Latest news with #FlankerPress
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Legendary', Prolific N.L. author Earl Pilgrim dies at 86
Prolific and influential N.L. author Earl Pilgrim, has died. A retired forest ranger, wildlife protection officer and champion boxer, Pilgrim came to prominence as the author of over 15 books, many of them novels exploring Newfoundland and Labrador history and culture. Pilgrim's niece Karla Pilgrim, made a post on social media sharing the news of her uncle's passing Friday evening. "Yesterday, our family lost a pillar of a man," wrote Karla Pilgrim. "You'll never be forgotten, Uncle Earl. You've left such a legacy in your writing and story-telling." Pilgrim published a number of books under Flanker Press, including notable titles Curse of the Red Cross Ring, Will Anyone Search for Danny? and the Ghost of Ellen Dower. Flanker Press co-founder and the editor of many of Pilgrim's books, Jerry Cranford, said he was shocked and saddened to hear about his passing. "At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, the man was a legend," said Cranford. Cranford spoke highly of Pilgrim's character, saying he was larger than life, a very talented storyteller and that he will be remembered fondly. "Earl just had that universal touch with his storytelling and it will live on in, in legend. I believe that he was … simply unforgettable," said Cranford. Pilgrim was born in St. Anthony in 1939, and later studied forestry at the College of Trades and Technology in St. John's, according to Pilgrim's bio on the Flanker Press website. Before becoming a writer, he spent his early life as an infantry man in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1960, and eventually joined the sport of boxing. Pilgrim was a star boxer and eventually became the Canadian Light Heavyweight Boxing Champion. After leaving the military, he became a forest ranger with the province's forestry department. He worked as a forest warden for nine years and became a wildlife protection officer. He had four children with his wife Beatrice Compton and settled in Roddickton, N.L. Flanker published six of Pilgrim's books in the late nineties and early 2000s, just as the press was getting started said Cranford. Cranford said his father had heard of Pilgrim's books and asked him if he would like to bring them back into print and republish them under Flanker Press. "It was a thrill for me to to meet Mr. Pilgrim and and to to enjoy his stories," said Cranford. "He was just an incredible storyteller." Cranford says Pilgrim's death will be felt across the province. "He was a pillar in the province, a literary giant," said Cranford. Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
CTV News
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Newfoundland man publishes patriotic word-search puzzles
From Canadian sights-to-see to songs or meals, Nick Cranford is putting Canadiana on the map. Gros Morne, Peggy's Cove, Banff. Trailer Park Boys, Anne Murray, Michael J. Fox. They're all Canadian and they're all words to seek and circle in Nick Cranford's word search books. From Canadian sights-to-see to songs or meals, the 27-year-old from St. John's, N.L. is putting Canadiana onto the page and in the process, putting his stamp on his family's publishing business. 'I felt it was my duty,' he said, noting Canadian's love and pride for their country has deepened recently. 'I am happy to play my small part in making this country great.' Cranford's grandfather started Flanker Press, based in St. John's, more than 30 years ago in the family living room. But it was his late great-grandmother who inspired him to create a word search book. 'I noticed one of her absolute favourite things to do, was doing word searches,' he said. His 'great-nan,' who lived into her nineties, always had a pile of them. 'They were her breakfast, lunch and dinner.' Nick Crawford Nick Crawford and his 'great-nan' But there was no Newfoundland & Labrador-specific word search puzzle book, said Cranford. In the summer of 2023, he decided to change that. His first book became a template for others. He highlighted sights to see, such as Cape Spear, Signal Hill and Terra Nova. He created a Newfoundland-centric puzzles with themes like Jigg's Dinner, a traditional Newfoundland dish, Mary Brown's and home brew. Then there are Newfoundland words and pieces of local communities such as retirement homes, churches, businesses and parks. Next came Nova Scotia, Alberta, P.E.I., Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Cranford has made a word search book for Toronto and Ontario and recently published one for New Brunswick with pages dedicated to Acadian words and tourist destinations such as Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park. Crack open Alberta's puzzle book and you'll find puzzles on the Oilers, Flames, Banff and Nickelback. His Manitoba puzzle will send searchers to scan pages about the Forks, Churchill and The Guess Who. He's sold more than 50,000 copies of his books so far. Cranford was always planning to complete his collection by publishing more province-specific word search books, but the recent surge patriotism urged him to speed up his printing deadline. 'I want to strike while it's hot,' he said. He aims to complete a Quebec, B.C. and a Canada-centric puzzle book by Canada Day. The territories will come next.
