iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 24/08/2026

Jennifer McMullin launching Curse of the Teed House at The Write Cup Bookstore Cafe. Congratulations! More info and buy links: somewhatgrumpypress.com/teed-house/. #booksky

A smiling woman in a red dress, standing at a table behind a stack of books with a red cover.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 22/08/2026

Beta readers for our first children's book, "Inigo the Iguana's Idyllic Day", coming in September. #booksky

Three plush animals sitting on a chair, reading a thin paperback book with an orange cover and a photo of an Iguana on the cover.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 14/08/2026

Mr. Kite and Extinction Event, topical science-fiction from Bill Wittur, now in stock at Dartmouth Book Exchange. Will soon be available to order from Chapters/Indigo and other retailers. More information: somewhatgrumpypress.com

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 14/08/2026

Curse of the Teed House, a gothic horror set in Nova Scotia, by Jennifer McMullin, is now in stock at Dartmouth Book Exchange. Will soon be available to order from indigo and other retailers. #Booksky. More info: somewhatgrumpypress.com/teed-house/

The book, featuring a red cover and a black drawing of a house in the trees, on a bookshelf.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 10/08/2026

Happened to be in an Ottawa library, and discovered they have two copies of Spit & Polish by @dabble58.bsky.social - and it has a 5 star rating - and it has a positive review!

Photo of a computer screen showing the book and ratings details, and a review noting "Excellent historical details."

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 07/08/2026

For the first time, we've sold more than 100 books in a month. Just from Ingram US (supplying online retailers in Canada and the USA), we sold 109 paperbacks in July. That total represents 12 titles from 9 authors. Thanks to all our happy readers and hard-working writers. #booksky

Ingram print-on-demand sales report showing 109 units sold in July of 2026.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 06/07/2026

Greta Du Bois Cleynhens, author of 'Farewell, the Beloved Country,' recently released. "This is the story of my childhood and teenage years in central Africa, from 1951 to 1962." More info and buy links: somewhatgrumpypress.com/farewell/ #booksky

A smiling older lady, holding a book, standing in front of a room divider screen with African designs and colours.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 23/06/2026

Thumbin' the Rock gets a mention in books about Newfoundland, in the current issue (103) of Atlantic Books Today. Read the full article (and the rest of the magazine) here: atlanticbooks.ca/our-latest-e... eBook or paperback, includes two dozen colour photos.

Ready to be inspired to take the road less travelled? In Thumbin' the Rock: A Newfoundland Hitchhiking Odyssey by Bernadette Shea (Somewhat Grumpy Press), two unlikely hitchhikers make their way across the province. In 2012, Shea and her sister Dolly (ages 60 and 72 respectively) thumbed rides from St. John's back home to North Sydney (with a little side quest up the Northern Peninsula to St. Anthony). A lifelong letter-writer, Shea recounts the trailblazing adventure with humour and love as two senior citizens explore the province with a guitar and an old grocery buggy.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 18/06/2026

It's release day for 'Thumbin' the Rock, A Newfoundland Hitchhiking Odyssey,' by Bernadette Shea. Early reviewers love the book, and it's currently #5 in paid Canadian Travel books on Amazon. Ebook and paperback widely available. somewhatgrumpypress.com/thumbin/ #booksky

Screen grab of Amazon Best Sellers for paid Canadian Travel books.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 04/06/2026

Bernadette Shea, ready to hand out requested copies of her book, 'Thumbin' the Rock: A Newfoundland Hitchhiking Odyssey.' Release date is June 18; order the eBook anywhere. See link for more info and paperback buy links. somewhatgrumpypress.com/thumbin/ #booksky

A smiling older lady holding up her book, standing behind two boxes of her book.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 29/05/2026

Coming soon - double volume eBooks for #Vancouver author Glenn Burwell's Robert Lui detective series. Had to keep as much of the author's great cover photos as we could. #booksky More at our website: somewhatgrumpypress.com#burwell

A collage of book covers for the Detective Robert Lui books, featuring a British Columbia interior landscape, a float plane over Vancouver airport and the Fraser River, Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, and a shed wall with rusty saws and an axe.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 27/05/2026

Pre-orders for Marigold Grey, debut novel from Nova Scotia writer Sherry Scully, have put it into the top 100 in two Amazon categories: Immigration Fiction and Immigration Lit and Fiction ebooks. #booksky somewhatgrumpypress.com/marigold-grey/

Image of Amazon web page showing the book ranked 51 in the category of Immigration Literature and Fiction eBooks.

