In 2003 Laurie Ness Gordon and her husband moved to a lakefront property north of Kingston, Canada. Since then, she has focused her time on her love of writing. Having previously written numerous articles, stories, and promotional materials for magazines, newspapers and art installations, she is now delighted to present her first novel—The Medal.

Criminal activity, a forbidden girlfriend, a joyride—they could spell disaster for 16-year-old Kilian Barker. Then he accidentally meets Harry Goddard, a World War II veteran, living in a nursing home. What can some ancient dude teach a streetwise foster kid? Not much, according to Kilian. But those medals in the display case outside Harry's room—they could be worth something. A coming-of-age story set in Canada and Afghanistan, interwoven with true stories of World War II and life in Kingston, Ontario.