Written By Donna Costa, Anne Kay, Brenda Martin & Martha Morrison
MIDDLESEX COUNTY - The #ShopLocal movement is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to the current political climate. It’s visible everywhere: retailers are adding maple leaf stickers to merchandise to help shoppers identify “made in Canada” products. The London Writers Society (LWS) couldn’t have picked a better time to publish an anthology of their members work titled Out of the Woods: Voices from the Forest City.
Like a provincial wildflower quilt, this collection is distinctly Canadian. Written by local authors, the poetry and prose take the reader on a unique journey to random and often unexpected destinations. As the pages turn, we travel back in time to the silver mines in Cobalt, then to a stormy night in a mythical forest in the far North, only to return again and again to the rolling woodlands and roiling waters of the Thames River right here in Middlesex-London. Packed with engaging and quirky characters – from a capricious Newfoundlander, to a tree-hugging activist, to a young adult in transition – the book offers glimpses of the diverse fabric that is stitched across our great country and, in particular, the magical patch known as Souwesto.
Since 2007, LWS has created a community for local writers, offering workshops and events to hone their skills and promote their work. With over 100 talented members, the time was right for the Society to produce a collection to showcase their short stories and poems. The inaugural anthology is scheduled to launch June 3, 2025.
To populate the anthology, LWS members were invited to submit short stories and poems for consideration by a panel of local First Reader judges. All entries were anonymous to ensure impartial judging.
“It was intriguing to read the submissions without knowing a thing about the author,” shares first reader Anne Kay, author of The Salt Man. “As I read the stories I laughed, I cried and I learned about a wide range of subjects. I was struck by the fresh and diverse voices that sang from the pages.”
The First Readers generated a longlist for another London resident, internationally-renowned author Emma Donoghue, who selected 44 short stories and poems for publication. Among the finalists are three authors from Middlesex County: Bess Hamilton, Nancy Abra and Bruce Lord.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the Baldoon Mystery,” says Bess, referring to the settlement near Wallaceburg which was troubled by something similar to a poltergeist in the 1830s. “My historical fiction, Heart’s Desire, grew out of that fascination, coupled by my desire to explore the mixed feelings an immigrant to southern Ontario at that time might have had. Our local history is full of inspiration.”
For Bess, the most exciting part of the project was the chance to have her work read by Emma Donoghue. “She’s a writer I’ve admired for over 20 years. Beyond that, I’m thrilled readers will discover how many creative, talented authors call London and area home.”
Nancy Abra is an author, master gardener, and a regular vendor at the Ilderton Farmers Market since 2018 with her business From My Garden. Her nonfiction short story, Out of the Blue, revisits her parent’s plane crash forty years ago. “I believe everyone has a story to tell. Putting words to those memories of family and life experiences is a way to preserve and share them,” Nancy says.
Bruce Lord, who has been on hiatus from writing and publishing since 2008, wrote the poem Not Just Lonely. “The Anthology Project and the support of so many LWS writers acted as a catalyst to renew my desire to write after so many years,” reveals Bruce. “When I heard that my poem was selected, I was extremely grateful and humbled to be included with so many talented and passionate writers.”
A grant to the Society from the London Arts Council through the City of London’s Community Arts Investment Program provided a crucial financial boost for the anthology, but funding is still needed to cover publishing costs. Individuals or businesses wanting to support publication of the anthology can contribute through: www.londonwriterssociety.ca/anthology
“The Society recognizes that now, more than ever, it’s important to share our stories. It reaffirms our identity and helps to preserve our culture,” says Martha Morrison, Chair of the Anthology Committee. “We are excited to share the book and believe the variety of voices will resonate not only with local readers, but with all Canadians.”
Pre-orders of the anthology, Out of the Woods: Voices from the Forest City, will be available online www.londonwriterssociety.ca/anthology and at the LWS Spring Book Fair at St. Anne’s Anglican Church, 1344 Commissioners Road West, London, on April 5, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