Image of Amazon web page showing the book ranked 30 in the category.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 20/05/2026

Sneak peak at the first draft of the cover art for Curse of the Teed House, by Jennifer Mcmullin. Love the work by local artist Elizabeth Gales. (And thanks to @dabble58.bsky.social for editing this gothic horror, set in Nova Scotia). Coming later this year from Somewhat Grumpy Press. #booksky

Book cover. A grayscale pencil sketch of an old house, surrounded by tall trees, with a red background. Title and author lettering is white.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 13/05/2026

Sales in the last four months through IngramSpark (one of our four sales channels). These and other titles are available from all online retailers, and by order at any bookstore. Several titles are at independent bookstores, and all are in stock at Dartmouth Book Exchange. #booksky

Six book covers: The top three print sellers; Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings (15 copies); Farewell, the Beloved Country (4), Rose Blanche (3); and the top three eBook sellers; Bib & Tucker (12), Magic in Her Blood (6) and Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings (4 copies).

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 09/05/2026

Carolyn Nicholson's books at Indigo Spirit, Sunnyside Mall, Bedford: 'The Last Witch on Skye' and 'Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings' (no witches, but there is witchcraft - or maybe she's just dreaming about her ancestors and not actually visiting them). carolynnicholson.ca #booksky

A display bookshelf in a bookstore, with a score of books, including the two mentioned in the post.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 02/05/2026

Advance Review Copies of Marigold Grey going out to @librarything.com reviewers. "In the early 1950s, young Heather and her family leave their beloved India for Canada, carrying little more than hope — and the heavy weight of their mixed-race heritage." somewhatgrumpypress.com/marigold-grey/

A book, Marigold Grey by Sherry Scully, on top of a stack of large envelopes.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 12/04/2026

Author Carolyn Nicholson at Indigospirit Sunnyside Mall's Local Author Showcase today. carolynnicholson.ca #booksky

An older woman wearing a tartan cloak, standing behind a table of books, in front of a bookstore.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 02/04/2026

Farewell, the Beloved Country, by Greta Du Bois Cleynhens, is now in stock at Novel Idea in #Kingston ON and coming soon to Books on Main in Bath ON. #booksy somewhatgrumpypress.com/farewell/

Books on a bookshelf in a bookstore, including biographies of Atwood, Washington, and August, and the memoir Farewell the Beloved Country.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 21/03/2026

At the Cambridge Local Author Literary Event and Book Sale, with ATL Doyle, author of the contemporary fantasy Magic in Her Blood. #booksky

A smiling lady holding a book, sitting behind a table with several books.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 15/03/2026

Cover reveal! Thumbin’ The Rock, coming soon! "At ages 72 and 60 respectively, we were spry but no ‘Spring Chickens’ and with little more than a belief in ourselves and a strong desire for adventure, we hitchhiked the province of #Newfoundland in September of 2012." #booksky

Book cover. Front includes a photo of two older ladies with a shopping buggy, walking away from the camera. Back includes a photo of a lady hitchhiking in the rain on a country highway, and photo of an older couple embracing on a sunny deck.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 26/02/2026

SGP does not receive government funding, but we are assisted by the Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia, publishers including Nimbus Publishing and Vagrant Press, and local bookstores including Dartmouth Book Exchange and Carrefour Atlantic Emporium and the Puffin Gallery. These cuts hurt everyone.

