Fred's Blog
  • Fred's Blog
  • Writers Open House
    • Shane Joseph 2025-1
    • Ronald Mackay 2025-1
    • Jeremiah Gilbert 2025-1
    • Jeremiah Gilbert 2025-2
    • Malcolm Welshman 2025-1
    • Roger Knight 2025-1
    • Sue Wald 2025-1
    • Ronald Mackay 2025-2
  • Writers Open House Guidelines
  • Amazon Author Page
  • Info
  • 2024 Showcase Guidelines
  • 2024 Memoir Showcase
    • Elora Canne 2024-1 (M)
    • Sue Wald 2024-1 (M)
    • Patricia M Osborne 2024-1 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2024-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-1 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2024-2 (M)
    • Malcolm D Welshman - 2024-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-2 (M)
    • Denis Dextraze 2024-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-3 (M)
    • Sue Wald 2024-2 (M)
    • Denis Dextraze 2024-2 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-4 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp 2024-3 (M)
    • Don Hughes 2024-1 (M)
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2024-1 (M)
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2024-2 (M)
    • Sue Wald 2024 -3 (M)
    • Syd Blackwell 2024-1 (M)
    • Denis Dextraze 2024-3 (M)
    • Jackie Lambert 2024-1 (M)
    • Jackie Lambert 2024-2 (M)
    • Jeremiah Gilbert 2024-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-5 (M)
    • Sue Bavey 2024-1 (M)
  • 2024 Fiction Showcase
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2024-1 (F)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2024-2 (F)
    • Shirley Read-Jahn 2024-1 (F)
    • Shirley Read-Jahn 2024-2 (F)
    • Sue Wald 2024-1 (F)
    • Shane Joseph 2024-1 (F)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-1 (F)
    • Carly Standley 2024-1 (F)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2024-3 (F)
    • Ronald Mackay 2024-2 (F)
    • Liliana Amador-Marty 2024-1 (F)
  • 2023 Showcase Guidelines
  • 2023 Memoir Showcase
    • Shane Joseph 2023-1 (M)
    • Shirley Read-Jahn 2023-1 (M)
    • Roger Knight 2023- 1 (M)
    • Sue Bavey 2023-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2023-1 (M)
    • Kelly Reising 2023-1 (M)
    • Robyn Boswell 2023-1 (M)
    • Syd Blackwell 2023-1 (M)
    • Sue Bavey 2023-2 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2023-2 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2023-1 (M)
    • Robyn Boswell 2023-2 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2023-3 (M)
    • Judy Middleton 2023-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2023-1 (M)
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2023-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2023-4 (M)
    • Syd Blackwell 2023-2 (M)
    • Valerie Poore 2023-1 (M)
    • Jackie Lambert 2023-1 (M)
    • Carrie Riseley 2023-1 (M)
    • Sue Bavey 2023-3 (M)
    • Jacqui Martin 2023-1 (M)
    • Dvora Treisman 2023-1 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2023-2 (M)
    • Jackie Lambert 2023-2 (M)
    • Mitos Suson 2023-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2023-5 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2023-6 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2023-3 (M)
    • Jacqui Martin 2023-2 (M)
    • Martha Graham-Waldon 2023-1 (M)
  • 2023 Fiction Showcase
    • Shane Joseph 2023-1 (F)
    • Ronald Mackay 2023-1 (F)
    • Ronald Mackay 2023-2 (F)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2023-1 (F)
    • Ronald Mackay 2023-3 (F)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2023-1 (F)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2023-2 (F)
    • Ronald Mackay 2023-4 (F)
  • 2023 Highlights
