A group of teenagers steal the Bluenose, sail off into chaos, and bring a fictional version of 1920s Lunenburg to life. That’s the premise behind The Great Lunenburglary, the debut novel from local author Bryn Pottie, set to launch this week.
The comedic novel is filled with made-up escapades and a fictionalized South Shore, blending local landmarks and characters with a casual, cartoonish tone.
“It’s a comedy book about a group of rowdy teens in Lunenburg, way back in the 1920s, who steal the Bluenose for a joy ride,” Pottie said in an interview. “They get involved in a whole bunch of wacky hijinks out on the sea.”
Pottie says the book was born after moving home during the pandemic, feeling energized by his surroundings but aware that getting support for a niche story might be tricky.
“In Canada right now, if you’re not writing a story about a lady from the big city falling in love at Christmas time, then no one’s going to finance you,” he said. “So I decided if I wanted to do something about Lunenburg and the Bluenose, I was going to have to make it a book.”
He partnered with Moose House Publishing, a small press based in the Annapolis Valley focused on rural Nova Scotian authors. The book’s cover was designed by Sean Skerry of Classic Graphic Design in Dayspring, someone Pottie grew up with.
The Great Lunenburglary author Bryn Pottie stopped by the CKBW/Country 100.7 studios ahead of his books release later this week. Photo: Evan Taylor.
“My book is set in a cartoon version of Lunenburg, and I think he absolutely nailed that aesthetic,” he said.
The official launch event is taking place at the Lunenburg Academy on Thursday evening. After that, the book will be available online via Amazon, Indigo, and brynpottie.com, as well as in some stores around Lunenburg and Bridgewater.
Pottie hopes the story will appeal to locals and visitors alike.
“If you’re from Nova Scotia, great — but you don’t have to be,” he said. “If you like comedy, haven’t read more than 10 books since high school, but you’re thinking, ‘hey, that might be fun,’ then this is for you.”
He also has readings scheduled in August at Lahave River Books and the Rose Finch Mercantile in Port Medway, and plans to appear at the Lunenburg Lit Festival in November.
Although this story might stand alone, Pottie says he’s still writing — just not likely more from the world of The Great Lunenberglary.
“I feel like I got all of my local jokes out of my system,” he said. “Next time, I’ll try something a little different.”
