The comfort food of cottage life books — satisfying, unforgettable, and inevitably nostalgic.

Cottage Daze celebrates life at the cottage where the cottage is the main character, and family, friends, pets, and fellow cottagers are the supporting cast. Whether writing about cottage routine ("First Ski," "Of Mice and Men," "Cottage Guests"), cottage tasks ("Splitting Wood," "Boat Launch"), nature ("A Gathering of Loons," "The Sting," "Autumn Spell"), cottage fun ("The Cottage Duel"), or cottage touchstones ("Start the Day," "Bonfire," "The Perfect Storm"), the stories are told with humour, compassion, insight, and nostalgia.

Who doesn’t remember sitting in a frigid lake, trying to help a youngster get up on water skis for the first time, launching a boat while the whole world seems to be watching, or getting caught up in a nest of wasps? This collection of stories, elegantly organized into four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter), will make readers laugh, cry, and long to be at the cottage a "must have" for every cottage bookshelf.

 

James Ross has a degree in journalism and has worked as a newspaper reporter, cowboy, mountain guide, museum curator, dogsledder, movie stuntman, animal trainer, photo double, and freelance writer. He enjoys and misadventures at his Muskoka island cottage in Bracebridge, Ontario.

James Ross' profile page

James Ross takes us deep inside the Canadian cottage experience, savouring its endless wonders, laughing at the frustrations. You'll hear the loons, marvel at the golden sunsets, and smell the firewood.You are at the cottage.

Lloyd Robertson, Former CTV News Anchor

The thread runs chronologically, from opening the camp to closing it and everything in between tells staple stories that transcend the cottage culture across Canada and through generations.

Lakes of the Woods

In 160 pages this engaging journalist chronicles episodes at his Muskoka cottage. Ross’s Muskoka island cottage is a place where he enjoys adventures and misadventures in all seasons. His robust sense of humour and adventure are nicely balanced with insight about nature and the human condition.

Muskoka Magazine

Filled with amusing anecdotes of previous summer shenanigans, Cottage Daze explores the feeling that a cottage adds to a relaxing, enjoyable summer.

The Echo Haliburton County

A perfect summer read!

by lizanneharvey@ymail.com

Story to story, reminiscence to reminiscence, tale to tale... so much here to relate to, to remember in the reader's own context, to chuckle over... especially poignant is Jamie's "Time Moves On" chapter... I too have watched my sons grow up over the years at home and at the cottage... revelling in their adventures, growth and experience... but as he says "Life moves on and you can't change that" as we see them go off on their own pursuits with less time for the bonfires and treasure hunts and lolling on the dock... "For now I'll enjoy watching a young lady and her kayak--" Jamie's message is universal for all... treasure the moment, and trust that the cottage-lessons and fun instilled will resonate with your kids throughout their lives and will transfer to future generations. Thanks for invoking my own special memories with your perceptive and warm and comical memories! My favourite was about Charlie the Bloodhound... a must read and a must see! This book should be on every cottage coffee table or dock or hammock or every visitor's list for a cottage-guest gift!!!