Page 16 - Giv'er Miramichi Magazine - Fall Giver 2024

Doug Dolan Reflects on Life and Self‐Discovery in

Stories From the River

by Stacy Underhill

Writing has been a constant as a child and adult living in
throughout Doug Dolan’s adult life, Miramichi. They describe the struggles
both as a high school English teacher of realizing and accepting I am gay. It
and as a manager at NB Community was important to write the stories to
College. However, it wasn’t until his sort things out in my head and examine
retirement that he began exploring the impact on me and others. The
creative writing and observing other second reason for writing is to share
writers’ styles with an eye toward with people who are not out, that they
developing his own. deserve to live their lives, honestly and
Doug has been sharing his short joyfully. I also want people who are
stories with our Giv’er readers over the heterosexual to realize being gay is one
past couple of years and we are pleased part of who we are. You may discover
to hear he has published a book, Stories we are the same person you knew
From the River, a memoir of his life on before learning we are gay.
the Miramichi. He was happy to The inspiration for the book
answer a few questions about his book, comes from knowing some wonderful
and journey as an author. people who taught me some critical life
lessons. I am a slow learner, so they
In your opinion, what makes a great needed a lot of patience. I included a
story? few of these folks in my book, one in
Reality is critical. Each one of us particular who was unsuccessfull in
has a story to tell. Some of the most interesting people live dealing with his own struggles. But that did not stop him from
quiet non assuming lives. Many times, behind the curtain are helping me with mine.
stories of battling internal and or external struggles. Stories
of generosity, courage, determination are often no more than Do you have a favourite story from the book?
a “Tim’s Coffee” away. There are two favourite stories/people in the book. The
first is “Al and Me”, Al being who I spoke of in the previous
Why was it important to you to write these stories? response. The second is Gerald. He came into my life at that
Stories From the River chronicles my personal journey

16 www.GiverMiramichi.com Fall 2024