When author and retired journalist Don Hunter returned to Spinner鈥檚 Island after a 30-year-long absence, he was delighted to find familiar sights and old friends.
The location, of course, exists only in his mind; a fictional ocean-side community inspired by friends, experiences, and many years spent living on Galiano Island.
鈥淚鈥檓 always asked where is is, and the truth is that don鈥檛 know,鈥� Hunter said.
What he did know is that he very much wanted to see how his character鈥檚 have aged and 鈥渨izened up鈥� over time.
Hunter released the first novel, Spinner鈥檚 Island, in 1989, and said the kind of people there were the people that wound up in his book.
鈥淧eople recognize themselves right away,鈥� he said, drawing from neighbors and real life situations that had happened to him and his family.
After raising two daughters, discovering the Fraser Valley through a column he wrote about the area, Hunter and his wife retired to Fort 91原创 20 years ago.
鈥淐reativity comes from wherever you are,鈥� Hunter said when asked if his more landlocked surroundings gave him inspiration.
鈥淪tories come from asking 鈥榳hat if,鈥� and I began to wonder how people would react to hearing about these character鈥檚 again, because story is all about character,鈥� he continued.
Read More: 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being able to use self-love to love others鈥�
At age 82 and 30 years after the first book, Return to Spinner鈥檚 Inlet officially releases this weekend; it鈥檚 a 32-part short story collection about the interlocking lives of the characters in his fictional Gulf Island community.
鈥淯s old guys keep on going,鈥� Hunter said with pride.
With some other writing projects in the works, however, he doubts if a third installment will come into fruition.
The brand new sequel is available on , through bookstores, and other online sources.
鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed meeting them all again,鈥� Hunter said, playfully adding that he would recommend all 32 stories in the book.
Hunter will host a book launch on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 2 - 4 p.m. at Fort 91原创 Library, 9167 Glover Rd.
Signed copies will be available for cash purchase, with refreshments and a Q & A to follow.
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________
