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Pottersfield Nation: East of CanadaEdited by Lesley ChoyceCreative nonfiction Order this book: |
![[Cover of Pottersfield Nation]](../images/1895900638.jpg)
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A stunning collection of some of Canada's finest writers who just happen to call Atlantic Canada their home. The book celebrates Pottersfield Press writers in our 25th year. The array of talent includes non-fiction by Harry Thurston, Joan Baxter, Thomas Raddall, Charles Saunders, George Elliott Clarke, Pete Sarsfield, Gregory Cook, Billy Budge, Bob Chaulk, Mike Ungar, the Frenchy's Ladies (Pat Wilson and Kris Wood), Farley Mowat, H.R. Percy, Archibald MacMechan, Judith Fingard, Dean Jobb, and others.
In the Pottersfield Nation, the reader will find a varied geography of the imagination that is at once Canadian and not-Canadian. The writing is powerful, the politics from the hip and the language has the freshness of sea air and the ambience of a kitchen party.
In September of 2003, Hurricane Juan slammed into the world headquarters of Pottersfield Press at Lawrencetown Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The rafters creaked, the shingles flew and giant trees toppled on all sides. Windows were blasted so hard from the wind that they shattered and the tempest did its best to ruin a publishing empire. But in the morning, as the sea receded and the damage was assessed, it was clear that the foundation of Pottersfield Press had not been shaken.
Our home and warehouse had been in the very "eye-wall" of the storm where winds were clocked at 160 kilometres per hour, yet we survived. Surveying the jumble of books ravaged by the driving wind and rain that had invaded our premises, the publisher looked at the many sodden titles and recognized the treasure of writers who had been published by Pottersfield. And it was obvious that such an assembly of talent and knowledge amounted to something that was greater than the sum of its parts.
And so, Pottersfield Nation came fully into being. With voices that are stubborn and staunch, direct and dedicated, this parliament of literary patriots sings out loud and speaks the many stories that must be told – with no holds barred.
In the Pottersfield Nation you will travel to remote islands and villages, kayak around the entire circumference of Newfoundland, venture back in time to the brothels of nineteenth-century Halifax, meet the most charming and clever bank robbers ever to step out of the pages of history and more. There is rum aplenty, lighthouse keepers, Mi'kmaq storytellers and Black historians. No passport is required but a thirst for invigorating prose would be appreciated.
Lesley Choyce is currently the self-declared prime minister of the Pottersfield Nation but admits he has no authority whatsoever over the citizenry. After all, in this land, a little too far east and a little too independent to take directives from Canada, it's the voice of the individual that can be heard the loudest.