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It’s
1954 in the small town of Jasper in the Canadian Rockies.
Bears roam the streets tipping garbage cans, and deer eat
from flowerbeds. When two children, Jenny and Edward, meet
a crusty yet endearing man named Fraser McKillop, their lives
become entwined with the romance of the fur trade and the
stories of Sherlock Holmes.
On
Mountaintop Rock is a historical mystery based on David
Thompson’s discovery of the Athabasca Pass. This lovely gentle
story was in the Edmonton Top Ten for nine weeks. It has been
widely applauded. The Edmonton Journal said, “Strong
prose, an interesting plot and the clever combination of fact
and fiction work to create an ageless tale about an era of
innocence.” The Georgia Straight, Vancouver’s weekly
newspaper, called McLay a “Huck Finn of the North.” In Toronto,
Canadian Press writer John McKay said he thoroughly enjoyed
On Mountaintop Rock on his daily subway commute.
Writers
Digest in the US: “This is fine writing! John McLay mixes
fiction with facts into a believable story. A realistic mystery
that will appeal to readers of all ages.”
McLay’s
first novel is an enjoyable and effective introduction to
the fur trade in Canada, and to the history of Jasper National
Park and the Athabasca Pass. It also encourages readers to
take an interest in their own history.
While
McLay is busy writing a follow-up novel, parents and teachers
are submitting On Mountaintop Rock for their school
reading lists.
Cobblestone
Creek Publishing was the BPAA 2002 Alberta Emerging Publisher
of the Year.
Check
the book’s website. www.onmountaintoprock.com
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