Paul Almond gave up making films in 1990 after open-heart surgery. He took a UCLA course in novel writing and began to write his eight-part saga about the Alford family soon thereafter. Almond plans to retire in 2015, when he turns eighty-four.

"Paul Almond is on my list of great Canadians."
— Senator Colin Kenny

"The Alford Saga scores! If the author's careful and captivating treatment of our military and chaplaincy history can be the measure, then his recounting of the explosion of Canadian culture is certainly sure to satisfy. I can hardly wait to read this crowning segment of a new Canadian masterpiece."
— Brigadier General Fletcher, Chaplain General of the Canadian Military

"Paul Almond, one of the leading lights of Canadian film in the sixties and seventies, draws own his own experiences in this mesmerizing story of twists and turns, highs and lows, love and heartbreak."
— Piers Handling, Executive Director of TIFF

"I've always admired Paul's productions, so I'm quite sure that dancers and balletomanes everywhere will enjoy reading Paul's personal take on the early years of our National Ballet when he was married to one of our principal dancers, Angela Leigh."
— Karen Kain, CC, past President of the Canada Council of the Arts, Artist Director of the National Ballet

("Ions ago, I had a dear friend named Paul Almond. Our careers went in different paths and I lost touch with him.) The Alford Sagas remind me of the beauty and the creative energy and the turmoil that existed in Canada during the time I spent in Canada with Paul. This is a book that should be read by everybody, not just hot blooded Canadians."
— William Shatner

"(For as long as I can remember, reading has been one of my passion. I love it when you start reading a book and you just can't put it down... And this is just what happened to me)? — when I started reading The Deserter, the first book of the Alford Saga by Paul Almond, I fell under the spell: The writing, the story telling, the characters... everything is so captivating! And the best of it all? The emotions and the charm can be found in all the books of the series. — Paul Almond is a words' magician and I hope he'll continue to write and entertain us for a long time."
— Carolle Brabant, Head of Telefilm Canada