About
Let me be honest here; I am not very good at being pro-active on social media. One piece of evidence to support that claim is that this is the first update to this page since 2014. Perhaps if we had cell reception up here on Murray Mountain, I might have joined the ranks of smart phoners and developed more dexterity with my thumbs. But we don’t, and I haven’t.
I had originally thought that I might use this website to talk about writing, about stringing unrelated words together in new and interesting ways so that they tell a story. Perhaps that will happen someday, but I’m afraid that it will have to wait until I finish building the chicken house. That project has been in the planning stages for a decade, so don’t hold your breath.
And let me be right up front about something else: along with many songs, a few poems and a bunch of short stories, I have written two books, so far, and have had the good fortune of having both of them shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Medal For Humour. The second, The Promised Land – a novel of Cape Breton, won the 2014 Leacock Medal For Humour. I will tell you about them and if you are interested, I will be more than happy to lead you to you where you can buy them.
Prowl the site, follow the links hither and yon, and be sure to leave a message.
Bill Conall
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
CLICK HERE TO ENJOY A READING OF ONE OF MY SHORT STORIES
Bill Conall 
Congratulations on your second book, and on the success of your first (short-listed for the Stephen Leacock Award!)
You have a way with words … humorous and pithy. And you are obviously a keen student of human nature.
Your books are very hard to put down until the last page is turned!
And why am I not surprised that the WordPress theme of your site is “skeptical.” 🙂
Congratulations on your success Bill. Many doors are opening for you.
Hey, Bill! I tried to respond to the email you sent a while back, but got an error message. Sorry I haven’t tried harder until now. CONGRATULATIONS!! It’s really funny–I sort of feel a proprietary pride just because I read the book while living in its setting. Isn’t that funny? Have fun being a Big Rich Fat Cat Author! 😀
Congratulations again BC.. I have the book on order.. I am proud of you on your accomplishments and your insights. I am sure you will enjoy the award dinner in June. I’ll be in touch.
Just finished The Promised Land last night. Excellent choice for the Leacock Award. Congratulations.
I’m soooo enjoying your latest creation. Thanks so much and congratulations again on your well-deserved Stephen Leacock award for humour.
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Good morning to you Mr Conall. I have just finished reading your book, The Promised Land. I loved it. I found myself wishing that these people were my neighbours. I admired their compassion, their views on others in their community, their honesty and candor and the adventures they got into – and out of. Their deep love of home permeated the book. Yes, I found myself laughing often but I also was wishing the story would not end. Wonderful. Sequel?
Bill, it was such a delight to join you at THE table for the Leacock Medal presentation. Your epic drollery resulted in an unforgettable evening with a table of new friends. Hope you’re still basking, glowing, and appreciate the foregoing self-referential Oxford comma. Kindest regards to you and Rosemary!
What a lovely book! The characters are charming, whimsical and the setting so evocative of Cape Breton in all its quirky glory. The Leacock is richly deserved.
Congratulations Bill on living the dream!
I remember your one man show years ago in Vancouver. Well done!
Have just been given your book The Promised Land, read it all evening and well into the night and enjoyed it thoroughly. Have travelled this Trail a few times and it seemed I was on it again with your tales in the book. Thank you for the memories and especially the story about “Seizure” as we all know someone like Gilles in our lives. I a still laughing about him and quite a few other Brownies too. Once again, thank you for your wonderful stories.
At my RV in beautiful Big Bras d’Dor
Just read “The Promised Land”
Loved it. Beautiful summer read.
I will start “The Rock in the Water” tomorrow.
Cheers
Hi Bill, I picked up The Rock in the Water while up on Cape Breton. I really enjoyed it, the narrators voice reminded me of Gene Shepard ‘s old radio monologues. Did you ever listen to them? I found myself tearing up over some of your characters what a crowd. Well thanks for the book and beautiful island . Rick Gallagher
I recently discovered “The Promised Land” at our local library. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Hi Sarah. Glad you enjoyed The Promised Land. Thanks for taking the time to comment. My most recent book is Some Days Run Long, a short story collection from the same publisher.