When Doyle Dalton visited Nova Scotia

Author and Creator Ellen E. Sutherland on the Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia

Alabaster statues! Jamie Poole Books is full of mysterious alabaster statues with otherworldly powers. Everyone knows alabaster can be found in Egypt, but that is not the only place. In a few books, Jamie has explored locations in the world where alabaster can be found. Sisterhood of the Sword is the first book to mention that Nova Scotia, Canada, is one such location. A second is Doyle Dalton's Diary.

Spoiler alert: Doyle Dalton sails to Nova Scotia, specifically to Halifax with his Cabinet of Curiosities. While to this point I've emphasized his travels around the world and his efforts in World War I, he sailed to Canada to display his cabinet.

Before I provide a snippet from the book, let's look at alabaster and how it can be found somewhere like Nova Scotia.

Gypsum, selenite, and alabaster can all be found in the same areas of Nova Scotia because they are different forms of the same mineral: calcium sulfate. These minerals formed millions of years ago when seawater evaporated, leaving behind thick layers of gypsum deposits. Over time, geological processes caused variations in texture and crystal structure, leading to the formation of selenite (transparent crystals) and alabaster (fine-grained, white gypsum used for carving).

Nova Scotia’s gypsum deposits are often found in shale layers, where they crystallized under specific conditions. The province has some of the largest gypsum quarries in the world, particularly in Milford and Hants County, where all three varieties can be found together. These deposits are commercially valuable, with gypsum being widely used in wallboard production, while alabaster is prized for artistic and decorative purposes.

Nova Scotia has a rich history of gypsum mining, dating back to the 1770s, when farmers in Hants County discovered deposits on their land and began exporting gypsum to the United States. The pictures included are of a small deposit of alabaster, selenite, and gypsum, with chips of smokey quartz. And while it is not "remarkable" in its size compared to others in the area, it is beautiful, in that you access it by walking on the ocean floor at low tide. These picture was taken in the Bay of Fundy on the Kempt Shore.

Alabaster, selenite, and smokey quartz deposits.

Because of deposits like this, I tied in the idea of an alabaster statue or two being crafted from Nova Scotian alabaster.

All books in the Jamie Poole Book series are available internationally on your local Amazon store. If you are in Canada you can get autographed copies from the author. Email JamiePooleBooks@gmail.com

Additionally, if you are in Nova Scotia, it is possible to arrange a drop-off of books to avoid shipping feels.

From Doyle Dalton's Diary:

Doyle Dalton speaking with his wife about a gentleman that will not be named here as it gives away too many spoilers. Sheila said, “He even recommended you purchase local alabaster from his friend, what was his name?”

“Nicholas Fagan of Windsor, just up from Halifax," Dalton answered.

“What will you do with such a large piece of alabaster?”  

Dalton chortled. “I will carve my own queen. You.” I kissed her nose. “I will learn how to carve stone. How hard can it be? But I am glad I did not display the star map. I wish to do this again.”

“I thought you might,” came her reply. “Doyle,” she said after a while. I’m pregnant.”

There's one spoiler: A tie-in with Nick Fagan, the friend of Peter Dalton. Everything is connected.