Dundurn Press is delighted to announce the publication of the hugely imaginative, fantastically grim fairy tale that marks the bold literary debut of musician Ron Sexsmith. The celebrated Juno Award-winning singer/songwriter takes his way with words and applies it to his novel Deer Life, a whimsical yet dark story about a boy who accidentally gets into trouble with a witch.
The groundbreaking fairy tale is scheduled for release in late 2017.
Deer Life tells the story of a kind-hearted boy from the fictional village of Hinthoven. The dark, humousous tale weaves through witchcraft, bullying, revenge, and a mother’s undying love. And a mysterious bowler hat. The idea for the story came to Sexsmith in a dream.
“We’re thrilled to be able to work with a great talent like Ron Sexsmith. Given his brilliant lyrical ability, I wasn’t surprised to see him ably shift into writing engaging, funny, yet poignant prose fiction,” says Dundurn Press acquisitions editor Shannon Whibbs. “It was a pleasure to read an early draft of Deer Life. It made me laugh, it made me think, and I was caught up in the fairy-tale world he has created and described so evocatively. This is an exciting time for Dundurn and we’re very glad Ron has come on board with us to launch this new creative venture.”
Ron Sexsmith hails from St. Catharines and lives in Toronto. He landed his first major recording contract in 1995. He has released fourteen albums, the most recent being 2015’s Carousel One. He is a highly respected member of the Canadian music community and has a large international following. Sexsmith has won three Juno Awards, was nominated for the prestigious Polaris Prize, and has headlined legendary venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Massey Hall. His songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. Lang, Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Feist, and noted fans include Bob Dylan and Elton John. The New Yorker called him “the songwriter’s songwriter.” Deer Life is his first novel.
