Ghost Islands of Nova Scotia

Pottersfield Press - available Spring 2012

Despite Nova Scotia’s diminutive size, the waters nearly surrounding Canada’s second smallest province are proportionally island richer than anywhere else in the Atlantic Ocean, the claim being there are more than 3800 islands lying "scattered like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle" along nearly 5,000 miles of coastline. Ghost Islands of Nova Scotia contains a treasure trove of 330 images and maps that form the basis for a series of pictorial vignettes accompanied by a wealth of descriptive text. Legendary islands such as Sable, Seal, St. Paul and Scatarie are brought to life as are Sambro, McNabs, Georges, Lawlor, Devils, Melville, Little Hope, McNutts, Oak, Isle Haute, the Tuskets and LaHave Islands, among others. Featured are tales of abandoned settlements and homesteads, lighthouses and keepers, storms and shipwreck, contagious diseases and mass burials, lost cemeteries and ghostly apparitions, pirates and buried treasure, smugglers, spies and murderers, forts, prisons and secret passageways, even picnics, carnivals and merry-go-rounds. Ghost Islands of Nova Scotia is a snapshot of the past, a look back at a rugged, dangerous, adventuresome, often lonely and sometimes tragic way of life.

Buried in the Woods: Sawmill Ghost Towns of Nova Scotia

Pottersfield Press  2010  ISBN 978-1-897426-14-2

"Mike Parker has a passion for the history of his native province. Buried in the Woods: Sawmill Ghost Towns of Nova Scotia is another fine example of his devoted quest to rescue the easily overlooked and nearly forgotten records of day-to-day life in Nova Scotia's past."

        - Ralph Higgins   Atlantic Books Today    Spring 2010

"Buried in the Woods is an absolute must-read. Parker pieces together the past with both the mind of a reporter and the heart of a romantic."   

         -  Stephen Patrick Clare   Halifax Chronicle Herald 

"Mike Parker has compiled an absolutely fabulous collection of vintage pictures, properly fleshed out with intriguing facts and tidbits."

         -  David Hansen   CBC Information Morning   July 2, 2010

Gold Rush Ghost Towns of Nova Scotia  

Pottersfield Press   2009   ISBN: 978-1-897426-04-3 

"In Gold Rush Ghost Towns of Nova Scotia, Mike Parker rescues from neglect [a] rich and colourful part of the province’s history.... Brought to life again are the rogues and heroes, the philanthropists and the con men, and all those who fell somewhere between the two extremes who shaped the times in which they lived..... Meticulously researched and replete with photographs, Gold Rush Ghost Towns of Nova Scotia ably demonstrates that our history, far from being boring and unexciting, is instead vibrant with character and events."

    - Ralph Higgins, Atlantic Books Today, Spring 2009

"As entertaining and enlightening as the book is, it is also a bit of a prophecy.  A worthy addition to any library where local history is valued.... "

        - Jim St. Clair  The Inverness Oran

"... an important source of historical, social and industrial information."

      Pick, Pan & Shovel : Nova Scotia Prospectors Association Newsletter, April 2010

Historic Annapolis Valley
Nimbus Publishing 2006 ISBN 1-55109-583-1

"Historic Annapolis Valley is chock full of interesting anecdotes and pictures accompanied by a friendly text written with affection ... This book may be a trip down memory lane for oldsters, but it is an exciting view of the recent past for others whose memories are shorter."

      ‑ Glen Hancock, Digby Courier, December 7, 2006.

Fortress Halifax
Nimbus Publishing 2004 ISBN 1-55109-494-0

"Parker shows exceptional skill in putting a human face on military history.... The book contains an enormous amount of fascinating information ... an excellent reference source on military life in Canada."
Jim Lotz: Canadian Military History Book Review Supplement

"Like a stroll back through time. Very enlightening, copiously illustrated ...well packed with nuggets of information, and anyone who's interested in the history of the city will spend many happy hours mining them."
David Pitt: Halifax Chronicle Herald

"A well-researched book ... a treasure trove of interesting snippets. Fortress Halifax is like a time capsule that will greatly enhance the experience of viewing much that still exists."

