Watch the August 2016 Winning Novel Reading.

OBITER DICTA by Lucian M

Novel Performed by actor Julian Ford

Get to know the novelist: 

1. What is your novel about?

A murder leaves a body on display at a Vancouver, Canada public space quickly followed by the assassination of the prime minister of British Columbia that leaves a public in shock. VPD Homicide investigate a trail that leads to various groups vying to grip the political future of British Columbia in their hands. Some seek to do so by democratic means while others pursue the route of armed force. Most disturbing are the groups that seek to establish a government ruled by the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments that will then act as a springboard to the establishment of a global confederacy of Judeo-Christian states committed to a policy of maintaining their vision of the status quo until the advent of the Apocalypse.

2. Why should this novel be read by people?

From early childhood most of us are exposed to different forms of cookie cutter conformity. Common forms are strict ideologies that traditionally employ coercive forms of psychological terror or manipulation to impose the party line on the not so convinced. Freedom of thought, objective inquiry, and the scientific method are never part of this paradigm. Most disturbing is when conformity evolves into tyranny and unleashes a savage reign of terror. The resulting blood lust is a chapter written too many times in human history.

3. How would you describe this novel in two words?

The 1st chapter introduces the reader to a murder victim laying in a market on Vancouver’s Granville Island, surrounded by a multitude of characters who all hold little pieces of the scandals surrounding the murder in their mind. As the reader jumps from perspective to perspective, the pieces of the scandal begin to come together, and in part it comes to light that the victim was connected to a recently jailed wealthy figure on the island, who is linked to a secret drug trade. The tension grows towards an exciting and deadly climax.

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

I Heard the Owl Call My Name- by Margaret Craven

5. How long have you been working on this novel?

I wrote the first draft in 1996

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

Simon Scarrow

7. What motivated you to write this novel?

The fate of Giordano Bruno, who was burned at the stake for daring to suggest that the stars were just distant suns surrounded by their own exoplanets. He also raised the possibility that these planets could even foster life of their own. Moreover, he insisted that the universe is in fact infinite. (per Wiki)

8. What artist would you love to have dinner with?

Martin Scorsese

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

karate, guitar, rhythmic studies, visual art, skiing, ice skating, language studies

10. What influenced you to enter the Novel Festival?

It was inspiring to discover a committee of professional writers and writing consultants that invited novel submissions. Not only would entering yield full feedback in the form of suggested revisions but also a possible reading by professional actors with subsequent on-line posting

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

Stieg Larsson: He had written the Millennium crime trilogy for his own pleasure after returning home from his job in the evening (per Wiki)

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Director/Producer: Matthew Toffolo http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: John Johnson