Jo Owens took 10 years to write her debut novel, A Funny Kind of Paradise, and says her protagonist Francesca is a combination of traits from numerous people she has looked after during that time. Released by Penguin Random House Canada on March 9, the story follows Francesca as she finds friendship, laughter and even some inner peace in a place where she initially felt stripped her of her freedom. That left her and her colleagues thinking that if others knew what care aides saw every day, they would never make such cuts. She started writing A Funny Kind of Paradise soon after and then took two years to edit the book. A Funny Kind of Paradise by Jo Owens was published by Penguin Random House Canada and went on sale March 9.

Source: CBC News March 14, 2021 16:52 UTC