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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, October 24, 2014 | 32 Oakville author Michael Michaud is debuting his first novel, Billy Tabbs (& The Glorious Darrow), with a signing at Chapters Oakville Sunday (Oct. 26). "This is all pretty exciting," said Michaud. "I started writing Billy Tabbs (& The Glorious Darrow) back in 2009, though the idea -- and Billy Tabbs (the character) -- was born in 1992, when I was in Grade 10 at Chantilly High School in Virginia. "It just took a while -- nearly two decades -- for me to mature and grow as both a person and a writer before I felt that I could do Billy any real justice. It (the novel) is a social satire, marketed at young adults but likely to have a much broader appeal." The signing, held ahead of the book's official launch on Nov. 3, will be held at the 310 North Service Rd. W. Chapters from 1-4 p.m. The novel tells the tale of youthful vagrant Billy Tabbs who has been living in the streets for as long as he can remember, scratching out a pitiable existence in a city that doesn't much care if he lives or dies, stated a press release. "Amidst rumors that his kind are disappearing from the alleyways and the overpasses, Billy is recruited into a bizarre homeless sect living in the underbelly of high society," stated the release. "It is here where he meets Darrow -- the mysterious and volatile leader of an organization committed to escalating acts of civil disobedience; an organization meant to force the people of the city toward equal respect for all inhabitants of society." After a public initiation, Billy is accepted into the group, which eventually must deal with a divide among its leadership and its ideologies of violent and non-violent activism. "Crafted in the mold of Orwell's Animal Farm and Goldring's Lord of the Flies, Billy Tabbs will appeal to readers who enjoy dystopian novels rife with social satire and biting commentary," stated the release. "Equal parts harrowing, controversial, and humorous, (it) explores decadence, homeless- Michaud launches first novel Artscene T H E R A "Connected to your Community" C H E L T R I L O G Y Michael Michaud will be signing his new book Billy Tabbs (& The Glorious Darrow) before its launch on Nov. 1 at Chapters Oakville Sunday (Oct. 26). | supplied photo ness, and the lack of compassion exhibited toward society's most vulnerable demographics. The story concludes with a stunning and fundamental revelation that will send the reader reeling back into the text -- hopefully, to inspire the reader toward fundamental change." · · · Michaud spent fours years at Oakville's Falgarwood Public School and one year at White Oaks Secondary School before moving to Virginia with his parents. He returned to Ontario to attend university at McMaster in Hamilton and, later, the University of Western Ontario to attain his law degree. Shortly after, he joined the Crown Attorney's office as a prosecutor and settled back in Oakville approximately four years ago. For more information on Michaud and his book, visit www.darrowknows.com. Oakville author Shelly Sanders (at left, sitting) recently released the conclusion to her Rachel Trilogy, Rachel's Hope, at A Different Drummer Books in Burlington. Getting their copies of the book signed are, from left Noreen Higgins and Line Labonne-Mason. The Rachel Trilogy, which includes Rachel's Secret and Rachel's Promise, is loosely based on Sanders' grandmother and great aunt whose names and traits she borrowed for the books and who lived a life parallel to the characters. The title character, a 14-year-old girl, must flee her home in Russia after a young Christian man is murdered and she is forced to keep the murderer's identity a secret. Tensions mount as Christian distrust of Jews is fueled by prejudice and rumour, and anti-Jewish propaganda in the local newspaper incites riots. | photo by Inger MacKenzie -- special to the Beaver OSO Young People series opens Saturday The Oakville Symphony Orchestra's (OSO) Young People's series of free mini-concerts open its 2014-15 season Saturday (Oct. 25). The Meet the Double Bass concert will have performances at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts, 130 Navy St. Each concert will be 30 minutes and feature OSO bassists Elizabeth Wallace and Tim FitzGerald. "These delightful presentations will captivate the attention and imagination of all ages, especially (those) aged four to nine," stated a press release. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, call 905-844-6920 or email osochildrenconcert@gmail.com. Future Young People's concerts are set for Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015 and Saturday, March 28, 2015. More details will be released closer to the date. For more information, visit www. oakvillesymphony.com/communityoutreach. DECEMBER31st 2014 nEW YEAR'S EvE COMEDY ThE OakvillE CEnTRE fOR PERfORMing aRTs TiCkETs: $49.50 BOx OffiCE: In the arts... · Curtis Ray Smith live jazz/blues at J-Bistro at Jonathans Oakville, 120 Thomas St., 7-11 p.m., until Dec. 31, contact www.curtisraysmith.com · Wood and soapstone carving, Thursdays until Dec. 18, 2-6 p.m., for beginners and experts, contact www.oswguild.org for more information. · High Rendition Jazz auditions, open until Oct. 29, for high school students from Grades 9-12, contact David Jean at 905-331-0497 to schedule an audition. · Acoustic Folk music with Andy Mittl at Cj's Café, 2416 Lakeshore Rd. W., Sunday (Oct. 26), noon to 2 p.m. · Inti-Illimani concert at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts (OCPA), 130 Navy St., Oct. 29, 8 p.m., features a variety of Latin music, contact boxoffice@oakville.ca. · Oakville Symphony Orchestra annual general meeting, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m., Oakville Central Library, 120 Navy St., program room 2, second floor. · Classic Albums Live ­ Meatloaf's Bat Out of Hell at OCPA, Oct. 30, 8 p.m., contact boxoffice@oakville.ca. · Sing-along with Musikay, Nov. 1, Grace Lutheran Church, 304 Spruce St., 4 p.m., music of Guillaume Dufay and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, free, reserve a spot at www.musikay. ca/sing-along. fEaTuRing: nIghT 905.815.2021 www.oakvillecentre.ca GILSON LUBIN & KATE DAVIS