We’re so proud of all the incredible books being released by BC publishers this season! The talent and stories coming from BC’s authors, historians, and illustrators is so inspiring, we needed one more list to share them all. You can check out Part 1 of our list here. Read on to learn more about the new and forthcoming books from BC publishers we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Demanding Equality: One Hundred Years of Canadian Feminism by Joan Sangster (UBC Press)
Perfect for the history buff or anyone interested in feminism and gender studies. Author Joan Sangster traces the history of feminism in Canada from the 1880s to the 1980s, and examines how the fight for women’s rights is intertwined with other political issues and injustices, such as racism, war, colonialism, economic disparity, and homophobia.
Here on the Coast: Reflections from the Rainbelt by Howard White (Harbour Publishing)
The BC coast will always hold a special place in the heart of Howard White, founder of Raincoast Chronicles and Harbour Publishing. In this collection of essays, he shares intimate sketches of the unique towns scattered up and down BC’s beloved Sunshine Coast. The collection is a love letter to the rainbelt and all its unique quirks and characteristics.
Always Pack a Candle: A Nurse in the Cariboo-Chilcotin by Marion McKinnon Crook (Heritage House)
This memoir details the early career of nurse Marion McKinnon Cook, who, throughout the 1960s, provided much-needed healthcare to the rural communities of the Cariboo-Chilcotin area of BC’s interior. Fresh out of school, the experience taught her more than her studies ever could have, and during her time in the field, she learned to recognize systemic injustices in Canada’s healthcare system and helped countless individuals who were at risk of slipping through the cracks of its social welfare system.
Nye, Sand and Stones by Bree Galbraith (Orca Book Publishers)
This children’s book is a beautifully told story, accompanied with equally stunning illustrations by Marion Arbona, perfect for teaching children the importance of challenging the status quo. The book’s young heroine, Nye, is fed up with the senseless destruction and fights between her community and the neighbouring island, and decides to stand up and make a change. Nye will inspire readers to think deeply about why and how we can make a difference in the world.
Float Like a Butterfly, Drink Mint Tea: How I Beat the Shit Out of All My Addictions by Alex Wood (Arsenal Pulp Press)
A frank and candid memoir about addiction and recovery coming at a critical time in our social conversations about mental health, told with humour, empathy, and honesty. When stand up comic Alex Wood was 28, he was facing a host of life-threatening physical and mental health problems caused by a decade of alcohol and drug use. He decided to face these issues head on, giving up everything else bad for him in the process. The resulting memoir is his account of quitting everything from cigarettes, to nail-biting, to social media, and so much more.
A Lethal Lesson: A Lane Winslow Mystery by Iona Whishaw (TouchWood Editions)
Does it get any better than a cozy mystery set in small-town BC? Especially one with wit and feminism at its core. Book eight of the Lane Winslow Mystery series sees our heroine Lane returning to the Kootenays from her honeymoon, where she enlists as a substitute teacher after the disappearance of the local schoolteacher and her replacement. Who is responsible, and could Lane be next?
nedi nezu (Good Medicine) by Tenille K. Campbell (Arsenal Pulp Press)
The latest poetry collection by celebrated Dene/Métis author Tenille K. Campbell. nedi nezu (Good Medicine). These poems celebrate Indigenous femininity and sensuality, touching on everything from online hookups to falling in love, and sheds light on the complicated relationship that Indigenous women have with mainstream society.
Victoria Unbuttoned: A Red-Light History of BC’s Capital City by Linda J. Eversole (TouchWood Editions)
Few people know about the history of sex work in British Columbia’s capital city. Even fewer know about the women and their lives besides what is printed in judgmental newspaper headlines in the archives. This book offers rich portraits of these women, taking readers on a journey from the mid-nineteenth century to the First World War and the Moral Reform movement.
Unravelling Canada: A Knitting Odyssey by Sylvia Olsen (Douglas & McIntyre)
Part travelogue, part memoir, and part love-letter to knitting, Unravelling Canada is the perfect read for any hobbyist or would-be crafter. This memoir follows the author (and longtime knitter) on a road trip from British Columbia to the Atlantic Ocean, where she stopped in over forty destinations to meet other knitters and experience all that Canada has to offer.
Wagon Road North by Art Downs (Heritage House)
Originally published in 1960, this newly revised and updated edition of the classic pictorial account of the Cariboo Gold Rush trail breathes new life into the subject, and offers a thrilling portrait of gold-rush-era BC. The volume includes over one hundred archival photos, maps and contemporary images of historical sites, offering a visual celebration of BC’s early history.