Left to Right: Andrew Blanchard (Blanchard Litho), Jody Robinson (ETRC), Rachel Garber (Townships Sun), Angela Leuck (Shoreline Press), and Denis Palmer (artist). — EPPS Team, photo by John Mackley
Endings/Beginnings – As the Sun Rises
by R.A. Garber
The Townships Sun used to publish books under the “Sun Books” label. Some four decades later, we still get queries about long-out-of-print books. A number of them are by Bernard Epps.
So now, in the midst of a postal strike, the Townships Sun is going back to its roots, launching the newly published two-volume set of Epps’s The Eastern Townships Adventure. This very afternoon, we on the editorial team ― Jody Robinson, former director of the Eastern Townships Resource Centre, Angela Leuck of Shoreline Press, and I ― just finished proofreading Volume 1 and okayed the presses to start. Then back home, to do the same exercise for Volume 2. We’re counting the days on our fingers. Will the books be printed on time for the December 1st launch?
YES, Andrew Blanchard tells us. Layout artist Tim Doherty’s fingers fly to make the final corrections. Cover artist Denis Palmer smiles; his work was done a month ago.
Still, it feels like a rocky end of the road, and simultaneous beginning of a new one. Like December and January, combined.
Well, that’s also the fitting theme of the December/January Townships Sun, endings/beginnings – those of the universe, of the earth, of nature, of the year, of humans.
For example, Peter Moliner MD writes about end-of-life issues and need-to-know nuggets about navigating the health care system. Adele Ernstrom writes about living through the creation of the atom bomb. The fears that led to the “nuclear taboo.” Noémi Blom writes about the “fourth trimester” of childbirth. And more, those endings and beginnings that make up our daily life.
Because of the mail strike, we’re working on a plan to send our subscribers a pdf of this issue by email. Then the print version will follow after the mail strike ends.
Wishing you a kindhearted holiday season. Have courage.