Kindred spirits: A grieving farmer finds a soulmate in a cantankerous swan in new novel, Uncle Tallulah

97-year-old author combines genuine heartbreak and low-key humor in a portrayal of life on a potato farm in Western Canada.

VICTORIA, BC, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The new novel Uncle Tallulah explores the fragile boundaries of grief, local community dynamics and the unexpected bond forged between a grieving farmer and a cantankerous mute swan following a sudden tragedy.

At 97, Bruce McLean continues to pursue his lifelong passion for storytelling. A journalist for 40 years, he returns to the world of literature with Uncle Tallulah, his second novel and the latest chapter in a lifelong pursuit of telling compelling stories.

While his age may make for an intriguing headline, McLean is quick to dismiss any suggestion that he is a geriatric marvel. After all, he points out, he wrote most of Uncle Tallulah when he was just a young fella in his eighties.

In Uncle Tallulah, McLean tells the story of Rob Malone, a spud farmer coping with the sudden loss of his wife, Anna, who drowns in a frozen lake during the harsh winter. Her death leaves Rob feeling duty-bound to feed the swans, including Uncle Tallulah, an aggressive alpha male who previously cracked Rob's ribs and gave him a black eye.

As Rob navigates intense sorrow, farm obligations and local colorful characters, he establishes a complex, evolving relationship with the bird that ultimately helps guide his path toward healing. Rather than surrendering entirely to despair, Rob navigates his isolation through quiet routines, eccentric neighbors and a deepening empathy for the wild swans.

"Stories have always been a way for me to make sense of the world and the people in it," said McLean. "With Uncle Tallulah, I wanted to explore how we respond to loss, how unexpected connections can change us and how compassion can help us find our way forward."

"Uncle Tallulah"
By Bruce McLean
ISBN: 9781665784368 (softcover); 9781665784382 (hardcover); 9781665784375 (e-book)
Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble 

About the author

At 97, Bruce McLean resists the temptation to slow down. A journalist for 40 years, he worked as a reporter, copy editor or columnist for several daily newspapers including the Toronto Telegram, The Globe and Mail, the Sunday Express in London and the Vancouver Province. His debut novel, The Mañana Treehouse, was published in 2020. Uncle Tallulah, his second novel, is part of a lifelong pursuit of the art of storytelling.

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Ziggy Goldfarb
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SOURCE Archway Publishing