Signing books with 102-year-old Reg Crash Harrison

Few things are more enjoyable to me as an author and book publisher than watching someone take pleasure in sharing their story with others. I've had this privilege many times during my 20 years of writing and publishing books about Western Canadian people.

I've watched numerous authors read sections from their books, which I helped them publish, and I've sat beside several unsung Canadian heroes who have spoken about their inspiring lives and signed copies of a book I've written about them.

 
The most recent event like this was at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum in Saskatoon, where I sat beside 102-year-old Reginald "Crash" Harrison and heard the silence as more than 100 people listened to me read excerpts from our award-winning book Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death, and then listened even more intently as almost-103-year-old Reg expanded on his life story.

Reg grew up in rural Saskatchewan during the Dirty Thirties and went off to war in search of adventure. He survived four plane crashes while serving as a bomber pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force out of England (none of which were his fault). Reg commented on how Canadians did not know the real numbers behind the "moderate losses" reported of men lost during the war, because the British government did not wish to cause panic among its people, and Canada reported what the British media told them.

I read the story of Reg's first plane crash, where he woke up and thought he might be in heaven. Reg talked about losing his best friend "Buddy" during the training program in England, and how he met Buddy's fiancée when he was on his way home to the farm after the war. 

Although Reg Harrison does not consider himself a hero, his story is one of heroism, and it is one I am grateful to have documented for this and future generations to know and cherish.

I am thankful to the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum for hosting this author reading event and to the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild for its Author Reading Program support. Thanks to all who attended, to those who purchased books, and to Reg's daughter Laurie for her help at the event.

Much of my gratitude goes to Reg, of course, I will always be grateful to him for sharing his story with me, culminating in this book. 

You can learn more about the Crash Harrison book and Reg's adventures during the war on my YouTube page as well as on Facebook.

Meanwhile, enjoy these photos from the author reading event at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum. 

Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Author Deana J Driver, left, with Shelley Jensen
of the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, July 6/25

Part of the audience for the Crash Harrison author reading,
at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, July 6/25

The other half of the audience that filled the room
at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum author reading event

Author Deana J Driver listens as 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
tells the audience about his adventures during the Second World War,
July 6, 2025 

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
during the author reading at the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum, July 6/25

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg Harrison
chatting with audience members

                                  

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison
signing Crash Harrison books, July 6/25

102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison with author Deana J Driver
and Reg's daughter Laurie and sister Sylvia (standing), July 6/25 

Author Deana J Driver and 102-year-old Reg "Crash" Harrison,
Saskatoon, SK, July 6, 2025

Speaking Out and Standing Out with Canadian Children's Authors at CANSCAIP Prairie Horizons conference

The 2025 Prairie Horizons conference of the Saskatchewan chapter of the Canadian Association of Children's Authors, Illustrators, and Performers was a great success! Set in beautiful downtown Saskatoon, conference attendees explored the theme of Don't Drop Out: Speak Out, Stand Out. I am grateful to organizers Yvonne Denomy, Mary Harelkin Bishop, and Maureen Ulrich for inviting me to speak as part of a publishing panel and to share notes on manuscript evaluations with three of the attendees.

The publishing panel addressed these topics (some of my responses are in parentheses):  

- What are the challenges for publishers and editors? (Cost of production; selling and marketing the books; lack of financial support for indie publishers & authors)

- What helps an author or manuscript/illustrator stand out, and what is a publisher looking for in a manuscript? (A unique topic/storyline/approach to a subject; great writing that tells the story and helps the reader care about the characters; for DriverWorks Ink books, a story that readers can learn something from, to help make the world a better place)

-  What are tips to encourage aspiring authors and illustrators to stay the course? (Keep going; try to not be discouraged by a rejection letter; try to look at comments or criticisms of the written work as opportunities for improvement; keep searching until you find an editor/publisher who is a good fit for you and your work)

- What do authors/illustrators need to know about Artificial Intelligence (Be careful; use it sparingly and cautiously; add an AI clause in your contracts to protect yourself and your publisher; know that AI  copies sources without permission or compensation to the originators of the ideas; check for the source of the information to confirm it is correct and not plagiarized; be cautious that you are not stealing the creations of others)

The conference had numerous sessions and events in addition to those in which I participated. It's always nice to learn something new and connect with other writers, authors, and publishers. Thanks again to CANSCAIP Saskatchewan for hosting a great conference.

