Seashell's Lament

For centuries, foreign seamen have been resting in the port city of St. John's, NL, while conflicting with local fishers over their perceived pillaging of sea jewels in the form of cod and shrimp off Newfoundland's coast. And for centuries, foreign men have loved local women, in the darkness before the dawn as they boarded their trawler to go back to sea, and back to their families oceans away. Author Geraldine Ryan-Lush has taken this stigmatised, primitive premise of human loneliness and vulnerability, and endowed it with a soulful saga and tragedy of the modern era. In 1999, a foreign trawler, following a severe storm, is in port for 3 pre-Christmas weeks. In a Water St. pub, the married captain locks eyes with a local teacher fresh from a break-up with a Hibernia oilman. A classic tale of love and heartbreak from NL's rocky shores. PRAISE FOR SEASHELL'S LAMENT: **CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER** "Wow! Read this fabulous book in one sitting. It kept me awake suffering along with the characters. Wonderful, masterful writing.. Angela Otto, Author, Custody Of The EyesTotally satisfying. This novel has it all."....... Arts and Life Magazine " "An elegantly written novel of love, separation, betrayal, tragedy, and the spaces of time that change all, in the context of middle-aged love, told in a saga-like style in the tradition of such greats as Doctor Zvigago. The author shows a remarkable talent for not only her smooth, elegias, poetic prose, and believable plot, but for bringing the main characters to full circle. I couldn't put it down, and finished it in one evening.".. Jenny Gorman, Waterstones, U. K."Nice surprise! The author demonstrates her capability in crafting a major novel with caring and competence. Deservedly 5-Star.".. Chapters"
A well-written story of some tough life choices. Giving it a 5-Star due to talent of characterization, skill at pacing, and her ability to tell the tale from both the male and female perspective. ....admired the fact that she had the fortitude to create, from a centuries-old tradition of foreign ships visiting and resting in the old port of St. John's, NL, and the fly-by-night romances which surely must have occurred between locals and foreign men, a great love story. An enjoyable read for both sexes....... Goodreads
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Geraldine Ryan-Lush is the best-selling, multi-award-winning author of 17 books. She is also a celebrated poet. She holds a B. A. ED from MUN, and has been a classroom teacher, & columnist with NL Telegram & NL Herald. Her books are reviewed in Copley News, Washington, Toronto Star, London Free Press, Winnipeg Free Press, Canadian Book Review Annual, Quill & Quire, Books In Canada, CCL, Canadian Materials, School Library Journal, N. Y., The Observer, Montreal, Atlantic Books Today, CBC, T. V. Week, PR Underground, U. S., among numerous other prestigious sources. Her awards: American Booksellers' Pick of the Lists, Merit Magazine Studio Award, Alcuin Society Design Award, Atlantic Books Today Editors' Pick, Readers' Favourite 5-Star Award, 3-Times awarded Canada Book Award. A native of St. Joseph's, S. M. B., NL, she lives in Mt. Pearl.