Budget defunds Nova Scotia books, authors, publishers, booksellers
This year’s provincial budget is defunding Nova Scotia books.
The Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage sent letters yesterday informing Nova Scotia publishers that it is eliminating a $700,000 fund that helps local publishers publish new books by local authors.
“It’s drastic and devastating,” says Nimbus manager Terrilee Bulger. “Books are an important pillar of our culture. This budget decision by Premier Tim Houston’s government will mean that fewer Nova Scotian creators will get their books published. Not only that, Nova Scotian publishers will be forced to lay off staff, and spend less on local freelancers.”
Nova Scotia publishers release more than 100 new books, most by local authors, every year.
“We need a government that will defend Nova Scotia books, not defund them,” adds Bulger. “New books are vital for local booksellers and their business. They bring people to public libraries too.”
Nova Scotia’s Publisher Assistance Program parallels similar funding available to locally owned publishers in all nine other provinces. Nova Scotia’s program was already less generous than in most other provinces.
“This budget cut will make Nova Scotia the only province to cancel support for publishing books that is the backbone of our entire industry,” she adds.
Among the other publishing companies affected are Breton Books, Macintyre Purcell Publishing, Formac Publishing, Pottersfield Press, Conundrum Press, and Fernwood Publishing.
“Without this provincial support, we’ll have to cut new titles from 15 to 7,” says Formac CEO Jim Lorimer. “Books won’t get written, they won’t get published, and they won’t be there for readers to enjoy.”

"It's a small, proud, and diverse industry, encompassing everything from graphic novels to children's books to scholarly works, employing local artists, authors, staff, and more," states Jeff Cox, President of MacIntyre Purcell Publishing. "Removing 100% of provincial support leaves Nova Scotia as the ONLY province in Canada that does not support its book publishers and authors."
Lesley Choyce, prolific author and the Publisher of Pottersfield Press states: “Since Pottersfield Press was founded in 1978, provincial publishing support has allowed us to publish a wide range of Nova Scotia authors that includes Maxine Tyne, George Elliott Clarke, Joan Baxter, Rita Joe, Harry Bruce and at least 100 others, many of whom were first time authors. The loss of the Publishers Assistance Fund will be devastating to the continued growth of culture in the province and silence many new creative voices that need to be heard.”
The publishers are hoping that Premier Tim Houston and Finance and Treasury Board Minister John Lohr will remember the lessons of the disastrous film tax debacle created by the previous government more than 10 years ago.
“One of Tim Houston’s best qualities as a leader is that he has the courage to listen and the courage to change a government decision,” notes Bulger. “I am hopeful that he will consider the damage this budget decision will have on local book publishers and the broader Nova Scotian cultural economy."
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For more information:
Terrilee Bulger, Nimbus cell 902 221 1061
Jim Lorimer, Formac cell 519 865 7022
Ron Caplan, Breton Books 902 929 2372
Beverley Ranch, Fernwood Publishing 902.430.9152 or 902 221 1061
Jeff Cox, MacIntyre Purcell Publishing, 902 640 3350

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 10/02/2026

Celebrating six years in business with six eBooks reduced to 99 cents during February. All jurisdictions, all retailers. See our website for more about each book. somewhatgrumpypress.com

A collage of six book covers, in different styles and genres.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 07/02/2026

Bib and Tucker, by @dabble58.bsky.social, is a 99 cent #eBook during February. Paperback is in stock at @museumofhealthcare.bsky.social, and independent bookstores in Kingston and Halifax. somewhatgrumpypress.com/bib-tucker/ #booksky

eBook sale!
99 cents
(0.99 £ / 0.99 €)
February
All eBook retailers

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 06/02/2026

Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings, by Carolyn Jean Nicholson, is a 99 cent #eBook in February. somewhatgrumpypress.com/traitors-can... #booksky

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 05/02/2026

Ocean's Lure, by @covell.ca, is a 99 cent eBook during February. somewhatgrumpypress.com/oceans-lure-...

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 04/02/2026

Recycled Virgin, by @dabble58.bsky.social, is a 99 cent eBook this month! somewhatgrumpypress.com/recycled-vir...

Cover of Recycled Virgin book, with text: eBook sale!
99 cents
(0.99 £ / 0.99 €)
February
All eBook retailers

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 03/02/2026

Magic in Her Blood, by ATL Doyle, is a 99 cent ebook this month. somewhatgrumpypress.com/magic-in-her...

