Bestselling Canadian author Carley Fortune is experiencing an unprecedented surge in her career, with the release of her latest novel and the upcoming premiere of a television adaptation of her previous bestseller.
New Novel and TV Adaptation
Fortune's new novel, Our Perfect Storm, has just been released. Simultaneously, the highly anticipated Amazon Prime Video series adaptation of her hugely popular bestseller Every Summer After—now retitled Every Year After—is set to premiere on the streaming service on June 10.
“It’s very overwhelming. But it’s, of course, very exciting,” said Fortune, who has been busy finalizing the first draft of her next book before embarking on the Our Perfect Storm book tour. “I’ve never been so busy in my life.”
Impressive Sales and Upcoming Projects
Fortune, a Toronto-based writer, has sold approximately 4.5 million copies of her first four novels. While she remains “completely tight lipped” about her sixth book, she confirmed it will be published in 2027.
The Canadian leg of the Our Perfect Storm tour began in Toronto on May 13, following many sold-out events on the East Coast of the United States. Fortune will travel across Canada before concluding the tour on Aug. 15 in Barry’s Bay, Ont., her hometown and the setting for her novels Every Summer After and One Golden Summer.
Reader Connection and Canadian Settings
Fortune often hears from readers that her books have either introduced them to reading or rekindled their love for it. “It’s been said so many times that even booksellers comment on it too,” she said, noting that meeting readers on tour helps balance the solitary nature of writing. “The audience is very joyful, and it feels like a celebration. I think that’s something quite special.”
Her romantic tales are set in distinctly Canadian locations, such as rural Ontario and Prince Edward Island. Our Perfect Storm adds Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, to her literary map.
“(Canadian) readers thank me for setting my books here over and over again. And then, outside of Canada, people tell me about the trips they want to take to Canada, or the trips that they’ve taken,” said Fortune. “I think it’s the thing that sets my books apart are these transportive settings. And I think it’s one of the top reasons readers love it. Whether you’ve heard of these places or not, and whether you’ve been to them or not, you find yourself there.”
Setting as Story Foundation
For Fortune, location is paramount. “Every book has started with the setting first. Ideas grow out of the setting,” she explained. “I just love trying to capture these places. I think it’s one of the things I love best as a writer. I love trying to bring people there with me, so that you could be reading in your apartment, but still feel like you’re standing on the beach in Tofino.”
She aims to make readers feel as though they are “snooping on real people,” and believes that vivid settings help achieve that immersion. In Our Perfect Storm, Fortune begins the story in a small rural Ontario waterfront town with characters Frankie and George, friends since age eight who navigate relationship ups and downs. A lengthy estrangement leaves Frankie, on the eve of her wedding, wondering if George will fulfill his best man duties.
