Bird’s Eye View Author to Speak in Grand Forks
By Contributor
The author of an exciting new wartime novel called Bird’s Eye View will present a highly-entertaining talk and slide show of vintage photographs at the Grand Forks and District Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19 and again in Midway on Friday, Nov. 20.
Bird’s Eye View is the only novel ever written featuring a Canadian woman in uniform as the main character. It tells the story of Rose Jolliffe, a young woman from Saskatchewan whose home town becomes an air training base.
Fired with patriotism, she joins the Royal Canadian Air Force herself, one of 50,000 Canadian women who enlisted to support the fighting men. Rose travels overseas and becomes an interpreter of aerial photographs, spying on the enemy from the sky, searching out camouflaged bomb targets on the continent.
Author Elinor Florence of Invermere, B.C. grew up on a former wartime airfield near North Battleford, Saskatchewan, worked for newspapers in all four western provinces, and was a regular contributor to Reader’s Digest for eight years. She also owned and published the Columbia Valley Pioneer newspaper in Invermere.
Elinor will present a personal account of how she became interested in wartime history, the contribution made by Canadian women, and some of the amazing discoveries made by the aerial photographic interpreters.
Her one-hour presentation, sponsored by the Kootenay Library Federation, is suitable for men, women and older children. It is of particular interest to veterans and their families, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys a heartwarming Canadian story.
Following her presentation, the author will answer questions and sign copies of her book. Feel free to wear your wartime vintage duds – Elinor will be in costume!
Bird’s Eye View is published by Dundurn Press of Toronto. It’s available from any bookstore, and as an e-book. Copies will also be available for purchase at the event. For more information, visit Elinor’s website at www.elinorflorence.com or call the library at 250-442-3944.
The author is touring a number of B.C. locations. Here is her complete itinerary:
- Cranbrook Public Library, 7 p.m. November 16
- Kaslo Public Library, 7 p.m. November 17
- Rose Wood Village in Trail, 2 p.m. November 18
- Salmo Public Library, 7 p.m. November 18
- Grand Forks Public Library, 6:30 p.m. November 19
- Midway Public Library, 11 a.m. November 20
- Penticton Public Library, 4 p.m. November 21
- Old Yellow School House in Peachland, 7 p.m. November 21
