Anne Patton’s hot-off-the-press novel Full Steam to Canada will be launched on May 14 at a Victorian tea in Briercrest, Saskatchewan.
The event is a fundraiser for the Brier Rose Cultural Centre, and will help preserve the smallest farmhouse ever.
This house is notable because it is the very house that the real-life Dorothy Bolton, (Dorothy Boan) the protagonist in Anne’s novel, lived in when she first got married.
Full Steam to Canada is based on memoirs and diaries of people who immigrated to Canada from England as part of the Barr Colony settlement in 1903. A large part of the story comes from an interview that Anne did with Dorothy Boan, who was a young girl when she came to Canada with the Barr Colonists.
Anne will read and autograph copies of her book at the Briercrest Community Centre on Saturday, May 14, 2011, starting at 2 pm. Admission to the Victorian Tea is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Call 306-799-2147 or 306-631-7966 for more information.
Briercrest is about 100 km southwest of Regina. From Regina, follow highway 1 west toward Moose Jaw and take the right exit ramp at highway 301. Turn left toward Weyburn. After 13 km, you will see a sign for Briercrest/Avonlea. Turn right onto highway 339 and drive 19 more km to Briercrest.
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The young girl who came to Canada with the Barr Colonists was named Dorothy Boan, not Bolton. She was Dorothy Holtby when she came to Canada in 1903 at the age of 9 years. She was my grandfather, Bob Holtby’s sister. I will be interested to read the book.
Thanks for clarifying that, Lynn. You’re right. And you will enjoy the book. I have read it and it is wonderful.
Hey, great to hear from you, Lynne. We met a few days after your note, at the book launch in Lloydminster.
Just to clarify some more for other readers, Dorothy Bolton is the name of the fictional character. This character was inspired by the adventures of Dorothy Holtby [age 9] who became Dorothy Boan when she married.