Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a world where the First World War was history and the Second World War unimaginable - in a world before drones or spaceships, before we had split the atom or invented plastic, before computers or video games even before television -- even the children played in the hilly streets and empty fields of St. John's. Originally commissioned by the internationally renowned Shallaway Youth Choir of Newfoundland and Labrador for a Christmas concert, Bernice Morgans Seasons Before the War is a delightful, unsentimental remembrance of growing up in St. Johns, Newfoundland just before the city, and the world, changed irrevocably with the advent of WWII. This slightly fictionalised telling explores the delights of every day and of each season: how Bernice and her siblings played and passed their time -- watching the fire trucks put out fires at the local dump, going for messages at nearby shops, listening to stories by the kitchen stove -- and the bigger moments of starting school, and anticipating Christmas. Charged with the bright wonder of a childs view, the book nevertheless contains the shadow of change; war and its implications for childhood are in the offing. Artwork by acclaimed UK-based illustrator Brita Granstroem beautifully captures the sweet nostalgia of Morgans words and the joys of childhood. Soft and playful, yet detailed and accurate, the illustrations add immeasurably to the book, making it as much an art book as a storybook. With beautiful paper, thoughtful design, and exceptional production values, this is a book to be shared between generations.

Embarking from England in the early 1800s, seventeen-year-old Lavinia Andrews and her family land in the tiny Newfoundland settlement of Cape Random, a remote fishing outpost set in a stark, rocky landscape on the edge of the sea. Here the Andrewses find themselves among a strange and intriguing group of outcasts with whom they must eke out a living. As the community grows--struggling to survive against the dangers of starvation, accident, and illness--deep friendships develop, as do marriages, rivalries, and intrigues, all set against the backdrop of the magnificent and wild ocean. Epic in scope, luminous in language, "Cape Random " is a lyrical tribute to the decency and kindness possible among people even in the most difficult circumstances.

This title was previously published in Canada as "Random Passage. "

The heart and spirit of an indomitable people travel far in time and space: the unexpected luxury of a day spent at the home of a Hollywood star leads three old friends to share secret facets of their lives, both tragic and triumphant. Excited to return to the home of her youth after a lifetime spent away, a woman learns that the life of a childhood friend has been a bleak, awful shadow of her own. The streets of Vancouver seem to glitter with promises of love and success, but a young man is forced to perceive the grittier reality that hides beneath. A young woman, unwilling to stay at home with her baby while the rest of the world is celebrating, performs an impulsive act of love and selfishness that will shatter the lives of a family she cares for as much as her own. These are only a few of the stirring, unforgettable, often heartbreaking stories in a lyrical collection exploring life and love, terror and joy, fury and deep sorrow. Above all, the tales explore the bonds of family and friendship, while celebrating the Newfoundlander's vital sense of identity. The Topography of Love will resonate deeply in the hearts of readers everywhere who cherish subtle, eloquent, evocative fiction.