    • Syd Blackwell 2023-1 (H)
    • Tammy Horvath 2023-1 (H)
    • Shirley Read-Jahn 2023-1 (H)
    • Syd Blackwell 2023-2 (H)
  • 2022 Memoir Showcase
    • Shane Joseph 2022-1 (M)
    • Roger Knight 2022-1 (M)
    • Leslie Groves Ogden 2022-1 (M)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2022-1 (M)
    • Shirley Read-Jahn 2022-1 (M)
    • Patsy Hirst 2022-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2022-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-1 (M)
    • Sharon Hayhurst 2022-1 (M)
    • Syd Blackwell 2022-1 (M)
    • Syd Blackwell 2022-2 (M)
    • Patsy Hirst 2022-2 (M)
    • Roger Knight 2022-2 (M)
    • John C. Rogers 2022-1 (M)
    • Thomas Laver 2022-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-2 (M)
    • Sue Bavey 2022-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2022-2 (M)
    • Lally Brown 2022-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-3 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2022-3 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2022-1 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-4 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2022-4 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2022-2 (M)
    • Jackie Lambert 2022-1 (M)
    • Valerie Poore 2022-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2022-5 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2022-3 (M)
    • Mike Cavanagh 2022-1 (M)
    • Mike Cavanagh 2022-2 (M)
    • Malcolm Welshman 2022-1 (M)
    • Nick Albert 2022-1 (M)
    • Denis Dextraze 2022-1 (M)
    • David McCabe 2022-1 (M)
    • Lizbeth Meredith 2022-1 (M)
    • Jill Dobbe 2022-1 (M)
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2022-1 (M)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2022-2 (M)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-5 (M)
    • Jennifer Rae 2022-1 (M)
    • Jennifer Rae 2022-2 (M)
    • Mitos Suson 2022-1 (M)
    • Patsy Hirst 2022-3 (M)
    • Jennifer Rae 2022-3 (M)
    • Therese Marie Duncan 2022-1 (M)
    • Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 2022-1 (M)
    • Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 2022-2 (M)
    • Kelly Reising 2022-1 (M)
    • Ronald Mackay 2022-6 (M)
    • Syd Blackwell 2022-3 (M)
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2022-4 (M)
    • Denis Dextraze 2022-2 (M)
    • Patsy Hirst 2022-4 (M)
  • 2022 Fiction Showcase
    • Shane Joseph 2022-1 (F)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-1 (F)
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2022-1 (F)
    • Keith Moreland 2022-1 (F)
    • Lindy Viandier 2022-1 (F)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-2 (F)
    • Robert Fear 2022-1 (F)
    • Lindy Viandier 2022-2 (F)
    • Janet Stobie 2022-1 (F)
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2022-3 (F)
    • Philippa Hawley 2022-1 (F)
    • Daisy Wood 2022-1 (F)
    • Valerie Poore 2022-1 (F)
    • Lynn C. Bilton 2022-1 (F)
    • Sue Bavey 2022-1 (F)
  • 2022 Showcase Guidelines
  • 2022 Guest Blogs
  • 2021 Authors Showcase
    • John L. Fear 2021 - 1
    • Sue Bavey 2021 - 2
    • Valerie Poore 2021 - 3
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2021 - 2
    • Mitos Suson 2021 - 1
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2021 - 1
    • Donna O'Donnell Figurski 2021 - 1
    • Dolores Banerd 2021 - 1
    • Lynn C. Bilton 2021 - 1
    • Sverrir Sigurdsson 2021 - 1
    • Sharon Hayhurst 2021 - 1
    • Liliana Amador-Marty 2021 - 1
    • Sue Bavey 2021 - 1
    • Karen Telling 2021 - 1
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2021 - 1
    • Liesbet Collaert 2021 - 1
    • Susan Mellsopp 2021 - 3
    • Ronald Mackay 2021 - 6
