The Ugly Truck and Dog Contest
For years, Marge has been gearing up to win Yellowknife’s annual Ugly Truck and Dog Contest, the ultimate expression of rugged individuality in a frontier town that is becoming alarmingly genteel. Her truck, Delilah, is in a state of graceful decay and she has acquired a hideous dog named “Hubcap.” When her cousin comes to visit, Marge leaves her in charge of her treasures for a few days, with unexpected results. (Published: Storyteller, Kanata, ON: Tyo Communications, Winter 1999.)
Cover illustration by Brock Nicol
The Yellowknife Yeti
Leonard has held his long-term position as Grand Master of the Yellowknife Raven Lodge through brains, hard work, and a dark reputation for dabbling in the supernatural arts. While his Brother Ravens have allowed themselves to be intimidated, newcomer Ed sees through Leonard’s persona and decides to oust him. But a hypnotic encounter with the northern lights and a local “yeti” may result in a change of plans. (Published as “The NWT Yeti”: Storyteller, Kanata, ON: Tyo Communications, Spring 2000.)

Cover illustration by Brock Nicol		 The Prospector’s Trail
Norman and Jennifer, newly weds and recent graduates of a tourism program, are staying at the Yellowknife campground while they look for work. Jennifer has been pressuring her husband to join the corporate side of the industry. Norman, however, is suited only to hands-on work, like dressing up as historical characters. Short of money, she has agreed to let him pursue his dream of setting up an interpretive centre far from home. A rich old prospector offers to help them build the necessary nest egg. But to Jennifer’s horror – and Norman’s delight – the road to riches leads to a surprising destination. (Honourable Mention, Great Canadian Story Contest, 2000. Published: Storyteller, Kanata, ON: Tyo Communications, Summer 2000; reprinted in Imprints 11, Toronto, ON: Gage Educational Publishing Co., 2001.)
Bug Bites
 Unable to cope with the world’s demands, Ariel secludes herself in a shack in Yellowknife’s Old Town, where she ekes out a living as a “textile artiste.” Her peace is shattered when the overbearing Herb moves into the neighbourhood, building a huge house that serves as home base for a range of unsuccessful businesses. When Herb learns that Ariel used to be a painter, he decides to give that a try. After he disappears on a sketching trip, Ariel hopes she can settle back in to the pattern of her old life. (Published: Storyteller, Ottawa, ON: Tyo Communications, Winter 2001.)
Cover illustration by Brock Nicol

P.S.: The guy in the illustration is Herb - one of the characters in "Bug Bites." He's a cover boy!

Cover illustration by Brock Nicol		 Sand Trap
Todd is a young Calgary lawyer with great clothes and an excellent golf swing, but not much talent for the law. His firm’s chairman, J.P. White, believes that something as valuable as personal style can’t be taught and is willing to overlook Todd’s shortcomings . . . until he has a temper tantrum at the staff golf tournament. Banished to Yellowknife, J.P. will allow Todd to return to Calgary if he fulfills one of three impossible tasks: form a strategic corporate alliance in Yellowknife, sink a hole in one, or win the Tournament of the Midnight Sun on city’s notorious all-sand golf course. Can the intervention of two unlikely golf pros keep Todd's career from going down the toilet? (Honourable Mention, Great Canadian Story Contest, 2003. Published: Storyteller, Ottawa, ON: Tyo Communications, Summer 2003.)
Baneberries
Bernice and Vivian are retired widows living along the Ingraham Trail, outside of Yellowknife, to keep costs down. Although their husbands had been buddies, the two women have little in common. Their friends have either died or retired to British Columbia, leaving the two women isolated in the bush. Their uneasy alliance is disrupted with the arrival of Arthur, a good-looking divorcee. When Vivian tries to steal Bernice’s famous Cranberry Crumble Cake recipe to gain points with Arthur, the women’s decades-long competition comes to a head. (First Place, Tenth Annual International Short Story and Essay Contest, 2002, Canadian Authors Association, Toronto Branch. Published: Winners’ Circle 10, Toronto, ON: Canadian Authors Association, Toronto Branch, 2003.)

Diamond Girl
Gerald runs a downtown courier service, specially designed for the high-security needs of the NWT’s new diamond industry. Modelling himself on James Bond – one of his estranged father’s heroes – Gerald employs a range of disguises and gadgets as he carries out his work. After he’s fired by his sole client, Borealis Diamonds, he’s given a chance to redeem himself by covertly playing bodyguard to the Borealis Diamond Girl at the company’s annual gala. Then he ends up in the midst of an attempted robbery and learns that he’s not his father’s son after all. (Published: North by North Wit: An Anthology of Canadian Humour, Windsor, ON: Black Moss Press, 2003.)
Fireweed
As the chief executive officer of an Ottawa high-tech company, Richard thrived on countering the intrigues and manoeuvring of his fellow corporate raiders. After losing his job he moves to Yellowknife, where he plans to help his laid-back brother improve profits at his hardware store. Instead of putting him in the office, though, Clark assigns Richard to the garden centre to help him develop the right “zen.” Just when it looks like Richard will be able to take on deadbeat employees and unreliable suppliers, he finds a worthy adversary in an unlikely place. (Published: Storyteller, Ottawa, ON: Tyo Communications, Spring 2006.)

Copyright © Cathy Jewison, 2007. All rights reserved.