Books

Author Christopher DiRaddo is seen at the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival, Friday, May 6, 2022, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

Canadian authors, booksellers say COVID-19 has both helped and hurt their industry

Book sales are up compared to pre-pandemic levels, but supply chain woes loom large

Author Christopher DiRaddo is seen at the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival, Friday, May 6, 2022, in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Jack Emberly, environmentalist and columnist for The News, has been longlisted for a CBC writing award. (The News files)

Two Maple Ridge writers longlisted for CBC writing award

Brody Patterson and Jack Emberly have short stories chosen from among thousands

Jack Emberly, environmentalist and columnist for The News, has been longlisted for a CBC writing award. (The News files)
January 31, 2022 - Writer Barbara Black in the standalone studio in the backyard of her Oak Bay home. Don Denton photo

Oak Bay “serial artist” Barbara Black turns to fiction

Short story collection Music from a Strange Planet

  • Apr 4, 2022
January 31, 2022 - Writer Barbara Black in the standalone studio in the backyard of her Oak Bay home. Don Denton photo
Jackson Kuhn, 7, of Chilliwack gave away a bunch of his books to other kids on Friday, March 25, 2022. (Jenn Kuhn photo)

B.C. boy, 7, spends spring break giving away own books to other kids

Jackson Kuhn of Chilliwack decided to hand out books he no longer reads to fellow young readers

Jackson Kuhn, 7, of Chilliwack gave away a bunch of his books to other kids on Friday, March 25, 2022. (Jenn Kuhn photo)
One local woman was upset with Indigo’s display of vibrators in the bookstore’s self help section. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)

Langley mom upset by vibrator display in bookstore

Indigo said it is responding to customer demand for sexual wellness products

One local woman was upset with Indigo’s display of vibrators in the bookstore’s self help section. (Matthew Claxton/Langley Advance Times)
Fraser Valley Regional Library’s Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows branches are gearing up for spring break. (Special to The News)

ON THE PAGE: Libraries stocking up for fun this spring break

A virtual Science World experience is among the alternatives being offered for the holiday

  • Feb 26, 2022
Fraser Valley Regional Library’s Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows branches are gearing up for spring break. (Special to The News)
There is a wide variety of reading material available, although efforts have been made to challenge, suppress or ban certain works. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: How much do you know about the freedom to read?

The week of Feb. 20 to 26 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada

There is a wide variety of reading material available, although efforts have been made to challenge, suppress or ban certain works. (Black Press file photo)
Vashti Harrison’s books Little Leaders and Little Legends are among a long list of suggested reads for Black History Month, curated by staff at the Fraser Valley Regional Library.

Fraser Valley Regional Library shares their top selections for Black History Month

Library staff recommendations for audio books, films, biographies and more

Vashti Harrison’s books Little Leaders and Little Legends are among a long list of suggested reads for Black History Month, curated by staff at the Fraser Valley Regional Library.
The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.

Choir boy and belly dancer settle in B.C. after roller coaster love story

Christine and Christopher met as teens in the United Kingdom

The Choirboy and the Bellydancer is a memoir written by Christine Potter. It is a love story of the Fort Langley couple who met in the U.K as teenagers and moved to Canada in late ‘90s.
William Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, acquired by UBC Library. (UBC handout photo)

UBC Library gifted Shakespeare’s 1623 First Folio

The first folio, published in 1623, features 36 of 38 known Shakespeare plays

William Shakespeare’s First Folio, published in 1623, acquired by UBC Library. (UBC handout photo)
This group of CP Rail passengers helped remove rock from the tracks on Oct. 29, 1978. This photo, along with many other recently digitized photos, can be found in former CP conductor John Cowan’s new book. He hopes the book will help him reconnect with those helpful passengers that day. (John Cowan photo)

Former CP conductor on the hunt for helpful strangers in 70s photo

John Cowan is looking for the group of strangers who helped clear the tracks east of Golden in 1978

This group of CP Rail passengers helped remove rock from the tracks on Oct. 29, 1978. This photo, along with many other recently digitized photos, can be found in former CP conductor John Cowan’s new book. He hopes the book will help him reconnect with those helpful passengers that day. (John Cowan photo)
Stacey Chomiak is launching her young adult illustrated memoir in Maple Ridge on Oct. 30. (Special to The News)

Gay, Christian children’s author to launch book in Maple Ridge

Stacey Chomiak’s memoir is based on how she reconciled with her faith after discovering she was gay

Stacey Chomiak is launching her young adult illustrated memoir in Maple Ridge on Oct. 30. (Special to The News)
Literacy programs across B.C. are getting a funding boost from the provincial government. (Black Press Media files)

Literacy project funds community learning in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

Local agencies are operating the programs around B.C.

  • Jul 8, 2021
Literacy programs across B.C. are getting a funding boost from the provincial government. (Black Press Media files)
Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)

Merritt country music festival’s ‘crazy-ass scene’ recalled in photographer’s new book

Campground C party zone and more remembered in Dee Lippingwell’s third book

Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)
Read, register, and potentially win prizes. (FVRL/Special to The News)

ON THE PAGE: Libraries give added motivation to pick up a book

Fraser Valley Regional Libraries are all taking part in the Summer Reading Club

  • Jul 2, 2021
Read, register, and potentially win prizes. (FVRL/Special to The News)
Const. George is all smiles as she poses among the thousands of volumes collected for her book drive. (Ridge Meadows RCMP/ Twitter)

Ridge Meadows RCMP officer organizes book drive for African schools

Const. Britteny George, community partners, and SD42 collected 8,500 books

Const. George is all smiles as she poses among the thousands of volumes collected for her book drive. (Ridge Meadows RCMP/ Twitter)
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News columnist Chef Dez expects his newest book, Cooking Around The World, to be shipped July 9.

ON COOKING: COVID inspired book shares recipes from around the globe

News’ columnist, Chef Dez, prepares to release his latest cookbook next month

  • Jun 27, 2021
Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News columnist Chef Dez expects his newest book, Cooking Around The World, to be shipped July 9.
Nanaimo children’s book author and illustrator Lindsay Ford’s latest book, ‘Candy Bar War,’ recounts the time children protested the rising price of chocolate. A mural commemorating the protest is on display in Chemainus. (Photo courtesy Joseph Lyons)

Author tells true story of the B.C. kids’ post-war candy protest that swept the country

‘Candy Bar War’ tells the tale of when chocolate jumped from 5 to 8 cents and the kids didn’t take it

Nanaimo children’s book author and illustrator Lindsay Ford’s latest book, ‘Candy Bar War,’ recounts the time children protested the rising price of chocolate. A mural commemorating the protest is on display in Chemainus. (Photo courtesy Joseph Lyons)
Maple Ridge author Tiffany-Ann Bottcher is one of 21 authors whose real-life stories are featured in the new book Women in Business in a Changing World. (Special to The News)

Maple Ridge author shares real-life story to inspire women in business

Tiffany-Ann Bottcher, is a long-time Maple Ridge resident, a full-time business coach and blogger

Maple Ridge author Tiffany-Ann Bottcher is one of 21 authors whose real-life stories are featured in the new book Women in Business in a Changing World. (Special to The News)
Eleonore Alamillo-Laberge, 6, reads a book in Ottawa on Monday, June 12, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Parents will need to fight ‘COVID learning slump’ over summer: B.C. literacy experts

Parents who play an active role in educating their children this summer can reverse the slump by nearly 80%, says Janet Mort

Eleonore Alamillo-Laberge, 6, reads a book in Ottawa on Monday, June 12, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick