New book for Mabou-based writer.
Mabou-based writer happy his novel included on 2021 Canada Reads
MABOU — You just have to read Morgan Murray's writer's bio carefully to get a sense he really doesn't take himself that seriously.
“He has a BA in Canadian Studies from the University of Calgary, a Certificate in Central and Eastern European Studies from the University of Economics, Prague, a MPhil in Humanities from Memorial University of Newfoundland, and a participation ribbon for beef calf showmanship (incomplete) from the Little Britches 4-H Club, Caroline, Alberta. His writing has been rejected by some of North America's top publications, and has appeared in a bunch of other places like The Scope, The Walrus, Newfoundland Quarterly, and Echolocation.”
It's that ironic irreverence that have made his first novel, “Dirty Birds,” one to watch, propelling it to the long-list for the 20th Canada Reads competition on CBC.
“I did not see that coming,” said Murray in an interview from his Mabou home while watching “Peppa Pig” with his daughter Mary.
“They did give us 24 hours notice so we had to keep it a secret for a day but it came as a huge surprise. They emailed my publisher and my publisher emailed me so 'Happy New Year.' So I don't know exactly how they decide on their long list but I'm shocked I'm on it and very pleased.”
“Dirty Birds” examines the life of Milton Ontario (not Milton, Ont.) and his quest to find poetry and Leonard Cohen in Montreal after leaving his mundane home in Saskatchewan.
“I stole a lot of it from real life,” said Murray, who grew up on a beef farm in rural Alberta. “I graduated from the University of Calgary in 2006 and in 2007 I moved to Montreal to become a famous poet like the hero Milton Ontario.
“It didn't work out for either of us.”
Like his hero, Murray lived in an art-oriented neighbourhood where the rent was cheap, embellishing it into a satirical farce in 2018.
Yet, in its own way, it did work out for Murray.
“I wrote it on weekends and after work and sent it off to the publisher and they edited it but I never imagined this,” he said. “I thought my mom would read it for sure and other than that, that was all I could hope for. This has been spectacular.”
Murray, 37, now lives on a small farm just outside of Mabou with his wife, cartoonist Kate Beaton and their daughter Mary and various pets. He works as an innovation director with the Cape Breton Partnership. He's just coming off parental leave so finding time to do everything can be a challenge.
“I'm a part-time parent, part time working with the partnership and part time trying to write when I can,” he said.
While the first book is well on its way to earning further sales as books associated with Canada Reads tend to do, Murray hopes to eventually start his next book.
“I have an agent now so we're going to chat about the next best project to dig into as I have some ideas,” he said. “Pick the next one and do it.”
Murray will be bringing the book to Sydney on the "Dirty Birds" tour Feb. 4, 7 p.m., at On Paper Bookstore, Charlotte Street.
In the meantime, his wife Kate Beaton, is expected to release her own graphic novel this year. Beaton is the awardwinning creator of “Hark! A Vagrant,” a webcomic strip. Her upcoming novel is based on time she spent in Fort McMurray, Alta. after university.
“I went to Montreal after university and she went to Fort Mac after university to pay off her student loan so she's written an incredible book that will be out in the next year. She's working on a number of exciting things,” said Murray.
“It's fun times at our house — we're busy.”