Books

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.

Choir boy and belly dancer settle in B.C. after roller coaster love story

Christine and Christopher met as teens in the United Kingdom

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.
Nanaimo crime writer Ardelle Holden concludes her three-book series with ‘Murder by Pins and Needles.’ (Photo submitted)

A quilt holds the clues to a murder in Nanaimo crime writer’s latest book

Ardelle Holden concludes three-book series with ‘Murder by Pins and Needles’

Nanaimo crime writer Ardelle Holden concludes her three-book series with ‘Murder by Pins and Needles.’ (Photo submitted)
Gabriola poet and inaugural Nanaimo poet laureate Naomi Beth Wakan’s latest book is ‘Now and Here.’ (Photo submitted)

Gabriola poet Naomi Beth Wakan puts poetry to pictures in latest book

Nanaimo’s first poet laureate releases new book ‘Now and Here’

Gabriola poet and inaugural Nanaimo poet laureate Naomi Beth Wakan’s latest book is ‘Now and Here.’ (Photo submitted)
Nanaimo children’s book writer and illustrator Don Ravensbergen’s latest book is ‘Vancouver Island: Colour my B.C. Beautiful.’ (Josef Jacobson/News Bulletin)

Nanaimo children’s book writer releases third colouring book

Don Ravensbergen’s latest book is ‘Vancouver Island: Colour my B.C. Beautiful’

Nanaimo children’s book writer and illustrator Don Ravensbergen’s latest book is ‘Vancouver Island: Colour my B.C. Beautiful.’ (Josef Jacobson/News Bulletin)
William Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, acquired by UBC Library. (UBC handout photo)

UBC Library gifted Shakespeare’s 1623 First Folio

The first folio, published in 1623, features 36 of 38 known Shakespeare plays

William Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, acquired by UBC Library. (UBC handout photo)
‘Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer topped the list for most borrowed e-audiobooks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in 2021. (VIRL photo)

Vancouver Island Regional Library releases list of top borrowed books for 2021

Included are titles by Indigenous authors, murder mysteries from world-famous authors

‘Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer topped the list for most borrowed e-audiobooks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in 2021. (VIRL photo)
Nanaimo author Marilyn Jackson and a page from her new book, ‘Ms. Claus Rescues Christmas.’ (Photo courtesy Amelia Perkins)

Ms. Claus fills in for a sick Santa in Nanaimo author’s first children’s book

Marilyn Jackson’s debut kids’ book is ‘Ms. Claus Rescues Christmas’

Nanaimo author Marilyn Jackson and a page from her new book, ‘Ms. Claus Rescues Christmas.’ (Photo courtesy Amelia Perkins)
Mary Spilsbury Ross has released her debut novel No Intermission. (Photo by Don Denton)

Island author’s debut novel set in North Oyster

Mary Spilsbury Ross’s No Intermission a coming-of-age story of dance, travel, mystery

Mary Spilsbury Ross has released her debut novel No Intermission. (Photo by Don Denton)
Nanaimo children’s author Lois Peterson’s latest book is ‘Shelter: Homelessness in our Community.’ (Photo courtesy Louroo Photography)

Nanaimo author pens children’s book on homelessness

Lois Peterson to bring latest book ‘Shelter’ on virtual classroom tour

Nanaimo children’s author Lois Peterson’s latest book is ‘Shelter: Homelessness in our Community.’ (Photo courtesy Louroo Photography)
Author and book

Nanaimo author pens an instant-Christmas classic with a modern twist!

Christmas is a time of tradition. Most children look forward to enjoying…

  • Nov 29, 2021
Author and book
Protection Island author Craig Taylor won the 2021 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize for non-fiction for his book ‘New Yorkers: A City and its People in Our Time.’ (Photo courtesy Mayita Mendez)

Nanaimo author wins New York library award for book on New York

Craig Taylor’s ‘New Yorkers’ wins Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize for non-fiction

Protection Island author Craig Taylor won the 2021 Brooklyn Public Library Literary Prize for non-fiction for his book ‘New Yorkers: A City and its People in Our Time.’ (Photo courtesy Mayita Mendez)
This group of CP Rail passengers helped remove rock from the tracks on Oct. 29, 1978. This photo, along with many other recently digitized photos, can be found in former CP conductor John Cowan’s new book. He hopes the book will help him reconnect with those helpful passengers that day. (John Cowan photo)

