The Bookbinder’s Return
Alain Montegut
Type: Beta project
Genre: Historical fiction
Word count: 215,000
In 1919, Edmond Ramstein comes home from war not to Switzerland, but to New York — carrying scars no one can see. As he rebuilds his trade and falls in love again, he must face the ghosts of those he lost and the life he thought destroyed. The Bookbinder’s Return is a sweeping tale of exile, craftsmanship, and redemption. Please note: this book is over 180,000 words, so you will have four weeks to complete it, and the bonus will be £20.
In 1919, Edmond Ramstein comes home from war not to Switzerland, but to New York — carrying scars no one can see. As he rebuilds his trade and falls in love again, he must face the ghosts of those he lost and the life he thought destroyed. The Bookbinder’s Return is a sweeping tale of exile, craftsmanship, and redemption.
For more than forty years, Alain Montegut has practiced and taught family medicine, caring for generations of families in his community. A first-generation American, he was raised on stories of displacement, perseverance, and renewal—narratives that deeply shaped his understanding of human resilience and compassion. These early influences guided his lifelong devotion to healing, both as a small-town country doctor and through his work advancing family medicine and global health in developing countries. Alain lives on the coast of Maine with his wife, Kathleen, their adult children and grandchildren.
Registration closed early due to high demand.
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