CANNED! My new mystery novel celebrates 30 years of craft brewing in S. Okanagan

 

Tin Whistle Brewing Company was created in 1995 by Lawrie and Lynda Lock, and Richard and Linda Grierson.

(Front) Steve Emshay, Richard Grierson, Lynda Lock, Dave Prechel  

(Back) Lawrie Lock, and his sister Linda Grierson

Photo credit Angela Prechel: 1^st South Okanagan craft brewery, Tin Whistle Brewing Company

It began in 1995 with a phone call between Lawrie Lock and his sister Linda Grierson. In 1994, Linda and her husband Richard suggested that the four of us open the first craft brewery in the South Okanagan. 

It took a year to buy a property, remodel it, order custom-made tanks and equipment, and, more importantly learn how to make English-style ales.

We opened the Tin Whistle Brewing Company in August 1995 with three ales: Penticton Pale Ale, Whistle Stop Dark, and Rattlesnake ESB. 

Three months later we changed the names to Coyote Pale, Black Widow Dark, and kept Rattlesnake ESB. By 1996, we had added Peaches and Cream and Killer Bee Dark Honey.

In 1998, local businesswoman Lorraine Nagy approached us, asking if we were interested in selling our company. Yes, we were! We had enjoyed the challenge of the startup and were ready for a new adventure.

Lorraine Nagy remained the owner of Tin Whistle until 2021, when she sold it to the current owners, Alexis Esseltine, Tim Scoon, and their family.

Congratulations to Alexis and Tim for steering Tin Whistle Brewing Company on a fresh new course. Follow the link below to see their interesting array of new products. https://www.tinwhistlebrewery.com/

~

My newest murder mystery is set in Penticton BC, 

The Craft Brewery Capital of Canada!

Canned Book #4

Canadian holiday ideas: Okanagan Fest of Ale, April 11th & 12th 2025

Food, fun, music, and amazing craft beers!

Follow this link for the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kta9H8K3Rv4&t=210s

Okanagan Area Breweries

"Enjoy Okanagan hospitality and great craft beer year-round in Penticton.  Recently named Canada's Craft Beer Capital by Lonely Planet, and one of the Best Beer Towns in Canada by Expedia, and one of the Top 10 Best Destinations for Beer Enthusiasts, 2018 by askmen.co  Penticton's booming craft beer scene won't be BC's best-kept secret for much longer."

"Penticton boasts a lively craft beer scene.  It is home to 7 craft breweries which makes Penticton the beer capital of BC with more breweries per capita than any other Canadian city!"

"Long before the craft beer craze the city has acted as host for the Fest of Ale.  The annual festival features craft beer and cider from BC and beyond and is one of the longest-running and largest beer festivals in the Pacific Northwest."

"Many local establishments offer a great selection of craft brews and fabulous fare. Make plans to check out the year-round local craft breweries in the sudsy Okanagan."

Canadian holiday ideas: Herring Neck Dory Festival, July 17th to 20th, 2025

My plan for the foreseeable future is to promote Canada in any way that I can. Today's post is about Newfoundland, our most easterly province.

The annual Grassroots Cultural Festival in Herring Neck Newfoundland takes place July 17th to 20th, 2025. (Close to Twillingate and Iceberg Alley.)

Great Music, Fun Competition, and a Whole Lot of Community Spirit.

This community-based festival highlights some of Newfoundland's greatest traditions. From Kitchen Parties to Rowing Races and everything in between, the Herring Neck Dory Festival has fun for the whole family to enjoy.

The four-day festival will take place July 17-20, 2025.

Stay and play in Canada!

Nearby Twillingate, and iceberg alley

Best Sellers in Canadian Women Writers - Top 100

 Two of my mystery novels made the top 100 list. 

Trouble Isla hit #97, and Treasure Isla hit #99!! 

Grab your copy today, and join the adventure.

Available on most online bookstores

Isla Mujeres Mysteries

Treasure Isla

Trouble Isla

Tormenta Isla

Temptation Isla

Terror Isla

Twisted Isla

Tangled Isla

Death in the Vineyards Mysteries

CORKED

SMASHED

CRUSHED

CANNED

When the world fell silent, by Donna Jones Alward (The Halifax Explosion December 6th, 1917)

When the world fell silent  (follow to purchase)

I just finished reading this fascinating historical novel about The Halifax Explosion by Donna Jones Alward. On 6 December 1917, the explosives-laden SS Mont-Blanc and SS Imo collided in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, causing a massive explosion, a tidal wave, and fires. Nearly 2,000 people died and thousands more were injured in the largest man-made explosion (until the nuclear bombs). 206 people were blinded mainly from the window glass in their homes. Curious people watched the collision of two ships and the subsequent fire that set off the explosion. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind was formed on March 18th, 1918 to assist and re-train the blind survivors. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

(The novel is also available on Kindle.)

