An author with Chatham-Kent roots is celebrating the release of her first book.
Melanie Maure was born and raised in Dresden and now calls Nelson, BC home, where she works as a psychotherapist and life coach.
Maure’s debut novel, Sisters of Belfast, is historical fiction with an emphasis on the story itself.
“Some writers look into history and pull a story out, I go the other way. It’s in my imagination and I looked for a framework to put the story into,” Maure explains.
The story centres around Aelish and Isabel McGuire, whose parents are killed in a German air raid in 1941. The girls are sent to live in a Catholic orphanage, but are torn apart when one turns her back on the church and leaves Ireland to start a new life in Newfoundland, while the other takes up the veil as a nun.
“I had this in my mind, this set of twins who lose their parents. They’re Irish, I have an Irish background, I looked into history and thought how could they have lost their parents? What would be the tragedy, the inciting incident? It was the Belfast Blitz, which people don’t hear a lot about.”
Maure says the story is one of faith, not only in religion but in humanity and sisterhood, and draws from her own Irish roots.
“When I went to Ireland the first time, it was a resonance in my body. I felt I know this place, my people know this place, and that’s when the seeds started for the story.”
Maure will be at the Thamesville branch of the Chatham-Kent Public Library on Thursday at 3pm where she will be reading selections from her book and answering questions from the public.
Another book launch event is being held for Sisters of Belfast at Turns and Tales in downtown Chatham on Saturday evening, including readings, a Q&A session, and live music from local band Milhouse, starting at 7pm.
Maure joined Tanner Havens and Robyn Brady on XS Mornings. Listen to the full interview below:
