Historical Fiction Writer Bob McCarthy Fast Forwards to the 21st Century

Laura turned once again to face her cousin Kathy, pausing for nearly a minute before turning back to the audience. With tears in her eyes and sadness in her voice, she said, “I was so alone”. – Bob McCarthy*

 Back in 2013, Sarnia’s historical fiction writer Bob McCarthy published the book Case 666: A Travesty of Justice. The novel travelled back in time to resurrect the true story of Elizabeth Workman, a battered woman who was locally executed after being convicted of murdering her husband.

Sarnia-Lambton author Bob McCarthy with his new novella GENERATIONS (Quinn Riley Press, 2016), a follow-up to his 2013 book Case 666.

On June 19, 2016 (exactly 143 years after her hanging), Bob McCarthy will launch his fictional novella GENERATIONS: The Descendants of Elizabeth Workman. The 132-page book attempts to answer some of the more pressing questions arising from Case 666 including the possible whereabouts and the “nature versus nurture” impact on Workman’s two children: Hugh and Catherine. Published by Quinn Riley Press, the story jumps forward to a Sarnia hospital room in 1940 and continues with a 2016 reunion in an Owen Sound library.

At one point, the character Kathy states, “As the oldest, I would gather my brothers and sisters in my arms. Tell them to close their eyes. We would hide under the kitchen table until it was over.”*

The seriousness and prevalence of domestic violence in society makes this book a difficult topic to address and to read but demonstrates the need for victims to seek help and for crusaders to assist and lobby for change.                                                      

As McCarthy wrote in his Author’s Note: “This story is one man’s way of trying to speak out against pernicious violence directed daily at women and young girls, violence that prevents females of all ages from living full lives and realizing their true potential.”**

GENERATIONS is McCarthy’s 12^th self-published book aimed at making Lambton County’s history come alive.

Meet the author this Sunday, June 19, 2016 from 2 to 3 p.m. at The Book Keeper, 500 Exmouth Street in Sarnia.

Bob McCarthy will launch GENERATIONS on Sunday, June 19, 2016, the 143rd anniversary of the hanging of Elizabeth Workman.

Additional information about the launch is posted on this Facebook event page.

An earlier interview with McCarthy discussing his writing process appears here. 

Additional information about McCarthy can be found on his website .

*from the book GENERATIONS: The Descendants of Elizabeth Workman (Quinn Riley Press, 2016) page 112 and 113. Reprinted with the author permission: Copyright ©2016 Bob McCarthy

**from the Author’s Note from the book GENERATIONS: The Descendants of Elizabeth Workman (Quinn Riley Press, 2016) page 127. Reprinted with the author permission: Copyright ©2016 Bob McCarthy