    • Shirley Read-Jahn 2021 - 1
    • Jackie Lambert 2021 - 1
    • Valerie Poore 2021 - 2
    • Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 2021 - 3
    • Jennifer Rae 2021 - 1
    • Chris Calder 2021 - 1
    • Valerie Poore 2021 - 1
    • Mike Cavanagh 2021 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2021 - 5
    • Roger Knight 2021 - 3
    • Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 2021 - 2
    • Joanne Guidoccio 2021 - 1
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2021 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2021 - 4
    • Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 2021 - 1
    • Shane Joseph 2021 - 2
    • Susan Mellsopp 2021 - 2
    • Denis Dextraze 2021 - 2
    • Syd Blackwell 2021 - 2
    • Ronald Mackay 2021 - 3
    • Roger Knight 2021 - 2
    • Margaret South 2021 - 1
    • Denis Dextraze 2021 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2021 - 2
    • Susan Mellsopp 2021 - 1
    • Roger Knight 2021 - 1
    • Shane Joseph 2021 - 1
    • Syd Blackwell 2021 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2021 - 1
    • Adrian Sturrock 2021 - 1
    • Cherie Magnus 2021 - 1
  • 2021 Showcase Guidelines
  • 2021 Guest Blogs
  • 40 years ago today
  • 2020 Authors Showcase
    • Vernon Lacey 2020 - 1
    • Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 2020 - 1
    • Liliana Amador-Marty 2020 - 1
    • Alison Alderton 2020 - 1
    • Lizzie Jewels 2020 - 1
    • Robyn Boswell 2020 - 4
    • Lally Brown 2020 - 1
    • James Robertson 2020 - 2
    • Ronni Robinson 2020 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2020 - 6
    • Denis Dextraze 2020 - 5
    • Syd Blackwell 2020 - 2
    • Susan Mellsopp 2020 - 2
    • Robyn Boswell 2020 - 3
    • Val Poore 2020 - 1
    • Mike Cavanagh 2020 - 3
    • Helen Bing 2020 - 3
    • Neal Atherton 2020 - 1
    • Susan Joyce 2020 - 1
    • Leslie Groves Ogden 2020 - 1
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2020 - 4
    • Elizabeth Moore 2020 - 2
    • Denis Dextraze 2020 - 4
    • Patty Sisco 2020 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2020 - 5
    • Syd Blackwell 2020 - 1
    • Frank Kusy 2020 - 1
    • Malcolm Welshman 2020 - 1
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2020 - 1
    • Susan Mellsopp 2020 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2020 - 4
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2020 - 3
    • Denis Dextraze 2020 - 3
    • Robyn Boswell 2020 - 2
    • Ronald Mackay 2020 - 3
    • Helen Bing 2020 - 2
    • Roger Knight 2020 - 3
    • Amy Bovaird 2020 - 1
    • Patricia Steele 2020- 1
    • Elizabeth Moore 2020 - 1
    • Helen Bing 2020 - 1
    • Mike Cavanagh 2020 - 2
    • Ronald Mackay 2020 - 2
    • Denis Dextraze 2020 - 2
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2020 - 2
    • Roger Knight 2020 - 2
    • Mike Cavanagh 2020 - 1
    • Robyn Boswell 2020 - 1
    • Irene Pylypec 2020 - 1
    • Denis Dextraze 2020 - 1
    • James Robertson 2020 - 1
    • Andrew Klein 2020 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2020 - 1
    • Roger Knight 2020 - 1
    • Tina Wagner Mattern 2020 - 1
  • 2020 Guest Blogs
  • 2020 Showcase Guidelines
  • 2019 Authors Showcase
    • James Robertson 2019 - 6
    • Val Vassay 2019 - 2
    • Syd Blackwell 2019 - 6
    • Dawne Archer 2019 - 1
    • Susan Mellsopp 2019 - 3
    • Ronald Mackay 2019 - 6
    • James Robertson 2019 - 5
    • Sarah Owens 2019 - 1
    • Syd Blackwell 2019 - 5
    • Dolores Banerd 2019 - 1
    • Val Vassay 2019 - 1
    • Helen Bing 2019 - 4
    • Ronald Mackay 2019 - 5
    • Tina Mattern 2019 - 4
    • James Robertson 2019 - 4
    • Robyn Boswell 2019 - 3
