Salt Spring

The largest of BC's southern Gulf Islands, beautiful Salt Spring Island has long been a favoured holiday destination and a prized real-estate area for those in search of an idyllic rural residence. Now available in trade paper, Salt Spring: The Story of an Island chronicles the island's rich history from the days when Coast Salish people inhabited Salt Spring's shores, through some 150 years of settlement by many diverse groups. Because of the island's rugged geography, the early story of Salt Spring is largely the story of hard-working people in small isolated communities industriously carving farms out of rough terrain. Many of the settlers who followed came to find a place where they could live their lives free of the constraints of most societies. This was as true for the African-Americans, many of whom were among the first non-aboriginal settlers to arrive in 1859, as it was for those fleeing conventional middleclass life and for Americans seeking to avoid the Vietnam War. And it's true of almost every new islander who arrives today with a unique personal dream.

From Hannah Lavery, Edinburgh's Makar. 'Speaks to and for the conflicted conscience of Scotland ... with a power and authenticity like perhaps no other' – The Scotsman In a moment that is demanding you to constantly choose your side, how do you find your humanity, your own voice, when you are being pushed to find safety in numbers? Blood Salt Spring is a meditation on where we are – exploring ideas of nation, race and belonging. Much of the collection was written in lockdown and speaks to that moment, the isolation and the traumas of 2020 but it also looks to find some meaning and makes an attempt to heal the pain and vulnerabilities that were picked and cut open again in the recent cultural shifts and political wars. Organised into three sections this book takes the reader on a journey from the old inherited wounds, the trauma of tearing open again these chasms within recent discourses and events, to a hopeful spring, where pain and trauma can be laid down and a new future can be imagined. In this collection, the poet has sought to heal these salted wounds, and move out of winter and into spring – into hope. The National Theatre of Scotland has launched a new digital visual album, Blood, Salt, Spring - a digital accompaniment to Hannah Lavery's collection. You can view the visual album here .

Baking is as much about feeding someone's heart and soul as it is about nourishing their body. It's also about kindness and generosity: whether it's a pie or a tray of cookies, baking is always meant to be shared. The Little Island Bake Shop by Jana Roerick features a collection of 80 easy recipes designed to satisfy almost any craving. Freshly baked muffins are a perfect start to the morning, while grab-and-go cookies make delectable treats throughout the day. Looking to make celebratory occasions even more special. Jana's signature pies and cakes are as simple to make as they are delicious. The cookbook also includes a savoury dishes designed to nourish: comforting pot pies, satisfying quiches, lamb patties, and even homemade pickles.Lastly, a section devoted to the essentials-basic pastry doughs, frostings, glazes, crumbles, and custards-will have you mastering the basics in no time. The Little Island Bake Shop is a wonderful collection of everyday bakes designed for cooks of every skill level. From a Perfect Pound Cake to irresistible Chocolate Chip Cookies to a crowd-pleasing Sour Cherry Apricot Pie, this is simple comfort food at its best.

Shortlisted for a 2020 BC Yukon Book Prize A freshly designed, new edition of a funny weekly chronicle that offers a year-long, intimate view of the flora and fauna populating the West Coast. A Year on the Wild Side is a witty commentary on the social and natural history of Vancouver Island. Composed of short, readable essays arranged into 12 monthly chapters, this engaging book reveals the magic and humour of the natural world and reminds us of our place within it. As the weeks and seasons unfold with the turning of the pages, you’ll be in sync with the living world that surrounds you. Discover what berries are ripe and the best time to pick them. Learn why the termites swarm, where the herring spawn, and when the maple leaves fall. Get up close and personal with fascinating creatures like the snowy owl, the giant Pacific octopus, the river otter, and more. The West Coast is abundantly alive, and A Year on the Wild Side invites you to indulge in unforgettable experiences, week by week, all year long.

Full of anecdotes and firsthand accounts from intriguing characters, Salt Spring is the engaging and thoroughly researched story of all these very special people, and the very special place they called home.