nichepoetryandprose

Last year, I published 5 novella-length ‘urban mysteries:’ Office Green; City Grotesque; Hollow Hotel; Dancing with Trees; and Roundabout. These are quick reads, set in cities of the Atlantic provinces (Halifax, Saint John and Fredericton). In each book, a young woman is faced with a problem to solve.

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You can purchase these books at Dog Eared Books in Oromocto, and at The Write Cup Bookstore Cafe in Saint John. They are also available at the Fredericton public library and on Amazon.

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This year I will release five novellas in my ‘rural mysteries.’ To begin the series, I considered the various aspects of the rural landscape that interest me and I have built my novellas around these elements:

Rural communities: human communities are a main features of the rural landscape. Towns, villages, and dispersed rural housing are fundamentally different from the urban landscape. Communities include more than housing. Convenience stores, schools, churches and small businesses give these spaces character and help to knit people in rural communities together.

Roads: roads are the circulatory system of the rural human landscape. They connect populations, allow transport of goods, and make most areas of our landscape accessible.

Trails: trails reach into areas not accessible by roads. They enable humans to move through both built and natural areas, and provide exercise and adventure opportunities.

Gardens: Vegetable and flower gardens are an enjoyable feature of the rural environment. They return us to a time when we produced our own foods and provide focus for spending time in the out-of-doors.

Fields: Hay fields, pasture and meadows are some of my favourite parts of the rural landscape. They are a key part of the agricultural landscape and also provide places where native plants can flourish and migrate.

Woodlots: Before communities and the agricultural landscape developed, the Atlantic provinces were mostly forested. Woodland areas provide habitat for wild life, wood for heating, building, and forest products, and spaces for people to reconnect with nature and enjoy wild life.

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In the next posts, I will introduce you to my five rural mysteries, their covers, characters and a glimpse of their stories.

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All my best,

Alexandra Tims (a.k.a. Jane)