    • Helen Bing 2019 - 3
    • Syd Blackwell 2019 - 4
    • Adrian Sturrock 2019 - 2
    • Jill Stoking 2019 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2019 - 4
    • Tina Mattern 2019 - 3
    • Cherie Magnus 2019 - 1
    • Roger Knight 2019 - 3
    • Susan Mellsopp 2019 - 2
    • Robyn Boswell 2019 - 2
    • Syd Blackwell 2019 - 3
    • Catherine Berry 2019 - 1
    • James Robertson 2019 - 3
    • Nancy McBride 2019 - 2
    • Tina Mattern 2019 - 2
    • Ronald Mackay 2019 - 3
    • Susan Mellsopp 2019 - 1
    • Mike Cavanagh 2019 - 1
    • Helen Bing 2019 - 2
    • Nancy McBride 2019 - 1
    • Malcolm Welshman 2019 - 1
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2019 - 1
    • Patty Sisco 2019 - 1
    • Syd Blackwell 2019 - 2
    • Adrian Sturrock 2019 - 1
    • Tina Mattern 2019 - 1
    • James Robertson 2019 - 2
    • Ronald Mackay 2019 - 2
    • Roger Knight 2019 - 2
    • Liliana Amador-Marty 2019 - 1
    • Celia Dillow 2019 - 1
    • Helen Bing 2019 - 1
    • Syd Blackwell 2019 - 1
    • Ronald Mackay 2019 - 1
    • Robyn Boswell 2019 - 1
    • Kelly Reising 2019 - 1
    • James Robertson 2019 - 1
    • Roger Knight 2019 - 1
  • 2019 Showcase Guidelines
  • 2019 Guest Blogs
  • Competitions
  • 2018 Travel Highlights
  • 2018 Travel Stories
    • Robyn Boswell 2018 - 5
    • Apple Gidley 2018
    • Lindsay de Feliz 2018 - 5
    • Helen Bing 2018 - 3
    • Julie Watson 2018
    • Anisha Johnson 2018
    • Philip East 2018
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2018 - 2
    • Mike Cavanagh 2018 - 3
    • Ronald Mackay 2018 - 5
    • Malcom Welshman 2018 - 2
    • Celia Dillow 2018
    • Syd Blackwell 2018 - 5
    • Lee P. Ruddin 2018
    • Cat Jenkins 2018
    • Anierobi Maureen Ogechukwu 2018
    • Dede Montgomery 2018
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2018 - 2
    • Parishka Gupta 2018 - 2
    • Angie Clifford 2018
    • Emma Yardley 2018 - 4
    • Roger Knight 2018 - 2
    • Mark Boyter 2018 - 2
    • Laurel Casida 2018
    • Mike Cavanagh 2018 - 2
    • Alison Galilian 2018
    • Colleen MacMahon 2018
    • Zahra Makda 2018
    • Ronald Mackay 2018 - 4
    • Susmitha Subramanya 2018
    • Lindsay de Feliz 2018 - 4
    • Aleksandra Krysik 2018
    • Swarnabha Dutta 2018
    • Delores Topliff 2018 - 2
    • Sourabha Rao 2018
    • Valerie Fletcher Adolph 2018
    • Swatilekha Roy 2018
    • Syd Blackwell 2018 - 4
    • Robyn Boswell 2018 - 4
    • Mary Mae Lewis 2018
    • Parishka Gupta 2018
    • Helen Bing 2018 - 2
    • Madeline Sharples 2018
    • Joe Dodkins 2018
    • Andrew Klein 2018 - 2
    • Roger Knight 2018
    • Rob Johnson 2018
    • Anu Devi 2018
    • Lu Barnham 2018
    • Amy Bovaird 2018 - 2
    • Helen Bing 2018
    • Emma Yardley 2018 - 3
    • Lindsay de Feliz 2018 - 3
    • Robyn Boswell 2018 - 3
    • Alan Passey 2018
    • Ben Stamp 2018 - 3
    • Susan Mellsopp 2018 - 2
    • Alyson Hilbourne 2018
    • Sunny Lockwood 2018 - 2
    • Syd Blackwell 2018 - 3
    • Ronald Mackay 2018 - 3
    • Brigid Gallagher 2018 - 2
    • Martha Graham-Waldon 2018
    • Mark Boyter 2018
    • Kristen Caven 2018
    • Neyda Bettencourt 2018
    • Robyn Boswell 2018 - 2
    • Logan Wood 2018
    • Ben Stamp 2018 - 2
    • Emma Yardley 2018 - 2
    • Wenlin Tan 2018
    • Tom Czaban 2018
    • Claudia Crook 2018 - 2
    • Lindsay de Feliz 2018 - 2
    • Dolores Banerd 2018
    • Piyumi Kapugeekiyana 2018
    • Stephanie Dagg 2018
    • Gabrielle Chastenet 2018
    • Bonnie Jean Warren 2018
    • Rasa Puzinaite 2018
    • Patricia Steele 2018
    • Ronald Mackay 2018 - 2
    • Syd Blackwell 2018 - 2
    • Louise Groom 2018
    • Malcom Welshman 2018
    • Delores Topliff 2018
