Grey County Reads – Book Slam!

Authors Brian Barrie and Thanh Campbell will read from their featured books, finalists in the 2024 Grey County Reads contest with $300 worth of prizes to be won courtesy of Speaking Volumes Books and Audio, Markdale.

Introduced by Tim Nicholls Harrison and Monica Singh Soares, these are two of the selection of five featured Canadian-authored books in the 2024 Grey County Reads Contest, as well as another 16 great summer-reading titles. All are available at your local Grey County library.

Following the first round of voting, Quintland Sisters by Shelley Wood was eliminated from competition. Over the next few weeks, four remaining books vied for position and in August, Ducks by Kate Beaton was the second book eliminated. At the end of August, A New Season by Terry Fallis was dropped, leaving two books as this year’s Grey County Reads finalists. They are Four Bullets, Four Witnesses, Four Liars by Brian Barrie and Orphan 32 by Thanh Campbell.

Vote for your favourite for a chance to win books for yourself and the ultimate prize of $200 worth of books for your community library. Voting will conclude on October 6, 2024 when the winning book and the 2024 champion will be declared.

Before the contest ends in October, read more about these books, their champions and their authors. Also, return to this page for weekly updates and instructions on how to participate!

Brian Barrie lives on Lake Huron, his horizon encircled by fishing islands until backlit by the Red Bay sunsets – a gathering place for a vibrant family life. He graduated from the Royal Miltary College in 1969 and, while serving in Gagetown, obtained a Master’s degree in English, specializing in Canadian literature, from the University of New Brunswick, before pursuing his law degree from Queen’s University In Kingston, graduating in 1976.

The call of Lake Huron and the unfailing support of his young wife afforded him the choice to establish a trial practice in Owen Sound Ontario, where for 40 years he was privileged to be accepted into a world of wonder and crisis, where strangers entrusted him with their causes, their fight for freedom, their financial survival and granted him access to their innermost fears and hopes. These were the living stories that provided motivation and instruction beyond books and cemented lasting relationships between a lawyer and his client.

From a small town practice Brian Barrie defended 13 individuals charged with murder, acted for the Deputy Chief of Defence in the Somalia inquiry and three families who lost loved ones in the Walkerton Water crisis, among other things. As well, he served two terms on the board of directors of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. In his last trial, Superior Court Justice Conlan made note of Mr. Barrie’s legal contributions, referring to him in his written judgement “ as one of the best barristers to ever practise law in the Counties of Grey and Bruce”. But Brian Barrie could not still his passion for writing, while practising law. He published four books for children or youth between 2007 and 2019, which have been cherished by local Owen Sound readers.

See www.brianbarrie.com to learn more about these titles, their story lines and their reviews. And now he has written a true life murder mystery ( ‘Four Bullets, Four Witnesses, Four Liars’ ), based on his second murder trial, which has won praise from jurists and the readers of true crime novels, alike. As Brian Barrie said: “ Every human life carries with it a unique and noble story worth telling and there are so many more stories that still need telling.”

Google “Orphan 32” and you will read how Thanh was taken by mistake at 2-years old from Vietnam! and came over to Canada as part of the last flight out of Saigon in 1975 with 56 other orphans. Their story was captured numerous times in the media. Now, working as a media ambassador, Thanh and his team will help you sit where he has sat on National Television being interviewed by International Media Moguls!

Thanh has written his memoir titled Orphan 32. Since then, Thanh has been invited to speak at numerous Business groups, conferences and schools across Canada as a keynote speaker. He shares his story around the World to inspire people to live their lives out of Hope and Healing!

In 2014, Mr. Campbell was awarded the Rotary’s PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD, a prestigious award presented by the Rotary for those who efforts are commended in community building.

He is the Founder of the Resilient Summit and Tour coming November 2022, that will Broadcast amazing Stories of Resilience – Overcoming great obstacles in life and achieving great success.

Mr. Campbell lives in Ontario, Canada and is a father to 4 amazing kids!