A bookless book launch
Publisher Ron Caplan releases e-book on Cape Breton storytelling
The irony of hosting a book launch without any books was not lost on local publisher Ron Caplan.
After all, the veteran writer and historian had no books and nothing to sign when he unveiled a compilation of Cape Breton stories during a recent session of the Isle of Story Festival at Sydney’s James McConnell Memorial Library.
The collection of yarns and tales is entitled “Great Cape Breton Storytelling, A Gift to Cape Breton Students in Celebration of Canada 150.”
And, it’s only available online in its digital form. It’s an e-book.
“It was different, so I did the only thing I could and that was direct people to the website,” laughed Caplan, who founded Cape Breton’s Magazine shortly after emigrating from the United States to Canada in the early 1970s.
That publication (1972-1999) served as a showcase for stories on Cape Bretoners from across the island. And, it was from the magazine’s archives that Caplan selected the stories that make up the content of his latest digital offering.
The idea to compile the stories came from area teachers who told him repeatedly there was a lack of Cape Breton books in local schools.
“My first plan was to offer Great Cape Breton Storytelling for the island’s teachers and students, but once I had finished the book I asked myself ‘why not give it to everyone who loves Cape Breton Island?’” recalled Caplan, who in 2010 was appointed to the Order of Canada for his work on Cape Breton’s Magazine.
“So the book is free and all people have to do is go online and order it and it will be sent to them — people get the approximately 80 stories in the book and as a bonus there’s a link at the end of each story that connects people with Cape Breton’s Magazine online site.”
And that site, www.capebretonbooks.com, provides links to more than 5,000 pages from the magazine’s 74 issues. The online address is also the link to ordering a free digital copy of the new compilation.
“This project was an opportunity to honour the people who shared their stories with me over the years — they made the magazine possible, so I believe it is my responsibility to reach out to the new generations and share those stories with them,” said Caplan.
“I hope everyone who loves Cape Breton will take advantage of this gift and I they will invite friends and relatives living away to get a free copy — it’s a way we can all help keep a great Cape Breton tradition alive.”
The e-book is available free of charge through the month of April. Shown above is the cover of the new e-book, “Great Cape Breton Storytelling, A Gift to Cape Breton Students in Celebration of Canada 150. It only available online in digital form.
“My first plan was to offer Great Cape Breton Storytelling for the island’s teachers and students, but once I had finished the book I asked myself ‘why not give it to everyone who loves Cape Breton Island?’” Ron Caplan