    • Claudia Crook 2018
    • Robyn Boswell 2018
    • Amy Bovaird 2018
    • Emma Yardley 2018
    • Ben Stamp 2018
    • Jesus Deytiquez 2018
    • Ria Chakraborty 2018
    • Brigid Gallagher 2018
    • Jules Clark 2018
    • Nancy McBride 2018
    • Susan Mellsopp 2018
    • David Greer 2018
    • Lindsay de Feliz 2018
    • Aditi Nair 2018
    • Mike Cavanagh 2018
    • Frank Kusy 2018
    • Andrew Klein 2018
    • Ronald Mackay 2018
    • Syd Blackwell 2018
    • Sunny Lockwood 2018
    • Robert Fear 2018
  • 2018 Guest Blogs
  • 2017 Travel Highlights
  • 2017 Travel Stories
    • Matthew Dexter - 2
    • Sandra Walker
    • Rishita Dey
    • Lisa Baker
    • Patricia Steele - 2
    • Sue Clamp
    • Debbie Patterson
    • Jill Stoking - 2
    • Robyn Boswell - 2
    • Cherie Magnus
    • Mark Boyter - 2
    • Rita M. Gardner
    • Alex Curylo
    • Graham Higson
    • Jill Dobbe - 2
    • Amy Bovaird - 3
    • Elizabeth Moore - 3
    • KC Peek
    • Lucinda E Clarke
    • Nancy McBride - 2
    • Frank Kusy - 2
    • Yvonne Kilat - 3
    • Mike Cavanagh - 2
    • Susan Mellsopp - 5
    • Mather Schneider
    • Syd Blackwell - 5
    • Gundy Baty - 3
    • Elizabeth Moore - 2
    • Jill Dobbe
    • Heather Hackett
    • Bob Manning - 2
    • Mark Boyter
    • Jackie Parry
    • Matthew Dexter
    • Amy Bovaird - 2
    • Gundy Baty - 2
    • Susan Mellsopp - 4
    • Susan Joyce - 2
    • Syd Blackwell - 4
    • Yvonne Kilat - 2
    • Bob Manning
    • Elizabeth Moore
    • Yvonne Kilat
    • Olivia-Petra Coman
    • Susan Mellsopp - 3
    • Gundy Baty
    • Syd Blackwell - 3
    • Paul Spadoni
    • Phil Canning
    • Jill Stoking
    • Robert Fear
    • Anna Coates
    • Kelly Reising
    • Syd Blackwell - 2
    • Susan Mellsopp - 2
    • Sine Thieme - 2
    • Alison Ripley Cubitt
    • Angie Clifford
    • Philippa Hawley
    • Nancy McBride
    • Robyn Boswell
    • Mike Cavanagh
    • Amy Bovaird
    • Susan Mellsopp
    • Patricia Steele
    • Susan Joyce
    • Peggy Wolf
    • Sine Thieme
    • Syd Blackwell
    • Frank Kusy
  • 2016 Travel Highlights
  • 2016 Travel Stories
    • Robyn Boswell
    • Elizabeth Moore - 5
    • Susan Joyce - 3
    • Bob Manning
    • Jackie Parry - 2
    • Mike Cavanagh - 2
    • Lisa Fleetwood
    • Mark Boyter - 2
    • John Rayburn - 5
    • Mark Boyter
    • John Rayburn - 4
    • Elizabeth Moore - 4
    • Mike Cavanagh
    • Graham Higson
    • Philippa Hawley
    • Jill Stoking
    • Nancy McBride - 2
    • Susan Joyce - 2
    • Lucinda E Clarke
    • Elizabeth Moore - 3
    • John Rayburn - 3
    • Jill Dobbe
    • Richard Klein
    • John Rayburn - 2
    • Jackie Parry - 2
    • Elizabeth Moore - 2
    • John Rayburn
    • Jackie Parry
    • Elizabeth Moore
    • Kelly Reising
    • Susan Joyce
    • Nancy McBride
    • Stewart Brennan
    • Frank Kusy
  • Behind the Scenes
  • 2015 Travel Highlights
  • 2015 Travel Stories
    • Val Vassay
    • Doug E. Jones
    • Matthew Dexter (2)
    • Beth Haslam
    • John Rayburn (4)
    • Susan Joyce (2)
    • Jackie Parry (2)
    • Lucinda E. Clarke (2)
    • Jill Dobbe
    • Francene Stanley
    • Richard Klein (2)
    • John Rayburn (3)
    • Julie Haigh
    • Frank Kusy (2)
    • Nancy McBride (2)
    • Anne Durrant
    • Lucinda E. Clarke
    • John Rayburn (2)
    • Nancy McBride
    • Sarah Jane Butfield
    • Jackie Parry
    • Kelly Reising
    • Gareth Nixon
    • John Rayburn
    • Jeremy Parris
    • Matthew Dexter
    • Susan Joyce
    • Richard Klein
    • Frank Kusy
    • Robert Fear
  • Daily Diary
    • February Archive
    • March Archive
    • April Archive
    • May Archive
    • June Archive
    • July Archive
  • Reviews

