Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Ann Birch #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveLTD #historical #mystery

John White is a barrister trapped in a disastrous marriage. In 1792, he breaks loose and strikes out for a new life over the sea, leaving Marianne and his children in England. As Upper Canada’s first Attorney-General, he confronts the conflicts of the early parliament. He pushes through a bill abolishing the import of slaves—long before Britain or America—and he fights to give Aboriginals justice in white man’s courts. He also establishes the Law Society of Upper Canada, still in existence today.

In this new world, John finds pleasure in the friendship of Eliza Russell, sister of Upper Canada’s Receiver-General. They support each other in times of tragedy and despair.

But John makes a grave mistake when he has an affair with Betsy Small, a woman of dubious reputation. Realizing his stupidity, John breaks off the affair and brings Marianne and his family over from England. But Betsy is a vindictive woman who insults his wife, and Betsy’s husband challenges John to a duel. At dawn on January 4, 1800, John takes his pistol and sets out to meet his opponent.

Settlement, a novel of scandal and scurrility, set in early Toronto.  Robert Rotenberg, best-selling writer of thrillers, said: “Birch has that rare ability to use tremendous historical research as a tool to tell a whopping great story.”

The Secret Life of Roberta Greaves, a novel about a renowned professor who must write a best-selling erotic novel in order to pay off her deceased husband’s debts .  Jack Livesley, writer and founder of TV Ontario, said:  “Ann Birch takes us on a journey of hurtful suspense, love and laughter through many settings, to a vivid and satisfying end.”

These books are available in print and e-book format in all the usual places: libraries, bookstores, Amazon, Kobo, Indigo, et cetera.

Friday's Guest featuring Ann Birch #MFRWauthor #BooksWeLoveLTD

1. What were you in your life before you became a writer? Did this influence your writing?

I was a high-school English teacher and associate professor. Perhaps from my habitation in the academic world, I learned how to hold an audience’s attention. For sure I learned how to critique writing and where to put a comma.

2. Are you genre specific or general?

I’ve written memoirs, essays, reviews, and a textbook,  as well as historical fiction and modern fiction. So I guess that means I am NOT genre specific

.3. Did your reading have anything to do with your choice of a genre or genres?

My favourite book when I was ten years old was The Scarlet Pimpernel. But from those long-ago days, I’ve gone on to read thousands of books in every genre possible. So no, my reading merely made me aware of what good writing is all about.

4. What is your latest release?

Books We Love has just published my historical novel, Duelling in a New World. It’s about John White, Upper Canada’s first Attorney-General. He was a crazy man when it came to his love life, but he totally redeemed himself in his legal career by drafting the first anti-slavery bill in the British Empire.

5. What are you working on now?

My novel-in-progress is about Anne Powell, an early Toronto woman who rebels against the narrow roles assigned to women in the early 1800s. The title, Propriety Be Damned, probably sums it up.

6. Where can you find me?

In many places: at home in Toronto, Ontario; and in The Great Empyrean on Facebook, Linkedin, Goodreads, The Writers’ Union of Canada biographical listings, et cetera.