Hollywood North: A Novel in Six Reels
Page 31
The lines quoted on the bookmark Gus finds in a motel room Bible on page 246 are from This Is That: Personal Experiences, Sermons and Writings of Aimee Semple McPherson, Evangelist. (1919). Bridal Call Publishing House, Los Angeles, CA.
The poetry quoted on page 334 is excerpted from “The Three Voices” by Robert W. Service, as published in Collected Poems of Robert Service. (1954). Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, NY.
Acknowledgements
Fifth grade, Dufferin School, Mrs. Franks sends us home to write a composition about a fire. I’m scribbling away at the kitchen table when my older sister, Marabelle, glances at my beginning and groans. “Everyone is going to write about a burning building,” she says. “Burn something different.” Days later, Mrs. Franks reads my forest-fire story to the class, and I am hooked. I have tried to “burn something different” ever since. Mara died without her own stories making it to print, but she remains with me in every word I write. I wish she were here to read this and, knowing her, to critique it. I am indebted to her and so many others.
My wife, Pat. Sure, she got the dedication, but she also deserves recognition as my first reader, despite the inherent risks and pitfalls the role poses to a relationship. Let it be said, her courage, love, enthusiasm, and intuition have no equal. Likewise my radiant and wondrous daughters Carrie, Lindsay, and Margie, who wade gingerly through every word their father writes, knowing full well the latest story is likely to disturb, same as so many stories that came before. (Sorry, girls. And thank you.)
My sister, Shandyl (or Shangle, as some in Trenton called her), who follows in our mother’s footsteps as captain of my literary cheerleading squad. If she and her equally supportive husband, Jerry Wiseberg, haven’t yet told you about this novel, rest assured they soon will. My brother-in-law, Andrew Davis, and sister-in-law, Maude Barlow, who have made everything I’ve ever published a cornerstone of their library, not to mention the libraries of their helpless friends, as well. I thank them all, though thank-you barely begins to cover it.
My extended family of first readers for their commitment and feedback:
Stan Reich, the longest-serving member of these intrepid volunteers and as close to a brother as a friend can be. He just might be the world’s most well-read dentist.
The acerbic and insightful Matthew Cope, the one reader every writer needs and fears. The thoughtful and thorough Sean Campanie, Bill Shunn, Ramon Kubicek, James Thomas, and Kurt Olsson. With special thanks to Shelley and Robert Paris.
And the backup players who aided and abetted: Joel Ramsey, Jean-Philippe Lebel, Shelley Reich, Murray and Baila Kane, Ariella and Stephen Drooker, Dave Fisher, Ralph Lucas, and the late, deeply missed Joe Heckenast (aka Jim McGraw), Sol Shade (aka Steve Michaels), and Bernie Seidman. Also, Norman Lipkowitz because, well, he’s my accountant.
The mentors who eased the doubt: Clark Blaise, who shielded me from the hellfire of literary pretension, while freeing me to be the writer I needed to be. Barry Malzberg, whose refusal to sugarcoat damn well anything keeps me on the straight and narrow. And the late Mordecai Richler who liked that I didn’t have “an academic approach to anything.” (A compliment, I think. I hope.)
Publisher, editor, and ultimately friend, Gordon Van Gelder, and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Gordon gave my stories the chance to be seen and read, not the least of which was the 2014 novella from which this novel grew. Indeed, I am grateful to every editor who has given me a shot, most notably Peter Crowther, Kris Rusch, Ellen Datlow, and Sheila Williams.
The Kidd Literary Agency, from the late, legendary Virginia Kidd who welcomed me into the Arrowhead fold and introduced me to her rambling old house and its ghostly residents, to Vaughne Hansen for crossing the Ts and dotting the Is, to my longstanding agent and friend, Christine Cohen, who passionately carries on the Kidd tradition.
The ChiZine Publications team for bringing the original edition of this book to life: Publisher Sandra Kasturi, editor Brett Savory, cover designer Erik Mohr, and the amazing Jared Shapiro for his brilliant interior design of the paperback. Likewise, I thank the Open Road Integrated Media team for giving Hollywood North an equally vibrant second life: Editor Betsy Mitchell for her advice and encouragement; the ever-diligent Laura Tomenendal and the managing editorial team; and Mauricio Diaz and the art department for their insightful graphic design and flourishes that so effectively elevate the text from front cover to back.
The invaluable sources that provided the historical perspective:
Peggy Dymond Leavey and her remarkable The Movie Years (www.kirbybooks.ca), essential reading for anyone eager to learn more about Trenton’s moviemaking past.
