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Former professor comes to Loyalist for latest release

By Dan Cannataro

Loyalist College held a book launch Wednesday for author Hilary MacLeod’s latest mystery novel book release, All Is Clam.

Macleod is fresh off retiring from her 22-year teaching career in the Media Studies program at Loyalist.

“Its funny because first coming to the teaching job it originally was part of my five -year plan, it just turned into 22 years,” said Macleod.

Revenge of the Lobster Lover and Mind Over Mussels were MacLeod’s first two books, All is Clam and is the third book she has released since 2010. Shore series are stand-alone books, each one with different characters.

“Third ones a charm its better than the other two because you get better at it, I’m told by people who read it. It’s smoother and the characters are more believable,” said Macleod.

All Is Clam reached Amazon’s top 10 for bestseller list weeks leading into Christmas.

Many students, friends and family packed the Loyalist College cafeteria to support their friend and colleague.

“I have never missed one of Hilary’s book launches, I have great respect for not only her as a teacher but a person, “said 91X Radio professor John Henderson.

Henderson has known Macleod for quite a while and read a part of the new book to the audience during the book launch.

Henderson a long-time friend and office mate, was one of the first to get the chance to read All Is Clam before it was published.

“I remember Hilary gave me the final product to read before anyone had seen it I’m pretty sure, and the prologue was so good it seriously was one of the best I ever read in my entire life,” said Henderson.

MacLeod dedicated the novel to all of her fellow students she has had the pleasure of teaching over the years.

“If you ever had the chance to meet her, let’s just say if you can say the word that’s not in the dictionary that’s Hilary,” said Henderson.

She remembers laying in bed making up stories at age five.

“She’s just the most creative, Imaginative, passionate person she really is and would do anything for a student,” said Henderson.

All three of the books she has written have a shore theme. Macleod has always wanted to be a writer but she just had a hard time finding out what she wanted to write about.

“The thing since I taught for so long, I had time in the summer to be on a deserted island, this place was very special to me and I found out what I wanted to write about,” said MacLeod.

Just recently it was announced the last independent bookstore is being shutdown in Belleville. It has existed for 32 years.

“We all try to support them, however the fact of the matter is the big chain stores is they got books at a better price that get the books from the publisher and they pass them on to us,” she added.

“Its too bad, if you’re a writer you love books and you love book stores and I think it’s a very hard fight because I think Belleville has a downtown to support it.” She added.

All Is Clam was published in August.

“”I thought it was a wonderful book, very impressive and I know a lot of people aren’t going to get the chance to read the book but its your loss if you don’t,” said Henderson.

Macleod is working on a new book titled Something Fishy.