THE CHRONICLES OF A JOURNEY: A NOVEL

The narrative non-fiction follows the author—from birth to age seventy-one. Born in a log cabin, in Mud Lake, QC. At age thirteen, the large family of twelve must relocate. They move to Sudbury, Ont. A stressful period of adjustment follows; first impressions of the mining town; living with poverty; the troubled teenage years; the shame of living in the “projects” (low-rental housing); first year of high school without fluency in English; the difficulties attendant upon a large family wrestling with poverty, and a father chronically unemployed; mother’s strength of character keeps the family together. The book touches upon many subjects that have wide human appeal, regardless of social standing (or lack thereof). It talks about social, cultural, economic and political issues. It talks about feelings and things of the heart. It should identify and connect with a broad spectrum of society—it is said simply and honestly. The author introduces the reader to a wide variety of real stories and adventures; as a child and teenager; from a stint as an officer in the Canadian army, to teaching up north on the DEW Line, and finally, through his thirty-five-year career as a Social Worker with the Sudbury Municipal Social Services (welfare) Department.

Paperback: 578 pages Publishing date: November 6, 2018 Language: English ISBN-10: 1949180069 ISBN-13: 978-1949180060 Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.4 x 9 inches

Ray A. Vincent attended Laurentian University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and Certification in Social Work. He went on to work with the City of Sudbury's Welfare Department, initially as a caseworker and later moving on to supervisory and managing positions. He spent 35 years in the "helping profession" until his retirement in 1999. Ray was born in Canada, in a log cabin, in the mining backwoods of Northwestern Quebec. Growing up in poverty and in a large family of twelve, brought the young man face to face with what was significant and with what was trivial in life. He knew that in his family, once you walked in the house, you were taken in, welcomed, and covered in the warmth of love and personal attention that only good parents can have for you. "That's all they had to give us," he said, "but there was a lot of it, and it was unbounded, unconditional and selfless." His mother was a great storyteller and he inherited from her a great love of books which fed a voracious appetite for reading. The family moved to Sudbury, Ontario, when Ray was coming into his teenage years. The cultural transition of moving from a small town, French Canadian environment, to English speaking Canada proved difficult and challenging but it opened many venues to opportunities and personal growth. He was blessed with an acute visual memory. The colorful events of childhood and professional activities have taken Ray across a rich and varied landscape of experiences——some of which make for compelling stories. Ray married his sweetheart, Emily, fifty years ago. They live in Sudbury, Ontario.