B.A. Thomas-Peter's debut novel, The Kissing Fence (Caitlin 2020) begins with two separate stories about various characters dealing with their Doukhobor faith. In one, two Russian Doukhobor children, Pavel and Nina rely on Doukhobor teachings to get them through separation from their families in a cruel residential school in the 1950s. In the other, a successful but corrupt businessman rejects his Doukhobor heritage until a cycling accident in 2018 sends his life into turmoil. The stories converge when Pavel and Nina try to build a life after the devastation of their dormitory years while William begins to question his own values.

Thomas-Peter is Canadian but lived in the UK as a teenager and trained as a Clinical Psychologist. He returned to B.C. in 2010 where he retired from his post as provincial executive director of forensic psychiatry and began writing.

The Kissing Fence (Caitlin 2020) $24.95 9781773860237

[BCBW 2020]