Priest's Poetic Imagination Inspires 'A Town for All Seasons'

When the Rev. Eric Kregel has a moment to spare, he writes. But first comes ministering to St. Peter’s Filipino congregation and St. Paul’s, where he is an assistant priest, in west Edmonton, as well as the Mustard Seed in Old Strathcona, all while raising two daughters with his wife Catherine

So, it was a surprise even to Kregel, to learn poetry he had originally published on his blog (https://ericjkregel.wordpress.com/), was also being published as a book.

“All of a sudden there was a book deal and a draft manuscript,” he says, noting that the book project was driven by illustrator and publisher Olivia Wylie.

Kregel and Wylie met online in a fantasy/alternative religion Facebook group. She had read his poetry about the seasons of the year shaping personalities differently (ie. mercurial January people, expressive October people, celebratory December people) and recognised an opportunity for collaboration.

“Her work is amazing, and she has done other works, but this is her first collaboration,” he says.

Kregel credits Wylie for seeing the project, the culmination of his poetic imagery and her watercolour artistry, through to publication.

“She was very collaborative and supportive, but she did the hard work of getting us published,” he says.

Eventually, Kregel will have copies of A Town for All Seasons to sell locally, but for now, the book can be ordered online.