Press: Port Perry Star – Scugog author uses farmer’s fable as plot line for new novel

 In Reviews & Press

COMMUNITY OCTOBER 3, 2017 BY CHRIS HALL PORT PERRY STAR

Prior to living in Port Perry, Lucy E.M. Black resided on a small farm in the Blackstock area for 16 years. During her time there, Black became curious about a farm down the road that laid fallow, finally one day asking a local farmer about the history of the homestead.

His response — an attempted poisoning a century ago and cursed lands as a result — stuck with Black, who years later has turned that nugget of information into the plot line for newest book, Eleanor Courtown, which will be released in October.

The farmer’s tale goes something like this: about 120 years ago, an Irish family was farming their land when a spinster cousin shows up at their place. The family plans to poison her, but the cousin doesn’t die — instead, she spits up the concoction and nearby farm animals eat the vomit and die.

A vet comes to examine the animals and, after determining the animals died a sinister death, alerts the authorities. Arriving three days later, the police find no trace of the family or cousin.

“I thought it was such a good story that it needed to be told,” said Black, who came up blank in her efforts to research the story at the Scugog Shores Museum.

Over the last 10 years, Black has spent countless hours researching for her new book — even travelling as far as Ireland in an effort to uncover some new details — and has created a novel that’s loosely based on the story the farmer told her.

“It’s a great yarn, a really fun yarn,” said Black, who also released her first novel, The Marzipan Fruit Basket, earlier this year.

Readers with knowledge of the area will quickly pick up local landmarks referenced in the novel, from homes and locales to the community’s St. John’s Anglican Church.

“There’s lots of things in there people familiar with the township will be able to glom onto and chuckle,” said Black, noting the book gives a nod to Scugog’s earliest settlers.

“Writing is a bit of a disease, to tell you the truth,” said Black.

One of her future projects centres on Persian carpets and new immigrants and she’s also focused on documenting the history of brickworks in Ontario.

A book launch for Eleanor Courtown will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Blue Heron Books, 62 Brock St. West in Uxbridge. The book will also be available at Books Galore and More (175 Perry St.) in Port Perry.

The 293-page soft cover novel is $19.95 and also available online at Amazon and Indigo.