Interested in honing your writing skills? Looking for support while you write the next, best, greatest novel? Struggling to navigate the publishing and marketing world?
The Indie Author Group, comprised of local authors from novice to published, welcomes writers to its meetings on the third Thursday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Okotoks Library. The meetings offer tips on writing, editing, publishing and marketing along with a whole lot of support. Email [email protected] or check out the group on Facebook.
The group has a couple of upcoming events, including How to Self-Publish: An Overview of the Self-Publishing World on Sept. 24 and Oct. 1. An Indie Author Book Fair, where local authors/illustrators will highlight their work, will be held on Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Okotoks Library.
At each meeting the Indie Author Group selects a member(s) to submit their works for publication. This month the group is featuring Patrick Dennis L. Sears.
Sears spent his formative years in Kingston Mills, ONT, alongside the picturesque Rideau River.
Having to leave home at the tender age 13 to continue his educational aspirations, he began work on a dairy farm northwest of the Rideau River (thus a title for the first trilogy West of The Rideau) for the princely sum of $5 a week plus board (it is believed the owner may have lost on the deal).
After a disagreement with his estranged mother’s boyfriend, he was forced to flee further north, this time working as a cattle hand on a beef ranch. Following that, Sears began a long career with General Motors, and by attending seven long years in various academes, whilst working, he managed to become a salaried employee.
He had a brief stint as an auxiliary policeman in Durham Region, ONT, as an apple picker during strike situations and worked for the department of highways as well as on a lumber deck. Sears also enjoyed a successful coaching career in both hockey and softball.
After a rather contentious divorce, he relocated to the west where he worked as an arrest processing officer with the Calgary Police Department (a truly great force), followed by employment as a screener for Alberta Health Services during the COVID pandemic.
After arriving in the west, spouse Ellen prompted Sears to finish a book which had been started 10 years previous but had only amounted to three small chapters. With her acting as editor, he finished the first book, West of The Rideau-A Young Man’s Journey. Although the book is somewhat autobiographical in nature, the names were changed to protect the guilty.
After finishing the first book, it was suggested the story had more to offer, thus the second and third installments were completed, West of The Rideau-The Escape and West of The Rideau-The Wild Years.
Watching the way the west was treated, a thought that perhaps there was a story there as well. The Canadian Republic was written and was followed by a historical-type western, Henry McGuire. Sears is continuing to write his next book, North To Paradise.
As an author, he has been blessed to have met a grand assortment of characters in life, some good, others not so much, but all interesting. They, perhaps unwittingly, have added greatly to the building of what the author hopes are interesting novels.
