Florance (Flo) Turgeon
Categories: Female Authors - Anglophone Authors - Francophone Authors - Novelists - North
Source: Author / auteure
Biography
Flo: A Portrait of Resilience & Generosity. Born in Campbellton, New Brunswick, and raised in the French-speaking village of Maltais, Flo mastered English young – a rarity in her community. A natural storyteller, she spun tales to lull her sister and later her son to sleep, though floods and life's twists claimed many of her early writings.
Independent by 17, she worked odd jobs – babysitting, cooking at McDonald's – to afford her first apartment. Her home became a haven for strays, both furry and human, as she fed, housed, and uplifted friends and cousins without hesitation.
Defying a childhood prognosis that she'd never bear children [following] a severe car accident, Flo welcomed her miracle son in 1995. Her spirit is as vibrant as her talents: she cooks, builds, sews, dances through storms, and gives relentlessly – especially during holidays, when she anonymously [gives] gifts [to] families in need.
For the Loving of a Pirate represents the flowering of those long-nurtured dreams – a tapestry woven with threads of both joyous triumphs and poignant tears. It embodies the essence of an extraordinary woman: deeply compassionate yet fiercely passionate, endlessly nurturing yet unafraid to battle for her convictions. This story is the fruit of a life richly lived, where every laughter and heartache has sown the seeds of this remarkable tale. (Andy)
Though life led her apart from her first love, Andy, their flame never dimmed. After a five-year courtship (and his stubborn devotion), they reunited in 2020, rewriting their love story with joy.
Flo's legacy? A heart too vast to be contained by homes, hardships, or even the boundaries of language.How has New Brunswick influenced your work?
I have lived in New Brunswick all my life, with only a short time spent across the bridge in Quebec before returning to my roots and birth province. We live in a beautiful province, and every day I appreciate waking up to the view of the water. Whether it is the shore of my hometown, Campbellton, or the salmon river across from my house in Wyersbrook, I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in the world. As a child, I told stories to my little sister to put her to sleep, and later did the same for my son as he grew up. I attended several schools in NB, where my imagination always ran wild during compositions; it was always my favourite part of school, second only to math.
What is your favourite New Brunswick book, and why?
If I am honest, while I read constantly as a child, I didn't pay attention to authors or origins. I was diagnosed with a condition that threatened my sight before puberty, and my goal became to absorb as much information as possible as fast as I could – dictionaries, grammar books, encyclopedias – I read it all. At thirteen, I had started learning sign language and Braille when I decided I had enough. My father didn't force me to continue, though he was terrified for my future. Today, I am facing hearing loss instead of sight loss, but as my father said, “It's a lot better than being blind.” Even if I go deaf, I will never stop writing. To this day, the best 'book' I ever read was the encyclopedia; I still have a deep love for documentaries and factual information.
What do you consider to be the highlight of your career so far?
My greatest career highlight is happening right now. I have successfully established myself as a published author and independent publisher with full copyright ownership of my work. With one book published and several more in the final stages of release, I am finally seeing my creative vision come to life. My mind is constantly running with new story ideas, and I am proud to be building a legacy where I own my words and my future.
To date, I have focused my career on the research and publication of my historical fiction saga and traditional remedy archives. My primary 'award' has been the successful establishment of my independent publishing house, Édition Wyersbrook, and the completion of my first bilingual titles.
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Featured Publication |
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For the Loving of a Pirate (2026) |
Excerpt: The crew is hungry and cruising for a fight when they spy a prized English warship. Red Tom, a pirate feared by almost everyone, orders the crew to prepare for a brutal assault. Amidst the splintering wood and whizzing musket balls, they discover a shocking surprise: a beautiful young woman caged in the hold. She is Anahi Deval, daughter of the legendary pirate Black Jack. To keep his superstitious crew from mutiny, Red must hide her in his own cabin. In a world ruled by wind, timber, and the ruthless Pirate Code, Anahi must survive a captain who shows no mercy and a journey where the only thing more dangerous than the sea is the man who claims to protect her. |
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Source(s): Author.
