Vernon author publishes lifelong project, debut novel out this week

Local writer’s decades‑long story reaches print

Vernon — After a lifetime of carrying the idea in her head, a Vernon resident has celebrated the publication of her first full novel. The book, The Ghosts of Summer Island, was released July 8 by U.K. publisher Gingernut Books and marks a major milestone for a writer who traced the story’s roots to childhood summers spent near Georgian Bay.

The author, 70, who uses the pen name JC Edwards, said the material for the novel began forming when she was about seven years old, during island vacations with her brother. She still lives in Vernon on Tronson Road near Kin Beach with the brother who inspired parts of the story.

“It was wonderful. It was also the only time we really were happy,”

That memory underpins a middle‑grade tale about four pre‑teen cousins who spend summers on an island and encounter adventures — including an encounter with ghosts around a shipwreck. Though aimed at young readers, early interest has come from adults as well, according to the author.

Background and persistence

The publication follows many years of private writing. The Vernon writer remembers producing a short book in Grade 3 and later self‑publishing a collection of poems, Living, Loving, and Lore. She said compiling the poems helped during a difficult period when she applied for Canada Pension Plan disability and needed to regain confidence in her abilities.

Her path to traditional publication — culminating in a partnership with a U.K. press — demonstrates the long arc of a creative life that continued despite health and personal challenges. The book’s release gives the Vernon community a locally rooted story now available in print.

What readers can expect

• The novel is positioned for middle‑grade readers but has attracted adult pre‑orders.
• Setting and events draw directly from the author’s childhood summer experiences near Georgian Bay.
• The work was published internationally by Gingernut Books on July 8.

Copies of The Ghosts of Summer Island were photographed resting on the author’s porch as she reflected on finally seeing the book in print. For Vernon readers, the publication is both a local cultural moment and an example of sustained creative endeavour leading to publication later in life.

The novel’s arrival adds to Vernon’s literary profile and may inspire other local writers who have carried stories for years. Information on how to purchase the book is available through the publisher and standard booksellers.