Barb Higgins (Xwu’p’a’lich) was the first to read at a presentation at the Sechelt Library on Sept. 28 titled A Few Good Books. She was a good choice for openers since Higgins led the audience in a blessing and then read two tales about her childhood from her recent book, Etched in My Memory. Her experience as a deck hand on a fishing boat at age 11 and her lively story of an ungrateful fisherman who was saved from drowning is a clear, engaging memory of times past.
The reading was organized by Caitlin Hicks on behalf of the Federation of BC Writers and The Writers’ Union of Canada; both had good representation at the event by members of the two organizations.
Jane Covernton was next to read with an excerpt from The Modern Age, her novel about a determined young woman, Mary Margaret. She wants to be a doctor, but she knows that in 1902 a woman doctor would suffer abuse on entering medical school so she disguises herself as a man.
Poet Linda King read from her newest collection, Ongoing Repairs to Something Significant, poems that reflect on their own making and their use of precise language.
Bruno Huber gave a comical reading from his book, Folly Bistro – Chefs, Cons and Patrons, that related true anecdotes from his two years of operating a French restaurant in Vancouver’s West End. Huber was able to see the humour when the restaurant offered a discount menu one night that attracted two dozen seniors, most without reservations, and all of whom wanted separate bills.
All of these books are self-published, either by the author or by the author’s own press, such as Covernton’s Calendula Farms publishing. They are available at Talewind Books in Sechelt.
