Irises and Roses

Alain is French and Ellen, English. They meet amid the fear and chaos of the FLQ bombings. From the fictional village of Saint Dominic to the quiet Eastern Townships to the bustling city of Montréal, this historical novel takes readers on a personal, intimate journey as Alain and Ellen grow up during the Quiet Revolution in Quebec and become embroiled in the clash of English versus French. When Alain and Ellen come together at teachers' college, they find a lasting hope in each other.

Irises and Roses examines the French/English divide in the province of Quebec from post-World War II to the height of the October Crisis of 1970. The story of each character explores the realities of English oppression and the rise of French separatist movement.

Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Carole Beal McKenzie grew up in the beautiful Eastern Townships and lived in Montreal during the FLQ crisis. Presently, Carole and her husband enjoy a quiet, mostly retired life in the small prairie community of Star City, Saskatchewan. She gave birth to three amazing children. A former high school teacher, she is a visual artist, art teacher, workshop facilitator, and an ordained minister of the United Church of Canada. Learning is her passion; Carole has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology/Psychology from Bishop's University, a teaching diploma from Macdonald College/McGill University, and a Master of Divinity from St. Andrew's College, Saskatoon. This is her first novel.