Praise
“What a wordsmith! What a work of depth and breadth! What a world newcomer Cathy Marie Buchanan brings to propulsively glittering and gorgeous life in The Day the Falls Stood Still. Few first novels exhibit the mastery, maturity and majesty of Buchanan’s riveting fictional debut, a heart-wrenching, soul-racking, spell-binding tale interwoven with guts, anguish and glory guaranteed to remain in readers’ minds.”
—The Globe and Mail
“A wonderful love story. . . . Buchanan weaves Niagara Falls’ history and her storytelling together masterfully.”
—Elle
“[The Day the Falls Stood Still] stands on its own elegant prose and the vibrant voice of its narrator.”
—USA Today
“This assured Ontario Gothic story deserves to take its place beside the best novels of the First World War.”
—National Post
“Set against the resounding backdrop of the falls, Cathy Marie Buchanan’s carefully researched, capaciously imagined debut novel entwines the romantic trials of a young couple with the historical drama of the exploitation of the river’s natural resources. . . . a transporting novel that captures both the majesty of nature and the mystery of love.”
—Barnes & Noble Recommends Selection citation
“Buchanan’s debut novel immediately keeps you in its grip until the final page.”
—American Booksellers Association IndieNext citation
“Buchanan combines storytelling with reportage of a legendary riverman creating a story as mesmerizing as staring at the river as it plunges over the falls.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This first novel abounds in romance and charm. Buchanan, a Niagara Falls native, was raised on the region’s lore, and she conveys its beauty and terror with deep understanding. Local legends pervade the story, lending it a nostalgic, other-wordly quality.”
—Quill & Quire
“Historical fiction readers will appreciate the excellent period detail, especially the depiction of the era’s social mores, and the romance between Bess and Tom .”
—Library Journal
“Anyone who cannot read this book in one sitting has a heart colder than Niagara Falls in February.”
—Catherine Gildiner, author of Too Close to the Falls
“Filled with beautifully written passages about love and life, interspersed with historical references to the industrialization of the Niagara River and the people who shaped the town as we now know it.”
—Waterloo Region Record
“An ambitious, sweeping love story. . . . Put on your late-summer To Do List for sure.”
—Buffalo News
“It is a novel to savor.”
—Historical Novel Society
“Buchanan’s prose is elegant.”
—Kirkus Reviews
News
The Day the Falls Stood Still is a Canada Also Reads finalist! Read author Tish Cohen’s gorgeous defence of The Day the Falls Stood Still here.
I’m skyping into book clubs. To arrange for me to skype or call into your book club contact me here.
Best of 2009 Lists
Barnes & Noble ~ Best Book Club Selection as per the bloggers ~ Dallas Literature Examiner ~ Back to Books ~ Book Gazing ~ Dewey Divas and the Dudes ~ Historical Novels ~ Historical Tapestry ~ The Indextrious Reader ~ Jo-Jo Loves to Read ~ Lavender Lines ~ Reading, Writing and Retirement ~ Savvy Wit and Verse ~ Serendipitous Readings ~ The Written World
I’ve become a founding member of Friends of Niagara Falls, a non-profit organization working to preserve the environment and natural beauty of Niagara Falls. Just now we are focused on stopping the high-rise development planned for the green space of Loretto Academy, located atop the bluff adjacent to the Horseshoe Falls. Sign our petition here.
USA Today says The Day the Falls Stood Still captures the spirit of Niagara.
Big News! The Day the Falls Stood Still is a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection.
The Day the Falls Stood Still debuts at #31 on The New York Times best sellers list.
National Post calls The Day the Falls Stood Still an extraordinarily assurred first novel.
Elle includes The Day the Falls Stood Still in its September Readers’ Picks.
The Day the Fall Stood Still is an Indie Next pick.
Zoomer! selects The Day the Falls Stood Still as “Required Reading.” October issue, page 127.v
Elle Canada includes The Day the Falls Stood Still in its “Top 3 Books.” September issue, page 84.v
Buffalo’s Talking Leaves Books gives The Day the Falls Stood Still a nod in Publishers’ Weekly.
