Trevor Ferguson
Hey, folks.
Life since MRHS, huh? There’s an odd twist to the timing of this actually. While in High School, I was secretly very anxious to get on with my life. I even ran away from home in Grade Ten, but was caught and brought back, only to plan my next getaway. The day after I wrote my final exam in Grade Eleven, still sixteen, I left home for good. In one sense, the adventure hasn’t stopped. That first summer on the road proved fraught with adventure, and I ended up in the Northwest Territories, working on the Great Slave Lake Railway. Years later, those experiences were distilled into my sixth novel, called The Timekeeper, and this summer, specifically on August 21st, the movie of that book, same title, will be released across Canada. To be contacted by John Hoffman regarding this site the same year that the movie will be forthcoming about my first few months out of High School is a trifle eerie.
That first summer away from home is when I decided that I would become a novelist. I gave myself no option. I vowed that nothing would stop me, and swore that I would never take a job I liked because that might induce me to do something else. I’ve stuck to that vow, and have now published nine novels (in 26 countries, gawd) under two names, have had six productions of my four plays, have the movie coming out (I did not write the script), and have scripts that I have written that are moving down the line to be produced, both original ones and another based on a previous book. The two-name thing is simply this: my literary fiction goes under my real name, my thrillers go under the name John Farrow. It’s not a secret, but it keeps the work separate so that people know they are getting what they expect.
Although I never went back to school (and never actually graduated from MRHS; I flunked out, after all I was only thinking about taking off; can I still be on this site?) and so have never been to university as a student, I have often taught Creative Writing at Concordia University over the last sixteen years. The output overcomes the lack of academic standing. This IS a job I like, but I only took it after I had established myself as a writer, and then to my amazement discovered that I loved the classroom. At least, writing workshops. I enjoy the young people immensely, and talking about writing is a pleasure. To assist a few to become professional writers is hugely rewarding, but equally rewarding is lending an assist to those who will find their way into other professions.
My ninth novel just came out in France, but we’re waiting for the markets to improve before the English version appears, most likely next year. My most recent play was out in Montreal a year ago, and a year before that it opened Off-Broadway where we had very successful run. It was generally regarded as the most critically acclaimed Off-Broadway play in 2007. Probably my greatest pleasure and undoubtedly biggest success in theatre was to have my first play reproduced in French at Place-des-Arts for a seven-week run. 25,000 people saw it, and for a Montreal kid, who went to Mount Royal High but who lived “across the fence” in Park Ex, to have a play on at PdA was more than a little mind-boggling. Even if it was in French, a language I still don’t speak well.
After that first year out of school, I continued to work in the north awhile, mainly in British Columbia, building bridges and eventually becoming a heavy equipment operator. Tough work, maybe, but I didn’t want a job I could imagine keeping forever, and anyway the outdoor living in the north was great for a young person. In those days the money was above average, and that allowed me to take time off to travel Europe or hang out with the growing hippie crowds of the era. I was writing all the time, and soaking in as much as I could. Eventually I settled into driving a cab (still wouldn’t take a job I liked) back here in Montreal for a few years until my first novel was published when I was 29. After that, it’s only been writing and a bit of teaching.
Today I’m still living in Quebec, but off-island in Hudson, with Lynne, my wife of a great many years. No kids. Next year I won’t be teaching as I have a new novel I’m anxious to complete and there’s quite a bit of movie work on the horizon. A year ago I was teaching, had a play on, was finishing two film scripts and a novel and had accepted a commission to outline a TV series. Too much. I ended up sick a lot. So I’ve turned over a new leaf and manage my projects better by saying no more often. I’ll miss the teaching, for sure, but you just can’t do everything.
I’m an avid sailor. I owned and raced crewed boats for awhile but now I’ve gone in the opposite direction and solo sail or with one more on a very small, beautiful, 19th century design, a skiff, which I trailer around in the summer while camping. Just love it. This year I have a regatta in Michigan to attend which I’ll be writing about it for one of the American sailing magazines, another on Cape Cod, and probably I’ll be going to another on New York harbour. No more racing though, just exploring. Mostly I just sail on my own and with Lynne. This year that will include a trip to Maine, a favourite destination, and of course I’m often on my home waters by Hudson. (Today it’s thunderstorms and fierce wind, so I’m doing this instead!)
So life has been interesting and rewarding. Missed out on kids, but in a way my university students have helped fill that part of my life. The beat goes on. I have much on the horizon and that’s the main thing, to keep forging ahead. Looking back on high school, my most fond memories are reserved for my English and home-room teacher in Grade 11, Mr. McKeague. He was an influence. When my first novel came out I tried to find him, but failed. Too bad. I know that Arthur Scammell read my first book though, and that was a treat to hear.
Best to all, it’s been great reading up on all of you.
Trevor Ferguson
8/2009 Update: A film based on Trevor's book, The Timekeeper, opened on 8/21/2009.