Neil Alexander Marr

 

Neil was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1959 but emigrated to Canada in 1974. He is currently a resident of Stouffville, Ontario where he lives with his wife and two teenage daughters. After a lengthy career in business, Neil is now enjoying life as a high school teacher of English and History.

A writer of essays and short stories, Magpies and Sunsets evolved from a short story that dealt with a child's first day of school, exploring themes of cultural alienation and identity. "It just seemed like a natural progression to extend it into a novel length piece of prose," says Neil, who admits to viewing the writing process as a means to learn about one's self as much as anything. "Strangely enough, the most important attribute of a fiction writer is honesty, and I think what helps me are my vivid memories of the formative years and the way a child reacts and feels." And as for writing an identity novel, Neil says "all good novels are at some level identity novels."

Contact Neil: neilamarr@bewrite.net 

Magpies and Sunsets

James McPherson has made a huge success of his new life in a new country. He has a thriving business, a wife and three daughters, a beautiful home, a public image, and a private shame. A voice from his secret past, a voice calling from thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean in the thick dialect of the Edinburgh gutters haunts him. So he returns to his native Scotland to confront his personal demons and exorcise the evil memories that bedevil him. Can he ever recapture the simple, guiltless pleasure of watching Magpies and Sunsets, forgiving the past and laying its ghost once and for all? In a magnificently crafted and courageous book, Neil Marr makes no concessions to the English language as he throws his reader into the deep end of heavy, rough, tough dialect. A delight for all Scots, a journey of adventure for millions of ex patriot Caledonians around the world and a challenge to all Sassenachs!

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