Travelling in Switzerland was a Scream by Carolyn Muir Helfenstein

30/8/2021

2 Comments

 
As the fifth month of our 2021 Authors Showcase draws to a close, it is a real pleasure to feature this third contribution from Carolyn Muir Helfenstein.

Enjoy reading her story Travelling in Switzerland was a Scream by clicking here.

Carolyn Muir Helfenstein 

1955 At the age of 17 Carolyn Muir began her teaching career in a one-room rural school, near Toronto.   Attending Toronto Teachers’ College to complete her certification followed. She received the highest academic standing award that year.

After a period of teaching and marriage to British-born Harold Helfenstein, they fulfilled a dream to farm. And they had three children. Many of Carolyn’s short stories come from that era.

1986 The opportunity to buy the local newspaper arrived in the mail; her answer — Why not? CBC-TV learned of the farmers who bought a newspaper. Well-known entertainer Wayne Rothstad and CBC-TV crew spent three days filming the scenes and the interviews and the Teeswater News went prime-time in “Out Your Way.” 

Carolyn was elected to the Board of the Ontario Community Newspaper Association; and eventually sat as president.

1991 The News produced an Extra that helped in savings a seniors’ home from being relocated. The community revolted. Another 1st prize provincial win.

1993 After reading of the government’s decision to close institutions for adults unable to live independently, Carolyn wrote Belonging. Her readers began to understand all they wanted was to belong and local communities made that happen. Belonging won 1stprize, provincial competition. 

2008 Carolyn’s memoir Why Not? was published, filled with stories about running the Teeswater News. Her readers say they can follow the experiences, the laughter and the tears, as they read.  

2010 Carolyn knew she wanted to regain her connections with Newfoundland where she was born. She learned that Waterloo University’s three-year Independent Studies Program would help her research. But she was 73… She graduated with a Bachelor of Independent Studies in 2013. Both Rock Solid and Why Not? are now in the Newfoundland Folklore Archives of Memorial University, NFLD. And Carolyn has regained her Newfoundland identity.
 
