BREAKING NEWS, NOT JUST WATER!
As summer gives way to autumn, we’re gearing up for a season of storytelling! While the leaves change, our lineup is packed with exciting readings, author events, fresh reviews, and new releases.
Scroll down to check out what's new, what's about to be new, and read/listen to what reviewers and interviewers have to say about the newest slate of Breakwater Books.
In this issue:
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WHAT'S ON THE GO?
Cozy days, captivating reads, and buzzworthy titles
Breakwater News
- The shortlists were announced for the 2024 Newfoundland and Labrador Book Awards and Breakwater authors held 4 of 6 finalist placings! Congratulations to Bridget Canning, Terry Doyle, Shelly Kawaja and Cara Kansala on their finalist placements. The final readings and award ceremonies took place on October 1st and 2nd, where Bridget Canning was named as the winner of the Killick Capital Fiction Award for her collection No One Knows About Us, and Cara Kansala was announced as the winner of the Children's/Young Adult Literature award for The Ewe Who Knew Who Knit You.
- We’re proud to congratulate Andy Jones on his upcoming investment into the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador. Appointments to the Order are made by the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador and its residents. Andy Jones is receiving the honour for his achievements in the fields of Art, Literature, and Mental Health Advocacy. We congratulate him for his work and for the incredible recognition he’s receiving. You can read more about the investiture ceremony and the Order itself here.
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Andy Jones interview with CBC about his upcoming book Actor Needs Restraint!
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Elizabeth Murphy’s The Weather Diviner shout out from the Historical Novel Society
- Review for Ashleigh Matthews’ otherwise grossly unremarkable in The Free Press Winnipeg
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False Bodies by JR McConvey included on CBC’s list of Canadian fiction books to read in fall 2024
- CBC also listed Total Party Kill by Craig Francis Power on their corresponding list of Canadian poetry collections to read in fall 2024
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Total Party Kill also made it onto CBC's 44 Canadian poetry collections to watch for in fall 2024
Books Coverage
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Readings, talks, launches, and signings! The fun never stops around here. Or if it does, it's because we're planning more fun.
- JR McConvey’s Toronto book launch on October 19
- It’s that time of year again and we’re stocking books for our Christmas at the Glacier booth, October 23-27
- Craig Francis Power is scheduled for an author signing at the Coles location in the Village Mall on Saturday, October 26 at 2:30-4 pm.
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WORTH 1000 WORDS!
Is there ever a downtime for books and events? NEVER! See below for some snaps from events from the last month.
Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Lady Ball, September 19, 2024, Emera Innovation Exchange, St. John's.Breakwater Books was a Gold Sponsor. Rebecca Rose, Rhonda Molloy, and Norma Noseworthy had the pleasure of attending a fun, beautiful, and emotional evening. Breakwater authors Sheila O’Neill and Yvonne Rumbolt-Jones were headliners in the fashion show wearing amazing outfits by local designers. As part of the Gold Sponsorship, Breakwater Books donated a curated set of over 300 books for inclusion in the event swag bags.   
On Tuesday, September 24th, the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador, The Honourable Joan Marie J. Aylward, O.N.L., invited local authors and publishers to Government House to celebrate the Year of the Arts. It was a lovely reception, recognizing our province’s brilliant authors, publishers, and creatives and the cultural contribution we make. Rebecca Rose and Rhonda Molloy were honoured to attend.
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FALL PREVIEW
Looking ahead to the first few books of Fall, things are really getting spectacular! Learn more about each of the titles below, and pre-order direct from us by clicking through to our online shop.
Press people and reviewers who wish to receive more information should contact marketing@breakwaterbooks.com
Coming Oct 11
False Bodies
JR McConvey
(fiction)
Set your spines to "tingle" -- our foray into horror is coming! With endorsements from thriller/horror royalty like Andrew Pyper, Tony Burgess, and David Demchuk, you can't go wrong here. Monster-hunting in the mists of a creepy offshore oil platform? A possible kraken on the loose? This genre-bending noir is perhaps the squiddiest novel ever written. False Bodies creates a horror/thriller blend of the renowned Newfoundland culture seen in shows like Come From Away with the heart-pounding tension and creeping fear of Alien.
 The Weather DivinerElizabeth Murphy(fiction) Set in a tragic, transformative year in an extraordinary place with larger-than-life characters, The Weather Diviner is a story of self-discovery—not just for one young woman, but for Newfoundland itself.  Total Party KillCraig Francis Power(poetry) A raw, beautifully-composed collection exploring addiction, trauma, poverty, and the journey toward recovery and spirituality through the vernacular and iconography of the popular roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. Coming Oct 30 Field Guide to Newfoundland and LabradorMichael Collins(non-fiction) The most comprehensive guide of its kind on the market today, the Field Guide to Newfoundland and Labrador features more than 900 photographs and illustrations: from flora and fauna to icebergs and weather, no stone is left unturned in this perfect introduction to the province’s life and landscape. Compiled and edited by Memorial University biologist Michael Collins, with contributions from over twenty renowned experts, the guide is accessible, durable, perfectly sized, and indexed for ease of use in the field. You’re ready. Now explore. Coming Nov 26
Actor Needs Restraint!Andy Jones(drama)
Three plays from the repertoire of iconic Newfoundland and Labrador playwright, actor, and member of the groundbreaking Newfoundland comedy troupe CODCO, Andy Jones.
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BACKLIST HIGHLIGHTS
With 50 years of publishing and over 500 active titles in our backlist, there's something for everyone at Breakwater. How about these beauties from the last few years. They make great gifts for family and friends, souvenirs for those visiting the province during our bustling tourist season, and give your shelves and coffee tables an air of distinction.
NONFICTION
Here Be Dragons
Bruce Hynes
An account of the strange creatures of Newfoundland and Labrador. Featuring the unexplained and the unusual, it is an amalgamation of history, anecdotes, and folk tales, inspired by a few unusual historical records and sightings past and present. Well-researched and entertaining, Here Be Dragons is dedicated to all those who said they saw something and no one believed.
FICTION
The Luminous Sea
Melissa Barbeau
(Recently appearing in German translation) A team of researchers from a nearby university have set up a research station in a fictional outport in Newfoundland, studying the strange emergence of phosphorescent tides. And Vivienne, a young assistant, accidentally captures a creature unknown to science: a kind of fish, both sentient and distinctly female. As the project supervisor and lead researcher attempt to exploit the discovery, the creature begins to waste away, and Vivian must endanger herself to save them both.
CULINARY
Some Good
Jessica Mitton
(Taste Canada Award Shortlist!) A new kind of Newfoundland cookbook, Some Good is a fusion of healthy food and local traditions. These recipes include appetizers, main meals, sides, desserts, and condiments, all utilizing island ingredients with new twists on Newfoundland classics like fish cakes, Jiggs’ Dinner, seafood chowder, and many more. Every recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and made without refined sugars. More than a collection of recipes, Some Good provides a whole new way of thinking about Newfoundland food.
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