Television presenter and man-about-town Toby Marshallthinks he has it all. But in the days after his father has astartling accident, Toby makes a series of very bad decisionsthat throw his life into disarray. Jobless, friendless and suddenlysingle, Toby does the worst thing a man of his generation cando: he moves into the basement of his parents’ suburban bungalow.

Toby feels he has hit rock bottom. But his father’s increasinglyerratic behaviour, funny and terrifying at once, signalsmore profound challenges. Toby’s chance encounter with anunstable young francophone mother who abandons her two-year-old son to Toby’s care brings actual responsibility for thefirst time. Soon he is dealing with death, diapers and, ultimately,true love. Toby at last begins to climb out of the hole that is hislife -- muddy, broke, bruised, heartbroken -- but finally, a man.

Todd Babiak is an award-winning author, journalist and screenwriter. His second novel, The Garneau Block, was a #1 regional bestseller, a longlisted title for the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the winner of the City of Edmonton Book Prize. His third novel, The Book of Stanley, is in development for television. Babiak is a columnist for the Edmonton Journal and on the board of PEN Canada. Visit his website at www.toddbabiak.com.

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