Enjoy these photos from CANSCAIP's 2025 Prairie Horizons Conference.

Blogger and Book Editor Brian Henry, Deana Driver of DriverWorks Ink, Emma Sakamoto of Groundwood Books, and Edward Willett of Shadowpass Press 

Author and Spoken Word artist Khodi Dill inspired the audience to speak out against injustice

Author and Storyteller Cort Dogniez shared why authors should speak out about history and injustice

Three award-winning DriverWorks Ink authors (left to right) Mary Harelkin Bishop, Deana J Driver, and Jennifer S Wallace at the 2025 Prairie Horizons conference

A view of downtown Saskatoon and the South Saskatchewan River, May 2025

Eat Dessert First and Fly into the Grand Canyon

Plenty of people create a "bucket list" of activities they want to do or achieve in their lifetime. I am not one of those people. During a recent vacation, however, I did remember a couple of things I thought would be fun to do. And I was delighted to be able to do them! 

Both happened because of the new man in my life, which also makes me happy to report.

Even more fun-loving and adventurous than I am, Marlowe acted quickly when I commented to him and some friends that I've always wanted to eat dessert first.

Although my friends thought it was a good idea and were game to try it, I chickened out when the server brought us menus at a restaurant in Oceanside, California. I felt like I should not force my whims onto everyone else at the table. But I should have remembered who I was with.

My friends and Marlowe are not people who are prone to backing away from a fun experiment. I am grateful that they can be silly like me.

The server was befuddled when our dessert requests came first, but we convinced him we were serious, and away he went to place our orders.

The chocolate mousse, mudpie, bananas foster, and crème brûlée were delicious!

I highly recommend eating dessert first. You end up ordering a lighter meal afterward while still getting the deliciousness of dessert into your tummy. Win-win! 

Thanks to Roy, Carla, and their daughter Alicia for playing with us!

A couple of weeks later, on this same vacation in the USA, a second item on my non-existent bucket list was fulfilled - my desire to go on a helicopter flight into the Grand Canyon.

When I mentioned this idea to Marlowe, he was also interested and made it happen! Yes, I am a fortunate woman.

During a trip to Las Vegas to see some shows, we booked a flight to the Grand Canyon with Maverick Helicopters. It was my first time flying in a helicopter, but I was assured that the flight would be smooth and safe, so the nerves were quickly gone as soon as we took off.

We were lucky enough to be seated beside the pilot on the first leg of the trip, so we had a fabulous view as we flew into the canyon. Wow!

We landed at the base of the canyon, beside the Colorado River, and had a small snack plus photo opportunities before taking off to head back to Vegas.

Such a wonderful, memorable experience. 

 

As widowers, both Marlowe and I know that each day should be treated as precious. We are committed to doing what we can, together, to enjoy each moment as best we can. I am grateful to Marlowe for coming into my life and for helping me live my life to the fullest.

I hope you can travel your road and check off items on your bucket list with a fun-loving someone too.

A Surprise Connection to Reg "Crash" Harrison's Family Farm

Selling my books at craft and trade shows on the Canadian Prairies is usually a fun and fascinating exercise in which I meet avid readers and get ideas for future stories to write and/or publish. Sometimes, people praise my publishing efforts and the nonfiction or historical fiction books they particularly enjoyed. But the lovely surprise at a craft show in Swift Current in October 2024 was a unique experience.

A few minutes before the show closed on its final day, a woman came running up to my booth, clutching her copy of my book Crash Harrison: Tales of a Bomber Pilot Who Defied Death. "I made it!" she said. "I told my husband I met you yesterday and it was too bad I didn't have my book with me. He asked when the show ended today and told me I still had time to get back here!" Which she did, and I promptly autographed the book for her.

But that wasn't the only reason for her return visit. This time, she brought her cellphone, which contained photos she wanted to show me of an important farmhouse.

You see, Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld was raised on a farm at Lorlie, Saskatchewan, just down the road from Reg "Crash" Harrison, the 102-year-old subject of my book. Reg was a bomber pilot in England in the Second World War who had survived four plane crashes and numerous close calls. I wrote the biography about Reg's childhood on the farm at Finnie, SK, his adventures during his war years, and his life afterward, including being made an Honorary Snowbird by the famed Canadian aerobatics team.

