Book worms & ear worms

Get hooked on a new locally-written book or album (all of these have been released since January) to make the most of summer in qathet 2022.

Sign Language with Animals

By Christina Cox

Written bilingually with American Sign Language and English, this picture book whimsically illustrates the scenes of twelve animals as seen in their natural habitats. Learn common verbs with each animal, as well as learning how to sign each scene in ASL and read it in English.

Christina’s Deafhood has taken her on a diverse journey of teaching, advocacy, and adventure. She hopes to inspire inclusion and kindness with her ASL children’s books and YouTube ASL learning channel.

Available from Amazon and through aslsnapshots.wordpress.com

Improviso II

By Walter Martella

Conductor and Music Director of the Powell River Academy of Music (PRAM) and the Artistic Director of International Choral Kathaumixw, Walter is an accomplished pianist, accordionist, and trumpeter. He earned a Diploma in Jazz Trumpet from Malaspina College (VIU), a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Victoria, and attended the Banff School of Fine Arts.

Walter is a strong believer in the power of music as an important part of community, and has been an adjudicator for instrumental and choral festivals throughout British Columbia. He has recorded six jazz CDs, performed provincially with many well-known musicians in multiple genres, and continues to be in demand all along the West Coast as a trumpet soloist and jazz pianist.

“My 6th studio album — Improviso II — is out now!”

“Recorded on a nine-foot Steinway D piano, the pieces on this album came to life in the spirit of true improvisation, without arrangements, as they would be played on my piano in my living room. “

Check it out (and his brand new website) at waltermartella.com. It is for sale digitally online. Hard copies are available through Walter.

Resistance Band Workouts for Seniors: Strength training at home or on the go

By Karina Inkster

A collection of 50 resistance band exercises (modelled by my 70-year-old powerhouse mom, Angelika Hackett) will inspire readers to create—and maintain—a regular strength training practice, whether they’re working out at home, outdoors, or while traveling. Once readers are familiar with the various exercise possibilities, they’ll learn how to put together their own strength programs.

Vegan since 2003, Karina Inkster, MA, PTS, is a fitness and nutrition coach, author of five books, and host of the No-B.S. Vegan podcast. Her team’s online coaching programs help vegans worldwide live their healthiest, most plant-strong lives.

Available online wherever books are sold, like Amazon or Book Depository. $24-$26 depending on retailer.

karinainkster.com

Good Morning Henry: An In-Depth Journey with the Body Intelligence

By Tanis Helliwell

Good Morning Henry demonstrates how to work with your body intelligence to heal deep-rooted physical, emotional and spiritual suffering.

“Good Morning Henry is a revelation! It brings together in the most practical and humorous of ways teachings that I have seen in other places. BUT— never in such an accessible and easy to understand way…The world is SO ready for it.” — Christiane Northrup, MD, Multiple New York Times bestselling author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom

Tanis Helliwell, as a psychotherapist and self-actualization teacher, has decades of experience working internationally with psychiatrists, doctors and the general public. She is the author of eight books, including Summer with the Leprechauns, Manifest Your Soul’s Purpose and High Beings of Hawaii.

Available at Amazon.ca for $19.95

myspiritualtransformation.com and tanishelliwell.com/

Return to Solitude: More Desolation Sound Adventures with the Cougar Lady, Russell the Hermit, the Spaghetti Bandit and Others

By Grant Lawrence

Lawrence’s massively popular, bestselling debut Adventures in Solitude shone a spotlight on some of the quirkiest people he knew during his childhood visits to his family’s cabin. In his latest book Lawrence delights in the new role of father, endearing his children to the land, the wildlife and the people of their Sunshine Coast getaway.

Grant Lawrence is an award-winning author, musician and CBC personality who is an honourary resident of qathet.

Find it at harbourpublishing.com.

qathet Cooks Together

By Elena Martin

The educational cookbook “qathet Cooks Together” is a community climate action project that provides information about how our daily food choices impact the climate on our planet. As a cookbook, it gives inspiration to eat more plants through a collection of plant-based recipes from community members.

Elena is a mother and nutritional scientist who believes that food is one of the most powerful individual climate actions in our daily lives for increasing human health and environmental sustainability on Earth.

The educational cookbook costs $15 which covers the printing costs and raises funds for food plants which will be planted in our community.

You can find the educational cookbook at:

Tla’amin Convenience Store • Townsite Fruit & Veg • VK Wellness Initiative • Picked: A Collective @ Ecossentials • Kelly’s Health Shop • The Nutcracker Market • Terra Nostra Farm • Blueberry Commons Farm Cooperative • The Nook @ the Library • CMG Printing • Springtime Garden Centre • Powell River Visitor Centre • The Flower and the Bee on Texada Island • Or you can borrow it at the PR Public Library.

Contact Elena elenamartin2121@gmail.com

Worth More Standing: Poets and Activists Pay Homage to Trees

Edited by Christine Lowther

Celebrated poets and activists pay homage to the ghosts of lost forests and issue a rallying cry to protect remaining ancient giants and restore uncolonized spaces – including qathet poet Carla Mobley.

Carla Mobley was first published in The Antigonish Review in 1980 and then in literary journals throughout Canada and the U.S. A longtime qathet resident, Carla taught Creative Writing at VIU and is a retired teacher who has two children, five grandchildren and a cat named Buddy.

caitlin-press.com/our-books/worth-more-standing- $24.95

The Toquenatch Tree

By Carla Mobley

I lived here forty years before I heardabout this old growth Douglas fir,

maybe a thousand years old, out on Tla’amin territory.

When we met I placed my face against its thick bark

and wondered how it survived all the things trees survive.

How did it grow so tall and keep growing through droughts and wind storms,and were there lightning strikes.men passing through with chainsaws?

And how did it stay so strong?

all the while giving shelter to owls,

providing seeds to dark-eyed juncos and song sparrows,

deer mice and dusty shrews,red squirrels and red-tailed chipmunks.

And how did it withstand the silent attacks of aphidsand Douglas-fir beetles? How did it survive alone?

My tears dropped into its deep ridges,

and in the silence I remembered that trees, though they seem so, are not alone.

they speak the language of aromas. Their roots touch other roots.

They take it in turns to nurture each other.

The Adventure of the Prince: Ghost Town

By Aasir Diab

Prince Ben is back at it again, and we continue where we left off. Our hero, hanging from a lava pit, manages to escape it somehow. Ben also learns of a certain family member he didn’t know about. He defeats Penelope, who turns out to be a traitor, restores peace to his land, and much more in this second installment of the series.

Aasir Diab is 14 years old and is currently in Grade 9. He is the author of two books: The Adventure of the Prince, and The Adventure of the Prince 2: Ghost Town. He enjoys playing basketball and writing. There is currently a new The Adventure of the Prince book in progress.

Available on Amazon and at the Library.