"The Unforgettable Mailman"

With a background in magazine publishing, April Howells has built a career in global communications and employer branding. Raised in southern Ontario, she now resides on the west coast of Canada with her husband and a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog named Chief.

Howells applied the Page 69 Test to The Unforgettable Mailman, her debut novel, and reported the following:

On page 69 of The Unforgettable Mailman, readers find Henry having a phone conversation with his friend about the security guard who’s determined to find him. It hints at the urgency of his mission and the postal forces that stand in his way.

“Didn’t think the big guy had it in him.”

Stan chuckled, and Henry’s chin lifted ever so slightly. “Me neither,” Stan said. “Though if I were you, I wouldn’t hang around too long to figure out what else he’s capable of.”

Henry stared at the overflowing bags as he wished Stan a good night. If he wanted to finish what he started, he’d need to move quickly.

The page also includes one of my favourite letters from the novel, from a woman who has spilled spaghetti sauce on her friend’s wedding dress and is desperate for help to remove the stain.

I’d say page 69 is a great example of what readers can expect from the story. Each time Henry delivers a letter to its rightful owner, the following chapter shows what it says. I loved writing the epistles, imagining what people would write to one another in 1966. Some letters are uplifting, some are mundane, some are heartbreaking. They’re a nostalgic reminder of how important human connection is.

In The Unforgettable Mailman, the Page 69 Test is a success!

Visit April Howells's website.

Q&A with April Howells.

My Book, The Movie: The Unforgettable Mailman.

--Marshal Zeringue