Janet Stobie has just published her 12th book.
Entitled “Making Room: A Different Kind of Courage”, this is the third book in Janet Stobie’s Catalpa Creek cozy mystery series.
This is the twelfth book published by this energetic and prolific retired United Church Minister who also writes a monthly column for this paper. While the story is fictitious, it is inspired by the author’s own experience. Years ago she worked in a shelter in Lindsay called A Place Called Home, where she became deeply aware of the importance of having a safe place to return to at the end of the day. The experience inspired her to write and publish a children’s book the organization used as a fundraising tool.
This story follows the progress of a widow and his teenage daughter as they cope with life after the loss of their wife and mother to cancer. With his daughter recently gone off to university, her father finds himself alone in a big empty house. One evening his minister approaches him, asking him to share his home with a homeless couple for a few days. Over the objections of his daughter, he takes the leap of faith, but soon it becomes clear that there is another stranger on the way: the wife is pregnant.
While the story is entertaining, the author hopes it inspires a deeper appreciation of the richness of our own lives and inspires more empathy towards those who don’t have food security or a stable place to live. It seems particularly unfair in a country where so many of us have much more than we need.
While most of us never consider opening our homes to complete strangers as the main character does in this story, there are parallels that are more common these days. It has become increasingly common to welcome family members- particularly young adults, into our homes for extended periods of time as they find their footing.
Janet and her husband Tom welcome her grandson and his pregnant partner into their home a few years ago for an expected stay of three months. They stayed for two years, and Janet describes the experience as a blessing in many ways, not the least of which they were able to participate in the early years of their great-grandson’s life where they forged a special relationship that would have been impossible had they lived apart. Janet encourages us to take a leap of faith like her protagonist does, and find ways to give generously to others, whether it be donations of food, funds, or time spent building a connection with those who are struggling.
The book is available directly from the author by contacting her at revjanetstobie@gmail.com,or on Amazon or through your local bookstore through Ingram Spark.