In 2006, I wrote a novel about the break up of Canada and how the USA wanted to annex it and the Provinces as new States. It never got the editing work it deserved but somehow I got it in some shape and had it self published in Toronto. In those days the world was abuzz about how the internet was going to change publishing and book reading.
Talk of development of a hand held computer note book, where one could download books and read them at a fraction cost of the published on paper versions. Kindle was a dream but it happened.
I sent the Novel, which had received good reviews from my posse of friends, to a few literary agents I knew and my friend the CEO of Random house who I used to have cocktails with (no talking about books). He recommended an agent Anne McDermid, who had a big name and profile. She liked the book but she did not think it had world appeal. She turned it down.
So I was a bit exhausted by the process of getting published as I was in my 50's and said, "ah fuck it." I called my friend Gord Steventon and we built a new web site and registered it under the books title name www.CANADAtheNOVEL.com. We edited it as best we could and downloaded it to the web site.
I put out a press release and wow a lot happened. Several papers and TV news station interviewed me and read the book to some praise. It was one of the first, or indeed maybe the first free novel to be launched on the internet. Gord added a good tracker and counter to the site and I could see who was downloading it. In the first week the Prime Minister's office and the Privy Council, which is the power in Canada, downloaded it a dozen times as did many Ministries.
A few good reviews emerged, but mostly the story got lost in the fact it was a free Novel and a first for the internet. I loved it. Over that month, over 12,000 readers worldwide downloaded the book and many returned to review it and leave a note. It was wonderful. Many asked why I was giving it away and my answer was always the same. I did not write it for money but just to prove to myself I could. I could string together some 80,000 words and tell a story.
My new business soon took center stage in my life, and as it prospered I soon pushed my writing ambitions to the side. At any rate, here it is for your enjoyment. It stands up, I think. Maybe someone will make it into a movie or a Netflicks series.
Please download the PDF of 'Canada the Novel' here.