Author-publisher Deana Driver and Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld

When Arlie first spoke with me, she said her sister Loretta was a friend of Reg's youngest sister Sylvia, so she wasn't sure if Reg would know her. Arlie then asked when Reg had last been to the area where they grew up - a question I did not have an answer for. She talked about how she'd been out there recently and had taken photos of the farmhouse. She would have shown them to me except she'd left her phone at home.

So here she was on Day Two of the show, posing for a photo with me and the book, and showing me photos of the farmhouse - the Harrisons' farmhouse, not the house her family lived in!

I was astounded and pleased. I had thought Arlie was talking about photos of her family's farmhouse, not Reg's. This was a great surprise!

Harrison family's farmhouse, Finnie, SK, 2024
Photo by Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld

Side view of Harrison family's farmhouse, Finnie, SK, 2024
Photo by Arlie (Dreger) Neufeld

Harrison family's farmhouse, Finnie SK, 1960
(one of the 98 photos in the Crash Harrison book)

I wish I'd had those recent photos for the book, but I didn't know the house was still standing or I probably would have driven out to take some photos myself.

Oh well. The things you learn after a book has been published.

Thanks, Arlie, for coming back to the craft show and sharing those images with me.

Reg and his daughter Laurie, and his sister Sylvia were all tickled by the reconnection and the photos. They all say, "Hi, neighbour! And thank you!"

Reginald "Crash" Harrison and author Deana J Driver, 2023

Inspiring Crash Harrison book goes to England

An author's wish is that their book will travel to destinations unknown and be appreciated by readers everywhere. In November 2023, my author friend Mary Harelkin Bishop helped my latest book get to England, to the hometown of the subject's parents. And I am grateful.

Reg "Crash" Harrison is a 102-year-old former bomber pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He survived four plane crashes - none of which were his fault - while serving in England during the Second World War. While writing Reg's life story in my award-winning Crash Harrison book, I learned about Reg's family background and his connections to England.

I wrote the book as though Reg was telling his story to the reader:

"My father, William Harrison, was born in the village of Bishop Wilton, about 14 miles east of York in northern England, and my mother, Nellie Harding, grew up in a village called Givendale that was just down the road. Both villages are in Yorkshire county...

"...England lost the cream of its youth in that war. My dad’s village of Bishop Wilton has a church that was built in 1916. There’s a cenotaph there (a memorial to people from that village who died in the First World War). All four sides of that cenotaph are covered with the names of men who never came back, including a family of five sons who were all killed. What a senseless, bloody war," Reg told me.

He went on to say, "As I mentioned, my parents knew each other in England. They dated while my dad was a soldier in the First World War. They got married in 1917, when my dad went home to Bishop Wilton on four days’ leave. After the First World War, my dad had an opportunity to go to New Zealand to work as a policeman, because his father was a policeman in Bishop Wilton. However, my dad really liked Canada and thought there was more opportunity for him here, so he and my mother packed up their belongings and moved to Canada."

Reg was born in 1922 in Saskatchewan, Canada, in the hamlet of Pheasant Forks, southeast of Yorkton. He began sharing more details of his war years when he was in his 80s, and his story has since become the subject of numerous news articles, documentaries, and my book.

Mary Harelkin Bishop has known Reg Harrison for decades, since they attended the same Presbyterian church in Saskatoon. I have worked with Mary for almost 20 years, as an editor and publisher of her work, and she has become a dear friend. In November 2023, Mary and her partner Pete took copies of my Crash Harrison book to England on their vacation. She sent me the photos below.

Thanks, Mary, for making this author's wishes come true!

Mary Harelkin Bishop with Crash Harrison book by Deana J Driver, at Bishop Wilton, England Nov 2023

Mary Harelkin Bishop with Crash Harrison book by Deana J Driver, in Bishop Wilton, England Nov 2023

Mary Harelkin Bishop donated a Crash Harrison book by Deana J Driver to the Pocklington Library, England Nov 2023. "They were pleased to receive it," Mary reports.

