Rachael Preston, who will be reading an excerpt from her book The Fishers of Paradise at Mulberry Bush on Thursday, is being honoured by Project Bookmark Canada.
Project Bookmark Canada is a nationally-registered charity that puts plaques — which includes information about the author, an excerpt from the novel or poem and information about Project Bookmark Canada — in the physical locations where the literary scenes are set.
The Fishers of Paradise is a new edition of an award-winning novel.
In 1930s Hamilton, the boathouse community of Cootes Paradise is under siege: the squatters' shacks that line the shores of Dundas Marsh stand in the way of ambitious plans to make the city beautiful. Egypt Fisher and her mother are struggling to keep their lives together in the absence of her father, a con man neither of them has seen for six years. Into this mix walks a handsome drifter and the family falls under his spell, until Egypt’s father unexpectedly returns. Unhinged by jealousy and a harrowing brush with the local mafia, he reveals a family secret that sets Egypt's world off-kilter and poisons her relationship with her mother. When Egypt tries to turn the situation to her own advantage, her lies set in motion a series of events with devastating consequences.
Author Preston and her husband used to own Arts Cafe in Parksville.
Preston said her bookmark is going to be the 16th in all of Canada, and will be unveiled in Hamilton on June 9.
The plaque, Preston said, costs about $10,000 and the City of Hamilton was “so enthusiastic with the project that they helped fund it.”
The project was started by author Miranda Hill who wanted to create Canada’s Literary Trail.
“The idea . . . her vision is to have hundreds of these linking all across the country,” said Preston, adding that the initiative is also meant to link culturally with the environment and get people interested in books and fiction.
Preston said she’s known about her bookmark for “an awfully long time,” but she has had to keep quiet.
Preston said having a plaque for her novel is pretty impressive.
“This thing is going to be there long after I’m dead,” she said with a laugh.
Preston will be reading and signing books at Mulberry Bush (102 280 E Island Hwy, Parksville) on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
Admission is free and books will be available for sale.
For more information, 250-248-1193 or visit www.bookmanager.com/mulberrybush.