Michael Boyd not only teaches English, he is also an accomplished author.
St John’s College was delighted to host a book launch for The Weight of Shade, a novel written by English teacher, Michael Boyd.
The Weight of Shade is a haunting gothic tale that explores the bearing of the past on our lives and whether we can ever escape the circumstances thrust upon us.
The book launch saw 150 guests in attendance recently – from family, friends, and colleagues to parents and former students – a clear indication of the amazing role Boyd plays in his career as a full-time teacher.
Boyd opened the launch by signing copies of the book and enjoying small chats with his guests. This was followed by a discussion on the stage with The Ridge headmaster Frank Rumboll about the book. Boyd explained to his audience how the book came about while reminiscing about life events that inspired some of the chapters.
Boyd was asked to unpack the paradox in his novel’s title. “The paradox of weight having shade is that it refers to the fact that we all carry a burden that other people can’t see. Like being under a shadow, a burden is seemingly weightless to the outside world, but affects us nonetheless.”
In April, Boyd was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2023 for his story Mama Blue. His work was selected from over 6 600 submissions by an international judging panel.
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