THUNDER BAY – On Saturday, an official book launch event was held at the O’Kelly VC Armoury, for Scott Saxberg’s debut historical fiction, Those We Carry.
Capt. George Romick (Retired), Director of the Thunder Bay Military Museum, and Dr. David Ratz, member of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society’s Publications Committee and former Lake Superior Scottish Regiment Commander spoke at the launch.
“It's about Lake Superior Regiment and a Canadian soldier and a young Dutch woman during World War Two.
“Those we carry is a heartbreaking love story about the people we carry with us that change our lives,” Saxberg said.
It was quite the process to have this book come to life, he said.
“The story came from my father. I spent a lot of time, almost 10 years, researching it, going on trips and going to some of the locations.
“As I learned more and more about the different stories my father told me, the more it excited me to share it and try to put it to a fictional story."
Saxberg said he had never written before this book, he said.
“It was a long journey of learning with many drafts. There were so many great people that inspired me, advised me and helped me on my journey and through the multiple drafts.
“You hear about people taking five years to write a book and that was my journey.”
Saxberg said he has written two more books.
“I'm excited to share those down the road, but it was really great to get this first book done.”
Saxberg grew up in Thunder Bay reading at the cottage on the dock, he said.
“Ken Follett, Robert Ludlum, Stephen King. I just loved that and the vision of that, I had a long career in the oil industry and a very successful career and now I have more time to do it.
“I think that's a lot of stories of writers that have the side of wanting to be a writer. There was a lot of times I could have given up or stopped and I just fought through those and wrote the next draft and corrected the mistakes and it was a really fun journey to learn,” he said.
Saxberg said he was amazed by the support he has received.
“I'm really happy to be here and I think this is such a great place to share the book at the Lake Superior Regiment Armoury.
“The history around it and all the soldiers that were here that lined up to go off to war that make up this book.
“Hopefully they would be proud of reading this book and the history that they've created.”
Readers can buy Those We Carry at the Thunder Bay Museum in person or online, or on amazon.
