Cape Breton’s Christmas 7 part of holiday tradition

SYDNEY — In what has become a holiday tradition, Breton Books has released its annual book of holiday stories, Cape Breton’s Christmas 7.

And like everything else this year, it has emerged in a not-so-usual way. Due to COVID-19 restrictions this year, Breton Books publisher Ron Caplan had to search for Christmas stories in new ways. He couldn’t stop people at the beach or on the sidewalk or in the grocery store to invite them to send in their Christmas stories. Instead, he posted messages online and he sent out a lot of emails asking for stories. While it wasn’t the same, Caplan says many good stories came in - in fact, many more than he could possibly include in the book.

So the new Cape Breton’s Christmas is available with 55 tales that remember hilarious parties and sweet memories, especially the efforts of parents who were determined to make Christmas a success. Parents who climbed onto the roof to prove that Santa is real and who sewed through the night to make a new-toyou coat for a daughter or to have the stockings filled for Christmas morning. Those who cooked and decorated beyond belief are remembered, leaving us the memorable Christmases people talk about to this day.

“I am grateful that so many people responded to what has become a Cape Breton holiday tradition,” says publisher Ron Caplan. “Not only did they send in their memories for Cape Breton’s Christmas, but they took the time to share them in some beautifully written stories. And these are often people who never published anything before.”

Cape Breton’s Christmas, Book 7, is available in bookstores and gift shops on Cape Breton and away. Copies are available by phone at 1-800565-5140, and online at www. capebretonbooks.com.