Arts & Culture

I first met Bernadette Gabay Dyer at Parliament Street Branch when she worked there as a Library Assistant. In my early days as a librarian, I observed Bernadette's fantastic storytimes. At the time I was unaware that her passion for storytelling went beyond her job. Along with being Toronto Public Library’s second-longest serving staff member, she is also a committed writer with many published works. Dyer is also a painter, she creates the images for her book covers, but mostly keeps her painting private. Her many years of painting before approaching writing is evident in her style which is full of beautiful imagery.

Dyer shares her writing interest with community through library programming and has just launched a bi-weekly Writing Group at Annette Street Branch. All are welcome to attend and share their work, or begin by getting to know other local writers in an informal supportive environment.  

Dyer's most recent novel Santiago’s Purple Skies at Morning Light, which came out in December 2019, tells the story of Kathleen, an Irish-Canadian teenager who leaves her home in rural Ontario and through a series of unexpected events finds herself with an odd group of people in rural Jamaica. 

Dyer shifts fluidly between genres. Santiago’s Purple Skies at Morning Light is a coming-of-age story that includes elements of the paranormal, historical fiction and romance. The book suits both young adults, and adult audiences. Santiago's writing is fast-paced and laced with drama and incidents, including (but not limited to) a terrifying possession by the notorious White Witch of Rose Hall, Annie Palmer. I found the photo below in our digital archive. It was taken by Boris Spremo in 1969 and it's the plantation great house of Annie Palmer, where much of Bernadette's novel is set. 

The plantation great house where Annie Palmer; the White of Rose Hall ruled with black magic; the lash; murder and an iron will; sits at the top of a rise of land; dominating anyone who approaches. Now partially restored; hall still has an air of brooding malignancy that sits well with its long history of evil. Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1969.

 

To me, Bernadette's writing reflects an ideal, the best of what is made possible by a multi-cultural society that is better for its variety. Bonds of love and affirmation bind characters of different ages and nationalities adding depth and variety to her storytelling. While unexpected and devastating events regularly occur, friendships of loyalty and respect ground the characters.

Because I loved her book so much, I asked Bernadette a few questions about her writing. Here's what she had to say.

Bernadette's Writing, in her own words

I was born into a family of  storytellers. My paren'ts enjoyed regaling  us children with stories of all kinds, the servants too told stories to us children, to scare us silly. None of their stories have found their way into my novels, perhaps because my mind seems to chock full of other tales that want to be told. It is no wonder that I often tend to write a narrative that includes a story inside a story, as though one tale gives birth to another. I am an art school graduate, to me writing has become a way to paint with words.

When my characters speak to me, they include their back stories, at times their aspirations, and as a result I can better understand their experiences in my tale. I felt protective of the young mixed race John Moneague in my novel, Waltzes  I Have Not Forgotten, then found to my surprise that he was quite capable of taking care of himself.

Lucas Paynado, a young black man in my novel, Chasing the Banyan Wind, rewarded me with his determination and and ability to strive for success despite coming from poverty, and having to prove himself over and over to realize his ambitions. I had no idea that he had it in him, but he did.

Irish Canadian teenager Kathleen Dunkley, in my latest novel,  Santiago's Purple Skies at Morning's Light, impressed me with her candor, her empathy, courage and acceptance.

Though these characters came to me fully formed, it took time to realize exactly what they stood for.  When I write, my hand seems to be guided remotely, and I don't always know where the plot is going, and it leaves me vulnerable to expressing emotions. I sometimes cry over the loss of a character and feel unexpected empathy with the lives of others. The turns that  plots take, never fails to amaze me. While writing I always find myself dedicated to constructive research, an addiction that involves investigating life's experiences, the internet and the extensive collections at Toronto Public Library.

Dyer is currently working on a poetry collection. Her poetry and short stories are widely anthologized and appeared in literary magazines from St Mary's University, London England and the University of Miami.