Compelling Tale Publishing

Blends, Cuvées and Assemblages. “In the world of wine, the practice of blending is an art that is applied with great sophistication by winemakers around the world. Although the term “blending” is often associated with a technical sound, there are a variety of more elegant terms for this practice. In German-speaking countries, we like to use terms such as cuvée, assemblage, coupage or even mariage…” “These terms all stand for the same thing: the harmonious blending of wines

From Barrel-Aged Wine: How Barrel Aging Transforms Wine: “Red wines are best suited to barrel aging. Many classic red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, are aged in oak barrels. Oak aging is integral in producing many high-quality red wines, lending them their characteristic depth and complexity.”   Barrel aging can improve flavours, by allowing a wine to mellow, reducing astringent tannins and structural harshness. It can also introduce new flavours

The Oxford Dictionary defines terroir as the the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as soil, topography, and climate. The terroirs of the Okanagan Valley, one of Canada's premier wine regions, vary greatly. Cooler and wetter in the north, hot and dry in the south, the grapes grown and the notable wines of each area are different. As a rule of thumb, whites and rosés excel in the north, while the south is known for its

The top songs on the TNT Music Playlist, Spring 2026.

Wine Facts #2 from my upcoming mystery novel Pinot Mort. Ever wonder what 'Brut' means? It refers to the sweetness level of a sparkling wine. Specifically in the range of 0 - 12 grams of sugar per litre. 🍾

Sharing Wine Facts From The Glossary Of My Upcoming Book, Pinot Mort   Uses Of Oak In Winemaking   Winemakers use two main types of oak, French and American, to influence wine flavors. Hungarian oak is also a popular variety, as a less expensive alternative with some of the European characteristics. French oak tends to impart more subtle, elegant flavors like spice and mocha, while American oak delivers bolder, sweeter flavors like vanilla and coconut. The use of French oak p

My first mystery novel The Femdom Felony is now out of print, after five years of book sales on various platforms. The locations in Calgary seem dated now, and with iconic places like the Saddledome due to be demolished, it will be even more so in the next couple of years. Calgary is a fast-changing city, whose growth hasn't slowed in the years since the novel was first published in 2020. Reading over the book, I see many places where changes could be made. I may release a n

Here's a playlist of the top tunes I was listening to in 2025. It mostly features songs in the roots and blues categories. My favorite artist from last year was Jesse Roper. I saw him live twice and he puts on a fantastic, energetic show.

The new book, Pinot Mort will be released sometime the new year, according to the latest plans for 2026. I'm happy with the progress made by finishing a third draft of the novel and it's gratifying to see it improve with each iteration. To hear a sample chapter, join us at the Analog Book Store Writer's Group on Tuesday, Jan. 6th at 6:30 p.m. This seems like a good time to post some excerpts from the book on my blog. I'm going to do some regular posts of wine facts from the b

Pinot Mort, my new mystery novel set in the Okanagan wine region, is going out to beta readers for feedback. This is a solid step on the way to a publishing date. Pinot Mort new draft complete.

Author Kevin Van Tighem Lethbridge put on another excellent Word On The Street Festival this weekend. Author visits, independent...

The first draft of my new Pinot Mort murder mystery is complete! Are you thirsting for a superb glass of wine and an intriguing puzzle of...

Which wines were the writers drinking at When Words Collide? Here are a few of the latest Canadian wine recommendations. #ElbowsUp...

I had a great time at the When Words Collide writer's conference in Calgary recently. There are always new things to learn and contacts...

People are asking if I can recommend some Canadian wines they might enjoy, because they're wanting to buy local this year. Here are a...

Do you thirst for a superb glass of wine and an intriguing puzzle of a mystery to read on the weekend? I’m combining both in a new...

A New Book Review for The Femdom Felony by Sally Bend   "With THE FEMDOM FELONY, Thomas Moffatt has crafted a well-rounded, truly...

Now is your chance to find my book, The Femdom Felony , available for a promotional price at @Smashwords as part of their 2024 End of...

Here's a recent playlist to rock those winter doldrums

A few of these songs were not published in 2023, but they were new to me last year.