Stories,(Iguana Publications) will be published on September 6th. He still marvels at his luck, ending up doing what he loves in beautiful Northumberland County.

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This week we welcome Anne Marshall. Writing fiction is a passion for Anne, who has spent a lifetime in hospitality – networking and delivering adventure-packed experiences for others. Anne has travelled extensively as a business person, tourist and intrepid adventurer – alone and with her partner Peter Elmhirst. Her travels include walking the Camino, motorcycling across Europe and the Americas, camping and enjoying life in a homebuilt camper van; always curious about the story behind the story, the people and the customs of the land. Recently Anne was inducted into the Tourism Industry Association of Canada Hall of Fame, recognizing her career and volunteer work in the industry. The Reckless series incorporates her love of travel and characters she has encountered along the way, embracing mature relationships and romance. You are never too old to be reckless in love. Home is on the north shore of Rice Lake in the Kawarthas.

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Join us to hear Michael Croucher tell us about his recent writing. Michael was part of the Toronto Police Department for 18 years, and served on The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit investigating organized crime. Following his police career, he was either self-employed, or contracted in sales or sales management. A multiple award –winning writer, he has published two novels, and is working on his third. He has steadily built a collection of short stories, many of which have been published in various anthologies. He is planning to release his collection in 2023.

When he’s not writing, Mike reads a great deal, mostly fiction. He has travelled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, North and South America, and the Pacific. Occasionally, when he travelled he took rides on well-known trains. Among others, he has travelled on The Red Prussian in East Germany, the Flying Scotsman from London to York, and New Zealand’s Silver Fern.

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Join us to hear about Patricia Calder’s new book I FLEW INTO TROUBLE. Born into a prolific family of eight writers, Patricia Calder dreamed of becoming a writer herself. However, the travel bug hit and she lived in Europe for a year, visiting 22 countries. Then began a 30-year teaching career which included Writer’s Craft and Journalism. Meanwhile she kept the dream alive studying fiction writing under Canadian authors such as Matt Cohen.

She published a novel, Roadblock and is working on a story about her Uncle Jack called I Flew into Trouble. Her grandmother’s World War II scrapbook has recently been accepted into the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. She has also published splendid photographic records of her visits to the see the Spirit Bears in BC and the wild horses of Sable Island in Nova Scotia.

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Join us for our latest conversation with Marie-Lynn Hammond. Marie-Lynn is a bilingual singer-songwriter, playwright, editor, writer, and occasional poet who happily moved to Cobourg eight years ago. She has published four plays and more than 50 articles and radio essays. Her play Beautiful Deeds/De Beaux Gestes was co-produced by Théâtre du P’tit Bonheur (Toronto) and the Manitoba Theatre Centre (Winnipeg). A 1987 production was seen at the Persephone Theatre (Saskatoon), at the National Arts Centre, and elsewhere. It was also successfully revived at the Spirit of the Hills Festival of the Arts in 2017. A founding member of Stringband, one of Canada’s seminal folk groups, she’s known for her original songs, which often tell uniquely Canadian stories. A passionate animal advocate, she can frequently be found rescuing cats.

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This week we welcome Ted Staunton, the author of well over 40 books; he writes everything from YA and mid-grade novels to Hi-Los, non-fiction, early chapter books, and of course picture books. His YA novel Who I’m Not won the 2014 CCBC John Spray Mystery Award. Ted’s work has also been nominated for Silver Birch, Red Maple, Hackmatack, Arthur Ellis, and BC Stellar awards. Trained as a teacher, Ted is a speaker, performer, and workshop leader in schools, libraries and venues across Canada. As well, he teaches the Writing Children’s Fiction courses at George Brown College. He has also travelled to Ethiopia several times to work with English language writers and editors there. When he’s not writing, Ted plays in the MAPLE LEAF CHAMPIONS JUG BAND. (He always brings his guitar and banjo to school presentations too.) He enjoys running, reading and writing and listening to music. Born young, he is now older. Ted and his family live in Port Hope, Ontario.

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