For more info— Google: Carolyn Muir Helfenstein -Spirit of the Hills
​

Picture
2 Comments

A Chance Encounter by Jennifer Rae

20/8/2021

2 Comments

 
The latest contribution to the 2021 Authors Showcase is from another newcomer to our writing features, Jennifer Rae. A warm welcome to Fred's Blog Jennifer.

You can read Jennifer's life-changing story A Chance Encounter by clicking here.

Jennifer Rae was born in Scotland but has lived most of her life working and living elsewhere, in Europe and England, where she taught  and lectured in Art and Design for many years.

Although her training is in the visual arts, she has always put pen to paper to record observations about the characters she has worked with or come across while travelling. These scribblings have very often supplemented portraiture and caricature work in clay modelling and drawing.

Now that she is supposed to be retired, she has decided to write about the many people, places and incidents that loom large in her memory.

Picture
2 Comments

HOW BEATING CANCER MADE ME A NOVELIST by Chris Calder

15/8/2021

4 Comments

 
It is always fantastic to welcome newcomers to the writing features here on Fred's Blog. That is especially true of Chris Calder, who has contributed an inspirational life-changing experience to the 2021 Authors Showcase.

In Chris's introductory e-mail he explained, "If you are fortunate to live long enough, you could have had a hatful of life-changing experiences. Now in my dotage, (my ninth decade!) that is certainly the case for me."

So, a huge thank you to Chris Calder for sharing his story HOW BEATING CANCER MADE ME A NOVELIST. You can read it by clicking here.

Chris Calder was born and educated in India during the so-called British Raj period. A long time ago.
 
Following a lifetime making a living by exploiting his two engineering patents, Chris retired with his long-suffering wife to live in France. Now, after ten happy years there, he is back in England.
 
He came late to writing novels, penning his first whilst incarcerated in a French hospital after cancer surgery. At the time he spoke little French. Unable to communicate effectively with the staff, he spent his time fleshing out his first novel. Four more have followed; light thrillers leavened with humour.
 
Chris knows that readers of fiction expect to be diverted and entertained. He loves feedback and believes passionately that taking on board readers’ views improves what he does.
 
Now in his cheerful dotage, he is no longer retired; he says that he has simply changed professions.
 
You can find him at: https//www.chriscalder.com.

Picture
4 Comments

Domoina: the power of unleashed nature by Valerie Poore

12/8/2021

3 Comments

 
For our latest contribution to the 2021 Authors Showcase, it is a real pleasure to welcome the wonderful Valerie Poore.

I was especially thrilled to receive Val's contribution about a life-changing experience from her time in South Africa, as I enjoyed reading all three of her memoirs about the 20 years she spent there. 

You can read her story Domoina: the power of unleashed nature by clicking here.

If you want to grab a bargain, all three of Val's African Ways series are just 99c/99p each on a Kindle Countdown this week and FREE to read on Kindle Unlimited:
https://amazon.com/dp/B095BQ9FXN
 
Picture

Valerie Poore

Val is an English language teacher by day and a writer during her free time. Born in the UK, she spent 20 years in South Africa and has since spent another 20 living on a historic barge in the Netherlands, a lifestyle she adores despite the hard work it involves.
 
These diverse worlds have given her some wonderful experiences, and she enjoys sharing her stories in her books and on her blog, which she started in 2006.
 
To date, Val has written nine memoirs and two novels, but she also writes barge-related articles for the women’s sailing magazine, Sistership. 


Picture
3 Comments

A Google What, Now? by Mike Cavanagh

10/8/2021

3 Comments

 
I am really pleased to welcome back Mike Cavanagh, a long-time supporter of this blog, with his first contribution in the 2021 Authors Showcase.

Read and enjoy his excellent story  A Google What, Now? by clicking here.

Mike Cavanagh is now in his sixties and has no idea how that happened. He lives with his wife, Julie, adult son, Dan, and two black cats in Bateman’s Bay, Australia. Apart from writing memoires and poetry, Mike plays guitar, composes music, is doing research on rock-wallabies, and spends way too much time playing computer games. He thought he knew who he was until a diagnosis of high-functioning autism in his sixties gave him pause to rethink who he thought he was, and how he got here. So he wrote a memoir; or two. As you do.

