Good Friends, Good Reads

I have blogged before about the amazing number of writers in my circle of friends and the books they have published - some, such as Lorelei Rondeau's "The Gutsy Cookbook" now in its second printing - and today I'm excited to tell you about two more books written by two more friends.

Liz Maxwell Forbes was one of the very first friends I made upon moving to the island.  We were not only in the same writing group, proofread each other's stories, and for nearly five years co-authored a regular column for a local paper, but we have also hiked together, looked after each other's dogs, and shared endless cups of coffee and delicious chats. She holds a very special place in my heart.

And so I'm delighted that she and her partner, Grant Evans, have launched their own website, Osborne Bay Books, and that Grant's first book View from the Tower will be out just before Christmas.  It's an interesting and often amusing story of his days as an air traffic controller in the 1960s,  in Port Hardy on the Vancouver Island. Anyone who loves BC history, aviation, and/or personal memoirs will enjoy View from the Tower.  

Liz's  first full-length book (she has published several short stories) will be ready for publication in the new year. Growing Up Weird tells the story of her childhood in Oak Bay, Vancouver Island.  I love Liz's storytelling, in which characters of her past come to life, everyday events evoke memories of my own childhood, and humor blends with pathos and brutal honesty. I'm so looking forward to the release of Growing Up Weird.

You can read excerpts of both View from the Tower and Growing Up Weird on their website:  www.osbornebaybooks.com.

Both Grant and Liz are already at work on their next publications, and Liz documents their journey in her new blog, which can also be found via their website. Check it out and follow along!

PS:  You just might recognize the photo in the header on their website......