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 19/12/2025

Another of the real authors at Somewhat Grumpy Press. This is Carolyn Nicholson, Nov Scotia author of "Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings," a historical fiction with fantasy elements, about her her ancestors. She's wearing her clan's tartan. somewhatgrumpypress.com/traitors-can...

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 13/12/2025

Another real human at SGP, our founder @dabble58.bsky.social, along with Pierre Trudeau (not real, but not AI) at Carrefour Atlantic. Checkout Brown's books here: somewhatgrumpypress.com#brown #booksky

A smiling older lady, holding a copy of her book Recycled Virgin in one hand. Her other hand is holding the hand of a larger than life carved wooden statue of Pierre Elliot Trudeau.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 11/12/2025

Spent the morning reading about a publishing company that sells cheap eBooks under fake names, by rewriting other authors' books. Authors at SGP are real people, writing original stories the old-fashioned way. Here's Glenn Burwell with his latest book. somewhatgrumpypress.com/possession-p...

A smiling older man with glasses and white hair holds a book, Possession Point by Glenn Burwell.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 20/11/2025

Congratulations Glenn Burwell - Possession Point, the 5th Detective Robert Lui thriller, releases tomorrow! eBook available from any online service; paperback can be ordered at any bookstore. In stock at Dartmouth Book Exchange - they have the whole series. Edited by @dabble58.bsky.social #booksky

A stack of five books in a bookstore, all by Glenn Burwell. The top book is Possession Point.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 11/10/2025

Set up at Booktoberfest, Halifax Central Library, today until 3.

A table of Somewhat Grumpy Press books, along with Halloween decorations and a bowl of free candy.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 27/09/2025

Set up at Word on the Hill book sale, at Nimbus Halifax and including guest publishers like us.

Table of books, outside under a tent, on a sunny day. Several other tables of books visible.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 18/08/2025

Like our somewhat grumpy cat logo? It's a) trademarked, and b) available on a shirt, mug, or whatever. www.zazzle.ca/store/somewh...

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 18/08/2025

The SGP corner at Dartmouth Book Exchange, in Cole Harbour (Halifax NS). All our titles are in stock (except two sold out, more copies Wednesday). Dartmouth Book Exchange is a great source for books from local authors (and local publishers). Featured title is the newest from @dabble58.bsky.social.

Over a dozen books on a bookshelf. For the titles and authors, please see our website.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 13/08/2025

All our paperbacks are 1/3 off this week (and include shipping)! We have romance, historical fiction, memoir, and more. Order from our web site, somewhatgrumpypress.com Discount applied at shopping cart. Canada only.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 08/08/2025

Summer Sale, August 10 to 15, all paperbacks 1/3 off (which is actually 33% more or less - math is not my strong suit). Order directly from our web site. somewhatgrumpypress.com

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 27/07/2025

Carolyn Nicholson visited the Hector replica in Pictou. In her book 'Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings,' a time-traveller asks a settler about their voyage on it. "I knew what was coming, but it hurt me to hear it from someone who had lived it." somewhatgrumpypress.com/traitors-can...

Photo of the back half of a tall ship replica, at a dock. The ship is relatively small, and painted bright blue above the deck.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 27/07/2025

Rose Blanche is a Newfoundland village, founded in the 1800s. George Rose grew up there in the 1930s and 1940s, and in this memoir he paints a vivid picture of life in the outports at that time. Includes colour photos, paperback or ebook, order online or any bookstore. #boooksky

Book cover, featuring a folk art style painting of the village - several colourful houses and boats in a small bay.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 27/06/2025

Last week's launch of Bib & Tucker at @museumofhealthcare.bsky.social. Author @dabble58.bsky.social is posing with the cloak used for the book's cover photo. Other cool stuff in the museum includes this 1930s Iron Lung (made at Sick Kids in Toronto). #booksky somewhatgrumpypress.com/bib-tucker/

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 24/06/2025

We recently dropped by Books on Main in Bath, ON. Great selection of used books and new books from local authors, including our own Thomas Frood and @dabble58.bsky.social (posing with Spit & Polish and her new sequel Bib & Tucker). Enjoyed a drink at The Lodge coffee house in the same space.

Photo of a wall sign reading Books on Main, created from writing on 16 opened books.

