Independent bookstores – like Terrace’s Misty River Books – are a fundamental part of Canadian culture, providing enriching experiences for the book-buying public.
Indie bookstores are also pillars of their communities, with staff who are actively involved in the neighbourhood, providing an inclusive space where people can connect over shared interests.
In support of this, Heritage House Publishing has partnered with 10 independent bookstores in B.C. for a ‘read local’ campaign, emphasizing local stories and Indigenous creators published by Heritage House.
“Heritage House recognizes the importance of independent book stores in B.C. and across the country,” says Rodger Touchie, the publisher of Heritage House.
Playing a vital role in the Canadian literary landscape, local booksellers champion Canadian creators and introduce readers to a diverse range of voices from across the country’s rich cultural environment.
“To celebrate that, we developed this special campaign to highlight regional stories and Indigenous voices,” Touchie says.
Here in Terrace, Misty River Books is participating from April 15 to May 15, which includes B.C. Book Day on April 17 and Canadian Independent Bookstore Day on April 29.
At Misty River Books, some of the featured Indigenous books include:
- Picture book Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii by Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson and Sara Florence Davidson. Matching Magical Beings of Haida Gwaii Colouring and Activity Book, providing young readers the opportunity to learn about Haida culture.
- Journal of a Travelling Girl, a middle-grade novel by Nadine Neema, nominated for three young reader awards in 2021.
- A commemorative edition of the bestselling memoir Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools by Theodore Niizhotay Fontaine
Regional books include:
- Frances Barkley: An Eighteenth-century Seafarer by Cathy Converse, an expert on Frances Barkley, tells Barkley’s story using information from her own journal, now housed in the B.C. Archives. Written in the form of diary, Converse did research, talked to marine historians and ships masters, as well as communicated with Barkley’s descendants to piece together her exciting life story.
- Room at the Inn: Historic Hotels of British Columbia’s Southern Interior by the late Glen A. Mofford, features 40 historic hotels in the southern interior of B.C. Heritage House feels fortunate to have had the support of Mofford’s family in releasing his final book.
- Galena Bay Odyssey: Reflections of a Hippie Homesteader is the debut memoir by award-winning children’s writer Ellen Schwartz. Takes place in the Kootenays region of B.C. during the 1970s.
- A Complex Coast: A Kayak Journey from Vancouver Island to Alaska by David Norwell, a charmingly illustrated travelogue of a kayak pilgrimage up the West Coast, from Vancouver B.C. to Gustavus Alaska.
These and other captivating books featured will be prominently displayed at Misty River Books during the campaign period.
Misty River Books is celebrating 35 years in business this year, and will also be celebrating Independent Bookstore Day with giveaway draws, door prizes, and in-store discounts.
Visit Misty River Books at 103 - 4710 Lazelle Avenue in Terrace. Follow Heritage House Publishing on Facebook and Instagram.