The community of Hafford was honoured to have three established and prominent authors attend the Hafford Summer Sizzle Aug. 18.
Larry Warwaruk, retired teacher of Ukrainian descent, addressed an audience of 30 in the Hafford Library Aug. 18. Warwaruk read excerpts from his soon-to-be-released novel that is a sequel to Andrei and the Snow Walker. The novel is based on the adventures of Andrei's dog, Brovko, as he searches and finds his way from Ukraine to Canada to be reunited with Andrei. This book is scheduled to be released in March of 2013. Warwaruk has also written Bone Coulee and The Ukrainian Wedding.
The Bone Coulee is set in a rural Saskatchewan town. The past continues to haunt the main character, a retired farmer who participated in a senseless crime over 60 years ago. Unknown to him, the two new residents in the small town are relatives to the victim and are seeking revenge. The chapters within the book capture the cultural identities, politics, and small town attitude as it focuses on the guilt that rages within the character.
The Ukrainian Wedding combines a murder mystery with Ukrainian folk tale to create a story of a celebration of life in the Ukrainian settlements of the Manitoba Interlake during World War II.
Marion Mutala was the honoured guest author in Hafford in 2011. She wrote Baba's Babushka: A Magical Ukrainian Christmas, a fictional children's book about a young girl who has an opportunity, through a magical babushka, to travel back in time and view her grandmother in her youth during a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve celebration. Mutala has completed her second book in the trilogy entitled Baba's Babushka: A Magical Ukrainian Easter, which will be launched at McNally Robinson Oct. 4.
Wes Funk, originally from the Mayfair district, was honoured with the opportunity to promote his newest release Cherry Blossom. This novel is about a farm woman who has become disenchanted with her marriage and rural life so she packs her possessions and moves to the city to begin life anew. Funk's descriptive skills are able to capture the character's challenges and successes which many women have been able to relate to. Funk's first novel, Dead Rock Stars, a coming of age story, was shortlisted for a Saskatchewan Book Award and has made its way into both the University of Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan high school curriculum. Funk's second novel Baggage has been a pick for several book clubs across Canada.
Hafford librarian Carol Herman has always displayed a sincere devotion to the library and reading. In this age of modern technology, Herman is able to encourage the children and youth of Hafford to enjoy the written word, whether through crafts and story time or recruiting a Saskatchewan author to visit. Be sure to check out what Carol Herman has planned for autumn and winter activities at the Hafford public library.
