Scarred: A Novel

Fog Lake City has a community of stray dogs called the Den. One of them is a four-year-old male named Scar, who was abandoned at a young age and prefers being alone. Roaming the streets, he discovers a young husky puppy named Comet left in a box in an alleyway. Forming an unexpected bond, Scar and Comet try to survive on the cold winter streets of Fog Lake City. After a sudden encounter with his former owner, Scar feels trapped in between two worlds. Is he a lonely stray or a lovable pet? He now has to decide where he truly belongs and what it means to be a family.

Description written by Catherine Khaperska

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Scattered: A Novel

Two-and-a-half years after Scar officially adopted Comet, they’re living comfortably at the Den with their family and friends. Among them are Scar and Brescia’s new pups: Ellie, Dusty, and Tina!

But after an accident destroys the Den, the strays that used to call it home are forced out into the streets. As they search for safety and a new place to live, scattered throughout Fog Lake City, will they be able to stay together as a family?

“Scattered” is a heartwarming story of resilience and hope, and as Scar, Comet, and their friends adjust to their new reality, they learn that the Den is more than the dilapidated house on the outskirts. It’s their family and community, and it will live on no matter what. 

Paperback and E-book out now!

Inside: Thoughts From A Pandemic

2020’s quarantine was a rough time for many. Stress and boredom were building up. Me and my friend (whose name will remain anonymous) decided to write a novel together about a community of stray dogs. The first chapter of this novel, Scarred, is published in Inside.

Published in June 2022, Inside is a collection of 28 stories, poems and other works on the theme of isolation, submitted by Nova Scotian authors, and is published by Nevermore Press. All proceeds fund the South Shore Public Libraries Bookmobile, which is essentially a library on wheels supporting rural communities around Lunenburg.

IBO Extended Essay (May 2025)

The Extended Essay is a 4000-word research paper that all International Baccalaureate (IB) students have to complete and submit before the end of the year in order to recieve their diploma. My paper is titled “Enemies or Lovers: An Analysis of How BookTok Affects the Book Industry and Writers“.

The paper explores various aspects of BookTok, with insights taken both from academic sources as well as first-hand experiences from young authors I know on Writer-gram. The final grade I was given was an A (which is the highest mark possible on an EE). Special thanks to my EE advisor and to all the authors who took the time to provide their thoughts and opinions, I couldn’t have done it without you!

Collaborature Magazine (June 23rd/July 9th 2025)

Collaborature Magazine is a literary magazine that invites collaborative poetry – poems done by more than one author. The poem duo of “Everything is objectively incorrect if you stare at it long enough” was inspired by a comment of the same name from Naomi, an author friend of mine. This makes both poems similar to epigraph-style poetry.

Each poem carries a different tone, with one being self-deprecating and the other being admiring, however they both carry the same title and inspiration. Thank you Naomi for the inspiration and for agreeing to collaborate! This was a lot of fun!

Open Heart Forgery (April 2025)

Open Heart Forgery is a Halifax-based print literary zine, where poets across Halifax and surrouding areas can submit poetry to be published. Copies of OHF can be found across Halifax in locations such as the Glitter Bean cafe or at any Halifax Public Library.

“Seven” was written as an exploration of the different nuances of 7 a.m. against 7 p.m. and tells the story of an artist trying to paint a sunrise.

I’d Like To Meet Her (3rd place winner of the AMI International Day of the Girl Child Poetry Competition)

“I’d Like To Meet Her” tells the story of one young woman encouraging another, talking about their dreams and their potential in the world. It was performed at the Mount Saint Vincent University’s annual Girl’s Conference (2025) and in June 2025 was published in the AMI’s Working Papers in Atlantis (Issue 46.2).

By The Beach Journal: Issue 1 (Pomegranate)

“blackberry-and-pomegranate soda” (timestamp: 3:10) was inspired by a real-life event of mine, where I was with my close friends in a local pottery cafe, drinking — you guessed it — blackberry-and-pomegranate Italian Soda as we painted mugs and other ceramic figures. The cafe I remember from my childhood had closed down due to COVID, so this new cafe was at the same time nostalgic and a new experience.

This poem is about growing up, and how some things remain the same while others change, and it talks about worry for the future as well as having fond memories of the past.

The coalition for digital narratives

“Perspectives” was inspired by the theme of the coalition’s Issue 7 (April 30th, 2024), which was “how to care/for each other/should nothing matter”. On the theme of “should nothing matter”, “Perspectives” was brought to life. It’s not only published digitally on their site, but there is an audio recording there as well.

This poem is about shifting your perspectives about life to realize what really matters.

CRIAW/ICREF F-Word Feminist Magazine

Letter to Women was written in the spur of the moment on International Women’s day 2022 as an inspirational message for women and girls everywhere to follow their dreams and be strong, confident individuals.

The 10th edition of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (or, CRIAW)’s F-Word Feminist Magazine was published in the summer of 2022, and features “the voices of young women and feminists across Canada” (quote from the CRIAW website itself).

The Light Goes On At Night

The Light Goes On At Night was written in 2021 for the Helen Creighton Folklore Society Ghost Story Contest, in partnership with the Halifax Public Libraries. It tells the story of Matthew Osborne, an old man living alone and working at a lighthouse. When he dies unexpectedly and becomes a ghost, he realizes that there are so many experiences that he missed out on because of his life at the lighthouse, and proceeds to have exciting, exhilarating adventures in his seaside hometown. The Light Goes On At Night is about living life while you still can, and savouring the moments that life gives you.

In The Woods

In The Woods was written in 2018 and has won the Helen Creighton Folklore Society (HCFS) Ghost Story Contest. It is about a dog that goes hunting with his owner and ends up getting killed as he defends his master against wolves in the woods. He is reincarnated as a ghost and sees his owner sadly processing and coming to terms with his pet’s death. In The Woods is a story about how death affects those who have been left behind. While I am proud of this story, it’s very obvious that this was written by eleven-year-old Catherine!