Cathy Jewison has worked as a newspaper reporter, copy editor, government communicator and administrator. Born and raised on the Prairies, she turned to creative writing when she moved to Yellowknife, N.W.T., in 1986. After dabbling in poetry, drama and creative non-fiction, she settled on the short story as her preferred literary form. Since then, her quirky characters have appeared on the pages of literary magazines and anthologies.

An isolated mining community like Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, attracts its share of dreamers and schemers. While some are satisfied to search for gold or diamonds, others end up pursuing more unexpected goals. The Ugly Truck and Dog Contest and Other Tales of Northern Life drops you into the quirky world of Canada's northern frontier and acquaints you with some of its more colourful citizens as they chase these rewards.

You will meet a woman desperate to prove her northern identity by winning the aforementioned contest; a veteran prospector who has maintained his competitive edge in a surprising way; a young lawyer seeking redemption for his indiscretions on the City's all-sand golf course. They tackle it all with spirit, humour, and the occasional touch of magic.