GODERICH – A former journalist and teacher is inviting people to attend the public reading of a novel-in-development that asks some tough questions about humanity’s future in the face of a changing climate.
Tim Cumming, who now works in the environmental field, will host this free public reading at the Candlelight Restaurant and Tavern in Goderich on Monday, Dec. 17, starting at 7 p.m.
The Goderich resident is playwright of The Tiger’s Lion, a dramatic tribute to Goderich co-founder John Galt, that audiences received enthusiastically when staged by the Goderich Little Theatre at The Livery in 2003. Ten years later, Cumming intends to self-publish a new novel, Heartland Village Incorporated, in 2013 through his new sole-proprietorship publishing firm, Colbourn Publishers. The book will be marketed as climatechangenovel.com and interested readers can find out about the book at the website of that name. Pre-orders for delivery in Summer 2013 are being accepted online now.
Cumming was inspired to begin writing his novel-in-progress after reading an Internet posting in 2005 that said, “I think many people would prefer death to living underground forever.”
Cumming thought that was a provocative question for humankind as it confronts what he considers the most daunting task in human history: unprecedented warming trends and weather extremes. The local man was also deeply affected by a symposium on the effects of climate change that the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation held at the Huron County Museum several years ago. The Goderich resident’s thinking and writing on the effects of climate change since that time have resulted in 87,000 words of the first draft of a novel.
He explained why he wants to have a public reading.
“Firstly, I want to see if people are as excited about this story and these characters as I am,” Cumming said. “Secondly, I hope this book will be an electric charge to energize thought and debate about where we want to go as a people.”
The book is, on one level, a science fiction story about a future world where humanity is re-imagined inside the Earth, and people dream of making it back to the surface to breathe fresh air and feel sun on their faces, and love is given even when it is not returned. The book is, on another level, an essay asking citizens what kind of society we want in the future and what we are willing to do to prevent the apocalyptic vision detailed in the story.
The novel may be seen as a story of hope or it may also be read as a much-needed wake-up call, he said.
Several prominent people from local community theatre are expected to read excerpts from the book, along with readings by the author. There is no admission charge to attend the reading but Cumming said people are encouraged to donate to efforts that mitigate climate change and work that supports watershed resiliency and adaptation to climate change.
More information on the public reading, novel, blog and the online book publishing firm is available at www.colbournpublishers.com and www.climatechangenovel.com.
2 Comments on "Writer seeks public’s input on novel-in-development"
Way to go, Tim!
Thanks for the interest, Paul! Congrats as well on your books! Loved the Wexford book, looking forward to reading your new Tiger book. Tim