Bridgewater author Rhian Calcott is set to launch her debut novel, The Last Goin’ Off, at the historic Saint Barnabas’ Church in Blue Rocks on Sept. 26 as part of this year’s Lunenburg Lit Fest.
“I’m a little bit nervous,” said Calcott in an interview.
“I started working on it about 12 years ago. I have taken creative writing courses over the past 20 years or so, more for fun. To me writing was always a fun thing to do.”
The cover of the 170-page paperback features a commissioned painting by Lunenburg artist Jay Langford and depicts a critical scene in the story.
Local landmarks and locations such as the Lunenburg Academy and Blue Rocks are featured in the novel.
“It’s set in the turn of century so I did some research for it to kind of set the scene,” said Calcott. “Nova Scotia has a lot of stories I think that lend themselves to young adults, that might make a younger person learn something. I just like to think what life was like 100 years ago and I think its nice if kids can read about that.”
Calcott said she does have a couple of other ideas for other young adult novels.
The Last Goin’ Off is published by Trap Door Books, an imprint of Nevermore Press, a Lunenburg based independent publisher. This is the eighth release and the book will be available at the launch, for order on their website
and in local bookstores.
“Rhian has such a strong voice in this book that I was immediately drawn in. It’s one of those books where you’re so captivated by the story that you don’t realize how much you’re learning about a particular community in a particular period of time until you’re finished and have a chance to think about it,” said publisher Ernest Hadley.
Advance RSVPs per person are required for the launch which starts at 11 a.m. and can be made here.
Social distancing rules “will be followed by the book in order to ensure safety measures are in place so bibliophiles can mingle at a social distance.”
The Lunenburg Lit Fest festival kicks off Sept. 24 and includes a Pitch the Publishers event co-hosted by Nevermore Press, Nimbus Publishing and MacIntyre Purcell Publishing.
Book summary:
When his father and older brother are lost at sea, 14-year-old Aaron Conrad, finds himself the reluctant "head of the household" and family breadwinner. His dream to continue his education beyond what is available at the Lunenburg Academy is now in peril. Aaron is forced to pursue the life of a fisherman aboard the very boat that claimed the lives of his family members. Set in Blue Rocks at the turn of the twentieth century, The Last Goin’ Off is a story of sacrifice and discovery.
