#PortArthur

Nov 6, 2019

About that Finnish Civil War...

Roy Blomstrom, author of SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR, will be speaking to the Writer's Circle, a Thunder Bay writing group, on November 27 at 7 PM at the Waverley Branch of the Thunder Bay Public Library. Among the topics: why write about this war and how did he do it, and why set half of the book in the summer of 1955 in Port Arthur. And, underlying all of them--how do you DO it? How do you write a historical novel? His answer: Start with an event in hist

Sep 24, 2019

New Projects

Most writers love autumn--the school supplies alone serve as bewitching reminders that blank pages invite new work. Autumn is also harvest time, when the work of sun and water (and minerals and and and and) bears fruit. We've got some new, fun projects on our calendar for 2019. Stay tuned! #NorthwesternOntario #Canada #Ontario #HistoricalNovel #PortArthur #LakeSuperior

Jun 26, 2019

Now at the Finnish Bookstore!

SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR is now available at the Finnish Bookstore! Part of The Kitchen Nook (which has a gift registry and lots of cool things), the Finnish Bookstore is conveniently located at Bay and Algoma. Much of SILENCES is set in Port Arthur (as it was then) in the summer of 1955, so it's possible to tour some of the locations mentioned in the book. We so appreciate the support of the community for our stories. Again, many thanks to the Finnish

Jun 19, 2019

This Saturday at 11

Roy Blomstrom, author of SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR will speak this Saturday at FinnFest. He is part of the 11 to noon time slot, in conversation with Liisa Kovala and Mark Munger. All three have written historical fiction based on the North American Finnish community, so it promises to be an engaging and rewarding time. All presentations are in the former Port Arthur Collegiate Institute, now part of Lakehead University's law school, just at the top of t

Oct 31, 2018

Cradle of the Deep: Surprises

One of the most interesting aspects of publishing books is seeing what resonates with readers. Sometimes books have one or more obvious audiences. SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR has many potential readers: those who are interested in war history, Finnish history, social history, northwestern Ontario, Port Arthur in 1955, and others. When we chose to publish CRADLE OF THE DEEP: MEMOIR OF A LAKE SUPERIOR COTTAGE, we had no idea what others would think of it. We

Oct 17, 2018

What's Next?

Recently, Roy Blomstrom read at an event sponsored by the Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop (NOWW). Six times a year, NOWW invites its members to read portions of their work, and each evening includes an "open mic" portion, where non-members can read short works. At the September reading, Roy chose a brief excerpt from the (current partial) draft of his next novel, which is a companion to SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR. It's early in the writing process f

Oct 3, 2018

Congratulations: Northern Lit Award Winners!

The Ontario Library Services North announced the winners of the Northern Lit Awards at a banquet last week. The English Fiction award, for which SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR was shortlisted, went to THE LIGHTKEEPER'S DAUGHTERS, by Jean E. Pendziwol. A story of family secrets, identity, sisters, and lighthouses, set on Lake Superior in both the past and present, the novel is an excellent choice to celebrate this part of Ontario. Other winners: A HISTORY OF C

Sep 5, 2018

Readers Rule

One of the best parts of having written work in the world is connecting with readers. It's been really fun to hear from those who have been kind and generous enough to take the time to read our books. CRADLE OF THE DEEP was very much a family memoir, which we were making available to extended family members, but it has appealed to a broader audience, in Northwestern Ontario and beyond. Readers regale us with their own family stories--summers by various lakes or the ocean, par

Aug 13, 2018

Author Extravagannnnnnza!

This Saturday! From noon until 4! Meet authors from northwestern Ontario, buy books and/or have them signed, and enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of Thunder Bay Chapters on Memorial. Shuniah House author Roy Blomstrom will be there with SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR. We hope to have copies of CRADLE OF THE DEEP: MEMOIR OF A LAKE SUPERIOR COTTAGE there as well. The most up-to-date list of other participating authors: Sandi Boucher, Sam Convey, H. Leighton Di

Jul 11, 2018

Coles Signing

Here's author Roy Blomstrom signing copies of his book, SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR, at Coles at the Intercity Shopping Centre last Saturday. We're grateful to Coles for their support of local writers and writing. Another get-together of creators is underway for August 18 at the local Chapters--we'll pass along more details as we learn them. #1918FinnishCivilWar #HistoricalNovel #PortArthur #NorthwesternOntario #Canada #Finland #FinnishCivilWar #Silences

