Paul Almond Book Launch at P-A Library
Paul Almond has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a film director, producer and writer.
And, as those of us who met him at the library discovered to our delight, he is an engaging and hilarious raconteur who did not shy away from telling personal stories which were every bit as juicy and action packed as any novel or movie!
Paul told us that he fell into his career quite by accident many years ago (he is now 84) when he was living with a young woman who objected to his imagining that he was going to lay around and write poetry while she worked.
Since his experience thus far consisted of writing and editing his university newspaper, and the aforementioned poetry, he presented himself at the offices of the then fledgling CBC and was promptly hired.
And thus began his career in television and movie production! He went on to win many awards and accolades along the way, as well as enjoying an adventurous and romantic life.
He also pointed out to us that Canada now has a flourishing culture, which did not exist until after WWII. As horrendous as that war was, Canada began to become cosmopolitan and cultured in the aftermath of the war.
When he was in his 70’s, he began researching the history of his own ancestors and 10 years ago began writing the Alford Saga.
He has infused his books with his own love of adventure and romance, and the series begins with Book One: The Deserter which tells the adventures, experiences and loves of a young English Naval officer who deserts his ship by leaping into the icy waters off the Gaspe Coast around 1800.
Thomas Manning makes it to shore and manages to elude Naval Marines. Capture would mean execution by flogging, but he was determined to make a new life for himself in the New World.
The series carries on over the years, with Book Six telling the experiences of Paul’s own father as a gunner during WWI.
Paul said, “I hated history in school, but I love learning history now.” Although his books are fiction, they are based on historical fact and real people, so you can learn history as you are entertained by the story.
Paul has homes in California and in Shigawake, Quebec where he lives in the home built by his great grandfather in 1810. Incidentally, Shigawake is a Micmac word which means “nothing there.”
The NB Public Library has all of Paul’s books, check them out for a delicious dose of history, romance and adventure written by a wonderful and gracious man!