Milestone Prairie Players show off our Playwright's Christmas Play

Near the start of the pandemic, retired educator Georgia Joorisity contacted me to ask about publishing a community-oriented drama she'd written. Georgia had seen my name as the editor and publisher of the "Running the Riders: My Decade as CEO of Canada's Team" book by Jim Hopson. She loved that book and had worked with Jim in Saskatchewan's education system.

Being committed to her province, community, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Georgia had written a fun-loving play script called Santa Claus Wore Green. It's about a time when things started going terribly wrong at the North Pole just a few days before Christmas. Fortunately, there are Rider fans everywhere to save the day!

She asked for my help in publishing her play script. Part of the process involved obtaining copyright and other permissions from the Saskatchewan Roughriders, The Arrogant Worms, Jim Hopson, Jason Plumb, and more. They were happy to give us their approval. 

We printed a few physical copies of the script and let it be known that drama groups could obtain the script for a nominal fee. 

Fast forward to four years later...

Georgia was delighted when The Milestone Prairie Players requested permission to present her play at the Milestone Community Christmas celebration. I was thrilled as well and we were both excited to go see the play be performed in front of a live audience. 

It was so much fun to watch the play unfold, and especially fulfilling to see the joy on Georgia's face as her vision came to life! 

 Thank you to the Milestone Prairie Players and Shelley Sentes for performing this fun play! 

It was a blast! 

Unique Reenactment and Memoir Celebrate 80th Anniversary of Canadian Liberation of French Town

Guest blog post by Calgary author Romie Christie:

In September 2024, I travelled to Le Touquet in northern France. This is a place I hold dear in my heart. It’s my mother’s hometown, where we vacationed several times when I was young, twice staying in her family home, Rosemary Cottage. Le Touquet is where my parents, Sandy and Dorothy MacPherson, met and where they were laid to rest after almost 60 years of marriage and a good life in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their ashes are buried under a beautiful marble angel in Le Touquet’s cemetery alongside my maternal grandparents.

When I began writing about my parents’ dramatic and romantic World War II story in what became a published book, See You in Le Touquet: A Memoir of War and Destiny, I was not expecting it would lead me to participate in a memorable celebration in France. Using the word “memorable” hardly does justice to what transpired during the days leading up to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Le Touquet and the very special day itself, September 4th, 2024.

Last December, I sent a handful of copies of my newly published See You in Le Touquet book to Le Touquet – to the mayor, Daniel Fasquelle, to his office at the town hall, and to the historian Alain Holuigue, who’d lent me his support as I researched and wrote my parents story.

Author Romie Christie and Le Touquet historian Alain Holuigue in the Le Touquet Musee grounds, Sept 2024

Alain and his Le Touquet academic committee were thrilled to see the book. Their chairperson was able to read the book in English and immediately called a meeting with the mayor, suggesting the town host an event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Le Touquet’s liberation during World War II and, most importantly, that the event should spotlight my parents and their history as told in my new book. And just like that, planning for the event began.

My sister and her husband, Alexandra and Don Young, committed to attending with me, as did a cousin from Vancouver, Sharon Gove. I stayed in close touch with Alain, who told me the town wished to do a reenactment of my parents’ meeting. I’d been there when my mom and dad performed a reenactment at the 40th anniversary celebration and I knew who should do it this time. I quickly responded to Alain, suggesting Alex and Don. I even sent pictures of them so the planners could see they would do a great job. Alex looks a lot like our mother Dorothy and Don, similar in size to our father Sandy, promised to obtain a Canadian WWII uniform for his part in the drama.

Author Romie Christie (left) with her sister Alexandra Young in front of Rosemary Cottage, their mother's home in Le Touquet, France

We knew before our arrival that on September 4th, 2024 - the day of the 80th anniversary - the reenactment would take place and I would read a segment from my book in English. Then Alain would read a translation. Even so, we all thought it would be a modest occasion. I never imagined how enormous the event itself and our entire week in Le Touquet would be!

On our first day, we met the mayor and his committee at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) and then visited the cemetery where our parents were laid to rest.

Another day, we returned to Le Touquet's City Hall and reenacted our parents’ wedding photos, complete with a hat we fashioned to look like the one our mom had worn. Mayor Fasquelle handed us copies of their original marriage certificate from 1945. No added touch seemed too much.

