Canada – Jennifer's Journal

Summer Memories Series: The Mighty Gander River

Published on July 17, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry14 Comments

Here is another favourite to add to my Summer Memories collection.

This post takes us back to an overnight stay on Gander River in June of 2023.

Whenever my husband Paul has to travel for work in our beautiful province, I often accompany him. Particularly enjoyable are the trips that take us somewhere we haven’t visited before. And when we can combine business and pleasure, the trips are all the more fun.

This time Paul’s work took him to a business associate’s cabin on the Gander River, to design an extension and renovation for the client. The long boat in the photo above took us there, the only way to access the site.

In spite of the high winds, and getting splashed by spray over the side of the boat, the temps were warm and the views were lovely.

Here below is a shot of the little guest cabin we stayed in on the property. So cozy!

The Gander River is well-known for its salmon pools and outfitting business. To learn more, check out this site.

Below: blue flag iris growing along the shoreline.

Time to eat, sit back and relax.

Our gracious hosts provided a delicious grilled steak supper and refreshments at the main cabin.

I would love to go back there someday!

Summer Memories Series: Concerned — Part Two

Published on July 8, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry16 Comments

This is one of my favourite summertime posts. It features Vivian K. Perry and was shared in 2017. We still love and miss you lots, Viv! I also love the scenery of Barbour Tickle here in Newtown.

Welcome back for the Big Reveal.

On Sunday, I asked “What has gotten Vivian so concerned?”
Scroll down to find out!

On an especially gorgeous Saturday last month, Paul and I decided to go out for a row in the Serendipity, a lovely little punt built by our late neighbour, Ben Perry.

We came up with the ‘brilliant’ idea
to try to take Vivian along.
We did everything we could to coax her aboard,
but she was having no part of it.

In fact, she almost lost her mind that we were going,
with or without her.
She cried to break her heart as we left.

Bon voyage!
Your loss, Viv.

Rounding Perry’s Point…

…and down through the Tickle

Part of a wedding photo shoot.
You never know what you’ll see
when you’re out for a row.

Leaving the Tickle,
we set out for Bennett Island.

In case you were wondering why there are no lifejackets,
the water is very shallow here.

Vivian missed out,
but thank you for coming along!

For more Barbour Tickle photos, click here.

I will be sharing other summer memories over the next three months. ☀️

Snapshots from a Summer Day*

Published on June 30, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry10 Comments

The Ragtag Daily Prompt today is Summer Memories! I thought I’d share this favourite evergreen post as an introduction to a summer series I plan to showcase in the next few months. ☀️

*Ragtag Daily Prompt: Summer Memories

All poetry and images are my own.

The Women of Wild Cove: A Thought-Provoking Future for Only 99¢*

Published on June 1, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry

My latest novel in e-book format is only 99¢ for all of June!

“An intriguing view of the future … I was both thrilled and, at times, appalled with its methods of survival … I love novels that make you think.” – Marie Ann Bailey

“… A love story of the land, of its people, of friendships and of justice.”
– Carol Balawyder

“A timely book – a dystopian future triggered by runaway global warming.” – Atlanta Reader

“Fascinating exploration of a peaceful matriarchal society in a deteriorating & violent world. The book is engaging and suspenseful and hard to put down.” – Luanne Castle

“… An ambitious book that delivers on all fronts … great world-building … and dimensional characters who are easy to root for. I loved the feminist bent as well, along with the Eastern Canadian setting. All in all a great read!” – Carrie

“Two hundred years in the future, society and the environment has collapsed. The story follows the life of Kat, an 18-year-old girl who lives in a matriarchal society in Newfoundland … I found the story captivating and compelling.” – Marie

“Can women rule better than men? Highly recommended to readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic thrillers that raise interesting questions about human nature, power, and control.” – D.W. Peach

“The story balances world-building with real human stakes, and the final choices Kat faces are both heartbreaking and believable.” – Elsie

“A very thought-provoking book.” – Lulu

“A broken lawless world or one ruled by women that seems to work … I settled into my reading chair for what prior experience with this author told me would be a well spun tale.” – Jacqui Murray

*Available on Amazon Kindle, Indigo Kobo, Barnes & Noble Nook, and wherever fine books are sold.

Evergreen Post: Calmer Secrets Setting in Pictures

Published on May 13, 2026May 20, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry14 Comments

This is Part Two of the Calmer Girls series setting in pictures.

Calmer Secrets takes place in Newfoundland in 1997-98, four years later than the first book. (The Calmer Girls Book One setting pictorial can be seen here.)

First, let’s take a look at Samantha’s school in Corner Brook, Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus on the west coast of the province. Samantha is enrolled in the Visual Arts program there.

When Samantha returns to St. John’s during a school break, she goes downtown with Veronica and her friends. In one of the George Street clubs, she sees cover band, Cold Plate, and is reunited with her high school friend Kalen there.

