by Thomas Smith

Leanne Bowron moved her family from Hawkestone, Ontario to Haliburton around 20 years ago.

Moving to Haliburton is a decision that Bowron says likely saved her son Codie Hunt’s life. Hunt was bullied as a kid due to his sexuality. Bowron describes her son as being more delicate and emotionally softer than the other boys his age which lead him to be bullied and ridiculed by other kids.

Hunt started reading when he was four and quickly became a voracious reader, said Bowron.

“He always had ideas about books. He was always very imaginative and has always been very creative.”

After moving to Haliburton, Hunt was welcomed with open arms. More than he ever was in Hawkestone. Describing Haliburton as more artsy and more accepting, Bowron says that the move to Haliburton was one of the best decisions she has made for her family.

“It just fit,” said Bowron.

While attending high school in Haliburton, Hunt came out publicly.

“He had a boyfriend in high school,” said Bowron. “He was openly gay. He had a better life in Haliburton than what he had in Hawkestone.”

On May 27 of this year, Hunt published his first novel Death & Red Trilliums: Haliburton. It is the first book in a series of novels he hopes to continue.His book is written under the pen name R. C. Hannah. Death & Red Trilliums follows Cory Thomas. Cory lives in a post-apocalyptic Haliburton in a world ravaged by a zombie apocalypse. The protagonist is based on Hunt himself. Just like Hunt, Cory faces struggles growing up gay, has a troubled relationship with his father, and desires to move away from his small town. Death & Red Trilliums takes place in Haliburton and includes locations like Skyline Park, Harburn Road, and Dragonfly Diner, which was inspired by the Kosy Korner. In Death & Red Trilliums, Cory meets his high school bully, Jake Tannery, who is now a single dad. As they navigate the zombie riddled world together, Cory and Jake learn they can leave the past behind them and find love that they both deserve. Lee Mullen, the owner of Dragonfly Diner, is based on Hunt’s mother Leanne Bowron.

“He used red trilliums because they are called the corpse flower and smell like death,” said Bowron.

“It is somewhat auto-biographical,” said Bowron. Except the zombie part, said Bowron with a laugh.

Bowron says writing the book was very therapeutic for Hunt.

After high school and a brief stint at the University of Ottawa, Hunt eventually moved to Missisassauga. Working from home, Bowron says that her son began writing Death & Red Trilliums about a year and a half ago. After completing the book, Hunt published the novel through Kindle Direct Publishing. Liam Mann, a friend of Hunt, did the artwork for the cover.

Codie Hunt aka R.C. Hannah will have a table at the Rainbow Street Festival on Aug. 25 as part of the programming for Minden Pride. Copies of Death & Red Trilliums will be available for purchase. The 2024 Rainbow Street Festival takes place on Water Street in Minden on Saturday and will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bowron and her family are immensely proud of Hunt for his achievement.

“Don’t let being gay stop you from doing anything. Be inspired by whatever makes you happy,” said Bowron.

According to Bowron, Hunt is currently working on a science fiction novel. R.C. Hannah’s website is https://www.rchannah.com/ and copies of Death & Red Trilliums can be purchased from Amazon.