By Mark Schadenberg
If you like to shop – Shop Local !
If you like to read -- Read Local !
I own several local history books and a few books penned by
local authors. When you’re Christmas shopping, consider buying a local
history book for a pal on your list.
Doug Symons and Thomas Ryerson are two local writers worth
exploring.
‘Symon Says’ has been a column in The Sentinel-Review for
many years and in 2011 he released a book called Memories of Yore, which
compiles many old columns into a bound pages. Symons is 83, so his memories are abundant.
At the time of the book release – just in time for Xmas
that year – Symons told The Sentinel about his inspiration for writing down his
thoughts and memories of growing up in Woodstock and how it all relates to the
community’s past.
"It's done chronologically, sort of," he said.
"It starts with (Sir John Graves Simcoe) and the very last page has a
picture of Toyota.”
Yes, I lifted a quote from The Sentinel piece, but the
full link can still be found below, which also includes: Bruce Urquhart, city editor
from The Sentinel-Review:
“The once-reluctant history student could now teach a
graduate class on local history. And if that class needed a textbook, Symons
has already written a few, including the just-released Memories of Yore. His
fifth book, Memories of Yore collects the best of his Sentinel-Review columns
from recent years, offering another impressionistic and engaging look at the
city's past. . . .
Merging his own recollections with research from the
Woodstock Public Library, Woodstock Museum and other sources, Symons' newest
history book is, in part, autobiographical, providing some of the historian's
own perspectives and experiences as part of the stories.”
As a former Sentinel-Review editor myself and a current member
of the Lions Club of Woodstock, I have known Doug for many many years. I also
own copies of Giants Of Oxford and The Village that Straddled a Swamp. All three
are available at Merrifield’s in Downtown Woodstock. If you find a copy in the
store without a Doug Symons signature on it, call me and I will tell you where
he lives.
As for Ryerson – the Woodstock resident and not the
university in Toronto – his stories range from fantasy to fiction (and non-fiction), to thoughts
and ideas ranging from life in the last few days of Earth (The Last Girl On
Earth) to a strong society of 2061 in which everything appears to be aplenty
(Fun City).
I didn’t call Tom before writing this entry, but I’m sure
he would be most proud of the historical story, which requires a few
interpretations and assumptions, and that would be A Big World as it’s a true attempt at
a biography of William Edwy Ryerson, who cruised on the Titanic, and
participated in both the First World War and Boer War. Tom Ryerson is the
great-grandson of the book’s hero.
Ryerson lives in Woodstock, but I’d like to know where
his crafty mind lives as he weaves his tales.
The Last Girl On Earth can be described as a premise
about survival, ingenuity and discovery as two people realize they are possibly
the last two remaining citizens of Earth.
Again, visit Merrifield’s as I saw at least six of his
books there for sale. Or, look up Tom Ryerson on www.traveloguebook.com,
Facebook, Kindle, Amazon or simply Google this local author for more titles
that can be enjoyed.
Ryerson is not making millions as a writer, but like all
storytellers spends as much time promoting his projects wherever he can,
including an appearance on CKCO TV noon news, attending specific book fairs,
guesting at an Oxford Creates show which promotes both artists and authors. He has appeared locally on
Rogers TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzaE_RycR_E
or enjoy this vintage daytime (Rogers TV) discussion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9RGH5OThdA
Other books include Travelogue, Carnal Wreckage, April’s
Call, The Anatomy Of A Mermaid, and Castle Lake.
ANCIENT
LINK IS STILL ONLINE:
Doug
Symons
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2011/12/12/symons-memories-of-yore
Tom Ryerson
http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/03/26/grave-marker-for-titanic-survivor-sinks-in
Selling and promoting Woodstock talent and . . . as a great place to live!
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
757 Dundas
St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519) 537-1553,
cell or text
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter:
markroyallepage
Discussion
. . . Direction . . . Determination . . . Destination
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