Thelma's marriage is unravelling as her oblivious husband Wally rediscovers his youthful obsession with Che Guevara. When Rosa, a young Cuban poet, joins his writing group, he unexpectedly books a trip to Cuba. Thelma decides to join him and discovers that he has inexplicably disappeared. As she searches for Wally she converses with the ghost of her father, confronts her abandoned dreams, and relies on the help of odd strangers.

Elizabeth Haynes’ short story collection Speak Mandarin Not Dialect was a finalist for the Alberta Book Awards. Her writing has been published in literary magazines including Alberta Views, The New Quarterly, The Malahat Review, Prism and Room, and a number of anthologies, most recently Shy: an Anthology and Waiting (University of Alberta Press). Her awards include the Western Magazine Award for Fiction, the American Heart Association award for fiction, and the Writers Guild of Alberta Jon Whyte award for non-fiction. She studied writing at the Universities of Victoria and Calgary, and UBC. Elizabeth lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Elizabeth Haynes Burke's profile page

Expertly entwining present and past, ordinary and extraordinary, comedy and seriousness, this sparkling novel about a likably cranky Calgary parks manager in Cuba resounds with depth. A multi-faceted, satisfying read. - Anne Fleming, author of The Goat

During a trip to Havana, Thelma Dangerfield gazes at a 16th century statue of Isabel de Bobadilla, governor of Cuba and wife of Hernando de Soto. The conquistador left his wife to govern the island while he attempted to conquer Florida. He never returned. As she waits for Wally, her errant husband, Thelma wonders about Isabel, a historic example of the waiting woman. Her husband has disappeared and she is determined to follow the clues to find him. Thus begins Elizabeth Haynes's compelling story of a woman who carries self- doubt, grief, and a heck of a lot more inside her. By turns funny, erudite, tense and quite moving, The Errant Husband introduces us to an intriguing new voice in Canadian writing. - David Carpenter, author of The Gold

A funny, gripping mystery of the heart told with drop-dead timing and heart-stopping love. Nerdy missing husband, chatty stranger, flirtatiously artistic taxi driver, poetic potential husband thief - Haynes writes them all with full-fledged humanity and respect. - Roberta Rees, author of Long After Fathers

Part mystery, part history, part travelogue, Elizabeth Haynes introduces us to Thelma, a woman who, after being stood up by her husband at a Cuban airport asks the question, why are women always waiting for men? A curious note left by Wally has Thelma reframing and examining her marriage. Told in a quippy and fun manner, the book tips flawlessly between past and present when Thelma refuses to put her vacation on hold and instead goes on a quest for answers that lead to a personal journey of remembrance and intrigue. What and why we hold onto false ideals is at the heart of this book as we collectively discover that often being lost is key to allowing life to begin. This is a lovely and unforgettable novel. - Katherin Edwards, author of A Thin Band

A travelogue with a literary twist, a mojito with an extra shot of lime, The Errant Husband is a wry, winsome adventure tale, ultimately revealing those secrets we dare not tell ourselves. - Margaret Macpherson, author of Body Trade