On December 2, Holly Sanford and the wonderful staff at the Mad Hatter Wine Bar hosted the launch of Paul Rapsey’s latest book, “ Adagio: in search of a fiddle ”. And 27 eager souls braved the dire winter weather forecast to come out in support of this prolific local author. What better place to watch the snow fall over the river than in the warm environment of the wine bar. Paul’s two twenty-minute readings, each more like a dramatic recital, captivated the audience. There was laughter, some wet eyes, as well as breathless silence as he delivered selections from the book. A period of questions, answers and animated discussions followed each reading. This was more than a reading; it was great theatre. And it was free! Stay tuned for the launch of Paul’s next book, “ A Partriche in a Peer Tree ”, in the late spring of 2026.
Christmas is coming and Paul Rapsey, will be releasing a new novella, “ Adagio, in search of a fiddle ”, at the Mad Hatter Wine Bar in Annapolis Royal on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. This is not another whimsical murder mystery by Rapsey. No. This is the moving story of a fiddle over seven generations of the sometimes tumultuous lives of one Cape Breton family. It starts with a shipwreck on a stormy night in 1885 and travels through 140 years to the present. It is the story of struggle, sorrow and an awakening. It is a tale of heartbreak, resolution and forgiveness. The story is based on an earlier play by Paul, which was turned into an award-winning independent film: Fiddelity . Come and hear this wonderful storyteller read from this book and enjoy the company of others while sipping a glass of wine. Readings will start at 3:20 and 4:20 p.m.