Local author Doug Morrison is returning to bookshelves with the release of his third novel, "The Tide", a historical drama rooted in the largely overlooked role of the merchant marine during the Second World War.
Best known for his previous books "Course Correction" (2016) and "Collision Course" (2019), Morrison first captured readers’ attention with gripping tales inspired by his own real-life experiences involving the Ukrainian mafia.
But this time, his inspiration came from something much older and much closer to home.
“I’ve known about the merchant marines since I was probably eight or nine years old,” said Morrison. “It just kind of surprised me that more people didn’t know their story. And I thought, well, something needs to be said about them.”
The spark for the novel came after he read a short article about a spy ring that targeted the merchant marine in New Jersey.
“A lot of people don’t know the history of the merchant marine,” he said. “They were really responsible for keeping Britain and the Allies in the war. But they never received recognition, no medals, no pensions. And yet, if it hadn’t been for them, the war could have been lost very early.”
Morrison also has a personal connection to the subject: a relative who served with the merchant marines during the war.
“My mum’s cousin was a merchant marine sailor from Norway. He made 99 crossings, delivering all kinds of goods to Britain,” he said.
Although "The Tide" had been in progress for years, Morrison found fresh motivation after taking early retirement about a year ago.
“Instead of just working on it when I could, I decided to discipline myself, do at least one or two hours of writing every day. That really sped up the process,” he said.
Unlike his previous novels, which were published by Stonehouse Publishing in Edmonton, Morrison chose to self-publish "The Tide", giving him full control over the final product including the cover design.
When it comes to his writing process, Morrison leans on routine and atmosphere.
“I like to have a cup of coffee or tea, and I usually play classical music, something without words to drown out the external noises so I can concentrate.”
Now an experienced novelist, Morrison says he’s learned more about crafting not just plots, but character-driven narratives.
“I do like the planning and since I wrote the first two books, I've learned a little more about the process of creating a not just a plot, but a storyline.”
He will launch the book on Saturday, June 28 at 1 p.m. at the Mary C. Moore Public Library in Lacombe and the event will include a reading, and a Q&A session.
“I like to not only do a reading from the book but tell a little bit about why I wrote it and where the inspiration came from,” said Morrison. “And then field any questions people have.”
Morrison is already working on a fourth novel, currently one-quarter through its first draft.
“It’s about a young Canadian magician who gets his big break on the Vegas Strip,” he said. “One of his illusions is to make audience members disappear and reappear throughout the theatre. But at one performance, a volunteer doesn’t come back.”
Fans will have to wait for Morrison to finish that fourth novel though, while he first focuses on the rollout of the third.
"The Tide" is available now on Amazon in both print and eBook formats.
His first novel, Course Correction, is also available as an audiobook on Audible, with Collision Course soon to follow.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.