Doug Thomas LCdr (ret'd): Trident

The Smoke-Eaters
Nimbus Publishing 2002 ISBN 1-55109-417-7

"Parker has done an exhaustive amount of research.... The Smoke-Eaters is a considerable feat, gathering together into one volume a significant amount of Nova Scotia's firefighting history, ably recounted by an avid historian."
Jodi DeLong: Halifax Chronicle Herald

"There is an almost breath-taking scope in time range, geographical coverage and themes covered. The Smoke-Eaters is a welcome addition to the study of fire and fire protection in Nova Scotia. It is an eminently readable book showcasing many exceptional photographs."
B.E.S. Rudachyk: Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society

"Parker brings to the province's firefighting history the same attention to detail found in histories he has written of Digby, Lunenburg and Dartmouth."

Bruce Erskine: Halifax Chronicle Herald

Historic Digby
Nimbus Publishing, 2000 ISBN 1-55109-339-1

"If ever a writer deserved the Richardson Award for quiet, conscientious, continuous, brilliant effort, it is Mike Parker.... He has captured the flavour of our pastso well."
Lance Woolaver, Shunpiking, Nova Scotia's Discovery Magazine

Historic Lunenburg
Nimbus Publishing, 1999 ISBN 1-55109-297-2

"A superb marriage of text and photographs."
Richard Wilbur, Canadian Book Review Annual

Historic Dartmouth
Nimbus Publishing, 1998 ISBN 1-55109-265-4

"A comprehensive and thoughtful word/photo history. . . genuine and interesting. I would highly recommend it."
Arnie Patterson, The Daily News

Rivers of Yesterday
Nimbus Publishing, 1997 ISBN 1-55109-225-5

"Nova Scotian Mike Parker has become one of the Maritimes leading anthologists of wilderness history."
Eric Marks, The New Brunswick Reader

Where Moose and Trout Abound
Nimbus Publishing, 1995 ISBN 1-55109-132-1

"An enormously appealing portrait of Nova Scotia. It will make you wish you could step back in time and see the place for yourself."
David Pitt, Halifax Chronicle-Herald

Running the Gauntlet
Nimbus Publishing, 1994 ISBN 1-55109-068-6

"An excellent book ... a fascinating insight into the role of the Canadian merchant service during the Second World War ... eloquently describes the sacrifices of Canada's merchant veterans."
Gavin Murphy: The Beaver: Canada's History Magazine

"A corker of its kind - graphic."
Douglas Fisher: Legion Magazine

"Parker's work is a unique and timely contribution to the history of World War II and dramatically emphasizes an injustice long overdue for redress."
Francis I.W. Jones: Canadian Oral History Association Journal

Woodchips and Beans
Nimbus Publishing, 1992 ISBN 1-55109-023-6

"A critical collection of interviews with those who made the history. It might well have been lost."
Rob Matthews: Halifax Chronicle Herald

"Parker promises to entertain his readers with some great tales of an era now long gone."
Atlantic Books Today

"Fortunately there are people like Mike Parker who compile stories into books like this ... a worthy successor to Guides of the North Woods."

Gary Saunders: Forest Times

Guides of the North Woods
Nimbus Publishing, 1990 ISBN 0-92105-437-8

"Mike Parker is to be applauded for bringing to life a heretofore neglected aspect of our history and heritage."
Ed Stoddard: New Maritimes

"An excellent compilation of oral history that stirs the imagination and is thoroughly addictive."
Anthony R. Yue: Atlantic Provinces Book Review

"The author has done his homework. Mike Parker's love for the tradition of old time guiding is evident."
Don Cayo: Saint John Telegraph Journal

"An invaluable addition to the history of Nova Scotia."
Matt Hartman: Canadian Book Review Annual