Vancouver – Living Library

Black Cat

Discover Black Cat, the enchanting self-titled anthology from our new publishing house in Victoria, BC.

Black Cat is a collection of thirteen supernatural stories set in the Pacific Northwest of British Columbia, penned by a diverse group of Western Canadian writers. Black Cat‘s cover was illustrated and designed by Lydia Avsec. Its interior was designed by Derek von Essen.

From historic to futuristic, these tales of fiction are guaranteed to chill readers to the bone. With entities both monstrous and misunderstood, Black Cat is an anthology unlike any published before. Each story includes a cameo of a mysterious black cat. Continue reading “Black Cat”

Urban Legend

The Vanishing Hitchhiker by Jan Harold Brunvand defines an Urban Legend as a “realistic story concerning recent events (or alleged events) with an ironic or supernatural twist.” The teller of the story believes the legend is true, and that the events actually happened to someone just out of reach–to a friend of a friend, for example, or to somebody’s relative.

An Urban Legend is not believed to be true by academics or investigators. This is often determined because the same events are said to have happened in several different geographical areas to more than one person. The stories will often be similar to one another, but will have contrasting details such as where, when, and to who the events happened to. Continue reading “Urban Legend”

Why the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Could Be Genocide

An increase in tanker traffic could be the death of the Coast Salish people, not an oil spill. A review of the Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth testimony presented to the National Energy Board of Canada.

Continue reading “Why the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Could Be Genocide”

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Nanaimo has been hit with some pretty heavy snowstorms this week, which is okay, as I’ve been tucked inside writing like a madman. As the deadline approaches to submit the manuscript for The Haunting of Vancouver Island, my excitement to share it with you has been intensifying. Some of these stories have been years in the making. A comment on my blog. A conversation with a stranger. A chance discovery in an old newspaper. I would watch a tale manifest slowly before my eyes. Not contrived. Not embellished. But viewed the way that it was meant to be viewed: organically and without hubris. I am a researcher, a newswriter, a collector of unconventional stories from across Vancouver Island. Who am I to say whether these things happened or not? A balanced, fact-heavy approach will make — in my opinion — a much more frightening read than anything else I could hope to create. “Let Vancouver Island tell its own story,” that’s what I say.

Continue reading “The Weather Outside is Frightful”

Blackberry Books: new this week – Way of the Wraith

Blackberry Books

Way of the Wraith is now being carried by Blackberry Books on Granville Island! Opened in 1979, Blackberrry Books is one of Vancouver’s most popular independent bookstores!

The beauty of Blackberry Books rests not only in the store’s artfully selected titles – which generally lean more towards edgy than mainstream – but in its friendly staff and prime location. Granville Island is one of the jewels of Vancouver, and Blackberry Books is only one of the must-visit destinations on this dynamic and festive island! The island is easily accessed by car, transit, or foot-passenger ferry.

Next time you visit, make sure to check out the spider-book on display, as well as some of the store’s other dark and beautiful eye candy! And, of course, be sure to pick up your copy of Way of the Wraith!

Way of the Wraith