Kirjahaku

"Raw courage exudes from the poetry of Catina Noble. Many of the poems in Katzenjammer will evoke a strange familiarity - not in the words themselves but in the emotions they dredge up - for any reader who has experienced a less-than-perfect relationship." - Sherrill Wark, author of Death in l'Acadie: a Kesk8a story.__Catina Noble's collection of poetry in Katzenjammer spans from a couple of years ago to her most recent work. Included in this eclectic collection is her poem "You Can't See Me", which won 1st Place in the Canadian Author's Association-NCR Poetry contest in May 2014. Her poems are raw, without fluff, tingle with hope and every-day struggles. No matter the age, gender or circumstance in life, each person who reads this book will be able to identify with Catina and her poetry. Although she has three chapbooks in print Pussyfoot (2013), Clean Up In Aisle 4 (2014) and Odds & Ends (2014), this is her first full-length collection.

Two years in the life of a teenage girl."When I pour my heart down on paper there is a record that I am a human being with feelings and no one can judge me right away."A lot of people ask me why I write so much and the point behind it. I write because I love it. I write mainly to get thoughts out of my head and sort out how I feel. I am always so confused about everything. I also hope that one day when I no longer exist, someone somewhere will forgive me for all the things I have done wrong and not hold it against me. Hopefully I will answer some questions in my many journals. Maybe this will be helpful to someone else." - Cat

There is a wide range of emotions in Catina Noble's collection of short stories, Vacancy at the Food Court. From the opaque void of the unknown to the unrefined, raw state of mere existence, Ms Noble explores the complicated aspects of life. In fact, even the title suggests that there is a void, an emptiness in a place, a food court, where one would not expect to be alone.

August 6, 1992Life is pretty weird and hard to handle. It always is. Why can't you leave your body and switch to someone else's, huh? I have so many questions and no answers.Image in the RiverThe image in the riveris crying for help.The image in the riveris crying.The image in the river issaying goodbye until itfinally disappears forever.I didn't even know the imagein the river.-Catina Noble

Not Again continues this very real rollercoaster ride of emotions for main character, Teal. Now that she has aged, life's obstacles continue to get more and more complex. Catina Noble's writing is relatable for young adults navigating their way through the complicated teenage years, while providing suspense and entertainment for her readers.

*Everest Base Camp: Close Call* is a gripping and fascinating story about Everest told from the perspective of a brave woman who openly shares the triumphs and disappointments of reaching for a dream. Catina Noble pulls the reader in with the warmth from a stove in the dining room at a teahouse, the humorous attempts at using squat toilets, the delicious comfort food and the kindness of the people of Nepal in contrast with the achingly cold conditions and uncertainty felt on her trek. With vivid and absorbing passages, Noble offers a heartfelt reminder that the journey is as important as the dream itself.-Sonia Saikaley, author of *The Allspice Bath*

Attending to one's mother while she succumbs to cancer is no easy feat as this poetry chapbook will attest to.

"Catina Noble's Not Just Me, is a thoughtfully written teen drama that follows the daily ups and downs of a young high school girl. Noble uses relatable situations in her story to remind young people that they are not alone in their confusing (and sometimes uncomfortable) teen years. The protagonist, Teal, faces many challenges such as a fight with her best friend and a potential step-mother stealing her time away from Dad. Teal feels all the feel's: betrayal, sadness, confusion, but through it all she manages to accept the new, and even makes a special friend along the way. The novel's beautiful message of encouragement reminds us all that no matter how challenging life may get, we can always find a silver lining in the end."-Amy MacDonald, STAR Program Supervisor, Christie Lake Kids

Previously published as three separate novels, Teal, Teal Flint is a rebrand of Teal's journey through difficult times and difficult years. Not Just Me: "... a beautiful message of encouragement..."-Amy MacDonald, STAR Program Supervisor, Christie Lake Kids; "... full of honesty, heart and humour..."-Sara Dwyer, Executive Director, Russell Heights Community House Not Again: "... leaves a lasting impression... If only I had been as grounded as Teal when I was her age ..."-Joanne MacGregor, Director of STAR Inner City Programs, Christie Lake Kids This Is It: "... parts of it were a little scary, but I loved THIS IS IT."-Dakota Morgan, age 13

Bandages-are coming off to showcase personal growth, resilience and opportunity for a new beginning.

This Christmas season hasn't been working out all that great for Becca but it seems that somebody has a special surprise in store for her. Something she's been missing: icing on the cake.