From Sarnia-Lambton – A Sampling of New Non-Fiction Books

Welcome to Sarnia-Lambton, the home of several new independently published non-fiction books.

This month I gathered a list of new books* that were published during the last three to four (Covid-19 pandemic) years and the Sarnia-Lambton authors behind them. The list was so long that I divided the list into three sections: “From the Fiction Writers”, “From the Poets” and “From the Non-Fiction Writers”. Today I’m sharing work from the local non-fiction writers. Please note that some books published in 2020 were omitted as they were featured in an earlier blog post here.

FROM THE NON-FICTION WRITERS:

Surviving Siberia – One Polish Family’s Story WWII (Published 2020) by Bronislaw (Bruno) Ziokowski and Carmen Laurenza Ziolkowski (compiled by Anne Mason)

From the back cover: “Surviving Siberia is a book about one remarkable Polish family. World War II was barely underway when the Russian army invaded Poland. Within 20 minutes, the Ziolkowski family lost their home, their land, and their way of life.” These are the memories that remain.

Over 260 pages of memories including a Ziolkowski Family Album!

Carmen Ziolkowski was a well-known Sarnia writer who often wrote about her husband’s and mother-in-law’s experiences. This posthumous book was compiled and published to preserve some of those memories. A blog post about Ziolkowski’s Celebration of Life appears here.

Carmen’s husband Bruno Zioklowski also contributed to the book, sharing some of his experiences as well as those of his family.

When Poets Gather…”The Room Begins to Warm”

In the poem “The Living Room”, Sarnia writer Najah Shuqair mentioned turning on an electric green fireplace before “The room begins to warm.”

Najah Shuqair launches her second chapbook Sarnia, You Are In My Heart

Last Sunday, the room’s warmth stemmed from friends and local writers who stopped by on a beautiful sunny long weekend to join the celebration launch of her second chapbook Sarnia, You Are In My Heart. Shuqair shared several heart-themed and acrostic poems as well as background information on her writing process.

Special guest Wendi Anderson, from the Sarnia and District branch of The Canadian Diabetes Association provided insight into this medical condition in which more than nine million Canadians are currently living with. She also outlined some of the activities the association is involved in. More information appears here. Fifty percent of the book’s proceeds will be donated to the Sarnia and District Branch of the Association.

Several guest readers: TOP (l to r): Anne Mason, Wendi Anderson; BOTTOM; Wendy Washington and Norma West Linder. MISSING: Debbie Okun Hill

Guest readers also included master of ceremonies Norma West Linder, area writers Anne Mason, Wendy Washington and Debbie Okun Hill.

A review of Sarnia, You Are In My Heart by Najah Shuqair appears here.