Former CP conductor on the hunt for helpful strangers in 70s photo

John Cowan is looking for the group of strangers who helped clear the tracks east of Golden in 1978

This group of CP Rail passengers helped remove rock from the tracks on Oct. 29, 1978. This photo, along with many other recently digitized photos, can be found in former CP conductor John Cowan’s new book. He hopes the book will help him reconnect with those helpful passengers that day. (John Cowan photo)
Book One of the ‘Along the Way’ series features Albert the dinosaur in Alberta at the start of his cross-Canada adventure. (Courtesy of Teresa Schapansky)

Island author and a dinosaur go ‘Along the Way’ in a new children’s book series

Teresa Schapansky releases 12-book series on Canadian geography

Book One of the ‘Along the Way’ series features Albert the dinosaur in Alberta at the start of his cross-Canada adventure. (Courtesy of Teresa Schapansky)
Nanaimo poet Alison Watt has been long-listed for the 2021 CBC Poetry Prize. (Photo courtesy Alison Watt)

Nanaimo poet makes CBC Poetry Prize long list for poetic field guide

Alison Watt up for national award for ‘Addendum — Flora of a Small Island in the Salish Sea’

Nanaimo poet Alison Watt has been long-listed for the 2021 CBC Poetry Prize. (Photo courtesy Alison Watt)
Writer and editor Keith Ogilvie’s latest book is ‘Failed to Return: Canada’s Bomber Command Sacrifice in the Second World War.’ (Photo courtesy Mika Ogilvie)

‘Fearless’ Nanaimo pilot tasked with dam busting in Second World War

John Fraser’s story among those told in new anthology ‘Failed to Return’ by Island author

Writer and editor Keith Ogilvie’s latest book is ‘Failed to Return: Canada’s Bomber Command Sacrifice in the Second World War.’ (Photo courtesy Mika Ogilvie)
Nanaimo writer Blaise Hunter’s ‘Heroine: Embrace Your Flaws and Own Your Awesome’ is nominated for a Canadian Book Club Award in the Spirituality and Wellness category. (Photo courtesy Blaise Hunter)

Nanaimo writer nominated for Canadian Book Club Award

Blaise Hunter’s ‘Heroine’ a finalist in the Spirituality and Wellness category

Nanaimo writer Blaise Hunter’s ‘Heroine: Embrace Your Flaws and Own Your Awesome’ is nominated for a Canadian Book Club Award in the Spirituality and Wellness category. (Photo courtesy Blaise Hunter)
Museum at Campbell River Curator Beth Boyce is pleased to release ‘Twas the Wreck of Northwestern. Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror

Children’s book chronicles Christmas windfall from Vancouver Island shipwreck

Tale recalls hospitality of the locals/ sneaky salvaging after boat went aground in 1927

Museum at Campbell River Curator Beth Boyce is pleased to release ‘Twas the Wreck of Northwestern. Ronan O’Doherty/ Campbell River Mirror
Nanaimo author Joshua Gillingham has released his second novel, ‘The Everspring.’ (Photo courtesy Joshua Gillingham/cover art by Helena Rosova)

Nanaimo fantasy author pens sequel to Norse mythology-inspired debut novel

Joshua Gillingham to unveil ‘The Everspring’ at Well Read Books

Nanaimo author Joshua Gillingham has released his second novel, ‘The Everspring.’ (Photo courtesy Joshua Gillingham/cover art by Helena Rosova)
Chef Ian Riddick of Ucluelet’s Heartwood Kitchen and Chef Lisa Ahier of Tofino’s SoBo Restaurant at the Oct. 21 Island Eats book launch.

New ‘Island Eats’ cookbook celebrates Vancouver Island food

Book paints a picture of Vancouver Island with a compendium of over 80 recipes from signature chefs

Chef Ian Riddick of Ucluelet’s Heartwood Kitchen and Chef Lisa Ahier of Tofino’s SoBo Restaurant at the Oct. 21 Island Eats book launch.
Nanaimo poet laureate Kamal Parmar has released her latest book, ‘What Does the Wind Say?’ (Photo courtesy HA Photography)

Nanaimo poet laureate releases new poetry book

‘What Does the Wind Say?’ is the fifth book by Kamal Parmar

Nanaimo poet laureate Kamal Parmar has released her latest book, ‘What Does the Wind Say?’ (Photo courtesy HA Photography)