About the Author
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Karen Lea Armstrong has had a lifelong passion for reading, writing, and languages. She has practised family medicine in Northern Ontario since 1997, including fifteen years of obstetrics, during which she delivered more than five hundred babies. She has been published in multiple genres including short fiction, poetry, and academic work. She’s also on a mission to rid the world of misplaced apostrophes.
Armstrong lives in Timmins, Ontario, with her husband Paul. They have two grown children and a lovable but untrainable rescue dog. |
Photo credit: Katelyn Malo (katelynmalo.com)
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About the book
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As a longtime maternity nurse at a Northern Ontario hospital, Bets has experienced the daily creation of new families. Yet this sixty-something “matriarch” of the hospital has only experienced personal loss; most recently, her husband Raz. When she meets Hannah, a high-school student who wants to learn about nursing, Bets enjoys sharing stories of her work, never suspecting the new direction their lives will take.
As Drownproofing unfolds from present to past and back again, the complexity of Bets’ own family story is slowly revealed. She’s confronted with tough choices that challenge her outlook on life and her definition of family. A compelling and emotional read, author Karen Lea Armstrong drew from her career as a family physician to tell this story with striking depth and drama. |
Cover art: Violeta at Prints Finds (https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1158665498/)
Used with permission |
drownproofing is available at:
major online retailers (see below)
in timmins:timmins public library
coles bookstore, timmins square
elsewhere:
Teck Centennial library (kirkland lake)
temiskaming shores public library
north bay public library
Waterloo public library
words worth books (waterloo)
A NOVEL Spot (etobicoke)
Perfect books (ottawa)
Paperback & Hardcover
Ebook
MEDIA
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LISTEN TO KAREN'S INTERVIEW ON CBC RADIO HERE:
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-41-morning-north/clip/16035572-family-doctor-timmins-releases-novel
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-41-morning-north/clip/16035572-family-doctor-timmins-releases-novel
READ ABOUT THE TIMMINS BOOK LAUNCH HERE:
www.timminspress.com/news/timmins-family-doctors-first-novel-captures-essence-of-northern-ontario
LISTEN TO KAREN'S INTERVIEW WITH RHONDA DOUGLAS
ON HER PODCAST, "THE RESILIENT WRITERS RADIO SHOW"
www.buzzsprout.com/2077625/14965517
READ ABOUT THE MINI NORTHERN BOOK TOUR HERE:
NORTH BAY NUGGET: https://www.nugget.ca/news/timmins-doctor-releases-northern-ontario-based-novel
TEMISKAMING SPEAKER: https://speaker.northernontario.ca/northern-doc-talks-about-her-first-novel-drownproofing/
www.timminspress.com/news/timmins-family-doctors-first-novel-captures-essence-of-northern-ontario
LISTEN TO KAREN'S INTERVIEW WITH RHONDA DOUGLAS
ON HER PODCAST, "THE RESILIENT WRITERS RADIO SHOW"
www.buzzsprout.com/2077625/14965517
READ ABOUT THE MINI NORTHERN BOOK TOUR HERE:
NORTH BAY NUGGET: https://www.nugget.ca/news/timmins-doctor-releases-northern-ontario-based-novel
TEMISKAMING SPEAKER: https://speaker.northernontario.ca/northern-doc-talks-about-her-first-novel-drownproofing/
Contact
Reviews
ENJOYED THE BOOK? PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW! AMAZON.CA, AMAZON.COM, INDIGO.CA, OR GOODREADS WILL ALL HELP TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT DROWNPROOFING
5 star reviews on Amazon.ca!
"This is one of the best Canadian novels I have read and I would highly recommend it to anyone, including young adults, book clubs and fans of excellent fiction."–Amazon reviewer
"A great read. The characters and stories in this book are beautifully told. The medical and life stories are thought provoking and make you look at things in your own life a little bit differently. Will recommend this for my book club!" –Amazon reviewer
"I absolutely LOVED this book! The believable evolution of characters throughout the story was incredible. Karen’s writing makes you feel like you are there, part of the story. The whole novel felt organic and authentic and I was truly emotionally invested in the characters and their triumphs and struggles."–Amazon Reviewer
"Armstrong is a gifted writer. This is evident within the first few chapters. She pulls us into her story with her powerful character development but also with the way her prose seems poetic without being overly done. "–Amazon Reviewer
5 stars on Goodreads!
"This book was a really heartwarming read, full of life, laughter, loss and northern culture. A northern maternity ward nurse tells stories of her life through the mechanism of speaking with a young highschooler who is interested in becoming a nurse herself. Easily the best book I've read in the past year, and I am excited for more to come!"–Goodreads reviewer
"I really enjoyed this book written by a local author! A peek into the world of maternity nursing in Northern Ontario."
–Goodreads reviewer
"I cried, I laughed, I cried again...but most of all, I connected. Just read it! "–Goodreads reviewer
5 stars on Indigo.ca!
"I love the characters and continue to think about them long after completing the book. The writing is lovely, with compelling characters and storylines that will connect with anyone who has experienced complicated and deep relationships with friends and family."–Indigo reviewer
"Thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book, the small town charm is the perfect setting!"–Indigo reviewer
"This is one of the best Canadian novels I have read and I would highly recommend it to anyone, including young adults, book clubs and fans of excellent fiction."–Amazon reviewer
"A great read. The characters and stories in this book are beautifully told. The medical and life stories are thought provoking and make you look at things in your own life a little bit differently. Will recommend this for my book club!" –Amazon reviewer
"I absolutely LOVED this book! The believable evolution of characters throughout the story was incredible. Karen’s writing makes you feel like you are there, part of the story. The whole novel felt organic and authentic and I was truly emotionally invested in the characters and their triumphs and struggles."–Amazon Reviewer
"Armstrong is a gifted writer. This is evident within the first few chapters. She pulls us into her story with her powerful character development but also with the way her prose seems poetic without being overly done. "–Amazon Reviewer
5 stars on Goodreads!
"This book was a really heartwarming read, full of life, laughter, loss and northern culture. A northern maternity ward nurse tells stories of her life through the mechanism of speaking with a young highschooler who is interested in becoming a nurse herself. Easily the best book I've read in the past year, and I am excited for more to come!"–Goodreads reviewer
"I really enjoyed this book written by a local author! A peek into the world of maternity nursing in Northern Ontario."
–Goodreads reviewer
"I cried, I laughed, I cried again...but most of all, I connected. Just read it! "–Goodreads reviewer
5 stars on Indigo.ca!
"I love the characters and continue to think about them long after completing the book. The writing is lovely, with compelling characters and storylines that will connect with anyone who has experienced complicated and deep relationships with friends and family."–Indigo reviewer
"Thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book, the small town charm is the perfect setting!"–Indigo reviewer
