Author Archives: jmedhurst44

Coming Soon: The Sidekick – Vinton Chronicles Book One

Posted on by
Reply

I am proud to announce the upcoming release of my first novel, The Sidekick. It will be released by Wicked Ink Publishing on Nov. 4 2025, and is the first in a series titled Vinton Chronicles, which will span five books. I am very excited to pen this adventure with Wicked Ink Publishing, and stay tuned to the website and my socials for updates on the book, story, characters and world of Vinton Chronicles. Read on below for Wicked Ink’s press release regarding my signing and then a synopsis of the book!

Jeff Medhurst Signs Five-Book Deal with Wicked Ink for Action-Packed Superhero Saga “The Vinton Chronicles”

We are thrilled to announce the signing of our newest author, Jeff Medhurst, to the Wicked Ink Publishing family! Jeff brings a wealth of storytelling talent, honed from a young age and nurtured through his love of urban fantasy and comic books. His debut novel, The Sidekick, marks the first installment in The Vinton Chronicles —a thrilling new Young Adult saga that will captivate readers with its vibrant characters and imaginative world-building.

Jeff’s journey as a writer began with the stories he shared with family and friends, and his passion for creative writing only grew stronger during his high school years. Drawing inspiration from favorites like The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and Ultimate Spider-Man, Jeff’s writing is infused with the energy and excitement of the genres he loves.

After earning a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism from Mount Royal University, Jeff showcased his writing skills in various publications, including an interview with the iconic Weird Al Yankovic and the documentary titled Youtube: The Largest Talent Show on Earth. Not one to rest on his laurels, Jeff continued his education by obtaining a Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary. For the past five years, he has been shaping young minds as an English Language Arts teacher for grades five through nine.

Jeff’s short story, The Boy and the Fish, published in Northword magazine in 2023, marked the beginning of his professional writing career. Now, with The Sidekick, Jeff is ready to share his most ambitious work yet. Inspired by the stories that have fueled his imagination for years, The Vinton Chronicles is a series Jeff has been developing since grade school, and he can’t wait to bring these adventures to readers around the world.

When he’s not writing or teaching, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife, two kids, and their sassy dog. He’s also an avid fan of comics, video games, and movies, always keeping up with the latest in pop culture.

Join us in welcoming Jeff to Wicked Ink Publishing, and stay tuned for the release of The Sidekick—an exciting new addition to the world of Young Adult literature!

In a city that’s lost its way, one sidekick must rise to save it.

Sixteen-year-old Jet Thompson has spent the past five years in a hidden bunker, training tirelessly under the guidance of Vinton’s celebrated superhero, Paladin. With a superhuman physique and a profound, enigmatic bond to a greatsword, Jet has been eagerly awaiting the day he can step into the hero’s role he has always idolized. That day arrives with unexpected urgency when a monstrous intruder breaches the bunker’s defenses, forcing Jet to emerge into a city he barely recognizes.

Now topside, Jet confronts a Vinton that has transformed into a dangerous, corrupt metropolis. The city he once knew is now riddled with deceit and malice, and the line between hero and villain is more blurred than ever. As Jet delves into the origins of the monstrous threats hunting him, he uncovers a web of deep-rooted corruption threatening to engulf Vinton.

Navigating this chaotic new world, Jet must also grapple with the trials of high school—a realm of social intricacies and challenges that feels as alien as the city itself. Balancing his role as Paladin’s sidekick with the demands of teenage life, Jet struggles to reconcile his mentor’s expectations with his own emerging sense of what it means to be a hero.

In a city that seems to have lost faith in its saviors, Jet faces the ultimate test of his courage and ideals. He must uncover the truth behind the city’s corruption, confront the threats that plague its streets, and learn what it truly means to rise above. With every battle, Jet gets closer to understanding his own destiny and the true weight of his role. The path to becoming a hero is fraught with peril, and Jet must determine whether he will be the savior Vinton needs or be consumed by the corruption around him.

Release Date: November 04, 2025

YouTube: The Largest Talent Show on Earth

Posted on by
Reply

A twenty-minute documentary piece I helped to create with a small group. Explores the internet careers of YouTube talent at varying degrees of success in southern Alberta.

 

The Boy and The Fish

Posted on by
Reply

Published in Volume 5, Issue 4 of Northword Magazine, The Boy and The Fish is a surreal humor short story. More won’t be said to ruin the surprise, so follow the link for an odd tale of how boy and fish came to coexist!

https://issuu.com/northwordmagazine/docs/northword_literary_magazine_-_volume_5_issue_4

Devon Jopling – Making of Battle of Alberta

Posted on by
Reply

An interview with a local comic book artist about her first graphic novel

Snowboarding – Yesterday and Today

Posted on by
Reply

A look at how snowboarding and it’s image has changed since it first started

 

New MD of Bonnyville building opens

Posted on by
Reply

Published Monday, August 26, 2013 in The Cold Lake Sun

1297459157486_ORIGINAL

 

After two years of construction, the MD of Bonnyville new offices officially opened the new offices on Monday August 19. While the council had moved into the building last spring, they hadn’t officially opened the new building until the ribbon cutting ceremony took place.
Now the entire staff can fit in the new building, which is four times the size of the original, and they have even more staff than before.

