A Collingwood author is releasing his first fiction novel this weekend, and he got here with a little help from a community of Collingwood writers.
Benjamin Rempel is releasing his first fiction novel, called Infect, and will be hosting a book launch event on June 15 at Press Market. Released by Chicken House Press, the book is a thriller that follows the events of a viral outbreak through the eyes of two brothers in a small town trying to make it out alive.
Rempel moved to Collingwood in August 2020. He’s worked as a non-fiction writer for years with essays, magazine/newspaper articles and opinion pieces. This book marks his first foray into full-length fiction writing.
“It’s always been burning in the background, but I turned back to it more recently,” he said, adding that it’s taken him about eight years to finish writing the book. “I had a bunch of short stories. I read them to my writers group, and I started stitching them together.”
As a new member of the Collingwood Writers Collective, Rempel said other members have helped by being beta readers.
“I’ve received a lot of inspiration from that,” he said.
Rempel took inspiration for the book’s themes and settings from his own family and surroundings. The fractured relationship between the two brothers is exacerbated by the pandemic in the story.
“I have a brother so I think some of that relationship played out in the characters’ relationship,” he said. “It’s very much influenced by where we live now. The town (in the book) is surrounded by mountains and lakes.”
Looking ahead, Rempel said he intends Infect to be the first book in a series, with the second book, titled Mutate, planned to come out next year.
The book is available from the publisher Chicken House Press, on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and anywhere else books are sold.
“We’re starting to have conversations with local book shops too,” he said. “We’re super excited. We’re hosting it in Collingwood because they have an affinity for the arts. It’s a small way to give back to the community.”
The Infect launch party takes place June 15 at 7 p.m. at Press Market and includes a reading, book signing and panel discussion. Entry is $10, but desserts, beer from the Collingwood Brewery and drinks from Ginger Bug Soda are included in the entry fee.
Advance tickets are available here.
