Book cover illustration: Sean Skerry. www.classicgraphic.co
The Great Lunenburglary by Bryn Pottie is a comedic, historical fiction that radiates the kind of scuffed-up affection one has for the small town that raised them. For those familiar with Lunenburg, Pottie’s keen wit and observations will elicit genuine laughter, while newcomers will find the inevitably human follies and small town foibles both humorous and relatable. This era-spanning caper, in the vein of classic camp coming-of-age stories, follows a rag-tag group of outcast teenagers on their misguided quest for fame. Anchored by the iconic Bluenose, this summer read delivers a blend of blundering heists, first love, small-town rivalries, sailboats, fisherman, copious cigarettes, some alcohol and drugs, and the sheer joy of friendship and fiddle-fueled adventures.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with the author, Bryn Pottie, at The Knot – a setting referenced in the novel itself – to discuss the book and his process.
Q: What were some of your inspirations, literary or otherwise, when writing The Great Lunenburglary? Personally, the book’s subversive humor resonated with the works of Terry Pratchett, and its adventurous spirit recalled some of my favorite childhood movies.
A: Television and movies were a significant source of inspiration for me. In fact, the second half of the book is basically a homage to The Simpsons episode “Lemon of Troy.” More broadly, The Simpsons has been a major influence on my comedic style. I also drew heavily from films like Stand by Me, Back to the Future, Die Hard, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Their content, humor, and sense of adventure – often centered around friendship with a satisfying resolution where every element introduced plays a role – were all key.
I also admire Pixar’s story structure. Early in my writing process, I even analyzed the pacing of Toy Story with a stopwatch, timing major plot points to better understand how they crafted their adventures.
Given the large cast in The Great Lunenburglary, much like The Simpsons and other ensemble works, my goal was to create characters that could each become a reader’s favorite or most relatable or even most hated, while ensuring every character plays an essential role in the unfolding events.
For research, I delved into the history of the Bluenose and the Lunenburg area, as well as studies on dictatorships. In terms of fiction, Maria Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette was a particular inspiration, reminding me that books can simply be funny.
Q: I found your use of time periods in The Great Lunenburglary unique and engaging. While technically set in the 1920s, the book incorporates cultural references and a way of being that feels distinctly 1990s and early 2000s. What led to this deliberate merging of timelines?
A: To be honest, it began as a bit of an experiment. I felt an elastic timeline offered more creative freedom than adhering strictly to historical accuracy within a single period. For instance, if the book were set in the 1990s, a time many readers remember, I would have felt compelled to ensure meticulous detail. By setting it in the more distant past of the 1920s, those specificities felt less rigid. Linking these two periods allowed me to draw out the aspects of each that I wanted to explore, without getting bogged down in historical perfectionism.
My intention was to capture the feeling and essence of my own upbringing in the ’90s and early 2000s, while layering it with the historic charm of the early 20th century that defines Lunenburg’s identity. Additionally, I felt that a strict adherence to the realities of the 1920s might have made the book too somber, given the often harshness of life during that era.
Q: As this is your debut novel, I’m curious about your writing process. For aspiring authors, tackling a first novel can seem like a daunting task.
A: Absolutely, it was an intimidating endeavor for me as well. You see people pursuing PhDs in creative writing, and the thought definitely crossed my mind – who am I to attempt this? The potential pitfalls felt numerous. However, starting the process during the quiet of COVID minimized distractions.
The project also came at a time of big personal transition: moving back to my hometown after many years in Toronto. During this period of flux and change writing provided a sense of focus. I committed to writing daily, while at the same time I was rediscovering my affection for the area. Often, books set in major cities assume a certain familiarity with streets and neighborhoods. I wanted to evoke that same sense of place here, assuming a degree of local knowledge while ensuring the setting remained accessible and engaging for readers unfamiliar with Lunenburg. It was a delicate balance to strike.
I also paid close attention to the pacing of the humor. During my time working in the entertainment industry in Toronto, a television writer shared the guideline of aiming for roughly three jokes per page in a script. While I didn’t adhere to that pace, maintaining a consistent and engagingly funny rhythm throughout the book was really important to me. I wrote many, many drafts!
Q: Alright, last question – what do you have against Lockeport?
A: (Laughs) Originally, the rival town in my first draft was Bridgewater, but I wanted a more coastal counterpart to Lunenburg. The statue described in the book is actually a real landmark in Lockeport, and growing up, there was definitely a local rivalry between the two towns, so it just felt like a natural fit!
Bryn Pottie’s debut novel, The Great Lunenburglary, will be launched on June 12th at the Lunenburg Library at 6:30PM. Following the release, the book will be available at local gift stores and literary establishments.
