Geraldine Ryan-Lush

THE GRAVEL PIT KIDS: EDITORS' PICK, ATLANTIC BOOKS TODAY: "A beautifully written story of a friendship between two pre-teen boys in a small Newfoundland town. The setting is well enough rendered that it remains an important presence throughout. The boys' bond is strong enough to endure significant differences in class and circumstance and the disapproving eyes of surrounding adults." (Atlantic Books Today, Winter 2017)

THE GRAVEL PIT KIDS READERS' FAVOURITE 5-STAR AWARD*****

THE GRAVEL PIT KIDS **CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER**

NEW RELEASE: 2020-21: MUMPS MANIA: A RUNAWAY VIRUS TALE! A WACKY RHYMING TALE FOR ALL, OF THE NEW NORMAL! *** A CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER!

NEW RELEASE: 2021: HAUNTED TOWNS, VOL 2: MORE TRUE GHOST STORIES OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR!

NEW RELEASES: THE SEASHELL'S LAMENT, SECOND EDITION! **CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER** MAJOR NOVEL. A NEWFOUNDLAND LOVE STORY! (2019)....."Wow. Read this fabulous book in one sitting. It kept me awake suffering along with the characters. Loved the pace, the passion, the heartbreak. Wonderful, masterful writing....."...Angela Otto, Author, Custody Of The Eyes.

-"Caught me and would not let me go. Seashell's Lament is beautiful and extremely powerful.."....Alibris, the Library People

-"An elegantly written novel of love, separation, betrayal, tragedy, and the spaces of time that change all, in the context of middle-age love.....told in a saga-like style in the tradition of such greats as Doctor Zvigago..."....Jenny Gorman, Waterstones

HAUNTED TOWNS: GHOST STORIES OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR! CONSISTENT BESTSELLER! True hair-rising ghost stories from across Newfoundland! (2019)

THE LAW-BREAKING ADVENTURES OF TEACHER TABITHA: The story of a feisty teacher who breaks all the rules on a wild adventure to the remote Canadian North! (2019)

GOODBYE WART! **CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER** A rhyming rendition of a boy who utilizes Newfoundland folk cures to rid himself of horrid wart which is making his life miserable! (2019)

MRS. CLOHIGGLEDY'S CLUTTER: A READERS'

FAVOURITE BY THE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT AUTHORS! READERS' FAVOURITE has won the Honoring Excellence Award For Reviewing and is a Member Of The National Book Critics Circle, endorsed by the American Library Association.

NEW RELEASE is THE GRAVEL PIT KIDS, (June 2017) ****CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER. A YA novel dealing with the friendship and upheaval in the lives of two boys from opposite sides of the track. 5-Star Readers' Favorite: "A grand and glorious story about two youngsters and the enduring friendship they share....reminded me of the youthful narrator in Robertson Davies' novel Fifth Busiiness...THE GRAVEL PIT KIDS is a powerful, unforgettable tale about friendship, loyalty, and social pressures. Most highly recommended...Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite.

Born and raised in St. Mary's Bay, on the New York Times Famous IRISH LOOP, on the incredibly beautiful, 500-year-old island of Newfoundland, Canada Geraldine Ryan-Lush remembers writing poems on blank newsprint left over from her brother's newspaper route, which she stashed under the bed so no one could see. Her reading material consisted of Archie comics to Nancy Drew to the Hardy Boys , to Anne of Green Gables, which she fought over at recess for lack of copies. She devoured anything she could get her hands on, due to the dearth of a library, and presence of books in the small community two hours on gravel road from the capital city, St. John's. Jane Austen, Mark Twain, Charles Dickens , Louisa May Alcott kept her awake many long summer nights, and warmed her, body and soul, while toasting her feet at the woodstove on icy cold days, in the quiet pastoral community, which boasted neither TV service or electricity during her formative years. These factors she counts as major influences to her later writing success, as well as an extended family of amazing storytellers, and singers, and raising two adored sons. Geraldine graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts (Education), majoring in English Language and Literature. She is the prolific and multi-award-winning author of 18 books, all categories, chapter books, young adult , adult books of fiction and non-fiction and a collection of poetry for adults, as well as numerous stories and articles. A classroom teacher for some years, she began her writing career as a columnist for Newfoundland newspapers, including the Newfoundland Herald and The Evening Telegram, where she brought to the attention of Eastern Canada worthy children's works from across North America. Her short stories and scholarly articles on the children's literature field have been published in sources such as the Newfoundland Quarterly ,Canadian Children's Literature, and Books In Canada.

