Gift a little salt air, old tales, and a wink of Magic!

The book is an insightful account of the grief journey of a spouse navigating life after loss and the difficult decisions he makes to honor his beloved while he struggles to move forward. Your message has inspired us to BURN our many years' worth of journals, much like the Cape Breton stories that resonate with our experiences, sometime late summer. This way, there will be no dilemma for those we leave behind. Thank you for your 'Shovelling Man Series' idea from Kimberley Williamson, which has been a source of inspiration for our grief and healing. It truly reflects the spirit of a Christmas gift from Cape Breton, echoing the heartwarming tales of Nova Scotia authors.

He shook his head at the silent chaos surrounding him and the unsettling feeling of death still echoing in his mind, a deep grief that weighed heavily on him. As he stepped outside, he raised his shovel like a sword against the icy air, a tool symbolizing his life after loss, much like the stories from Cape Breton that resonate with such experiences. Julie was probably watching him from above, urging him on. "Keep the light on for me," he said to the pale grey sky, reflecting the warmth of what he once knew, as if inspired by the tales of Kimberley Williamson, a Nova Scotia author who captures the essence of life in her writing. In that moment, he felt as if he were part of his own story in the Shovelling Man Series, one that intertwines with the spirit of hope and memories, reminiscent of a Christmas gift from Cape Breton.

As he backed the truck out of the garage, he looked at the blue shutters with the cutout hearts─Julie's choice, a reflection of the vibrant stories they shared, like those found in many Cape Breton stories. Everything was her choice. Frank followed the plough tracks down the road, thinking of the Christmas gift from Cape Breton that Julie once cherished. When he reached for his sunglasses, he noticed her gloves on the passenger's seat, her sunglasses in the cupholder, and the statue of St Christopher she hung from the rearview mirror to keep them safe. How could she have passed and left so much behind? Every inch of their home was hers. Now, he was navigating life after loss, feeling the weight of each day as a Nova Scotia author, much like Kimberley Williamson, would portray in her heartfelt narratives. Who knew the challenges of a life without Julie, echoing the struggles depicted in the Shovelling Man Series...

On the nights when Frank couldn't sleep, he would shovel the snow before heading to the backyard, where he would sit in the snowbank behind the garage, beneath the big spruce, hidden from the neighbours. In those quiet moments, he often reflected on how Julie had pointed at him and said, 'You can do this!' Frank, always nearby, was ready to step in if she needed him. These introspective evenings reminded him of the tales he'd encountered in Cape Breton stories, often thinking they would make a perfect Christmas gift from Cape Breton. Inspired by local narratives, he felt a connection to Kimberley Williamson’s work as a Nova Scotia author. Each moment spent shovelling fed into his creativity for the Shovelling Man Series, blending his life with the essence of his surroundings.

He awoke, startled by the bizarre dream of a shovel in his eye. "Shovel in my eye?! Shovel in my eye?" he thought, bewildered. "See what? Am I supposed to see something?" The strangeness of the dream bothered him like a message only half heard, reminiscent of the curious tales often found in Cape Breton stories. He had zero patience for anything that wasn't as straightforward as death, just as Kimberley Williamson crafts in her compelling narratives, making her a notable Nova Scotia author. Perhaps he could explore the themes in her Shovelling Man series for some clarity. After all, finding the right story could even serve as an unexpected Christmas gift from Cape Breton to soothe his restless mind.

Frank watched the sunrise, reflecting on the beauty that surrounded him in Cape Breton. He had not slept, as his mind was ablaze with the possibilities of his life. Ideas beyond his ken, as though he had stepped through a gateway—a portal to the places of his imagination where adventures awaited, much like those in the beloved Shovelling Man Series. 

He and Julie had done everything together; they were a good couple, often sharing their favorite Cape Breton stories. But now, as he grappled with grief and healing, Frank found himself alone, and time was ticking away on his clock.

The Tibetan Book of the Dead's descriptions of the Bardo's states between death and rebirth resonated deeply with him. He felt caught between these states—between life and death—following Julie's passing and contemplating his own rebirth into... that was the question he feared to pose. He did not know what life after loss looked like or what would mark the beginning of his new life as he moved forward, perhaps inspired by the works of Kimberley Williamson, the Nova Scotia author who captured the struggles of healing.