Me and Mr Bell

Alexander Graham Bell, Baddeck’s most illustrious resident, and one of the world’s greatest inventors, is also famous for the greatness of his compassion. It’s 1908, and ten-year-old Eddie MacDonald shares the friendly inventor’s passion for solving problems and for taking long walks in the fields above Bras d’Or Lake. But whereas Bell is renowned by many for being the smartest man in the world, Eddie is just a local farm boy who struggles to learn to read and write. After a few chance encounters, the elderly Bell befriends the young boy, and takes an interest in his struggle – encouraging Eddie to celebrate his successes and never give up. When Bell’s long ambition for manned flight culminates in the Silver Dart soaring over Bras d’Or Lake, Eddie is inspired to find solutions to his own challenges.

Philip Roy keeps residence in two places these days, running back and forth between his hometown, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and his adopted town, St. Marys, Ontario. Continuing to write adventurous and historical young adult novels focusing on social, environmental, and global concerns, he is also excited to be presenting his first picture book: Mouse Tales, the first volume in the Happy the Pocket Mouse series (Ronsdale Press), coming out in the new year. In 2012, Philip published the historical novel Blood Brothers in Louisbourg (CBU Press). In 2013, along with Me & Mr. Bell, Philip will be bringing out the sixth volume in the Submarine Outlaw series, Seas of South Africa (Ronsdale Press). Besides writing, travelling, and running in the woods and countryside of Nova Scotia and Ontario, Philip spends his time composing music. His first score, for the Nova Scotia based film, The Seer, by Gary Blackwood (FLAWed Productions) will be produced this year. Philip is also collaborating with Gary Blackwood on an opera, The Mad Doctor.