Jason Dade, quixotic hero of this 1970s coming-of-age novel, is on a quest. He must decipher cryptic signs on his journey to meet an elusive figure known only as The Man. His father, Saul Dade, broods restlessly at hope, helpless to intervene. Their interwoven narratives include idyllic descriptions of rural childhood, the grim spectre of war, the harsh realities of leaving the nest ... and finding the way back home.The Last Half of the Year renews the age-old configuration of innocence and experience in this, at times, darkly humourous story of a father and son whose lives cast shadows over one another across time.It is a book about generations, the passage of time, and the reckless and resilience of youth.

Paul Rowe is an actor and writer who lives in St. John's. His first novel The Silent Time, published in 2007 by Creative Book Publishing was inspired by his mother's experience as a deaf child growing up and being educated in early 20th century Newfoundland. The Silent Time was short-listed for the Winterset Award, the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage and History Award, and long-listed for the Re-Lit Awards. His first feature-length drama To Dare Mighty Things was produced by Rising Tide Theatre in 2003. During the summer of 2010 Paul performed in his own stage adaptation of The Silent Time at Rising Tide Theatre's Trinity Festival. He was also a founding member of Teatro, Newfoundland's only French language theatre company. He has performed with the Resource Centre for the Arts, Tramore Theatre Company, Perchance, Artistic Fraud and, in 2015, with the Stratford Festival of Canada.

Paul Rowe's profile page

• Winner, BMO Winterset Award

"The Last Half of the Year is an intricately interlaced, and it will hold you spellbound up to the final pages and long afterwards." Miramichi Reader"I like everything about The Last Half of the Year ... I like the cover picture ... I like this book's print and margins ... I like this book's length ... Yes, certainly I like the story. Sure, that's the most important element ... There is still time for you to read The Last Half of the Year in the last half of this year. Go for it." Harold Walters, The Packet.