Lost on Brier Island

"Well it's one for the money, two for the show,
three to get ready, now go cat go!"

Woohoo!! What better way to wrap up
Thanksgiving weekend than by diving into Bill
Culp's rockin'; memoir, Have Guitar, Will Travel:
My Rock & Roll Road to CAPE BRETON? This
heartfelt and down-to-earth tale chronicles the
wild, comedic, and often emotional journey of
Culp's rise in Canadian rock, weaving together
musical dreams, family dynamics, and the
charm of Cape Breton. It's a story that resonates
not only with Canadian musicians but with
anyone who’s ever pursued a passion, and it
holds a special place in my heart as well.

The book traces the life of small-town rocker
Bill Culp, who turned his love for
music—passed down by his father—into a
lifelong adventure. Starting with his early days
in local bands (ever heard of The Problem
Children?), Culp quickly found his footing in
rock and roll. His rise from a starry-eyed fan to
a bona fide rock star was as thrilling as it was
chaotic.
As he gained momentum, Culp embraced the
life he’d always dreamed of, playing bar gigs
six nights a week with the punk band The
Rubels, performing internationally, and rubbing
shoulders with celebrities (including a quirky
encounter with Hall of Fame Edmonton Oilers
legend, Glen Sather). He eventually founded
Bill Culp Productions, a global success paying
tribute to legends he admired, like Elvis Presley
and Johnny Cash. His 50-year career spanned
the globe, cementing him as one of the most
influential voices in Canadian rock.

But beneath the surface of his stardom, Culp's
journey was far from a fairy tale. He openly
discusses the personal challenges that came with
balancing career and family, including a close
yet long-distance relationship with his children,
a difficult divorce, and the emotional toll of his
father’s illness. In addition to the financial
struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,
his story becomes not just one of rock-and-roll
glory but of resilience in the face of hardship.
Cape Breton, where Culp eventually settled,
served as his refuge—where he could reconnect
with his roots, recharge his spirit, and reflect on
the rollercoaster ride that had been his life. It
became a true home, both musically and
personally.

What stood out most to me wasn’t just his
career highlights, but his unfailing optimism.
Culp’s ability to stay grounded and maintain a
"the show must go on" attitude even in the face
of life’s most brutal blows was incredibly
inspiring. For instance, after learning that his

wife wanted a divorce right before a significant
performance, Culp processed the heartbreak but
pushed forward, delivering one of his most
cathartic shows to date. It was a testament to his
professionalism and passion for music, using his
art as both a release and a way to give back to
the fans who had supported him through thick
and thin.

His approach to personal challenges, like
navigating his divorce with maturity and
empathy, is a prime example of his character.
Instead of letting bitterness consume him, Culp
sought understanding and maintained a positive
relationship with his ex-wife, which later proved
invaluable when his father was on his deathbed.
Although Culp was halfway across the world in
Germany, his ex-wife reached out, giving him
the chance to say a final, tear-filled goodbye to
his father via video call—a moment made all the
more poignant by the songs he lovingly sang to
comfort him in his last days.

Like many others in the book, this scene
beautifully captures who Bill Culp truly is: a
man who leads with gratitude and grace.
Whether on stage in front of thousands or at
home with family, he remained humble and
grateful for the people who lifted him along the
way. His imperfections are laid bare, but so is
his relentless desire to improve, give back, and
honour those who inspired him.

“Sometimes it’s not the actual song that makes
you emotional, it’s the people and things that
come into your mind when you hear it… I knew
that somewhere up there, the people I had lost
on my road to Cape Breton… were looking
down and smiling.” – Ch. “Rise Again”, p. 152-154

Overall, Have Guitar, Will Travel: My Rock &
Roll Road to CAPE BRETON is not just a
memoir for music lovers—it's a tribute to
perseverance, self-awareness, and the enduring
power of passion. Culp’s story reminds us that

while fame and success are fleeting, the
connections we make and the love we share
truly matter.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves
rock and roll, Canadian music history, or anyone
looking for a heartfelt story of personal growth.
Whether you're a musician, a fan, or someone
chasing a dream, this book will strike a chord.

Thank you, Bill Culp and Breton Books, for
taking us on this incredible musical adventure.
I’m grateful for the chance to get to know your
story and reflect on what matters in life,
especially on Thanksgiving - rest assured, you
are on my ‘thankful for’ list this year, haha.

Best of luck in Cape Breton and beyond!

Follow Bill Culp’s adventures today on his
website: https://billculp.ca/

Listen to him on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0N3BeuKRrZQtu
YdgxQmEhc?si=CyklquNzSYG1WntYpeOugA

Oh my goodness words cannot even begin to describe how incredible this novel was! Right from the beginning, I was hooked with the plot, as now a retired lady named Emmeline joins a writing memoir class to tell her classmates about her past. Her past was absolutely devastating, however it kept me extremely intrigued! I fell in love with Emmeline’s personality, how sweet she is with her friends and sometimes sassy with those who are mean to her.

As I read her memoir, it saddened me how Emmeline’s mother made her feel growing up. Like she was worthless, nothing, and just a weak girl. Not only that, her mother knew Emmeline’s insecurities, and wasn’t afraid to point them out, which disappoints me so much. No mother should say something so terrible to their own child, it’s not necessary, and irrelevant to bring up.

Not just that, but Emmeline’s siblings had also passed away in the war. I could not imagine losing one but two siblings. Emmeline was so strong, brave, and traveled miles upon miles to hopefully meet up with her brother, who was injured significantly, even when her entire family was against her choice.

