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Nowhere
Writer & Artist: Jon Claytor
Published: 2026 by Goose Lane Editions
Talk about a wild, weird, and wonderful ride.
Nowhere is a book that, for much of its nearly 450 pages, reads like a B-movie in overdrive. There are aliens, a vampire, giant rats, ghosts, people disappearing, zombies shambling down the streets—all carried out with virtually no real horror, but instead with an overwhelming sense of whimsy.
For the longest time, the question lingering in the back of my mind was: Why all the craziness?
When the answer finally becomes clear—some readers will no doubt figure it out earlier than I did—the light goes on. You exhale, pause to smile, and nod knowingly as a feeling of satisfaction washes over you.
Nowhere has garnered praise as a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, something you may question through the first 350 pages or so.
Then Jon Claytor reveals the truth at the heart of the story, and suddenly the finalist recognition makes perfect sense.
From the publisher’s website (gooselane.com), here’s a taste of Nowhere:
“Drawn by a mysterious force, 12-year-old Joel and his terrible parents have just arrived in yet another nondescript small town. There’s a diner, a movie theatre, a motel, and a bar. But this time, things seem different, especially when suddenly, out of nowhere, a giant cube appears on the edge of town.
“And… just as Joel starts to make friends and navigate a new school, which is hard enough, Beauséjour is beset by nightly appearances of zombies, demon landlords, therapy-seeking vampires, and depressed clowns. One by one, the citizens of Beauséjour begin to disappear. When his parents vanish, Joel and his friend Charlie seek shelter from the strangeness all around them.”
As the publisher aptly notes, “Nowhere is a dreamlike meditation on adolescence and the absurdity of small-town life.”
The artwork is primarily black-and-white and, like all artistic styles, won’t appeal to everyone. However, it perfectly complements the story’s mood and inherent weirdness.
The artwork is especially important because Nowhere is often sparse on dialogue, relying on its visuals to carry much of the narrative.
This is a book that surprised me in the best possible way. It’s a story that I believe will resonate with many readers, especially young people experiencing the isolation and uncertainty that life can sometimes create.
About Author
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
Nowhere
Writer & Artist: Jon Claytor
Published: 2026 by Goose Lane Editions
Talk about a wild, weird, and wonderful ride.
Nowhere is a book that, for much of its nearly 450 pages, reads like a B-movie in overdrive. There are aliens, a vampire, giant rats, ghosts, people disappearing, zombies shambling down the streets—all carried out with virtually no real horror, but instead with an overwhelming sense of whimsy.
For the longest time, the question lingering in the back of my mind was: Why all the craziness?
When the answer finally becomes clear—some readers will no doubt figure it out earlier than I did—the light goes on. You exhale, pause to smile, and nod knowingly as a feeling of satisfaction washes over you.
Nowhere has garnered praise as a finalist for the Amazon Canada First Novel Award, something you may question through the first 350 pages or so.
Then Jon Claytor reveals the truth at the heart of the story, and suddenly the finalist recognition makes perfect sense.
From the publisher’s website (gooselane.com), here’s a taste of Nowhere:
As the publisher aptly notes, “Nowhere is a dreamlike meditation on adolescence and the absurdity of small-town life.”
The artwork is primarily black-and-white and, like all artistic styles, won’t appeal to everyone. However, it perfectly complements the story’s mood and inherent weirdness.
The artwork is especially important because Nowhere is often sparse on dialogue, relying on its visuals to carry much of the narrative.
This is a book that surprised me in the best possible way. It’s a story that I believe will resonate with many readers, especially young people experiencing the isolation and uncertainty that life can sometimes create.
About Author
Calvin Daniels
Calvin Daniels is a Saskatchewan-born, self-taught journalist. He is currently Editor of Yorkton This Week, with 35-years in the newspaper business.
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