The Republic of Nothing -- Photos from recent author reading and book launch

Free Author Reading - Thursday, May 24, 2007

Lesley Choyce will launch and read from his novel, The Republic of Nothing, the third new edition issued by Goose Lane Editions. The launch will take place at Just Us! Cafe on Barrington Street, Halifax, 7-8:30 p.m.

Free citizenship is available to anyone who wants to immigrate to the republic.

The third edition of the The Republic of Nothing has an afterward by Rush drummer, Neil Peart as well as a book club section for thought and discussion.

The Republic of Nothing opens in the early 1950s on Whalebone Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, when Everett MacQuade marks the birth of his son by declaring the island's independence. From then on, mysterious happenings take place and refugees from the outside world find a place there. By the mid-1960s, the Republic of Nothing begins to succumb to the influences of the outside world. This is a story about resilience, independence, and anarchy.

The Republic of Nothing has been optioned by IMX Communications. Stay tuned for more details about when it will be filmed and where.

The Republic of Nothing is published by Goose Lane Books.

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New book launch, May 22, 2007 at J.L. Ilsley in Halifax

The End of the World As We Know It will officially launch at J.L. Ilsley High School in Halifax on May 22.

About The End of the World as We Know It
Asked to write an English class assignment that expresses who he really is, 16-year-old Carson takes pleasure in filling the pages with hate for everything in his life. Stuck in a private school for kids who have repeatedly flunked out elsewhere, he knows there's nowhere lower to sink. "Flunk Out Academy" is the last resort for Carson and his classmates in a small town where the deeply troubled students are decidedly unwelcome.

Then Carson meets Christine. She struggles to get by, living in a trailer by herself, abandoned by her mother and father. Confronted by her deep sadness, Carson starts to care for her -- and she for him and realizes there is enough beauty to fight against hopelessness, love to battle all hate. Together, Carson and Christine struggle to work out how to live in an imperfect world.

The End of the World As We Know It is published by Red Deer Press.

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Congratulations to Brenda Jones, illustrator

Brenda Jones, recently won the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Illustration for her work in Skunks for Breakfast(Lesley Choyce, author; Nimbus Publishing).

Everything about Pamela’s family and life is normal until the skunks arrive, and arrive. Then suddenly everything about her life, and her family, stinks. But Pamela takes heart, then action with her father, trying their darndest to get rid of the smelly pests, one after the other after the other.

Brenda Jones depicts the change in Pamela’s character, her reluctant warming to the unexpectedly cute creatures and her father’s helplessness in the face of such an odorous onslaught. Born and raised in PEI, she now works as an illustrator, commercial designer and film animator in Montreal. She has illustrated a dozen books, including Lobster in My Pocket and Mr. Sweetums Wears Pink.

Skunks For Breakfast is available through Nimbus Publishing call 1-800-nimbus9 to order direct.

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Book Talk wraps up -- archive available

The Halifax Daily News wraps up its first session of BookTalk with Stephen Clare featuring Lesley Choyce's novel, The Republic of Nothing.
To view the archives of the author question and answer and other discussion, please click here.

The third edition of Choyce's award winning novel, The Republic of Nothing was released spring of 2007 by Goose Lane.

If you enjoyed The Republic of Nothing, you may also enjoy The Sea of Tranquility by Lesley Choyce.