On August 20th I will be walking with Sir John A. Macdonald in Kingston at 2pm and 4pm. I wonder if D’Arcy McGee will show up?

Philip Marchand wrote, “Henderson does a real service to the Canadian historical imagination in accurately evoking such an atmosphere and such a period.”

In Person: Gordon Henderson By SUSAN G. COLE

Canadian historical fiction is strangely rare, so when a good writer tackles it, it’s reason to take notice. Gordon Henderson’s new book, Man In The Shadows (HarperCollins, $19.99), goes back to the days before Confederation to tell the story of an assassination attempt on prime minister John A. Macdonald. There’s tons of intrigue, both political – Irish republicans figure prominently – and sexual. Henderson launches the book at the Dora Keogh Wednesday (July 9)

My book is on the stands and on line. I am just back from Europe and thrilled to hold a copy of Man in the Shadows

Yesterday was D Day and the 123rd anniversary of the death of Sir John A, Macdonald. Soon to be a major character in Man in the Shadows.

April 7th. On this spring night D’Arcy McGee spoke in the House of Commons for the last time. In the early hours of the morning was assassinated just a few blocks from Parliament Hill. 146 years later, does his ghost haunt us?

There are those who think Avenue Road in Toronto should be re-named after Sir John A. Macdonald. I heartily agree. Avenue Road is a stupid name and it would be fun to take Sir John A.’s road to work every day.

The alternate title for the book was Heart of Your Foe. It’s from a poem by D’Arcy McGee that is featured in the book. It’s a more lyrical title, but maybe too artsy. I don’t know. Whatever attracts attention, I guess.

On Canada Day, July 1st, Man in the Shadows will be in the bookstores and on line. Fitting date. The book begins on July 1st, 1867. I hope people think it’s a good summer read.

I spent St. Patrick’s Day, 2014, in Chengdu, China. No one mentioned what day it was and it didn’t occur to me. I’m not of Irish heritage and don’t have a craving for green beer, but I do think of D’Arcy McGee on St. Patrick’s Day and like to toast his memory. On that day in Ottawa in 1868 he delivered an eloquent speech – all his speeches were eloquent — about his love for both Ireland and Canada. It was less than a month before he would be assassinated. Part of the speech is in the novel. And of course so is his murder. Who did it? Did an innocent man hang? What’s the connection to Ireland? The novel speculates.

St. Andrew’s Day is November 30th but we of Scottish heritage let that day go by largely unrecognized. Maybe because tartan whisky is just unthinkable.