ABC Bookworld Biography: Me

I loved that this popped up, but have to admit, I don’t think I look like this anymore!

Julie Burtinshaw a few years back

Still, I’m very grateful they for the mention of my books, especially the new one, soon to be in bookstores everywhere!

Burtinshaw’s first creative non-fiction novel, Hangman: The true story of Canada’s first official executioner (Tidewater, 2022) tells the story of John Robert Radclive. After immigrating to Canada in 1890, Radclive became the country’s first professional hangman in 1892. He proved to be a reluctant hangman and took on the job to ensure that death came quickly to convicts sentenced to hang. In Birtinshaw’s story, Radclive comes to question the Canadian justice system and his role within it. From publicity: “Based on extensive historical research and contemporaneous newspaper accounts, Hangman recaps the history of capital punishment in Canada and the ambivalence of public attitudes toward it through a highly personal lens.”

My first non-fiction book arriving soon.

Twenty-two years following my first book and the thrill of a finished novel remains.

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Saying Good-bye to London: Hard-hitting Novel Likely to Evoke Strong Responses

A great review makes for a great day! My publisher, Second Story Press, forwarded me this strong review from Resource Links, (Connecting Classrooms, libraries and Canadian Learning Resources).

BURTINSHAW, Julie

Saying Good-bye to London

Second Story Press, 2017. 262p. Gr. 8- 10. 978-1-77260-029-2. Pbk. $12.95

Saying Good-bye to London is a hard-hitting yet sensitively written novel about teen pregnancy, told primarily from the perspective of fifteen-year-old Francis, a quiet boy whose first romance leads to a baby, an adoption, and a rapid transition to the responsibilities of adult life.

The novel spans a little more than a year. Francis meets Sawyer, their relationship blooms, and within a few months they’ve bro- ken up over the news of Sawyer’s pregnancy. When Francis first learns that Sawyer is pregnant, he reacts very, very badly. It is only through the persistent direction of his friends that he starts to change his attitude. As such, readers are invited to grow with Francis – and with Sawyer. Although most of the time read- ers experience the story through Francis’s eyes, now and then the author lets readers slip into Sawyer’s point of view, as well as that of various other characters, lending a much broader view to the unfolding events. The plot never drags; the narration is direct and matter of fact, and it communicates without becoming preachy, a tone books about teen pregnancy sometimes adopt.

At its core, however, Saying Good-bye to London is a novel about fathers. Sawyer’s best friend, Jack, is homeless because his abusive father has thrown him out for being gay. At the same time, Francis’s best friend, Kevin, is living through the death of his father, who has been an important figure in Francis’s life. Francis and Sawyer both have complex relationships with their own fathers. Though boys may be reluctant to read a book apparently about pregnancy, this one offers some deep thinking about what it means to be a good man, what it means to be a father (rather than just a “sperm donor,” as Sawyer crisply comments), what it means to be a good partner.

This novel is likely to evoke strong responses. It would make an excellent selection for a teen reading group or as an independent novel study in grade nine or ten. Readers are sure to have opinions about Sawyer’s choice to have the baby, the process of private adoption, the couple selected to adopt baby London, and Francis’s treatment of Sawyer. Layers of complexity in the text will encourage conversation and reflection, and there are numerous themes readers can evaluate against their own morals and ethics. Saying Good-bye to London is a rewarding book on many levels.

Thematic Links: Pregnancy; Adoption; Families; Fathers; Vancouver

Buy it on Amazon or order from you local bookstore!

Review Booklist Saying Goodbye to London

I am really pleased with this review from Booklist for my latest book Saying Goodbye to London (Second Story Press)

Shy Francis is so stunned when Sawyer asks him to dance that he can’t not accept. “I think we’re going to be seeing a lot of each other,” she predicts near the end of the evening, and, sure enough, their lives take a sudden shift. But the throes of new romance evolve when Sawyer gets pregnant. The shock of the pregnancy—and the fear, anger, and trauma it introduces into the lives of the two teens—is the gut-wrenching center of the story. How do Francis and Sawyer tell their parents, and what are their options? After an anguished phase, life begins to come together. With the help of their parents and a remarkable pair of friends who are dealing with individual struggles as well, the two put together a plan that feels right and begin to select adoptive parents for London, the baby daughter on the way. Burtinshaw’s close look at teen pregnancy and other life crises mostly avoids a moralistic slant, effectively focusing instead on pulling through tough times. — Anne O’Malley

