January Newsletter

2007 was a great year here at Five Rivers. Migrating away from historical sewing patterns, and returning to her first career as a writer, Lorina Stephens launched two books and saw a spring and fall season of successful book signings at independent books stores as well as Ontario stores in the Chapters/Indigo chain. Her books are selling not only in Canada, but the United States and United Kingdom, and are gaining interest in the European Union and Australia.

Lorina has been featured on A Channel’s Breakfast Television, B101FM Barrie, Owen Sound Sun Times, The Post, Orangeville Citizen, Guelph Mercury, and Barrie Examiner.

Chapters/Indigo picked Lorina up as one of their Favourite Authors in their Community Connection program, and has given her Chapters profile the Author designation. Any of you who have a profile with Chapters, or wish to create one, are welcome to invite Lorina as a friend and share what you’re reading. She also has a Facebook presence. And don’t forget about Five Rivers blog, where you are welcome to read all the latest news from Lorina and Gary, take part in the latest poll, and sign up for a direct RSS feed.

2008 already is shaping up to be an equally vibrant and dynamic year. Along with planning more book signings, lectures and a possible Meet the Author Dinner, the release of Lorina’s anthology of short, speculative and fantasy fiction, And the Angels Sang, will occur this spring. Watch Five Rivers’ blog for the latest information.

What else is in the works? Another cookbook in the Dumb Housewife series: Dumb Housewife Cooking with Fire, which will be an informative and entertaining cookbook about cooking on gas and charcoal barbeques, as well as over an open fire. From technology, techniques and delicious recipes adapted to all three forms of outdoor cooking, Cooking with Fire will possibly be released in full colour either late fall 2008 or spring 2009.

And there’s more on the fiction front. Lorina’s been working on a new fantasy novel, From Mountains of Ice, set in a Renaissance Italianate world threatened not only by annexation by a nation bent on Imperial domination, but a prince lost in the darkness of despair, derangement and long-forgotten dark arts. Sylvio di Danuto, the Prince’s mentor and banished from court these ten years, proves to be the country’s unwilling hope, and amid political intrigue, plots and betrayals the novel explores the depths and meaning of honour, obligation and the sanctity of love.

From Mountains of Ice is scheduled for completion this year, with possible release late 2009 or early 2010.

Cooperage News

Which is basically no news. New cooperage orders will remain shut down throughout 2008 while Gary continues to clear the few existing orders in-hand. The difficulty over the past two years has been not only difficulty acquiring clear, high-quality white pine and oak, quarter-sawn to Gary’s exacting standards, but time. What with working 50 hours a week in his main career as a custom mirror and glass contractor, coupled with a daily four hour commute and renovations to a 130 year old stone house, cooperage has taken a back seat.

But not forgotten by any means.

2008 will see the last four of 27 new windows and stone sills installed, completion of the renovation of the back entrance and foyer, and possibly replacement of the main floor beam. By 2010 all major renovations (roof, beam, windows, terrace and front porch) should be addressed, allowing for a gradual ramping up of the cooperage once again until by 2012 the cooperage will once again be in full production and possibly even full-time occupation.

Wishes for 2008

Finally, from all of us here at Five Rivers, please accept our sincere wishes to all of you for a contented, prosperous and healthy 2008.