Daniel Buckles’ grandfather grew up in a family with 13 children on Macdonell Ave. in Parkdale. He traces his roots in his new book Interrupted Peace: A Toronto Family in Times of War.
Our first Publication: Interrupted Peace
Back Lane Studios launches a new venture with Daniel’s book Interrupted Peace: A Toronto Family in Times of War. An author of 10 scholarly texts and a memoir of his working life, Daniel has created a family history that grew out of his initial objective to explore his father’s stories as a Spitfire pilot in World War II and his escape from a German POW camp.
Join us at the studio, 9 Neepawa Ave., for Daniel’s book launch Thursday, October. 29, 7:00 pm.
As anyone who has traced their families’ history will attest, embarking on such a project will take you down a rabbit hole. Daniel went on to explore his father and grandfather’s life in Parkdale, his grandmother’s roots in Whitevale, now part of Pickering, and more distant relatives. An anthropologist, Daniel also presents the social and historic context of his family stories.
At the book launch, Daniel will also discuss the process he went through to research his family history and some of the surprises he encountered.
As a taste of the some of the stories Daniel recounts, here is a video about three great uncles, who were playing at war in their Parkdale backyard in 1912, and in just a few years were at the front and in the trenches of World War I.
To read more about Daniel’s book and his background, visit his website.
The books are $25. Email us if you would like to buy a copy. They will also be available at the book launch!
Our Publishing Venture:
Earlier this year, author Daniel Buckles came knocking on our door. Would we be interested in creating a small publishing venture? He had in hand a completed manuscript. Our answer to becoming a small publisher: Yes.
After all, we plan to create books of seniors’ memories and stories for Roncesvalles and Parkdale neighbourhoods. We have already published “We Are What We Ate: Recipes and Memories from Childhood.” And we hope to encourage others to tell their stories.
Our focus will be on local history, personal and family memoir and narratives of place, all rooted in our city and community. We will also offer editorial services and writing support for those who have stories to tell but feel that they lack the skills to present them effectively.