McMaster Writes

William H. Jones ’54, ’57 & ’01 has written a new book, A Christian Visits Israel. The book is intended for Christians who wish to visit Israel as part of a church group.

Ron Deblois ’65 wrote Reduce Blood Pressure Through Weight Training. The book is intended to put weight training in its rightful place in the dialogue on physical fitness and health. It’s a health document, not a bodybuilding book. It’s designed to let readers know when they’ve achieved objectives, so that they won’t spend any more time in the gym than necessary.

David Haskins ’66 published This House is Condemned. The book is a literary memoir, in equal parts elegy, portraiture and exploration of a live lived at the edge of Lake Ontario. In prose both hard-hitting and heart-felt, Haskins writes essays of immigrating to Canada and building his life as a teacher and writer.

Philip Sworden ’73, ’83 & ’92, along with with co-author John Fairlie, recently published a new legal textbook, Introduction to Law in Canada. 

Kathryn Heaney (Russell) ’78 published a dystopian/paranormal/romance called Destiny Calls. Snatched into a magical dimension be a demon, art student Laura Evans has to grapple with the unimaginable. Lucifer wants to destroy her soul because, apparently she’s all that stands between him and total domination over all creation. People here say she is their saviour and it’s up to her to save the universe.

Krista Foss ’87 released her debut novel, Smoke River. After a proposed subdivision becomes the site of a Mohawk protest — the land, which has long formed a kind of neutral border between a reserve and the neighbouring town, is contested — tensions escalate through three sweltering summer months, exposing old wounds, as well as forging new and sometimes surprising connections.

E. Paul Zehr ’91 & ’93 published Project Superhero. Eighth grader Jessie reads comic books, likes science, and loves writing. Along with her friends Audrey and Cade, she rises to the challenges of a year-long school project. In socials, they are asked to consider the events of 9/11, what makes a hero and why are we so interested in superheroes?

Thy Phu ’97 & ’98 co-edited Feeling Photography. With more than sixty photographs, including twenty in colour, this collection changes how we see, think about and feel photography, past and present. It includes essays on the tactile nature of photos, the relation of photography to sentiment and intimacy and the ways that affect pervades the photographic archive.

Massoud Abbasi ’06 & ’08 released Seeker of Horizons — a semi-autobiographical novel based on a true story about the power of the past, the truth, family, identity and love. The core of the novel revolves around the protagonist’s father and his storied life as a journalist and writer in Iran during the 70’s and 80’s, his imprisonment and extensive torture, the family’s escape to Turkey and finally arrival in Canada. It is a wrenching story that covers subjects ranging from politics, persecution, refugees, abuse and poverty but is ultimately an inspiring tale of overcoming.

Melissa Nichols ’07 wrote a book entitled Day By Day. The book follows the instant transformation from healthy go-getter to dependent patient from an unexpected brain tumour, along with the road to recovery. A lighthearted (and at times, funny) account of the 360 degree patient experience and recovery of a 28-year-old woman.