Her first children's book, Jeremy Jeckles Hates Freckles, the story of a bullied boy who went to extreme behavior to rid himself of "his millions and billions and trillions of freckles"- was originally published by Breakwater Books. Praised as "delightful freckle frustration," and "dealing with issues which most adults would dismiss as trivial, but which are important to children," (the Nfld Herald), the book , with its appealing , repetitive word-phrasing ...."he complained to his mother...he complained to his father...he complained to his pet lizard, but no one would listen....", and crazy, phonetically-challenging word combinations "Marinated Mung Beans With Bone Marrow Gruel..Wheat Germ Snicker Doodles....Mummy's Crummy Gummy Yummy Yam Stew..." was a forerunner to the embracing of healthy eating habits , self-esteem , and inclusivity, as well as the happily unconscious absorption of reading skills, the flagship and centre of her books to come.

Her second, Hairs on Bears, the story of an incorrigible shedding dog, was originally published by Annick Press, Toronto/New York, in hard and softcover, at an almost unheard edition at the time, of 10,000 copies in its first release, and is in French translation as Poils Poils Et Repoils. The catchy, rhyming story of a lovable but exasperating shedding mutt was hailed as "a gleeful success!" by the School Library Journal in New York, and was featured in numerous popular and literary sources, who praised it as "a wild romp of a verse" and "one of the funniest, fuzziest books encountered!" Many other books followed , as well as stories in speciality children's magazines and journals. Her books have been prestigiously reviewed in sources such as School Library Journal, Canadian Book Review Annual, Canadian Children's Literature, Quill & Quire, CBC Radio, Books In Canada, Canadian Materials, among many others of note. Her awards include American Bookseller's Pick of the Lists, Merit Magazine Studio Award, Alcuin Society Design Award, Readers' Favourite Award twice, Atlantic Books Today Editor' Pick. Ms.Ryan-Lush is known to be adept at writing in virtually all genres of writing. The Malcolm K. Wall series of "first novels" for reluctant readers,(Malcolm the Klutz, Malcolm and the Hamster Lady, No Go Potty), for which she was awarded major Canada Council Grants to further, are the Adrian Mole style moanings, and wry humour of a hapless pre-puberty boy, his demanding mother, "Cleopatra-Eyes" Charlotte O'Royal, the girl he has a hopeless crush on, his aggravating brother Seussy, and his know-it-all, slippery "best buddy" Mooney. Her works have been widely embraced by libraries all over the world , as well as the trade market, as being identifiable to showcasing the lives of real children, as well as their highly imaginative imagery, humour, sensitivity and tone. Drawing on her background in education, she endeavours always to get children motivated to read.

Geraldine is also an accomplished poet. Her volume of poetry for YA and adults , Once When I Wasn't Looking (Borealis Press), drew copious critical acclaim, and is on collection at major universities in U.S. and North America, including University of Providence, RI, University of Chicago, Davis University, South Carolina, New York University, and many others. Her works are on every country and continent, including Africa, India, Japan and New Zealand. In 2013, , proving again her wide versatility she has had released a paranormal novel, Hannigan's Hand, a gripping and chilling fictional account of spirits' revenge, based on a true Newfoundland exorcism. Based on a true story from her St. Mary's Bay home, it has steadily been highlighted with the works of James Patterson and Stephen King. In summer 2015, a new, expanded edition of this title, Hannigan's Hand: The Ghost Woman Talks was released . A new picture/story book for adults and kids, Mrs. Clohiggledy's Clutter: The Story Of A Hoarder released in June 2016. Mrs. Clohiggledy's Clutter has been voted a Readers' Favourite by Association Of Independent Authors. A major novel for adults, THE SEASHELL'S LAMENT, has been released by U.S. publisher Black Rose Writing in October, 2016. She makes her home on the stunningly beautiful East Coast of Newfoundland, but her interests and travels , mentally, soulfully, and physically, in relation to her beloved writing career are far-reaching. Physical and e-book (Kindle) editions of all Geraldine Ryan-Lush titles can be ordered from www. Amazon.com; www.Amazon.ca,www. Amazon.co.uk, www. Amazon.au. www. Amazon.it and worldwide; www.barnes&noble.com; www. Chapters.Indigo.ca; Ingram; www.blackrosewriting.com; Baker&Taylor . and numerous online/retail outlets. Author contact: Twitter @GRyanLush. Facebook: AuthorGeraldineRyanLush. Creator@blackrosewriting.com. www.mulberrybooks.com. .

www.mulberrybooks.com Facebook fan page: Author Geraldine Ryan Lush.