New Book: Saying Goodbye to London Review

I’m thrilled to share the first review on the Advance Copy of my new book Saying Goodbye to London. (Second Story Press) My fellow writers will know the work involved in seeing a new book coming to life! I’m beaming all over 🙂

Check it out here: CM: Canadian Review of Materials and can be found in the most recent issue, Volume XXIII, No. 17 which is located at

Saying Goodbye to London by Julie Burtinshaw 

My First iBook: Darkness Between the Stars Has a New Format

It’s finally happened! The Darkness Between the Stars a book that I am very proud of is now available to download at iTunes. From Goodreads: This book should be read by every parent and teen. This is a story that shows how teenagers can have much stress and pressure to succeed which could lead to depression and thoughts of suicide when life becomes to overwhelming. Parents should not ignore signs and strange behavior and try to seek help before their child gets totally out of control. This book would be great for a must read book in high school. Discussions should be held regarding how to get help for depression and also how suicide effects entire families for the rest of their lives. I myself have learned a lot from reading this and hope many others will read it too. This can possible save lives.

Award winning author Julie Burtinshaw has written compelling and provocative novel about the realities of teen suicide. This is a gritty, honest heartfelt book that is ultimately filled with hope. And not easily forgotten.

Now available to download at your iTunes store.

Pages: 219
Size: 1.0 MB

Great Review of The Freedom of Jenny

It’s really great to see one of my books positively reviewed a whopping seven years after it was published. Read the review on Margriet’s Book Blog here. It popped up at the perfect time. I am sitting at my computer working really hard on my next book, and sometimes writing can be lonely. Feedback, especially good feedback means so much.

Now it will be much easier to return to my keyboard tomorrow morning 🙂

 

Goodreads Review: Darkness Between the Stars

It’s a great feeling when somebody reads one of my books and totally connects with both the message and the story. This kind of feedback makes me want to spend the whole day on my next book!

“Darkness Between the Stars” a very powerful and emotional story.

This book should be read by every parent and teen. This is a story that shows how teenagers can have much stress and pressure to succeed which could lead to depression and thoughts of suicide when life becomes to overwhelming. Parents should not ignore signs and strange behavior and try to seek help before their child gets totally out of control. This book would be great for a must read book in high school. DIscussions should be held regarding how to get help for depression and also how suicide effects entire families for the rest of their lives. I myself have learned a lot from reading this and hope many others will read it too. This can possible save lives. I received the book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

My New Book Has Arrived!

Well, the champagne was uncorked and we celebrated the arrival of my new book: The Darkness Between the Stars.

My most amazing publisher, McKellar and Martin hand delivered it hot off the press and I want to thank both Tonya Martin and Meghan Spong for making this book something that I am really proud of. As I’ve said before, a good book is a collaboration between the author and the editor and if the chemistry is there, magic happens!

And magic has happened here.

As I turned the pages, the characters came alive all over again – some paragraphs made me smile, others made me cry – this is a sad, but hopeful story and one that needed to be told. I hope the readers will feel the same way.

I’ll be writing lots more about this, both here and on Goodreads, , but for the moment, I just want to acknowledge my publishers and revel in the joy of a my new novel. And have another sip of bubbly!!

A Sneak Peek at My New Book!!

Well, it’s almost time! I am so excited about my next book and in love with the cover! For a sneak peak of The Darkness Between the Stars, visit the McKellar and Martin website.
It’s already listed on Chapters/Indigo and on amazon, but the cover is an older version.

Yippee!!

Thank you to My Readers!!

This was in my inbox this morning:

Hello i read the book “The perfect cut” back in highschool and i thought it was an incredible story. Back then i was deep in the blues because i was in a new school and i was all alone but after reading that book it inspired me to find happiness in my new school, thank you Julie for writing that book and I hope to read more of your novels in the future 🙂 .

T.S

This kind of comment, for a writer, at least this writer, puts a huge smile on my face and I want to thank all of you for your emails and kind words. It’s it this kind of feedback that makes those hours alone at a keyboard so worthwhile. Thank you, thank you!!

The Darkness Between the Stars is at the printers! Yippee and I’ve started a brand new book, which I am equally as excited about. I hope you will like it too!