By Toyin Obatusin – Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on November 1, 2024.

Submitted photo – Local author Scott Paul stands with a copy of his first novel, The Sunbeam Room, on the remaining wall of the old Galt Hospital.

In 2023, retired lawyer and local author Scott Paul traveled 6,000 kilometers across Canada for the sake of his recently published novel, “The Sunbeam Room.”

An excerpt from the book illustrates exactly the event that will launch an unexpected adventure for the main character and change his life for better or worse:

“Yes, storms were coming, one prepared by Mother Nature, the other set in motion by her. Time would tell whether the storm nourished or destroyed her two children – the son she raised and the daughter she gave up.

The main character of the story, Digger, a 61-year-old unemployed heavy equipment operator, travels to Ottawa to fulfill his dying wish to deliver a letter to Sarah, the daughter her dying mother gave up for adoption.

“Sarah and Digger couldn’t be more different in terms of life experience, politics and geography,” Paul said in an interview this week.

“But now they are suddenly brothers, and the novel raises the question of how they will find common ground. “The book explores loss, forgiveness, redemption, and hope in a post-pandemic world.”

The book’s title refers to the children’s ward at Galt Hospital, now a museum; This ward has large windows that allow the sun to send its rays in, allowing a cascade of light to flood in.

“Sarah was born in Galt and for a day only Digger’s mother, Carolyn, held her newborn child in the Sunbeam Room,” Paul said.

Readers will recognize other Lethbridge settings, such as Galt Gardens, the downtown post office, and the public library.

“I have lived in Lethbridge for over 30 years, and the city is fertile ground for storytelling.”

Scott grew up on the family farm near Brooks, and that upbringing influenced the book.

“Digger laments the end of an era, community hall turkey hunts, grain elevators, stolen kisses at escorted dances, and farm machinery auctions—things I grew up with.”

The author thanks his daughter Julilla, who inspired him to write the book.

“The best Christmas gift ever. The online creative writing course led to more courses and the creation of a local and online writing community. Professor Shayne Dahl and I started a writers group that meets twice a month at Analog Books.”

What’s next for the lawyer-turned-paperback author?

“It’s something completely different, but it’s still set in Southern Alberta. “I’m putting the finishing touches on a murder mystery in Lethbridge.”

You can find more information about the author on his website:

http://www.scottpaul.ca/. Find book tour dates and more information about Scott Paul here.

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