Bernadette Calonego's Blog: Eventful - Posts Tagged "isolated"

In the North of Newfoundland where I spend many months every year, the fall is a good and a sad time for me. Good because my fisherman finally has time to come on some of the hikes. The autumnal colours are fantastic, there are still some warm, sunny days, and the harvest of fish, potatoes and new crime novels is done. But it is also a time when the local restaurants and coffee shops close and some of my friends and acquaintances leave the area for their winter homes. I am sad to see them go. I feel deserted in a weird kind of way. Weird because I will leave later, too, and fly to Vancouver and then travel to the Sunshine Coast. I am deserting friends, too.
The last winter was comparatively mild for Northern Newfoundland. I don`t expect another mild winter ahead of us.
The farewells remind me of how important it is to have friends in an isolated, remote area. With friends, you don`t really feel the isolation. As a "stranger", it is also important to know other strangers who regularly spend some time elsewhere. We have a common language and shared experiences. These people are my anchor in choppy waters far away from home. Although Newfoundland has become a second home to me.
And then there is the comfort of books, of course. What would I do without them? To be able to download stories to my e-reader wherever I am is an incredible blessing.

My next crime novel with detective Calista Gates is now in the hands of my copy-editor and hopefully, I will be able to publish it in December. I will keep you posted.
Enjoy the remaining fall days before the Christmas craziness sets in - I`m determined to make the best of it![
[bookcover:Cries from the cold|58428996]

When I chose the title for the latest Detective Calista Gates mystery thriller, I had no idea how apt it is for the recent world events. In my small fishing hamlet on a peaceful bay, I seem far away from the turbulence in other countries. Naturally we experience autumn storms here, but when I look out of the window, the ocean is the strongest force of nature in my environment. On most days, it has more of a calming effect on me. However, even in a remote area like ours, you are no longer isolated because of (social) media and you can't stay completely away from disturbances. Or from developments that seem to be coming our way inexorably.
Even skeptical fishermen here are now talking about climate change because marine animals that normally live in warmer waters are appearing on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland, such as tuna, lobster and halibut.
In our area, only a few fishermen have a license for lobsters, or more precisely: there are only five lobster fishermen in a large fishing area. They are making a lot of money. The other fishermen think their union should lobby the government in Ottawa to get a temporary lobster license because their incomes are very low. But the five fishermen, who already have a license, are against it. This has led to tensions within the fishing communities, which is a great pity. It would be nice if more people had the common good in mind, because how can young people be interested in fishing if they don't earn enough money with it? If a new generation of fishermen does not follow, the fishing ports and villages will die out.
But back to Cold Dread: The paperback is already available on Amazon, just in time for Christmas. The e-book will be published on December 27. I wish you a suspenseful reading that is hopefully also very relaxing!
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