Ice cream scoop to pen: Bitter Bill writes novel

Most people know William Cole as the owner of the Bitter Bill's ice cream parlours in Sudbury and Val Caron.

But the business owner recently tried something different — penning a novel. Cole said he didn't even tell his family when he started writing.

“It just kind of started to flow,” he said. “I didn't know if I would finish it. I didn't tell even my wife until I was at least halfway through.”

Given he used to be in the music industry and write his own songs, though, Cole said writing isn't totally foreign to him.

The result is Love Lonely, a 388-page novel billed as a “suspenseful, romantic story of love, loneliness and espionage.” The book was released Dec. 31, but Cole said he didn't want to publicize it until it was in local stores.

With his background in business, Cole went about having his novel published methodically, asking people in the know a million questions.

He first sent the manuscript to book agents, but only received rejection letters.

“Maybe it was the businessman in me, but then I thought 'Why do I need an agent? I'll just go to publishers myself,'” Cole said.

Three publishers expressed interest in the novel, and eventually the American company Limitless Publishing offered him a three-book deal.

“It was almost surreal,” Cole said.

Limitless also published two young adult novels by local author Hally Willmott.

Love Lonely features a wealthy couple — David, a retired pro hockey player who runs his father-in-law's thoroughbred horse racing division and his beautiful, influential wife, Sandy, who's always away doing charity work.

Sandy become suspicious her husband is attracted to assistant horse trainer Renee, instantly recognizing the magnetism between the two.

“The main basis of the whole book is everybody is so busy with everything,” Cole said. “These are very filthy rich people. They fall in love with being by themselves — with being lonely. They think their lives are perfect until they find actually what's missing.”

The subject matter came naturally to Cole, who has played and coached hockey and grew up near a race track in Toronto.

When asked who should read this novel, Cole said he thinks both men and women will enjoy it, although he feels it's been marketed more to women.

Cole said he's currently writing a sequel to Love Lonely, featuring the same characters. It will likely be released in late 2015. He said he may write a third novel in the series if the story remains interesting to him.

The author will be signing copies of his book at the Sudbury Chapters from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9.

Love Lonely retails for $21.99 and is available in Sudbury at Chapters, Coles and Bitter Bill's, as well as online at Amazon.

To learn more, visit www.williamccole.com.