CANOE -- JAM! Books: Winnipeg novelist gets $1.25M deal

Description

Truth be told, it accomplished those feats more than a year ago. Last May, Random House ponied up a $1.25-million advance for the U.S. rights to the unorthodox gothic romance. Toss in other domestic and foreign rights and it's estimated the book has netted the 39-year-old Davidson north of $2 million, far and away the biggest payday for a Canadian debut novel.

But if you think it's has gone to Davidson's head, think again.

"People assume that all of a sudden there's a big party and you're popping champagne corks," laughs Davidson, nursing a glass of orange juice in a coffee shop near his home. "But that's just not the case."

Not in his case, anyway -- Davidson is a teetotaler who doesn't own a car ("I don't like to drive") and seems to perfer a quiet life of writing at night, sleeping during the day, playing old-timer hockey and spending time with his girlfriend and his family in Pinawa, Man. His one major purchase: A century-old house in south Winnipeg.

But if he hardly acts like Canada's hottest new millionaire wordsmith, it's only fitting: The Gargoyle is hardly a typical pop-fiction potboiler.

Original URL

http://jam.canoe.ca/Books/2008/08/14/6447391-sun.html

http://jam.canoe.ca/Books/2008/08/14/6447391-sun.html