• Age: 14 to 17
• Grade: 9 to 12

While his classmates make plans for the future, applying for university or trade school, Gerard Collins flounders with no idea what to do after graduation. And when a family tragedy strikes, his future path is blurred even more. Told in flashbacks, Collins relives his final year of high school in The Long Last Year. Shortly after graduation, on an evening walk to escape his life at home, he thinks back over the past twelve months and realizes just how lost and directionless he is. Written in an honest voice, The Long Last Year will resonate with those who can relate to the uncertainty of not having their future mapped out.

Gerard Collins’ first book, the short story collection Moonlight Sketches won the 2012 NL Book Award and his first novel, Finton Moon, has already won the Percy Janes First Novel Award. He’s won several arts and letters awards, been shortlisted for the Cuffer Prize, published in Hard Ol’ Spot, Zeugma and various other anthologies. He has been a guest speaker at numerous literary festivals and taught workshops in writing for youth. He has a Ph.D. in English and teaches at Memorial University.

Gerard Collins' profile page