A Left At the Fork

Two best friends from rural Newfoundland head west to Fort McMurray, Alberta, with a simple plan-get a job, make money, and live the kind of life that's always seemed just out of reach back home. Doug comes from a dysfunctional home due to his abusive, alcoholic father, and he struggles to believe he's capable of being anything more. Layne grew up in a steadier world, raised by a loving single mom who treated Doug like family long before either boy realized how much that mattered.

But Fort Mac doesn't care where people come from. It's a boomtown built on long shifts, easy money, and the kind of nightlife that turns "blowing off steam" into a way of life. Layne, the one who always seemed to have it together, starts chasing the highs that come with the place, and he can't seem to find the brakes. Doug, meanwhile, finds something that scares him more than failure-the possibility of a normal life. But only if he can keep the worst parts of his past at bay. That becomes increasingly difficult to do, however, as Layne sinks further and further into oblivion, and Doug's attempt to save his best friend may cost him more than he's willing to pay.

A Newfoundlander who made his own trek to Fort McMurray, where he now lives with his wife and son, Riley Edward Woodford finds his inspiration in the darkness, he believes that true beauty is found there and in finding this beauty it leads to the light. Having dealt with mental health struggles, he wanted to write a story that shows we are defined not by our past but by the choices we make in response to it. It's possible for any life to be corrected, but it's also possible for any life to be derailed. It's all about the direction we decide to take. Having enjoyed writing since elementary school, Riley got serious about the craft in the early 2010s, and his efforts have led to this book, his first novel. When he's not writing, Riley enjoys collecting vinyl records, exploring different genres of music, and gaming.