Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Renowned Canadian theatre director and author Dennis Garnhum will visit Puerto Vallarta on January 7 to launch his new book, Toward Beauty: Reigniting a Creative Life on the Camino de Santiago. The event, filled with humor and candid reflections from his recent 32-day trek across Spain, begins at 6:00 pm at The Living Room Bookstore and Café in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood.
Garnhum’s memoir traces a profound journey of self-discovery sparked by the abrupt closure of the Grand Theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing a loss of creative direction, he set out on an 830-kilometer solo hike along the rugged Camino de Santiago del Norte in northern Spain.
In Toward Beauty, Garnhum explores the tensions in his life – balancing public and independent artistic identities, and his Catholic upbringing with his life as a gay man. Step by step, he discovers that the way forward is found by trusting the power of the ancient trail.
The book underscores how small, steady steps can renew purpose, both on the Camino and in everyday life. Garnhum hopes readers will feel encouraged to notice the beauty around them and pursue what genuinely fulfills them.
At the launch, he will share uplifting, challenging, and often hilarious stories from the trail. The evening welcomes both seasoned pilgrims and those simply curious about the Camino. Guests will have the chance to meet the author, ask questions, and purchase signed copies.
The memoir has already earned high praise. Emma Donoghue, bestselling author of Room, calls it “a thoughtful, and openhearted pilgrim’s tale of regeneration.” Garnhum says he is proud to share his first book and hopes it inspires others to connect more deeply with the world around them.
Part poignant memoir and part engaging travelogue, Toward Beauty highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the unique camaraderie found among pilgrims from around the globe.
Garnhum’s visit offers more than a book launch – it invites the community to reflect on renewal, creativity, and the courage to move forward. As he shares the lessons and laughter found along the Camino, attendees will be reminded that meaningful change often begins with a single, intentional step.
The Living Room Bookstore and Café is located at Colombia 1377 in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta.
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