Photo of book The Spartan Chronicles by Thomas Frood.

Cheerful author DA Brown holding her books, in front of a bookcase.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 24/06/2025

Congratulations to Allan Billard on their forthcoming publication Aideen's Promise. @covell.ca at Somewhat Grumpy Press contributed a manuscript evaluation with a few suggestions for an early draft.

Worldwide rights for the English language version of Allan Billard’s debut novel of historical fiction AIDEEN’S PROMISE, have been acquired by BWL Publishing Inc. The work will be available in this fall in bookstores and online.

The setting is rural Ireland, during the little known Medieval Warm Period long before Columbus and Cabot. Times were tough along the coast, what with English invasions and Viking raids, but fortunately a few individuals were tougher. For them, even if there wasn’t always a tasty fish in the sea, there was surely a smart fishermen to bootleg good wine from the Basque lands. Allan’s engaging account of one woman’s determination to use all available resources to transform life for herself and those around her has produced this fascinating story of how her struggle led to what we know as Atlantic Canada.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 19/06/2025

Congratulations @dabble58.bsky.social on a wildly successful book launch for Bib & Tucker at @museumofhealthcare.bsky.social in Kingston tonight! We kept adding chairs! Ebook still available at pre-order discount. a.co/d/hEm7Jzw

Woman at a lectern in front of about two dozen people, in a small room with medical displays including a skeleton.

People sitting and standing in the halls of the museum of healthcare, all looking into another room.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 08/06/2025

Detective Robert Lui is back, in Vancouver author Glenn Burwell' 5th book, Possession Point, coming later this year. Check the earlier books in the series here. Start the series for just 99 cents, or purchase the collection at a substantial discount. somewhatgrumpypress.com#burwell

Four book covers, for books by Glenn Burwell: The Chapel of Retribution (photo of a lily-covered pond), A Sin Offering (photo of a cloudy mountain landscape), Greenside (photo of a Vancouver park) and The Girl from Raven Island (photo of a float plane above a river).

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 07/06/2025

Traitors, Cannibals, Highlanders, and Vikings, by Carolyn Jean Nicholson, is currently available as an ebook for just $1.99, for a limited time. "She never dreamed she’d meet her ancestors – then they came for her." #ebook #ebooksale books2read.com/u/3n1gKK

Book cover. Title and author's name, and a black and white drawing. A woman is holding a small stone, and looking at a headstone. Behind the headstone are ghostly images of her ancestors, in clothing of different periods.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 07/06/2025

BOOK LAUNCH for @dabble58.bsky.social's new novel, Bib & Tucker: June 18th, 5:30 PM, at the Museum of Health Care at Kingston, 32 George St., Kingston, ON. #kingstonON #booklaunch

Book cover for Bib and Tucker by DA Brown. Cover includes a photo of a navy KGH nursing cloak, and a white nurse cap. Additional text: White Stockings #2

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 18/04/2025

‪A Sin Offering, by Vancouver author Glenn Burwell, the second Detective Robert Lui novel. Something from his father’s past has awakened and threatens the lives of his parents and children. somewhatgrumpypress.com/sin/ #booksky

Book cover shows a misty valley in the hills of the British Columbia interior.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 15/04/2025

Friends and Consequences, by DJ Watt, is now available at Elaine's Books, a cozy new and used bookstore at 208 Duckworth St, St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Photo of a bookstore display window, displaying numerous new and used books and paintings.

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Somewhat Grumpy Press 🇨🇦 @somewhatgrumpypress.com · 10/04/2025

Flipping the Switch, by K Covell. "A group of people who have lost children or partners decide to take matters into their own hands to protect others." somewhatgrumpypress.com/flipping-the...

Book cover. Front cover picture is diverging tram tracks. Back cover text: Alison and Simon lost their daughter to a careless driver who escaped serious punishment. Decades later, at a beach resort in Thailand, they meet other tourists who have suffered similar losses.

A casual conversation about whether killing a person is ever justified leads to a series of life-altering events for all of them.

Katherine Covell is a developmental psychologist and children’s rights advocate with a long history of published academic books and articles. This is her first novel.

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