Authors’ imaginations soar for new anthology

Members of the Canadian Authors Association Branch Peterborough were challenged to let their imaginations soar as they penned stories for the latest anthology from the group, set to be released at an event later next month.

The Kawartha Imagination Project is the work of Peterborough’s 13 – the collective name for the writers who contributed to the collection of prose, poetry, photography and other artistic creations.

“Each of the stories has a bit of mystery to it,” said David Austin, a group member and part of the baker’s dozen.

The broad scope of the book, which has been two years in the making, includes everything from a tale about a fantasy of meeting one’s alter ego to others that shed light on local political issues, such as the controversial extension of The Parkway, for example.

While the writers did not restrict their imaginations, each story includes local points of focus that any city resident can relate to, Austin said.

The branch has two groups that meet monthly at Empress Gardens Retirement Residents – one that focuses on prose and another that focuses on poetry. Both are well-represented in the collection, he said.

J.R. MacLean got the project off the ground before fellow branch member Richard Patterson helped take it to the finish line, Austin said.

It was like magic earlier this month when Patterson pulled the final proofs out of his briefcase to pass around at a meeting, he said. “We’re really looking forward to sharing it with our neighbours and friends.”

Austin also singled out the copy-editing and formatting work of Brenda Baker, thanking her for her dedication and input. “We’re all truly indebted to Brenda for this project … it wouldn’t have come off without her.”

The book is the successor to the Kawartha Soul Project - another collection of short stories and poems inspired by the place the writers call home.

Members of the informal group, which is all about writers helping writers, also released other titles last year.

Silos Stories & Sketches of Otonabee and South Monaghan Township by Val Crowley and Marie Adamcryck focuses on the use, structure and locations of the buildings, which the authors became curious about after driving by them daily.

Putting Your Affairs In Order is the fourth book by retired accountant Ed Burrows, who specialized in estate planning and income tax.

Collaboration is common among group members.

Tales from the Raven Cage is an anthology by eight group members, Fred Cahoon, Crowley, Lloyd Graham, MacLean, Dean Pappas, Jay Perkins, Claire Sullivan and J.S. Thompson.

NOTE: For more information on the local branch of the authors’ group, or on how to purchase the work of its authors, visit www.facebook.com/CAAPeterborough .

NOTES: A book launch for the Kawartha Imagination Project is scheduled for April 29 at 2 p.m. at the Art Gallery of Peteborough … For more on the Canadian Authors Association, visit https:// canadianauthors.org/ national/ .