Critically-acclaimed novel finally released to readers worldwide
London, Ontario, Canada, August 11, 2014 — In 2004, Paul Cavanagh was crowned the world’s first Lit Idol at the London International Book Fair in the UK. His debut novel, After Helen, earned stellar reviews when it was published by HarperCollins in Canada. But it was never released in any other country. Until now.
“People were intrigued but also a little wary of the whole Lit Idol thing,” Cavanagh says. “The reviewer for The Globe & Mail (one of Canada’s national newspapers) began by saying how he thought the seals of the Apocalypse were cracking open when he first heard about Lit Idol. But then he graciously ate his words and went on to sing the book’s praises.”
After Helen is finally being released to the rest of the world on November 20 of this year (Not That London Publisher; Print: ISBN 978-0-9938093-0-9, $15.95 USD, £11.50, €13.85; E-book: ISBN 978-0-9938093-1-6, $4.99 USD or equivalent). It tells the story of Irving, an unassuming history teacher, as he revisits his tumultuous past with his late wife Helen and comes face-to-face with some long-buried family secrets – secrets that he’ll have to confront if he wants to save his relationship with their daughter.
Literary insiders say that Cavanagh reads like a Canadian Anne Tyler. His deft touch for depicting the many facets of grief and the struggle to find reconciliation with things we cannot change comes in no small part from working for some 30 years as a therapist, an educator, and a health care consultant. He developed his literary talents at the Humber School for Writers and the University of Western Ontario. He currently lives in London, Ontario.
Cavanagh recalls that five Lit Idol finalists were chosen from nearly 1500 competition entrants worldwide. All five finalists were Londoners. He jokes that he was the only one not from the “real” London.
“It always seemed a little odd to me that even though my career was launched in Britain, British readers have never had a chance to read my work,” Cavanagh says. “I decided it was time to fix that.”
Cavanagh established his own imprint – which he gave the tongue-in-cheek name Not That London – to get his book to an international audience (not just in Britain, but around the world). He spent several years studying independent publishing in order to produce an international edition that has the look and feel of literary works produced by big publishing houses. It will be available online through major retailers.
His much-anticipated second novel, Missing Steps, will be published worldwide in Spring 2015.
Readers don’t have to wait until November 20 to read After Helen. They can visit afterhelen.com to read the opening chapters for free. They can also check out special deals on advance orders of the book.
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About the Author:
Paul Cavanagh is a critically-acclaimed Canadian novelist. He was crowned the world’s first Lit Idol at the London International Book Fair in the UK. Literary insiders say he reads like a North of 49 Anne Tyler. He lives in London, Ontario (not to be confused with that other London). He developed his literary talents at the Humber School for Writers and the University of Western Ontario. During a 30-year career in health care, he’s been a therapist, an educator, and a consultant.
About the Book:
After Helen tells the story of Irving, an unassuming history teacher, as he revisits his tumultuous past with his late wife Helen and comes face-to-face with some long-buried family secrets – secrets that he’ll have to confront if he wants to save his relationship with his daughter. (Release date: November 20, 2014. Not That London Publisher; Print: ISBN 978-0-9938093-0-9, $15.95 USD, £11.50, €13.85; E-book: ISBN 978-0-9938093-1-6, $4.99 USD or equivalent). To order from major retailers worldwide, visit www.afterhelen.com.
Review Copies and Media Interviews:
For a review copy of After Helen or an interview with Paul Cavanagh, please contact Paul directly at paul at notthatlondon dot com. When requesting a review copy, please provide street address and phone number.
If you would like to receive this media release as a Word document, please let us know at publicity at notthatlondon dot com. A complete media kit is also available upon request.