Additional note: the Halifax explosion took place in the middle of the 1st World War when thousands of young Canadians were shipping out to Europe.

It was followed by the virulent Spanish flu, a devastating and previously unknown form of influenza, that struck Canada hard between 1918 and 1920. This international pandemic killed approximately 50,000 people in Canada, most of whom were young adults between the ages of 20 and 40. These deaths compounded the impact of the more than 60,000 Canadians killed in service during the First World War (1914-18).

Inadequate quarantine measures, powerlessness against the illness, and a lack of national coordination between military, political, and public health authorities hindered the efforts of countless doctors, nurses, volunteers, and members of charitable organizations who were risking their lives to ensure that a large number of the ill and their families survived. The Spanish flu was a significant event in the evolution of public health in Canada. It led to the creation of the federal Department of Health in 1919, which established a partnership between the various levels of government and made public health a shared responsibility.

The benefits of getting to know your neighbours (the Canadian spelling)

Sir Fuzz-butt, The Sparkinator

At o'dark-hundred this morning, when Sparky and I headed out for his first walk of the day, I noticed a young woman standing outside the main entrance of the south tower in our complex. She was holding a charming, and judging by the size of his or her feet, a soon-to-be much larger, black puppy in her arms.

“I forgot my keys,” she explained.

December in Canada is dark and chilly. Luckily, today’s temperature was not the bone-freezing cold that we can get, but it was too cold to be stuck outside.

“My fob will get you inside the lobby, but I don’t think it will work for the elevator,” I said, as Sparky and I crossed the driveway to her building.

My electronic fob unlatched the main door, and we continued across the lobby to the elevators, hoping that maybe, just maybe, I could activate the elevator for her floor.

December morning

Nope! It wouldn’t open the stairway doors either, so she had to hang out in the lobby until another resident from her building arrived and activated the elevators. It’s the downside to living in a moderately secure complex. No electronic fob. No access. 

It’s happened to me, and a few others.

“Do you know any of your neighbours? Someone that you can call on the intercom, and ask for help?” I asked.

“Not really,” she said.

And that isn’t surprising in a city, even a small-ish city of 40,000 residents. It’s easy to just nod a greeting and keep walking.

Beatty St before condo conversion

But, I’m a small-town girl at heart. Many of the places that I have lived were less than 5000 residents, and I knew enough people that I could get whatever help I needed. 

Even when Lawrie and I lived in a converted warehouse on Beatty Street in downtown Vancouver, we made a point of getting to know the other residents. It started with a building-wide roaming cocktail party that turned into close friendships that lasted for many years.

Close friends, Isla Mujeres

In 2007, when we moved to live full-time on Isla Mujeres, Mexico, we knew only four people, and they were snowbirds, living on the island from November to April. The next winter, we hosted a neighbourhood party, inviting everyone in our area who had just built, or who were currently building a house. Within a year, our Bachilleres neighbourhood had become known for its roving house parties, group gatherings, and tight-knit friendships.

Trish, Tina, and me, wine-touring

Here in Penticton, I have made a point of befriending many of the residents in our condo complex, and their pets. We are each other’s safety net. If one of us is not feeling well, the others volunteer to walk pets, fetch groceries, or just check on the person. Some of us socialize regularly. Some meet up for food and drinks occasionally. And others just chat in the hallways.

Many people live on their own in this complex, people of a variety of ages, and a variety of backgrounds. It’s nice to know that some of those folks are watching out for me, and I am also watching out for them.

Wherever you live, you should get to know the other folks living near you. You could make a lasting friendship.

Merry Christmas! Seasons Greeting! Happy New Year to all!

Lynda

Sparky sends his woofs!

Sparky, one of the main characters in my novels

Day 41 of being a flea on the butt of Amazon. Success!

 

Day 38 of being a flea on the butt of Amazon and BNI Postmedia - success, I think

A refund? You're joking!

Late yesterday afternoon I received an email from Grace, with the Amazon Executive Relations team. 

According to her, my refund is in the works! 

And it should show as a credit to my Visa in 5 to 7 days.

So, fingers crossed this will be the end of 38 days of stress and worry.

But until I see the refund, I will remain skeptical.

Cheers Lynda

Sparky sends his woofs!

Day 37 of being a flea on the butt of Amazon and their delivery contractors BNI Postmedia. SIGH!

