Local author and retired Ottawa Citizen journalist discusses debut novel
Posted Oct 2, 2022 12:30:00 AM.
Retirement hasn't stopped former journalist Don Butler from writing, but inspired him to finally pursue his goal of writing a novel.
His debut novel, called “A Life of Bliss“, takes place in Ottawa and Greece and follows the character of Bliss Browning, a timid travel editor at an Ottawa newspaper who is terrified of doing anything. After receiving a message beyond the grave from a deceased opera singer, he sets off on an adventure to Greece.
Butler told The Sam Laprade Show on Sept. 29 that the book is a light, enjoyable read with a fair amount of humour.
Butler worked as a journalist at the Ottawa Citizen for over four decades but has always harboured an ambition to break into fiction writing. After retiring a few years ago, he became serious about his passion and started working on the novel.
However, writing the book was only half the struggle, he said; the other challenge is making people aware that the book exists.
“That is a bit of a challenge when you don't have a big publishing house behind you, you've got to pretty much do it all yourself,” he explained, adding that he uses Twitter, talks to book clubs and has appeared for book signings to get the word out.
Butler, who is already working on a sequel, will be doing a book signing at Perfect Books on Elgin Street on Oct. 16.
Listen to the full interview with Don Butler below:
