Margo The Writer
You can take the girl out of the north, but you can’t take the north out of the girl. Who would want to? Margo Bates was born and raised in British Columbia’s Pacific Northwest. She lived there until she was in her late twenties. She has a quick wit, and an unusual turn of phrase that captures the distinct voice of the north.
A note from Margo…
Dear Readers:
My stories are part fact, part fiction. My grandmother Nana Noonan wrote letters to me for over thirty years. So did my Aunt. It was from their chronicles of day-to-day life in Telkwa, B.C. Pop. 852, that I got the idea for this story, and to write in the form of letters.
Though they wrote people nearly every day, neither Nana Noonan nor my Aunt learned to fold a letter. They’d just grab the pile of pages and fold them until the paper fit the envelope.
It made for a reading experience beyond compare. The richness of their descriptions was pure entertainment. What they left out, we read between the lines. Most often they would write about the same thing. Nana wrote to me. My Aunt wrote to my Mom. We could compare the letters and find out the real story. I soon learned that some of the 'news' from Nana was not for immediate publication.
The incidents and events in my stories happened in one way or the other. Some of the physical descriptions of the area are changed, as are some of the dates.
While the characters are based on real people; they are mostly fictional composites. Any relationship to living people is shocking and purely co-incidental.
The Telkwa Barbecue and Smithers Fall Fair are actual events. If you’re ever up that way and have the chance, be sure to attend.
The Smithers Skating Club might exist in some form. The Ice Follies is purely fictional. Although there was a skater once …
My books are dedicated to my grandparents, parents, husband, kids and cousins, aunts and uncles, and friends, and all our dogs, past, present and future. Thanks for your love, friendship and support. Sincere thanks for the material!
The richness of life in the North Western part of British Columbia is truly something to be celebrated. We’re a unique lot. We have a distinct voice.
And, not to repeat myself (too much), as my husband says, ‘You can take the girl out of the north, but you can’t take the north out of the girl.’ He’s right. Who would in the heck would want to?
P.S. Always remember those who help you. Here's my growing list: Russ Froese, Art & Frankie Bates, Nana & Grandad Noonan, my "kids" - Ana & Karim, Rachael & Tommaso, Joel & Emma, Perry, Tyson, Corina, my 'g-kids' - Dami and Anna Z., plus Miss Inaara, Carol Froese & Bernard Fortune, Leanna MacDonald, Art Hill, Rhonda Norbirg, Patsy Kowan, Tammy Charles & Doug Johnson, Tamara Stanners & Lorne Badger, Jackie Davidson, Lindsay & Susie Meredith, Donna Hollings, "Grandma" Beth Arp, Agnes Johnson, Edie Groening, Stephanie Charles Hammond, John Adames, Tuija Seipell, Cheryl Wilson-Stewart, Kelly Stewart, Karen K. Merrell, Barbara Bell, Tamara Paulin, Gloria Macarenko, Randene Neill, Bill Johnson, Gordon Kirkland, Tim Bete, Susan Reinhardt, Sylvia Taylor, Matthew Patton, Kelly Barrow, Kelli Shute, Eli Richart, Virginia Bassett & Larry Stroh, Hugh Power, Ed Kenney Jr., John Chen-Wing, Tony Burke, Yumi Hirai, Karen Bowman, Asa Zanatta, Diane Askin, Angela McGregor, Terry Reid & Diane Johnson, Mike Whittingham, Sherrin Griffin, Karen Klasen, Randy Pruden, John Harris, Roland & Elaine Holtz, Dave & Claire Wadley, Gayle Seaman, Brian & Caroline Lennan, Susan Campbell, Rob Rose, Audrey Walsh, David Kirk & Janis Foord Kirk, Bob Mackay, Ben Nuttall-Smith, Perry Wilson, Anne Helps
NEWS + EVENTS
Excerpt from Margo's New Book: The Funeral Follower
Maggie Mulvaney is the social columnist for the Terrace Herald Newspaper. Funerals are taking on a life of their own in Canada's Pacific Northwest. read more...
P.S. Don't Tell Your Mother a story of love, tolerance and lessons learned between a 13-year-old girl and her Irish-Canadian Nana
Margo Bates' debut novel, P.S. Don't Tell Your Mother, brings to life the rough-and-tumble world of Canada's frontier northwest in the late 50s and early 60s. Part fact, part fiction, P.S. Don't Tell Your Mother is based on hundreds of letters Margo excha read more...
Book Clubs
Margo is available to speak to Book Clubs in the Metro Vancouver area, or via Skype. read more...
Workshops for Writing Groups
Margo Bates is available for private workshops for writing groups. Her topics include Character Development, Humour Writing and Personal Publicity for Authors read more...
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