William Ormand Mitchell (1914-1998) was a Saskatchewan author whose fiction captured and conveyed life on the prairies. Born in Weyburn, Mitchell penned radio plays for CBC, edited fiction for “Maclean’s” magazine, and wrote plays, short stories, and nine novels. His 1947 novel “Who Has Seen the Wind” cemented his eventual legacy as an influential prairie author. Set in a small Alberta town, “Roses Are Difficult Here” details the complex emotions and relationships that come to light when visiting sociologist Dr. June Melquist enlists the help of local newspaper editor Matt Stanley to interview townsfolk. With its colorful cast of characters, Mitchell’s novel depicts a web of small-town idiosyncrasies, proprieties, and ambitions.