This morning I emailed three of the four top executives at Amazon asking for an update on my refund. 

Andy Jassy. 

Chief Executive
410 Terry Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

Doug Herrington.

Chief Executive Officer, Worldwide Amazon Stores
410 Terry Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

Candi Castleberry-Singleton

Vice President of Inclusive eXperiences Technology (IXT)
410 Terry Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109

And I received yet another form letter from another customer service representative as a reply.

I'm stressed, cranky, and not going to give up!

Cheers Lynda

Nov 2nd 3:30 p.m.

Hello Lynda,

This is xxxxx, an Amazon Delivery and Returns Specialist. I hope this email finds you well.

I received a message from my colleague regarding your recent email about your concern. Unfortunately, we need some more information about your situation before we are able to assist you.

When you have a free moment, please respond to this email with the following information:

Order ID

Name of the item:

Date the order was placed:

Issue with the order:

I’m sorry for this inconvenience. We look forward to resolving this situation as soon as we hear back from you.

We’d appreciate your feedback. Please use the buttons below to vote about your experience today.

Día de los Muertos and Day 36 of being a flea on the butt of Amazon, BNI Postmedia, and Intelcom courier

Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries are celebrating la Día de los Muertos honoring their departed family members. It's a lovely tradition full of color, light, food, music, and family gatherings.

For me, November 1st is my 36th day of pounding my computer keyboard, trying to obtain a refund of $613.47 from the multinational megacorp, worth 1.9 trillion dollars. Amazon.  

Amazon contracts out deliveries to businesses like BNI PostMedia and IntelCom. Those companies are supposed to deliver all parcels safely to the designated addresses. 

September 12th: I ordered 655 copies of my 10 murder mystery novels in preparation for several upcoming Christmas markets.

September 25th: the boxes started to arrive.

September 26th: a box of 39 copies of CORKED was posted on my account as ‘Undeliverable.’  Then a box of 43 copies of SMASHED met the same fate, ‘Undeliverable.’ 

I have phoned the Amazon Customer Service Representatives 10 times.

I have emailed the Amason Customer Service Representatives, dozens of times. Each time being asked for the same information over and over again.

I have emailed, three top executives several times; Mr. Andy Jassy, Mr. Doug Herrington, and Ms. Candi Castleberry-Singleton. They have forwarded my pesky emails to their Amazon Executive Relations Team.

39 copies missing

I recently posted this notice on many Okanagan FaceBook groups asking if anyone in the South Okanagan had received my two parcels by mistake.

HELLO OKANAGAN FOLKS!

Just on the off chance .... BNI (Postmedia couriers) claims that they delivered my missing package to my address in Penticton on September 24th. I did not receive it. Has anyone, anywhere in the Okanagan Valley seen a heavy Amazon box, containing 43 copies of my mystery novel SMASHED? And there is another box that's missing, 39 copies of CORKED?

I am desperate to resolve this problem, which has been occupying too much of my time for over a month. Please message me if you know anything! It will be a huge financial hit for me if Amazon or BNI won't refund my money.

Cheers Lynda Lock, Penticton.

43 copies missing 

Yesterday I emailed the City of Penticton asking if by chance any of their employees at the Campbell Mountain Landfill (city dump) had noticed one or two large Amazon boxes of books. They are in the process of checking with their staff. 

I seriously doubt that I will ever find the boxes but I am trying to prove what happened to the two missing deliveries.

36 days later and I am still being stonewalled with vague responses such as these:

"Firstly, I apologies for all the inconvenience caused in regards to your shopping experience with us. During your free time please write back via email to us with the following information:" 

-Order number

-Name of the item or ASIN, quantity is applicable

-Description of the issue

-Assistance you may require Or please contact us via chats or calls for a faster resolution on it."

Email from the top boss! 

Jeff Bezos. Oct 30, 2024, 1:46 PM - Thank you for contacting us.

So, today I started sending out Letters to the Editor, for local newspapers.

My next task will be to send letters to any American newspapers that will post my letters. 

I am stressed. Very stressed. But I am not giving up.

Lynda

PS: there is a lot more information on my previous posts on this blog starting October 24th. 

Day 35 of being a flea on the butt of Amazon, BNI Postmedia, and Intelcom. Still waiting on a refund!

I had hoped that this problem would have been resolved a long, long, long time ago, but here I am still waiting for Amazon and their contract delivery services to do the right thing and refund me the $613.47 for two lost packages.

In the meantime, Happy Halloween everyone. 

Cheers Lynda. Sparky sends his woofs!