Newest Jan Coates Novel to Benefit Feed Nova Scotia

Newest Jan Coates Novel to Benefit Feed Nova Scotia
Submitted

With the release of Jan L. Coates’ new children’s book, Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say, Nevermore Press in Lunenburg will be donating one dollar from the sale of each book to Feed Nova Scotia from now through October 14, Thanksgiving Day. Say What You Mean is the second middle-grade novel published under Nevermore’s Trap Door Books imprint.

In Say What You Mean, twelve-year-old Jake MacKinnon rescues an old hound dog from the pound. Sandy turns out to be a fairy dogmother, who grants Jake’s greatest wish—to be able to read minds, in particular that of his wannabe singer/songwriter father, who has “gone out west to find himself,” leaving Jake and his mother struggling.

Against a background of magical realism, Coates takes Jake on a journey that finds him volunteering at the Hope Pantry soup kitchen and roaming the grounds of the West End Mental Health Centre in search of the Crazy Good Choir. Along the way, Jake discovers that people who are homeless and hungry aren’t just bums, and that people who struggle with mental health issues aren’t about to “Jekyll out on you.”

“This book deals with current issues—homelessness, poverty and mental health—in a way that young readers can relate to, and explores the impact they have on individuals and families. We wanted to do something that not only heightens awareness of the issues but also makes a concrete contribution,” said Ernest Hadley, publisher and editor of Nevermore Press. “Teaming up with Feed Nova Scotia is a natural fit, particularly since over one-third of those receiving food bank assistance are children.”

Feed Nova Scotia is a registered charity that relies on donations from the community to fulfill its mission. Every two dollars raised by Feed Nova Scotia provides three meals.

Say What You Mean is currently on sale at select bookstores and on the publisher’s website at nevermorepress.ca. A formal launch of the book is set for Saturday, September 21 at the Kentville Public Library from 11:00am to 12:30pm. A Lunenburg launch of Say What You Mean is set for Thursday, September 26 at 1:00pm at the Lunenburg Library in conjunction with the Lunenburg Lit Fest.

Jan Coates lives in Wolfville, NS, with her husband and faithful Golden Irish, Charlie. This is her tenth children’s book.