Alexandra and Don Young reenact the wedding photo of Romie and Alexandra's parents, Le Touquet, France

Bright and early on September 4th, we were chauffeured in genuine WWII Jeeps to the traffic circle where the Avenue des Canadiens begins. At the town’s 40th anniversary celebration, our mother had unveiled the street sign which honours the nation that liberated them.

For the 80th celebration, over 20 Jeeps with Canadian, American, and French "soldiers" in period military dress paraded the streets. After Mayor Fasquelle delivered a somber message detailing the loss and devastation that occurred in Le Touquet, we were transported - by Jeep again, of course - to another traffic circle about a kilometer away, at the corner where my mother’s childhood home, Rosemary Cottage, still stands. She lived there with her parents throughout the war years. The town had reached out to the present owners of Rosemary Cottage, who allowed their home and garden to play an authentic role in the reenactment of our parents' first meeting.

As the story goes, my mom vowed early in the war that she would kiss the first Allied soldier she saw. She told her plan to the female political prisoners who were in jail with her in 1942. And after five long years of wartime occupation of Le Touquet, the day after German forces fled the town, my mother heard a Jeep on the road... and the rest is history, told in my book.

It was right here where Alex and Don went into action, much to the delight of the several hundred Touquetois who had come to watch.

Alexandra and Don Young reenact Romie's parents' first meeting

Alexandra and Don Young reenact the first kiss of Romie's and Alex's parents

Driving through Le Touquet during the 80th anniversary liberation celebration, Sept. 4, 2024

Alex walks Don to Rosemary Cottage, Le Touquet, 2024, just as her mother, Dorothy, walked Sandy to her home in 1944.

Across the street, on the grounds of the town’s museum, a series of large signs were filled with photographs from my book. The front book cover was on the first panel. I was both touched and thrilled.

Panels commemorating the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Le Touquet

Romie Christie's book See You in Le Touquet is on the first panel

The panels in Le Touquet commemorate the meeting of Romie's parents, recognized as the town's liberation moment!

My parents’ history was marked by a new plaque in the centre of town, at the traffic circle where my mother had jumped up and down, waving her arms to flag down my father’s Jeep on September 4, 1944. It is now named “Rond-Point de la Rencontre.” The meeting place, or place of the encounter. (The town is still searching for the best English translation of ‘rencontre’.)

Alexandra, Romie, and Le Touquet's Mayor Fasquelle unveil the new plaque honouring the historic encounter

Alain Holuigue and Romie Christie address the crowd while Alexandra and Don Young look on, Sept. 4, 2024

Mayor Fasquelle presents a commemorative coin to Romie and Alexandra

The French government representative, Isabelle Fradin-Thirode from Arras, said in her presentation, “The couple’s love symbolizes the rebirth and hope that blossomed after the war.” A photo of Alex and Don’s reenactment, shown in local papers the next day, said the hundreds of people in attendance were moved by the opportunity to revisit this part of their past.

The town’s bookstore had ordered 64 books from my publisher in Regina. After the speeches, I sat at the store’s table on the museum grounds to sign books for a long line of locals. I did my best in French! Many of them thanked me for writing the book that tells part of their history that must not be forgotten. In short order, there were no books left.

Romie Christie signs copies of her book See You in Le Touquet in Le Touquet, France

Sept. 4/24

Alex and Don ride in the parade of Jeeps, touring through Le Touquet

I am filled with gratitude for Alain Holuigue, the wonderful historian who played such a vital part in the 80th-anniversary events; to Le Touquet’s mayor Daniel Fasquelle, who, once he gets behind an idea makes sure it is done better than anyone might imagine; to everyone who works for the town, who came up with the plan for the day and made it all happen; to the Faire association who drove their Jeeps and lent such authenticity to the day. And to the hundreds of people who call Le Touquet home, who came to experience and honour my parents and their story. You will always be in my heart!

Author Romie Christie (right) with her sister Alexandra Young and Don Young,

Sept. 4, 2024, Le Touquet, France

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Buy Romie's inspiring book: https://driverworks.ca/

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France’s media coverage of the celebration:

 

     

      

                          

            

See the video of the 80th liberation anniversary celebration on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNTXO0aYfZU

See the print story, Mayor Fasquelle's speech, and photos: 4 September - Le Touquet celebrates the 80th anniversary of the meeting between Dorothy Borutti and Sandy MacPherson and celebrates the Liberation - Touquet Info