The Day the Falls Stood Still is a Historical Novels Society Editors’ Choice Title.
Have a listen to audio version of The Day the Falls Stood Still. Available from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or Tantor Audio.
Thumbs up for The Day the Falls Stood Still from the Library Journal.
Cathy interviews Edith Hill Powell, William “Red” Hill’s only surviving child.
My Powell’s Books essay on the Vulnerability of Niagara Falls.
A story about The Day the Falls Stood Still in my hometown newspaper, The Niagara Falls Review.
Pondering the Title
My Savvy Reader post on the significance of The Day the Falls Stood Still’s title.
How to be a Writer
My Globe and Mail essay on getting to the writing life via poor spelling, the science lab, and a stint at IBM.
Events Through Summer and Fall 2010
| July 12th – July 25th | Any computer | Cathy Marie Buchanan hosts a Q&A on Goodreads. Join the chat. |
| July 12th – July 25th | Any computer | Cathy Marie Buchanan hosts an Author Chat on Library Thing. Join the chat. |
| September 8th, 6:30 pm | Welland, ON | Book Talk and Q&A with Food for Thought Book and Dinner Club, Sparrow Lakes Golf Course, 105 South Plelham Rd. All are welcome. $30 including dinner. Contact Wendy at 905-788-2624 or wwgconsult@sympatico.ca for tickets. |
| September 12th, 2:00-4:00 pm | Creemore, ON | Book talk in support of Georgian Bay Reads. Curiosity House Books, 134-A Mill Street. |
| September 15th, 7:30 pm | Toronto, ON | Book talk and reading, Balzac’s Cafe, Distillery District, 55 Mill St., Building #60 |
| September 25th, time TBD | Kitchener, ON | Book talk and reading as part of the Word on the Street Kitchener, Victoria Park. For more information visit the The Word on the Street Kitchener. |
| October 1, time TBD | Caledon, ON | Book talk and reading at Headwaters Arts Festival Literary Evening, SGI Centre, 20490 Porterfield Road. For ticket information see Headwaters Arts Festival. |
| October 19th, 7 pm | Lockport, NY | Book talk and reading as part of Lockport’s One Book One Community Program, Lockport Library, 23 East Avenue. |
| November 4th, 11:00 pm | Buffalo, NY | Book talk and reading for Thursday Book Club of 20th Century Club, 595 Delaware Avenue. |
| November 5th, time TBD | Windsor, ON | Book talk and reading as part of Bookfest Windsor. For ticket information see Bookfest Windsor. |
Book Blog Tour
I’m taking part in a virtual tour through the blogosphere. Here are the participating blogs where you’ll find reviews of The Day the Falls Stood Still, as well as guest posts and interviews:
August 21 & 25 − Historical Novels review Tales of Niagara post Q&A
August 26 − The Indextrious Reader review Libraries and Writing Historical Novels post
August 27 − Peeking Between the Pages review Excerpts and Pics post
August 31 & Sept 1 – The Burton Review review William “Red” Hill’s Rescues post
Sept 2 − I Write in Books review Q&A
Sept 3 & 4 − Books Love Jessica Marie review Researching The Day the Falls Stood Still post
Sept 8 & 10 − Book Chatter review Q&A
Sept 8 & 11 − Marta’s Meanderings review Q&A
Sept 9 & 29 − Savvy Wit and Verse review Q&A
Sept 14 − The Tome Traveler review
Sept 15 − The Book Chick review Q&A
Sept 16 − Harnessing Niagara Falls post at Wonders & Marvels
Sept 17 & Oct 13 − Linus’s Blanket review Q&A
Sept 18 − The Serendipitous Reader review Q&A
Sept 21 & 22 – Booking Mama review 10 Things You Never Knew About Niagara Falls post
Sept 23 – Lavender Lines review Q&A
Sept 24 − My Friend Amy Q&A
Sept 25 − Planet Books review and Q&A
Jan 30 − Book Club Queen review Q&A