Ed Rondeau, the council’s reeve, says the new space will give them the chance to do more and will better equip them to deal with issues as they arise.

“The new space will give us a chance to do things like mapping with GPS, so we can better plan for development,” Rondeau said as an example of what the new building will be capable of compared to the old one.

Having the entire MD council in house in a big plus, said Rondeau, making communication among the staff easier. The building also was constructed to better accommodate the citizens of the MD, with a friendlier approach to welcoming them to the building.

“We placed the main greeting counter at the front as opposed to the old building,” Rondeau said. “So now when people walk in they can ask the questions they need to ask at the front.”

Author comes for book signing in Cold Lake

Posted on by
Reply

Published Tuesday, July 30, 2013 in The Cold Lake Sun

1297448727731_ORIGINAL

On Saturday August 3rd, new author Shelley Thody will be coming to Cold Lake to do a book signing on her first book, Melancholy Mania and Miracles: My Journey with Bipolar Disorder. She’ll be signing the book at Lots-A Books.

The book is an autobiographical account of Thody’s struggle with bipolar disorder, and since it’s publishing in November it has done very well in her hometown of Lac la Biche where she works as a schoolteacher during the year. However now during the summer months she’s working at promoting the book and getting it into as many hands as possible.

“My inspiration for writing the book, was that I’ve been through a lot, and I want to inspire others and remind them that there may be hope out there even if they’re going through a bad time like I was,” Thody explained.

The process of writing the book itself was a roller coaster ride for Thody, having been forced to relive all the experiences that have culminated into her life so far.

“It was difficult, it was healing, and it was scary,” Thody said. “I had to reiterate everything I’ve done in my life, the good and the bad choices. It was difficult to reiterate the tough times, but that in a way gave me a courage I didn’t have before.”

Before the book came out she told her coworkers at the school about the book, and many were surprised to hear she had bipolar disorder at all.

“But they were all very encouraging, it was pretty amazing,” Thody said.

Thody had success in Lac la Biche, with the book selling well all around town. She made a few appearances at book signings, and even went down to Calgary for a book signing at a Chapters bookstore. Lots-A Books offered the upcoming book signing, and Thody eagerly took it as it’s her summer mission to promote the book.

Even though it’s her goal for the summer to work at marketing the book, she has no plans at the moment to retire from teaching and work as a writer.

“I will be returning to teaching in the fall,” Thody said. “I have been approached to write another book, but at the moment my goal is to get this book into as many hands as possible.

“I believe there’s a stigma around talking about mental illness, and we have to be brave enough to talk about it to help the people who need it. So that’s what I’m hoping to push for with the book.”

 

Soccer camp scores

Posted on by
Reply

Published Tuesday, July 23, 2013 in The Cold Lake Sun

1297445859399_ORIGINAL

For the fourth year, Cold Lake Minor Soccer has once again hosted a summer camp for kids of all ages to get some practice with the fundamentals. The turnout for the camp was around 100 kids from all over the Lakeland area, and even one from Edmonton who vacations in Cold Lake for the summer.

The camp is run by Challenger Sports, a program that brings coaches from the U.K. to teach kids some new skills and some old ones in different ways.

“We have coaches from all over the place, a bunch are from Scotland and we got one guy from Wales, for example,” Steve Cupit, the technical director for Cold Lake Minor Soccer, said.

Although for many of the kids it may be skills they have learned before, Cupit says bringing in a fresh face to teach it always helps.
“Plus you put someone with a British accent in front of them and the kids tend to take them more seriously,” Cupit joked.

The camps were split up based on age group and skill level, ranging from full-day developmental camps to mini-soccer for kids ages four to six. The younger groups would focus on building individual skills like ball handling and control, while some of the older and more advanced groups would work on more team oriented skills. Every day the groups would focus on a certain skill to develop, such as heading the ball, which would culminate in a game at the end of the day.

One of the other things the camp was doing this year is called the African Cup of Nations, which assigns kids in the camp to different countries in Africa. It becomes those kids job to research their country and design a flag, because on the last day they hold a tournament with each team representing their country.

U12 girls soccer team brings home silver

Posted on by
Reply

Published Tuesday, July 16, 2013 in The Cold Lake Sun

1297442991415_ORIGINAL

On the weekend of July 6th Cold Lake’s U12 girl’s soccer team, the Focus, earned second place in the provincial championships.

“They surprised everyone, including the parents,” Stacey Boyd, the team manager, said.

Kraushaar, consisted of a mix of age groups, from kids who had played in U12 last year and kids who had played U10 previously and had just moved up.

The tournament took place in Three Hills.  To qualify for the tournament, the girls had to compete in the Lakeland cup several weeks ago where they defeated Bonnyville in the final game.

After their success in that tournament, the team was invited to play at the provincials.
The team played four games and won their first three.

Their goalie nearly entered the final game with a shutout for the whole tournament, only letting one goal in at the end of the third game.

However their winning streak ended in the final game where they lost 4-1 against the Northern Strikers, a team from Fort St. John from B.C., a town whose close proximity to Alberta makes them part of the soccer division.