New book gives look into the salmon fishing experience

Mark MacMillan has authored “Thrashing and Cavorting: A Guiding Life” and it was recently launched. It is his second book, with the first being “The Rankin Street Raiders.”

A local author has given his readers a look into salmon fishing.

Mark MacMillan has released “Thrashing and Cavorting: A Guiding Life” and it “invites readers into the boat with a world-renowned professional sport fishing guide in the often-dangerous yet beautifully breathtaking waters of Canada’s Pacific Northwest.”

“It’s about the life and times of a professional salmon fishing guide on the northwest coast of British Columbia,” said MacMillan.

MacMillan’s previous novel was “The Rankin Street Raiders” and his new book not only takes place in British Columbia, but has “different stopovers in other parts of Canada, the United States, the Middle East and New Zealand.”

“A good friend of ours is a professional salmon fishing guide,” he said. “We went to see him a lot of times. We went to high school together.”

The novel features some of his experiences and is a combination of adventure with humour. “Thrashing and Cavorting” is similar in style to “The Rankin Street Raiders” in that each chapter is connected but can standalone so readers can pick it up and read it from any point of the book. 

“Both books took me two winters each to write,” said MacMillan. “A lot of research went into them.”

It features encounters with killer whales, tidal pools and high-seas storms. MacMillan said chapters range from meeting the genius of salmon smoking, an ever-vigilant lighthouse keeper and a wise herring monger, to environmental concerns, Indigenous lore and spirited feasts and celebrations. 

“I am honoured and thankful for the support and enthusiasm from Southern Ontario readers, especially Amherstburg and area, for my first novel ‘The Rankin Street Raiders’,” Mark said. “It has been heartwarming and gratifying.”

MacMillan used to live in Amherstburg as his father worked at Brunner Mond. His best friend was Pat Thrasher and he said he comes back to town regularly to see the family.

“We love what is happening to Amherstburg,” said MacMillan. “It’s growing great and beautiful to visit.”

“Thrashing and Cavorting - A Guiding Life” is available at River Bookshop in Amherstburg, Ontario as well as Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Indigo/Chapters and Barnes and Noble.

New book gives look into the salmon fishing experience

By Ron Giofu