**George Street, lined with pubs, in downtown St. John’s**

**x 3: The annual George Street Festival entertainment always draws huge crowds.**

Later in the story, tragedy strikes.
The youngest character in the book is brought to the Janeway Children’s Hospital,
the one that existed at that time.
A new facility was built a couple of years later.

The following photos depict Samantha and Ben’s boat tour experience out of St. John’s Harbour.

**The Battery at the foot of Signal Hill**

**Samantha takes pictures of an iceberg like this…**

Check out this real boat tour short video:

Photo sources: Grenfell College, NL Tourism, Eastern Health, Pinterest, Google (public domain)

Thanks for coming along!

There is only now …

Published on April 28, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry12 Comments

There is only now.
An open window
a fresh breeze
to welcome
this bright and beautiful
April day.

– J. Kelland Perry

Sunday Snaps: April Evening on Perry’s Point

Published on April 12, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry29 Comments

As I have mentioned on my blog before, spring takes its own sweet time to show its face on the island of Newfoundland. The arrival is gradual, just as it is on most northern coastlines, with cold temperatures accompanied by the odd snowfall or sleet storm.

I love the anticipation of warmer days ahead. And there are still some lovely moments, particularly when the wind is light, the water is calm, and the sun begins to set. These photos were taken on the peaceful evening of April 2nd, and since then most of the snow and ice has disappeared.

Another reason I love spring here on Perry’s Point: the pleasure to witness the renewal of nature by observing our seabirds. Two weeks ago, it started—the sudden appearance of seagulls and other salt water birds pairing off to mate. Everyday, we now see them huddled—and even cuddled!—together on rocks and small islets off the point, or gliding through the water side by side: herring gulls, saddlebacks, black ducks, and pintails.

Seagulls squeal a spring duet

swim in pairs around ice and rock

glide as swans in graceful tandem

hush broken by caw and squawk *

*excerpt from Seagull Spring by J. Kelland Perry, April 2015

“April is the gateway to the joys of summer.” ― Fennel Hudson

“Oh, the lovely fickleness of an April day!” – W. H. Gibson

Calmer Girls: 10th Anniversary of my Debut Novel

Published on March 24, 2026April 20, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry15 Comments

Ten years ago today, my first novel Calmer Girls was published. I’m sharing a post from one year later, Calmer Girls Setting in Pictures, to give you an idea of how my birthplace of St. John’s, NL made for such a wonderful setting.

CALMER GIRLS SETTING IN PICTURES

Although Calmer Girls is a fictional tale, its Canadian setting certainly isn’t.

It was fun writing a pair of novels set in my birthplace of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and perhaps the following pictorial will better explain why it had inspired me. After all, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

All of these locations are featured in scenes throughout the first novel. Calmer Cove is not included as it is semi-fictional.

Samantha and her sister took their first ride in Ben Swift’s T-bird to Signal Hill and along the harbourfront. Later, Samantha took pictures of a cruise ship in the Narrows.

**Cabot Tower on Signal Hill – National Historic site**

**Where Ben Swift lives: Gower Street, in all its vibrant colours**

**Where Samantha, Veronica and their mother live: Military Road**

**Cape Spear. Sam, Ben and Kalen visit here. This is the oldest original lighthouse structure in the province.**

**x 2: Aerial view of Cape Spear – the most easterly point in all of North America**

**x 3: Cape Spear National Historic Site – new lighthouse**
Newfoundland, Canada

**House similar to rich girl Crystal’s. She has a party one night where Ben loses his temper. (Canada House on Circular Road, Heritage Property)**

**St. John’s Regatta at Quidi Vidi Lake, where Samantha and Ben share their first kiss.**

**Bannerman Park, where Samantha and Ben get busted while kissing. Also where Ben loses it – again! – and punches his buddy Kalen in the face.**

**The War Memorial, where Ben finally confesses his depression to Samantha.**

**Planned Parenthood – NL Sexual Health Centre, where Veronica visits!**

Thanks for visiting my hometown, which is, in my opinion,
one of the most vibrant and colourful places on earth.

Photo sources: NL Tourism, Government sites, Wikipedia, Google (public domain)

Come back next time for Part 2: Calmer Secrets Setting

Sunday Snaps: Nature’s Silhouettes

Published on March 15, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry21 Comments

There is something so beautiful about sunsets. Perhaps it’s the natural silhouettes they create.

Newtown Branch Sunset

Summer Sunset on Perry’s Point

Winter Dusk on Perry’s Point

Summer Crescent Moon on Perry’s Point

This is the only one not from Newtown, but it is in Newfoundland: Garden Cove Trail just south of Swift Current.

All photos are my own.

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Silhouette

99¢ Sale for March

Published on March 2, 2026 by J. Kelland Perry8 Comments

Happy Monday, friends, followers and fellow bookworms! It’s March now as well, so after a particularly snowy winter here in Atlantic Canada, we are getting closer to our long-awaited Spring. Yes!

I have e-book news. My publisher, Running Wild Press, has designated March as Words of Women Month. You guessed it—my novel, The Women of Wild Cove, is featured, and is now on sale in ebook form for 99¢ for the entire month. *