'Labour of love': Author's debut novel fulfills lifelong dream
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Loading... - Naas Brynjar
- 02 Jun 2023
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Tim Paleczny possesses an inherent talent for the art of writing. While he spent numerous years engaged in corporate communications, his true aspiration was always to embark on a career as a fiction writer. Finally, on March 15, he accomplished his lifelong goal with the publication of his debut novel, titled "A Life on Water."
The narrative revolves around a marine biologist's research expedition in Portugal, which unexpectedly transforms into a daring espionage mission during the Second World War, as explained by Paleczny. The central character in Paleczny's novel is Ardis Lowney, a young and passionate marine biologist focused on studying sea turtles. To gain permission for her venture into Portuguese waters, she agrees to conceal a short-wave radio below deck and report on enemy activities.
While stationed in the neutral city of Lisbon, Lowney finds herself thrust into a perilous environment, where both sides of the war intermingle on sunlit terraces and in smoky salons. This circumstance presents her with a perfect opportunity to gather crucial intelligence in support of the war effort.
Paleczny relocated to Barrie four years ago, having spent the majority of his life in and around Toronto. This move allowed him to finally pursue his dream of becoming a novelist. "Once my children had entered university, I realized it was my chance to seize the moment, and I went for it. It has been an enjoyable journey," he expresses to Barrie today. During the process of writing his book, he traveled to Lisbon and spent five weeks immersing himself in the city's ambiance, along with conducting two months of research in South America.
Interestingly, Paleczny's inspiration for the novel emerged during a trip to Portugal in the late 1990s. During this visit, he received a guided tour of the country's northern region. Reflecting on this experience, he shares, "A year or two later, I wrote a short story, which essentially became the foundation for the chapter set in the classroom within the book. That chapter remained untouched in my drawer for several years, with sporadic additions surrounding it."
Initially, he intended to craft a story centered around his former father-in-law. However, over time, the narrative organically evolved into its present form. Paleczny explains, "I discovered that the rocks his father had collected contained wolfram, and Portugal was the primary source of wolfram in Europe. Hitler and the Nazis required this resource, and the plan was for Hitler to seize it, thereby opening up another front in the war. To prevent this, Salazar negotiated a deal."
The historical fact that intrigued Paleczny so deeply prompted him to shift the timeline of his story to a decade earlier than originally intended, allowing him to incorporate this aspect into his narrative. In the initial version, a teacher played a prominent role. However, after uncovering the rich history of espionage in Lisbon during the war, Paleczny decided to replace her and introduced Ardis Lowney as the protagonist, who ultimately becomes a spy working for the Allies.
Admitting that the final version of the story is the result of eight drafts, Paleczny playfully remarks that with each revision, the novel has undeniably improved. "It has been a labor of love. Engaging in this work is immensely gratifying. I have formulated a business plan and a ten-year strategy to produce approximately ten books. I am eagerly anticipating the publication of the poetry I have written, as well as a play that I intend to release," he shares enthusiastically.
In addition to his current novel, Paleczny is actively working on two sequels. The first installment is set in Brazil, while the second takes place in Paraguay. His dedication to writing and storytelling fuels his creative drive, and he looks forward to sharing more literary works with his readers.
