New book marks a creative shift for Orillia author Michael McMullen, who will launch his book at Lake Country Grill Saturday
The spark for Michael McMullen’s new book came from a single overheard sentence more than 20 years ago.
“I was sitting in a diner and I heard one sentence from the woman sitting in a booth adjacent to me, to a man, and it was the jaw-dropper,” McMullen recalled. “So shortly after that, the waitress came along and said, ‘Did you hear that?’ And I went, ‘Yeah.’ So that sentence stuck with me for well over 20 years, and that was the whole inspiration for the story.”
From that one moment, McMullen created four fictional characters, developed their backstories, and built the intertwining narrative of Leaving Lisa, his third book.
The Orillia native will return home Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2:30 p.m. for a launch event at Lake Country Grill, where he’ll be joined by childhood friend Peter Bailey, who will perform songs inspired by the novel.
The new release marks a significant shift in style for McMullen.
“Publishers or editors would classify my first two books as authentic fiction, which means real and gritty and could be a real true story,” he said. “Leaving Lisa was classified as a romantic comedy relationship story. Still could be real, but a much different tone and feel to it.
“I didn’t set out to write a romantic comedy, but that’s where the development of the characters and the plot line took it,” he explained.
The theme of relationships, and how they have changed over time, guided much of his writing.
“It was a reflection on what has transpired in the last 30 years, where you saw social commentators talk about the breakdown of traditional relationships,” he explained. “Now the way people meet, how they come together, why it falls apart, that’s such a constant in our culture. That was what I wanted to explore through the characters.”
While McMullen admits 95 per cent of the story is drawn from imagination, he believes readers will recognize familiar struggles.
“What I think they’ll see is they’ll see a lot of people they know and can identify with trying to find their path, trying to find a path forward after facing adversity,” he said. “Because we don’t all have a smooth ride.”
What makes this book launch especially unique is the accompanying music. The character Lisa is a musician, and as McMullen developed her voice, he realized parts of the dialogue could be songs.
“That was totally unintended,” he said. “In my third draft, there was some dialogue between the two female characters, and I said that could be a song. So I wrote lyrics, and then I had friends who put them to music. Within a week, they were back with full songs. Suddenly, I was learning how to put an album on Spotify.”
The result was Leaving Lisa by Mick & The Bookies, released under Garbage Boy Records.
“At my age, and my friend’s age, you know, being on Spotify really makes us cool grandparents,” McMullen laughed.
Peter Bailey, a former teammate and lifelong friend, will perform three songs at the Orillia launch.
“That’s a full circle moment,” McMullen said. “Peter and I played hockey together from the ages of 13 to 18. We’ve remained friends since we were kids, and I won’t hear his versions until he sings them at Lake Country Grill, which is also fun for me.”
While touring the book across Canada, McMullen has noticed readers want to talk about more than just the story.
“I get questions on this tour about where do you think Canada is headed. How is Canada different than the U.S.?” he said. “The first two books were underdog stories, people trying to make their lives better. This one, I think, people still connect with that idea of moving forward, but the bigger theme I hear is Canadians lifting each other up. I call it a pass-the-puck mentality.”
Coming home to Orillia is something McMullen doesn’t take lightly.
“I hope a lot of people show up that I grew up with,” he said. “Even though Leaving Lisa is totally fictional, in the background is what we’ve all experienced. People in Orillia look at you through the lens of how they knew you and how you’ve evolved into a storyteller. It’s a much different vibe than Calgary or Saskatoon.”
He says his roots in Orillia shaped not only his outlook but his writing.
“Orillia shaped me into the belief that you could rise above your means, you could accomplish things,” he said. “That support network is very influential in my writing, because all four of these characters are on journeys where they’re trying to carve a path forward for themselves. That was me growing up here, too.”
McMullen hopes readers leave Leaving Lisa with more than just entertainment.
“Whatever your circumstances, there is a positive path forward,” he said. “But you have to take control and decide your own destiny. You own it. To think otherwise is going to just have you wallow in your pain and your misery and your disappointment. Whether you’re 16 or 76, there is a path forward and you own that.”
Looking ahead, McMullen is already deep into his fourth book, The Last Flight of the Orioles, which he expects to release next year. Like his latest launch, its roots begin in Orillia.
But for now, he admits his thoughts are on Saturday’s event and the nerves that come with presenting in front of a hometown audience.
“I get incredibly more anxious and nervous when I’m going to present in front of my hometown crowd, because I don’t want to disappoint them,” he said. “Strangers, you want to entertain. But the hometown crowd brings out the butterflies.”
For more about the book, or to purchase your copy, click here.