The sun may have set on the Guelph Mercury, the venerable daily newspaper that graced Guelph's homes and streets for 149 years before closing a year ago, but the spirits of those that wrote for it live on in a new book.
Guelph Mercury Rising, a collection of short story fiction written by former Guelph Mercury journalists will be released this spring by Guelph's Vocamus Press.
“This has been a labour of love," said Phil Andrews, the former managing editor of the Mercury at the time of its closing and the editor of Guelph Mercury Rising.
"Once we put the word out we got a really incredible response," Andrews said. "This idea captured the muse for many people."
'The Merc' printed its final edition on Jan. 29, 2016. The people that worked there have scattered, some staying in media, others moving on to other things.
In the wake of the Mercury closing the Guelph Mercury Alumni Writers Group was formed. Guelph Mercury Rising will feature around 20 short stories written by members of that group, people that worked there over the last 30 years.
GuelphToday's Rob O'Flanagan is one of the contributors to the book.
"In many ways this is a last hurrah for the Mercury. There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into that newspaper by a lot of people over the years and some like the supportive aspect of Guelph Mercury Rising," Andrews said.
He also called it a "wink" to the community.
A launch party is scheduled for May 13 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at The Albion.
"The product will feature writers dear to generations of Guelph Mercury readers and also add an update of where those former Guelph newsroomers are today," said Jeremy Luke Hill, publisher of Vocamus Press.
One third of the proceeds from the book will be donated to Action Read Community Literacy Centre. The non-profit, Guelph-based, literacy support group.
Hill said the work fits into the mandate of Vocamus Press, "to promote and celebrate Guelph's literary culture" and its history.
"It just seemed like a good fit for us," Hill said.
Like Andrews, Hill said the book is also a way for some people to close that chapter in Guelph's history in a thoughtful and distinguished way.
"It's a nice, festive way to remember in going forward," Hill said.
