The early days of Fergus create the setting for a posthumously published novel by local journalist Hugh Templin.
In the novel The Precious Seed the hardships and triumphs of a small band of Scottish pioneers come to life from a manuscript that lay forgotten for over 40 years.
Hugh Templin (1896-1970) was born into the Newspaper business. As a well known journalist, his freelance work ran in Maclean’s Magazine, Saturday Night, the Star Weekly and the Financial Post. In 1941, his series Britain and Europe at War was syndicated in more than 500 papers and reached an audience of over 3 million readers.
His one and only novel The Precious Seed was not published in his lifetime due to his declining health. Over 40 years after his death, his grandchildren found the manuscript and decided to get it published through Baico Publishing in Ottawa.
“Its a wonderful story,” says David Templin, grandson of the author and great great great great grandson of one of the key characters in the book.
“The novel draws you into the lives of the early settlers of Upper Canada in a way that history books cannot. It is a suspense filled tale of the life and death struggles of our ancestors,” explains Templin.
“It is told with great reverence and interspersed with the subtle sense of humor my grandfather was known for.”
Mark Templin, David’s younger brother, said family names in the book will be familiar to those acquainted with the Wellington County area, and include: Anderson, Allan, Barnett, Bell, Black, Clephane, Fergusson, Ferrier, Gardiner, McQueen, Munro, Perry, Skene, Walker, Watt and Webster.
The book launch will take place on Nov. 9 at 7pm at Roxanne’s Reflections Book and Card Shop in Fergus. Everyone is welcome. Mark and David Templin will be there to talk about The Precious Seed and will read excerpts from it.
The next day (Nov. 10) the pair will be at the Fergus Library at 1pm.
The book will be available at Roxanne’s Reflections and soon through Chapters’ on-line book store. A copy will be donated to the Fergus library.For information visit www.preciousseed.wordpress.com.