Mike has written three memoirs; ‘One of its Legs are Both the Same’ and the two part ‘A Pocket Full of Days’.

‘Legs’ is Mike’s memoir of being, as his mum would say, different. It concerns the years of his life during the late 1960s and 1970s when Mike was drifting reluctantly to adulthood. An intriguing and carefree tale of the ‘hippie’ era, featuring murderous rats, painfully low door lintels, angry spiders and a rabid duck. Oh, and a lot of no sex.
‘A Pocket Full’ is a two part memoir that loosely follows after the events of ‘Legs’. It tells the story of Mike’s relationship with Jo, a young woman he had an on and off relationship over twenty five years. A story about Hansel and Gretel misfits and a classic tale of ‘can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em’.

Amazon link to ‘Legs’:
https://www.amazon.com/One-its-Legs-Both-Same-ebook/dp/B01KSNDK32

Amazon link to Pocket Full, Part 1:
https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Full-Days-Part-ebook/dp/B07FLLZGGT

and Part 2:
https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Full-Days-Part-ebook/dp/B08PDJNWH9

Picture
3 Comments

Damian Provided the Answer! by Ronald Mackay

7/8/2021

10 Comments

 
It is my privilege today to feature the fifth contribution in this year's Authors Showcase from our most loyal supporter, Ronald Mackay.

Read and enjoy Ronald's latest life-changing story, Damian Provided the Answer!, by clicking here.

Ronald Mackay

For a decade, Ronald and his Peruvian wife, Viviana, grew grapes in Argentina and marketed their wine as CALEDONIA the Scottish Tradition in Argentina in both the domestic and overseas markets. Initially, their business faced challenges from an authoritarian government, uncivil civil servants, and a private sector where ‘viveza criolla’ was widely practised. A fortuitous introduction to Italian immigrant and master-winemaker Damian Vinci, profoundly changed the fortunes and conduct of their business. From Damian they learned how to overcome arbitrarily created hurdles while maintaining respectful relationships with public servants and private entrepreneurs alike.

Picture
10 Comments

Boarding school breakout by Roger Knight

4/8/2021

2 Comments

 
A warm welcome back to Roger Knight with his third contribution in this year's Authors Showcase.

​Enjoy Roger's latest life-changing experience, Boarding school breakout, by clicking here.

Roger Knight

I continue to write prose and short stories mostly based on my experiences of having lived and worked in around 15 countries and 30 cities. I have had some of my work published in magazines such as the Writers and Readers publication and the Bermudian, as well as Robert Fear’s annual travel stories and highlights and memorable life experiences publications.

I have recently completed an anthology, “A circuitous journey taken”, which is a picaresque memoir that I hope may eventually find a publisher.  

Picture
2 Comments

Only 2 months left…

1/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Entries for the 2021 Authors Showcase have been steady over the first four months, and the quality of the contributions has been excellent. We are looking for more of the same during the last two months of this annual writing feature.
 
Have you got a life-changing event to share? It can be about you or someone you know. It can be from recent times or the long-lost past. It can be happy or sad. The most important thing is that it is an experience that will inspire and motivate the reader.
 
If you have been holding back on submitting your contribution, then now is the time to polish off your story and get it featured on Fred’s Blog. You might also be included in the 2022 anthology that I plan to publish in December.
 
Contributions for this year’s showcase can be anywhere from 800 to 3000 words, so there is plenty of scope to get your thoughts down in writing.

For details of the entry criteria, please click here.

You can catch up with the 21 stories entered to date here.
​
Picture
0 Comments
    Picture
    Writers Open House Guidelines

    2025 NEW RELEASE

    Picture
    mybook.to/25TM

    5* RECOMMENDED READ

    Summer of '77
    Beaches, bars and
    ​boogie nights in Ibiza

    by Robert Fear​

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Available in Paperback
    and on Kindle
    ​(including Kindle Unlimited)

    getbook.at/Summerof77

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    December 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

​Copyright © 2025
Proudly powered by Weebly