Lemonade shanty by cicada lake~

When sounds evoke the most provocative memories of a person, what is their recourse when their senses fragment into the mists of time? Living with the gift of an ardent memory, would it be enough to sustain them through the autumn of their life…

One summer, changed the course of her life as the reminiscence of a certain sound swept through her soul…nurturing, embracing and inspiring…as vivid pigment upon canvas.

Lemonade Shanty by Cicada Lake is a poignant melodrama spotlighting the summer of 1948 when a World War 2 veteran meets a fresh and innocent nineteen year old woman, provoking each other in a whirlwind love affair. Set in a small town in eastern Ontario, their post-war relationship is rife with challenges, breaking of traditions and ghosts from the veteran's past.

Unforgettable characters abound as the novel twists with many surprising turns. A perfect summer love story, written in film noir ambiance.

Chartreuse Tiger~ Compendium of Anecdotes

Chartreuse Tiger~ Compendium of Anecdotes, celebrates a collection of short stories, penned by the author over a period of five years. Written with realism, wit, empathy and vision, her melange du jour, is sure to appeal to varied audiences.

Several stories are based on true accounts or inspired by them. True to Ms. Hemstraat's writing style, many narratives are set globally, weaving mystique with poignant human drama.

Riddle for a Celtic Warrior

Riddle for a Celtic Warrior, explores the mysterious world of tattoos, international assassins and elements of Celtic mythology. A legendary tattoo design held the keys to her heart...

Set in Dublin, Ireland and Bucharest, Romania, the novel is rife with explosive passions, enigmatic intrigue and unforgettable characters bearing wills, as strong as iron.

Requiem for a flapper's daughter

Requiem for a Flapper's Daughter is vintage Toronto and Spain, deluxe. Set among the alleys and by-ways of life, the characters, locales and emotions blaze with intrigue, color and sensual bliss.

One man's quest for finding true love and acceptance, catapults him into a maze of assassins, family credos and loyalty at a price too high to pay. One woman's decision to go out on Friday the 13th might be her last. Their paths intersect, and fate deals their deck of cards. Will it be the death card or will it be bon vivant lifestyle, they both crave?

Rife with fast-paced action and larger than life characters, will one family's powerful secrets tear them apart or weld them together? Will blood be enough or will it serve to spur more killings?

Follow Sir Mirren's Sword

Follow Sir Mirren’s Sword, masterfully bridges 14th century, Edinburgh, with the present. Was it possible for one man’s spirit to merge into another’s?

Questing into the bizarre and uncertain world of hypnotism, the paranormal and murder, a couple spirals into more danger and intrigue than they bargained for. Pulling out all the stops, they lance joust an opponent, too ferociously brazen to defeat. Barely one-step ahead of a psychotic killer, would their matching of wits be enough to spare them the blade. As the hourglass shifts, time was running out.

Written by Merlaine Hemstraat

Contributing Editor, Joshua Gyldenlove