in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
September 18, 2024
BY SOUTHGREY.CA STAFF — Two local authors — finalists in this year's Grey County Reads contest — will read from their books and answer questions from the audience at a much anticipated literary event beginning at 2 pm on Sunday, September 29 at the Annesley Church in Markdale, 82 Toronto St. S. Admission is free.
Thanh Campbell (his adoptive name) is the author of Orphan 32, an account of his own remarkable journey of life, love, family and self-discovery.
Nearly two decades long, the Vietnam War was one of history’s most devastating battles. Lives were destroyed and families torn apart. In 1975, the last flight out of Vietnam rescued 57 war orphans before the Communists took over the south capital of Saigon. En route to Canada, Nguyen Ngoc Minh Thanh was aboard that flight. He was Orphan #32.
Thanh’s story began like many other Vietnamese orphans on Operation Babylift, but as he later discovered, his path had taken a much different direction from the rest. Thanh has been invited to speak at numerous Business groups, conferences and schools across Canada. He has been internationally recognized for his outstanding achievements in community building and continues to share his story around the World and inspire people to live their lives out of hope and healing.
In 2014, he was awarded the Rotary’s PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD, a prestigious award presented by the Rotary for those who efforts are commended in community building. He is the Founder of the Resilient Summit and Tour coming November 2022, that will Broadcast amazing Stories of Resilience - overcoming great obstacles in life and achieving great success. Thanh lives in Ontario and is a father to four amazing kids.
Brian Barrie is the author of Four Bullets, Four Witnesses, Four Liars — the story of what happened after a man was shot and killed in a remote cabin in rural Ontario.
In this scintillating true story, author Brian Barrie uses the trial transcripts, newspaper articles, and his own memories to piece together the story of who the victim was, who the witnesses were, and how the murder came to pass. He details the gripping courtroom drama of the murder trial, where Mae’s innocence was judged by a jury of her peers.
Barrie graduated from the Royal Military College in 1969 and, while serving in Gagetown, obtained a master's degree in English from the University of New Brunswick, specializing in Canadian literature. He went on to pursue a law degree at Queen's University, graduating in 1976. With the unfailing support of his wife, he established a trial practice in Owen Sound, Ontario, where for forty years he was privileged to be accepted into a world of wonder and crisis, where strangers entrusted him with their causes, their fights for freedom, and their financial survival. He also served two terms on the board of directors of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association.
But even while practising law, Brian Barrie could not quell his passion for writing. He published four books for children or youth between 2007 and 2019, which have been cherished by local Owen Sound readers. He currently lives on Lake Huron, his horizon encircled by fishing islands until backlit by the Red Bay sunsets — a gathering place for a vibrant family life. Four Bullets, Four Witnesses, Four Liars is his first adult novel.
Each author will be introduced by their book champions, Monica Soares representing Southgate, and Tim Nicholls Harrison representing Owen Sound. Following this event, one more week of voting in the Grey County Reads contest will determine a winner on October 5. Speaking Volumes Books and Audio in Markdale are sponsoring the contest and will award $200 worth of books to the winning community and another $100 worth of books will be divided between three randomly chosen voters.
For more information on Grey County Reads and all of the other books previously eliminated from the contest, visit the website.
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