Deborah Chouinard and Connie Beal of the Trent Port Historical Society, The Trent Museum at 55 King Street, and the nostalgia-laden “Trenton Town Hall – 1861” Facebook page.
Nick and Helma Mika and their 1979 book, Trenton: Town of Promise.
John David Lewis, Vince Graham, Mark Goldberg, and Marg Gillies for filling the gaps in my memory. And former Trentonians, Karla Kuklis and William Crandell, for generously reaching out and spreading the word on my behalf.
And then there are those from my Trenton of long ago who inspired one way or another:
The boyhood pals with whom I shared movies, comic books, adventures, and sometimes falling-outs: Michael Foster, Geoffrey Uttley, Richard Beecroft, John Copeland, Normie Davies, Michael Lambrose, Dean Loucks, Jr., and Alan Price.
The kids who inhabit the classrooms and playgrounds of my memory: Wayne Armstrong, Diane Bowman, Susan Brown, David Calnan, Malcolm and Marie Clark, John and Bonnie Clegg, Mary Craddock, Lynda Dawson, Linda Delong, David Dobbin, Paul Eden, Ann Filion, Ricky Fitchett, Adele Fritshaw, Duncan Goldie, Peter Griffiths, Robert Halvorsen, Richard Knack, Karen Larkin, Pat Larry, Brian Macgillvray, Gordon McIllwaine, Charlotte Mountenay, Jaye Parker, Ricky Price, Ken Proctor, David Ramsey, Valerie Rideout, Robert Robertson, Ian Scarborough, Bruce Scott, Barbara Shorey, Jane Simmons, Glenn Slaunwhite, Don Smith, Paula Smith, Diana Thompson, Billy Weese, and Peter Wilkins.
The cherished regulars of Bert and Mollie Libling’s Theatre Bar at 122 Dundas Street West. With wistful and enduring gratitude, I thank each for bending the ear of the nosy little pest I surely was: Vic Auger, Pete Aziz, Charlie Barker, the Berry brothers, Bill Blight, Jack Carney, Jim and Frances and all the Crawfords, Laurie Dunbar, the Embleton brothers, Doc Farley, Hazel Farley, George “Frenchie” French, Foxy the Housepainter, George and Vera Friedman, Walter Gillies, Fred Goldberg, Jack and Elsie Goldberg, Peter Held, Tom Holmes, Lottie Jones, “Pepsi Cola” Jack, Orville Kelly, Ken “Mutt” Kenny, Ted Kinsella, Harry Lafferty, Augie Larry, Fred and David Lewis, Dean and Winnie Loucks, Jim MacDonald, “Scotty” MacGregor, Clyde Mason, Ray McGale, Norm and Marian McCue, Bessie McKibbon, Isabelle McCrodan, Ben Minard, Frank Miron, Dave Murdoch, Ted Parker, Pop (just Pop), Joe Scaletta, Bert Scarborough, Lloyd Seeley, Wayne Simmons, Ted Snider (CJBQ radio), Len Soifert, Sergeant Steenburg, Harry Stroll, Bud Swanson, Dick Talsma, Chief of Police Taylor, Tiny the Trucker, Paul and John Tripp, Peggy Westlake, Doug Whitley, Jack and Dorothy “Dot” Wilson, Walter Wrightman, Jack Zigman, and the priests from St. Pete’s.
Lastly, I thank Trenton. I left when I was fourteen, but the town never quite left me. No matter where I go, Trenton will always be where I am from.
Hollywood North is not a textbook. It is a novel. Fiction. And while aspects might raise eyebrows in certain quarters, this book is nonetheless my tribute and fan letter to my hometown—a tourist guide, if you will, to the fact and the fantasy. May the people, places, history, and secrets of Hollywood North prevail—the actual, the imagined, and the half-truths between.
Michael Libling
mike@michaellibling.com
July 2, 2019
About the Author
Michael Libling is a World Fantasy Award nominated author whose writing has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Year’s Best Fantasy & Ho
rror, Welcome to Dystopia: 45 Visions of What Lies Ahead, and many others. Set in his hometown of Trenton, Ontario, Hollywood North: A Novel in Six Reels is his debut novel. Creator and former host of CJAD Montreal’s long-running Trivia Show, Michael is the father of three daughters and lives on Montreal’s West Island with his wife, Pat, and a big black dog named Piper. You can find out more about him at www.michaellibling.com, where he has been known to blog on occasion.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-5040-6338-8
This edition published in 2020 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
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Table of Contents
Hollywood North
Praise for Hollywood North
Title Page
First Reel
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Second Reel
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Third Reel
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Fourth Reel
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Fifth Reel
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Sixth Reel
One
Two
Three
Four
Notes
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Copyright Page