5 Novelists You Need To Take with You To The Beach This Summer (Part 1)

It’s August and that means summer is in  full swing! That also means that you probably have a few more trips to the beach, cottage, or maybe a trip overseas. It’s of course a time honoured tradition to bring some great reads along. Some people stock up on their favourite writer and devour a few novels that way. Or you can try and bring a few different novelists along and mix it up a bit. If you want some ideas on which novelist you should you should check out, here are five solid ones. They won’t let you down!

Dean Koontz

Key Novels: Odd Thomas Series, Watchers

Koontz has been writing for almost 50 years and gosh he can write a thrilling yarn like no other. Koontz's novels focus on conspiracies that are based on reality, his characters placed in situations that are equally plausible. Basically situations that can happen to any of us. Koontz is a great novelist to pick up for a beach read, but be warned, he will get you thinking about what your neighbour might be doing or your local government may be up to!

Stephen King

Key Novels: IT, The Stand

The king of horror. King broke out with his debut novel Carrie in 1976 and has never looked back. With his natural, storyteller-precise prose, King laced it with healthy chucks of gore and violence in his earlier works from the 1970s and 1980s. They are certainly not for the faint of heart, but deliver the scares in mega doses. Ever since his near-death experience in 1999 when he was struck by a van, King has elevated his storytelling to a whole new level by toning down the gore and horror and instead looking more carefully at the human condition with more balanced suspense novels. He is certainly one of master storytellers coming out of the 20th century.

Jeffery Archer

Key Novels: Kane and Abel, As the Crow Flies

Archer's breakout novel Kane and Abel has become one of the best selling novels of all time and for good reason. With a compelling story and excellent writing, it has stood the test of time since being release in the 1979. It is a must read! Archer has followed up with other excellent novels, and creates a story like no other. 

Robin Cook

Key Novels: Coma, Cell

The master of medical thrillers. It all started with Cook's first novel Coma which became a runaway best seller. It was eventually made into a successful movie by fellow novelist Michael Crichton.‎ Cook started a new genre which entertained while educating. And audiences clamored for more. Usually set in Boston, Cook's medical thrillers are based on real life situations with healthy portions of conspiracies and mayhem. 

Harold Robbins

Key Novels: The Carpetbaggers, A Stone for Danny Fisher

Before Jackie Collins showed up, Robbins was the undisputed king of the seedy novel. His novels were filled with shallow, yet powerful people with lots of money and loose morals which made compelling reads for millions of readers for decades. Since the 1940s Robbins has sold more than 750 million novels--an amazing feat just recently surpassed by Danielle Steele. If you want the ultimate trash-novel with no holds barred sex, engaging stories and colourful characters then Robbins is your man.

Images courtesy of: CelebrityNetWorth, The Guardian UK, Telegraph UK, OrderOfBooks.com, MerteTinta

A Handy Reminder for Trash Day...

It's sometimes tough to keep track of what's to be collected on garbage day. Here's a handy webpage via the city of Ottawa that will help you out. Click here to check out the page.

Type in your street address and your email address. You can schedule a reminder that is sent to your email inbox on a time you want before the pick-up date. The other contact (reminder) can also be sent you via phone or even your twitter account.

The above webpage is very helpful as well. It will give you a detailed calendar of what is picked up every week. It also gives you information about what you can and can not put in your blue, green and black boxes.

If you have any tips that can help your fellow neighbour be sure to email: TheOrleansInsider@gmail.com

Image courtesy of the Ottawa Sun

5 Great (and Free) Places you can take your toddler to in Orleans

 

Having a toddler sometimes can be a daunting task and coming up with ways to amuse him or her can be quite the experience onto itself. The best way of coming up with places that your toddler might enjoy can be a rewarding experience. Here are 5 places in Orleans where you and your toddler will enjoy.

1. Cumberland Library. The library is an amazing place for your toddler to explore the world of books while playing with some stimulating toys and interacting with other kids. It will also be a great way for you to connect with other parents in the community and pick up tips for everyday activities etc for your toddler. Be sure to get a library card for your little one and take out a few books he or she likes.

2. Place Orleans Shopping Mall. A mall you say? Yes! The Mall is a great way to get your toddler to explore different stores selling different items. Be sure to go at times when it isn't too busy.s. He or she will love touching and observing items, seeing different people and of course walking around the mall. You can also do some shopping while you're there of course.

3. Millennium Park. This is a great park located off Trim Road. There are always other kids of various ages for your toddler to interact with-- and like the library lots of parents whom yoi can chat with while the little ones play. There is a area made for toddlers with a decent sized slide and swings and lots of room for your toddler to play in the sand. Be sure to bring lots of sun screen, a hat, water, extra set of clothing and healthy snacks for the outing. Also, bring along some sand toys so you can play with your toddler in the sand. It's a new, fun park and highlights how Orleans is rapidly developing into one of Canada's best communities to live in.

4. Ray Friel Centre. Many of you probably know this place well. Located right beside the Cumberland Library the Ray Friel Centre offers a bevy of programs aimed for many age groups and some of which are for toddlers. Although there may be nominal fees, programs like swimming lessons are great for your toddler.

5. Neighbourhood strolls. Orleans is a beautiful and growing community that needs to be explored! Next time your toddler is a bit sleepy take him or her out for a nice relaxing stroll to great neighbourhoods like Fallingbrook or Avalon. You will get excellent exercise and have a great time exploring Orleans yourself.

This list is a small sample of the great places you and your toddler can explore. However, there are much more great places to explore and discover in Orleans. Be sure to leave comments and let us know where your favorite places to go are.

photo credits: Rémy Tremblay (St. Joseph Church)

The Start of Something Special

Photo courtesy of NewGeography.com

Welcome to the Orleans Insider online magazine. If you are here you are interested in finding out what's going on in the Orleans community. Whether its discovering new businesses, interesting people, and checking out great events this site is the one to visit. This is definitely the start of something special because its going to be fueled by the people of Orleans. Read the interviews, opinion pieces and special articles spotlighting what makes Orleans one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. Be sure to email theOrleansInsider@gmail.com if you have events to list, story ideas or if you want to write for us.