FOCUS - APRIL 2018 39 3580 Byers Road, Blackstock • 905-986-4437 Get ready to ride! Yamaha YZ450F Motocross Bike Yamaha Star Venture Yamaha V Star 1300 Delux which formed part of the Osler Tract, a private hunting and fishing reserve originally owned by Dr. Osler. The travelling tinkers, who occu- pied small homes on the edge of Lake Scugog, did manual labour such as varnish combing which appears in the book. Lucy says that their farm- house, which dates back to 1883, was also varnish combed by tinkers. “Orange Hill,” in Eleanor Courtown, is based on “Purple Hill” in Scugog Township. Lucy has many antique treasures, including a nursing cup, a nursing spoon, and an antique writing desk with an ivory pen, a handmade sewing instruction book, and lovely vintage creamers. All appear in her stories. Lucy was an enthusiastic patron of the antique shop in Blackstock owned by Mrs. Heintzman. “Our time in Cart- wright Township was very rich and very spe- cial,” Lucy commented. “It was a beautiful place to live. The well water is cold and sweet and the people are warm, lov- ing and accepting.” “It was a very nurturing and em- powering place in terms of the crea- tive process.” Lucy and Michael always put their careers as educators first, but they also enjoyed creative outlets. Michael is a talented visual artist. Four and a half years ago, the Blacks moved from Blackstock into Port Perry to shorten Lucy’s com- mute to her new post as principal of Brock High School in Cannington. The rise of Lucy’s writing career coincided nicely with her recent retirement from the school board, allowing more time for author visits and book signings. Bill Minor of Books Galore & More in Port Perry is one of her many supporters. Also local, Mike Duhamel of Media Gone Mad “did a brilliant job on the book trailer.” How did Lucy get where she is today? Enamoured with Jane Eyre, a younger Lucy earned an MA in 19th Century British Fiction. Her husband surprised her with registration to Humber College School of Writing for Christmas one year. There, re- nowned Donna Morrissey mentored her. For the past 20 years, she tried to find five minutes a day for writing. Her short stories have appeared in re- spected literary journals. In 2017, The Marzipan Fruit Basket was published. This collection of short stories is “an important contribution to feminist literature.” Lucy “writes love stories about resil- ient women.” She’s come a long way since she wrote her first Some of Lucy’s historical memorabilia that appear in her novel: an antique ivory pen, letter opener and old-fashioned spoon and creamer. ..... Please turn to page 40