What I enjoyed most about the story was how realistic the plot was. Accidents happen in our lives, and unfortunately, we are unable to control what happens. Emmeline’s story taught me so many valuable lessons, such as, being around people who you actually enjoy being around, always being kind to everyone regardless of how mean they are since they could be having a bad day, and to not give up.

Lesley Crewe’s writing is so wholesome, like you are curled up on an armchair in your living room, with a cozy warm fireplace next to you, and a cup of delicious hot chocolate in your hands. I have reading periods in my English class once a week, and I looked forward to those afternoons, since I would be relaxed, reading about an awesome book, and peaceful music playing in my ears.

I adored the characters Crewe created! Vera, the dog in the story, is so cheeky at times, and hilarious! I couldn’t help smiling to myself whenever she said a sarcastic line, as it is very relatable to do. I loved Emmeline and Vera’s friendship. How they are talking when in reality they aren’t. It’s like they completely understand each other in their minds.

I could ramble on and on about this perfect book, however that would take far too long! My suggestion for you, is to buy this book RIGHT NOW! Trust me, it is amazing, and you won’t regret it at all. The storyline is interesting, the characters are funny, and the writing style is easy to read!

Read it right now, as soon as possible!
-Fifi Chen

Found Drowned is a book that tells the tale of Mary Harney, a woman who was murdered is 1877 which remains unsolved. Originally from Nova Scotia, it is believed Mary’s body washed up on the shores of PEI after she was killed. Though based on a true story, I found the author of this book mixed fact and fiction very well to create an enticing story based in 1800’s Nova Scotia and PEI. The scenery the author portrayed was very well done and gave me a good perspective of what things were like at this time in both places.

The characters in this story were very well developed. I found the characters could be quite complex, which I loved, but at the same time there was just so many characters (Mary, her parents, grandparents, ect…) that I was almost losing track, but that could just be me haha. As well, the switching back and forth between the Nova Scotia side of Mary’s life and the PEI side where her body washed up was hard to keep track of at times. I found flipping back and forth between chapters helped me out a lot, as this was such a well written book that I didn’t let that bother me.

As you could’ve guessed based on the title, this book was very tragic. The author did a great job of making me feel certain ways about certain characters, and some of them were downright nasty in my opinion. Mary’s family had a many sufferings, with alcoholism, drug abuse and physical abuse. So her upbringing wasn’t portrayed as the greatest. I found the twists and turns of the plot kept me interested, and I was quite invested in many characters in this story.

I enjoyed this mystery book quite greatly, and even though not all true what history it did have was strikingly interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys atmospheric and descriptive writing, mystery novels that have some truth to them, and those who just enjoy tales of life in old PEI and Nova Scotia.

Have you ever read a book that felt so real before? Well, this book is the perfect book for you!

This book is called Lost On Brier Island by Jo Ann Yhard. It is published by Nimbus Publishing and given to me for free for being an Our Stories Matter Youth Ambassador with Digitally Lit!

In this book, we follow our main character Alex as she goes through the grieving process of losing her older brother, Adam, from an accident that she thought she caused. She goes away to live with her Aunt Sophie who lives on the beautiful Brier Island where she learns about the sea animals and a very special whale who quickly becomes her friend. but when she learns a big secret, can she save her whole world from falling apart?

This adventure book is set in the beautiful Brier Island which is a very small island on the Bay of Fundy in Digby County, Nova Scotia. The setting really reminded me of the rugged coastlines of Newfoundland and the kindness of people which is very common in Newfoundland too!

Some of my favourite parts in the story is when Alex meets her (not so little) whale friend, Daredevil for the first time ever and when she finds out that Daredevil is stuck and can not escape!

In conclusion, this book was so amazing but also a little bit sad because I saw myself in Alex. Last year my parents got a divorce so I understood what Alex was going through. I loved this book so much that I will most likely reread it in the near future!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟\5 stars

“The Spoon Stealer” by Lesley Crewe was a masterpiece! The novel takes readers on a captivating and emotional journey of mesmerizing, tragic, horrific, yet significant story of Emmeline’s family that was portrayed throughout the book. Its beautiful book cover instantly attracted me, and it definitely is beautiful inside and out!

Emmeline was born and raised in her family’s farm in Nova Scotia, but never felt like she belonged. So she fled across the Atlantic during the First World War to begin a new life in England. She is now retired, and lives in the coastal side of England with her dog, Vera, who’s considered her best friend. Stepping out of her comfort zone, Emmeline reads her astonishing memoir, which was both heartfelt and devastating to hear. I really enjoyed Emmeline’s character and her memoir, which portrays how her past has shaped her in many ways. The book addresses and emphasizes complex themes like the importance of family, loss, connection, and love. Despite all the difficulties throughout her life, Emmeline always believed that everyone needs a spoonful of kindness.

Crewe’s style of storytelling was very enjoyable, brilliant, extraordinary, and outstanding. The way she uses the term “Spoon Stealer” was a clever way to engage with the readers. She portrayed Emeline’s obsession and burdens that the spoons carried for her, and how in every part of her story, there’s always a spoon, holding a scoop full of memories that has significant reasons behind why she steals and keeps them. It was almost like she was destined to be a spoon stealer. She expertly weaved together themes of family, life, and self-discovery in a way that kept me engaged from beginning to end.

This book was absolutely wonderful and touching. It was beautifully written and I’ve gained much wise knowledge from it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is struggling in life, and who could use a spoonful of kindness.