Cam Lang - Author: "Novel Research" Interview

After posting a series of 26 articles for April’s AtoZ Blog Challenge focused on personal research topics, I was eager to read about the topics other writers had researched for their own projects. This resulted in a Novel Research project (“novel” meaning interesting, different, unusual), which will focus on topics researched for various reasons, such as for a book, an essay, a blog post, or family genealogy. 

To this end, I am inviting other writers to participate in the project by sharing information about their “novel” research into a specific topic. Each is given free rein to write from any angle, and all are welcome to sprinkle the article with personal experiences and/or anecdotes relevant to the research topic. 

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Gail: Today's guest, Cam Lang, had his first novel published in December, 2020. His research efforts, however, stretch throughout his career. I’ve asked Cam to first share his bio, including one new or previously undisclosed detail about himself. 

Cam: Hi Gail, thanks so much for the invitation to participate in this interview. 

I’m an urban planner, designer, and development manager in my day job, which entails writing incredibly technical and boring memos, reports, and briefs. You can never inject humor into these (I always have to bite my tongue) so I’ve always chosen emails to friends as an outlet to unleash my sardonic wit and creativity. 

A few years ago, a friend suggested I should do more creative writing. So when the pandemic hit, I decided to write a novel about the erosion of a historic small town. I’m an avid runner and cyclist and believe that planning our cities and towns around the automobile is unsustainable (spoiler alert!). 

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Gail: As an avid runner and cyclist, you would have a vested interest in your town’s development of pedestrian and biking trails. And for the development of your novel, which of the various methods of research did you use? 

Cam: Most of the information in my novel comes from first-hand knowledge. But I did interview various specialists (grape growers, winery owners, lawyers, politicians) to get a better handle on some of the issues and angles I was writing about in The Concrete Vineyard.

 

My novel is also a political thriller so I interviewed a former town councilor to get more insight

Brock Monument
photo by author

into the dynamics of how small town councils function and operate. Given the historic setting of my story (the first capital of Upper Canada), I also included a lot of information on the War of 1812; references to soldier's uniforms, dates of battles, etc. Even though I grew up in this place, I needed to ensure my references were accurate by consulting reputable books.

 

I do use the internet for research but never use it as a single reliable source; its information must be verified. You can’t get your information wrong, even in a fiction novel. You’ll lose your credibility.

 

I found the research I was conducting to be an iterative process. Although most of my research took place before my first draft, I was constantly adding and revising plotlines so it was necessary to keep digging for and validating information, even into the editing process. 

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Gail: And what "novel" research topic have you chosen for today? 

Cam: Urban planning. The saying goes, ‘write what you know’, so that’s exactly what I did. I started writing a non-fiction book about growth and development issues affecting my historic hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake and quickly realized that nobody would read it. Very few people find urban planning interesting so I needed to spice it up. 

That’s when I decided to kill someone (not literally) and turn my non-fiction book into a ‘whodunit’ murder mystery. When people ask me what books are similar to mine, I can't provide a good answer because I haven't come across them. My novel is like that rare house or property that has no comparables in real estate (another spoiler alert!).  

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You can visit Cam at his social media sites:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CamLangAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cam-Lang-Author/100060001244953/ 

And check out his book, The Concrete Vineyard, at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PJB3D6W

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Reading detailed information about urban planning, especially growth and development issues, may sound dry. But it attracts heightened interest when personally impacting the lives of a community’s families and individuals.

How has a controversial planning project impacted daily life in your area?

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Book Review: The Concrete Vineyard by Cam Lang

When choosing the next book to read, my range of genres expands with each month's new selections. The choices range from classics to beginning-of-series to newly published (Self-Indie-Big5). Mysteries are always my first go-to choice for a relaxing read on a lazy afternoon. 

But the list of genres is endless, especially now that each has at least one sub-genre. The Thriller/Suspense genre alone comes in a number of sub-genres including espionage, political, legal, eco-terror, disaster, treasure, medical, and sci-fi. Think Ian Fleming, Kathy Reichs, Clive Cussler . . . another list that goes on endlessly.

With so many sub-genres in mind, one would think there is nothing new in the world to write about, no new genre to discover. Yet, innovative writers find themselves scrambling to label their new novel to fit within the confines of an ever-widening range of definitions.

One such writer is Cam Lang, whose new novel defies neat classification in the thriller genre. In my review, I classify the novel as a mystery. (In my own defense, I believe every story contains a mystery to hook the reader.) But better you decide the genre for yourself.

"THE CONCRETE VINEYARD" by Cam Lang

This intricately plotted mystery, set in Ontario, first drew my attention because of a decades-long genealogical interest in Canadian history. The novel’s protagonist, Urban Planner Kris Gage arranges a month’s vacation to relax in his hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, only to quickly have his plans go off the rails. He is asked to help gain project approval for a friend's winery in the small town, and to assist in solving the murder of a highly prestigious 90-year old neighbor. 

The police detective assigned to the homicide investigation, a boyhood friend of Gage who is not emotionally well-suited to the job, asks for his support in solving the case. And Gage isn't one to say "no" to such a request. Besides, it is still considered ‘being on vacation’ if the work involves someone else’s job, right? 

Soon historical subplots and shady real estate dealings become entangled in the homicide investigation, leading to disturbing revelations and more than a few comical interactions among a cast of eccentric characters who all earn their time in the spotlight. 

Detailed history of Canada's military involvement in the War of 1812 helps to drive the plot and plays into the mystery's satisfying resolution. Gage's suggested possibilities for successful urban renewal offer hope for a safer environment in this small town scarred by past tragedies. 

Excellent command of first and third person point of view keep the story flowing without disruption. The author's career experience in urban planning and his attention to detail lend authenticity to the story line and make The Concrete Vineyard an enjoyable and educational reading experience.

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Upcoming post - Wednesday June 16: “Novel Research” interview with Cam Lang. Get to know more about the author and his process of weaving fact and fiction into a satisfying tale.

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"THE CONCRETE VINEYARD" is available at: Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PJB3D6W