Jun 13, 2018

Book Signing: July 7

Roy Blomstrom, author of SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR, will be signing books at the Coles at the Intercity Mall in Thunder Bay on Saturday, July 7, from noon until 4 p.m. Coles routinely carries SILENCES, as well as the other Shuniah House Books title, CRADLE OF THE DEEP: MEMOIR OF A LAKE SUPERIOR COTTAGE. Both titles will be available for purchase from Coles on the day of the signing as well. This is an excellent chance for your father to personalize his c

Jun 6, 2018

Coming Soon: Thunder Bay Book Club in a Bag

Thanks to Bookends, a longstanding local book club, and the Thunder Bay Public Library, copies of SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR will soon be available in the Book Club in a Bag program. Book Club in a Bag makes it easier for a group to read and discuss a particular title. You can browse available books--bestsellers, local books, and more--and reserve specific titles for whatever month your group is interested in. All this is hosted at the TBPL's KitKeeper si

May 29, 2018

Shortlisted: Northern Lit Awards

The Ontario Library Service--North has announced the shortlist for the Northern Lit Awards, and SILENCES is on it! Many congratulations to author Roy Blomstrom. And many thanks to the OLS-N for creating this way to spotlight stories about and from the various part of northern Ontario. SILENCES is in great company on this list, which we highly recommend for additions to your summer reading. #1918FinnishCivilWar #LakeSuperior #HistoricalNovel #NorthwesternOntario #PortArthur #C

May 2, 2018

Follow-Up: Veljeni Vartija

Thanks once again to LU Professor Emeritus Raija Warkentin, we've had the chance to see the program from the premiere of Veljani Vartija, an opera by Olli Kortekangas with libretto by Tuomas Parkkinen. Commissioned by the Tampera Opera, the opera is about a brother and sister who end up on opposing sides of the 1918 Finnish Civil War. Our earlier post about the opera is here. The printed program is mostly in Finnish, of course, with a helpful list of cast and the opera's even

Apr 14, 2018

100 Years Ago...Run, Rabbit

Rabbit's on the run, AWOL from his unit, running for his life from the army he joined as a volunteer. Somewhere heading toward Russia, he falls in with hordes of Finnish-speaking Red refugees who believe they will be safe in Russia--that Russia will welcome them. As long as the way to Lahti and Karelia remains open. Rabbit will eventually find another spot on the White side for himself. But he will be fighting for his life for some time. Spring is coming to the countryside, b

Apr 7, 2018

100 Years Ago...Tampere Falls

At 9 a.m. on April 6, 1918, the Red side in Tampere surrendered. White soldiers are supposed to treat the soldiers and civilians as prisoners--but without the resources to guard them, they begin executions. Jussi and his father tour the city their artillery has helped destroy--the buildings, the people and other living beings. It must have been difficult to view their participation as a battle "victory." The war itself is still not over. #1918FinnishCivilWar #100yearsago #His

Mar 31, 2018

100 Years Ago...Easter Weekend

Easter fell on similar dates in 1918--March 31 instead of April 1, but the same weekend. Tampere is under artillery bombardment. Jussi and his father can see the red glow of fire in the city. Karl's infantry regiment fought in the cemetery, and many were lost. After the Easter service, many families--including the Solbakkens--get bad news from the list of the dead posted at Svensson's store. The war continues to take its toll on the new country, creating mayhem and fear among

Mar 14, 2018

SILENCES: Reader's Guide

We're approaching the centenary of the battles that are widely considered to be the turning point of the Finnish Civil War, which occurred on and in the days following the Ides of March. White and Red armies fight amid three lakes in south-central Finland; soon, Tampere will fall. But events like "tipping points" or "turning points" are usually visible only in retrospect. Thinking back, considering, and reviewing events is the best way to make sense of them. To help readers c

Feb 28, 2018

100 Years Ago...Jussi and Karl

In SILENCES: A NOVEL OF THE 1918 FINNISH CIVIL WAR, events 100 years ago have embroiled Jussi Mantere and the Solbakken family in fighting for the White army. Jussi and his father have had artillery training. Ivor Solbakken, known as Rabbit, has been separated from his brother Karl, who is in the infantry--a foot soldier, in the thick of the action. Rabbit is ostensibly learning to be a cook. The White infantry is joined by artillery in fighting near Vilppula, as Red forces p

Feb 7, 2018

From the Author

At his website, author Roy Blomstrom considers the Finnish Civil War, snow, gloves, and conscription. As the divisions between Red sympathizers and White sympathizers becomes more plain, White leaders must consider where their fighting force will come from. Some will volunteer. Some, however, won't: conscription will be required. #1918FinnishCivilWar #100yearsago #HistoricalNovel #PortArthur #Canada #Ontario #Finland #ThunderBay #FinnishCivilWar #Silences