Gazette columnist Kalbfleisch launches debut novel

Longtime Gazette contributor John Kalbfleisch has mined Montreal’s history for interesting stories to recount, writing his weekly Second Draft column for the paper since 2000.

Now Kalbfleisch has turned his writing skills to fiction, penning a debut novel, titled A Stain Upon the Land, a whodunit based on the real-life account of Robert Watson, a prominent Montreal merchant shot to death in his home on March 30, 1827. Who killed him and why?

Kalbfleisch explores that line between fact and fiction in his book, and will be talking about it and signing copies at its launch Sunday, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Centre Culturel GeorgesVanier, 2450 Workman St., a short walk from Lionel-Groulx métro station.

The event will also include the launch of a book, Montreal 1909, by another Gazette contributor, Robert Wilkins. It chronicles one year in the life of the city, with excerpts from articles published in the Montreal Star that year. For details, call 514-457-5733.