HANNAH by JON-PAUL KHOURI
Debut Novel Out Now.
Hannah is the debut novel by Jon-Paul Khouri.
ABOUT THE NOVEL
Hannah, a nineteen-year-old dancer, leaves her prairie home in the night to escape the life she is living and the patterns she fears will keep her from realizing the dream she had for herself since she was a child. She arrives in Montreal and soon finds herself enrolled in dance classes and living through the coldest winter in nearly thirty years. When Hannah’s teacher calls her to her purpose, she is confronted by the unsettling reality that there is a missing person inside of her — without whom a life of purpose is unattainable. Hannah journeys deep within to begin gathering the bones of her life, a heart-wrenching but necessary process if she is to ever heal the wounds caused by the separation from her mother at birth, the loss of her beloved teacher, and the tragic death of her brother, Charlie. Now a young woman, she is reminded of a promise she made to herself when she was a child, so she embarks on a journey across the country, arriving on Vancouver Island to hike the Life Saving Trail — in search of a place where a wild woman can sing over the bones.
Hannah is the debut novel from Jon-Paul Khouri that is instantly recognizable — in its resonant themes that deal with the mystery of life and death, and of the longing for one’s star. Through characters and relationships that are richly drawn, the book explores the need for family, home, and belonging — and speaks to the redemptive power of love, and the power to heal deep wounds through nature, listening, and the alchemy of storytelling. Hannah invites the reader on a journey of self-discovery and to realize the purpose that you find there.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Creator, Writer, Actor, Teacher, Storyteller.
As a playwright, Jon-Paul Khouri has written and produced work for the stage that has been curated by and performed for stages and festivals across Canada. He has acted on more than forty stage, film, television, radio, music video, and other storytelling projects, including multiple internationally screened and award-winning productions. As a teacher and soccer coach, Khouri has created, developed, and facilitated programs for grassroots-level players and coaches throughout his community. He has studied extensively throughout North America, including at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City. He is an alumnus of the Canadian National Voice Intensive and holds a bachelor of commerce from the University of Calgary.
Hannah is Khouri’s first novel.