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Back to SearchThe Port Moody Public Library created the White Pines Local Author Collection to highlight and support local authors, poets, and illustrators from our community. We launched the collection in May 2019 with 12 inaugural authors.
Now, with over 80 authors represented, the collection has grown to house even more creative and diverse submissions from members of our community. You can browse our White Pines Collection online to place holds on items, or in person at the Library under the green White Pines sign.
George B. Hatton
George B. Hatton is a young and determined writer living in beautiful Port Moody. When they’re not dealing with the struggles of everyday life, re-watching Schmigadoon!, or cuddling up with their two adoring dogs Millie and Waldorf, they like to spend their time world building through their writing, crafting, and other creative pursuits. George is an accomplished collector of many things - from books, records, and Funko Pops to memories and stories.
They are a champion of inclusivity and believe in open and honest portrayals of characters across the spectrums of gender and sexuality.
Book: The Winterworld Chronicles: The Kringlesnatcher
December 25th. It is Christmas Day and Oliver's birthday - not that he feels much like celebrating. This December 25th is the ninth anniversary of the night Oliver's parents were killed. It is also the deadline for Oliver to escape the magical lands of Winterworld, where the Kringlesnatcher rules with fear and cruelty. Join Oliver, his elf guide, Trent, and a cast of colourful characters as they traverse the dangerous Winterworld terrain in search of justice, answers, and a way back home.
Borrow The Winterworld Chronicles: The Kringlesnatcher from the Library.
What inspires George to write?
George has always been a world builder, writer, and reader. After reading Mira Bartok’s book, The Wonderling, they were inspired to expand their writing and create their own novel.
What challenges has George encountered while writing?
Coming up with new ideas is a challenge now that George has completed their first book. They would like to continue the story but want to make sure that the plot progresses in an entertaining way.
Oliver Allen
Oliver Allen is a graduate of the University of British Columbia’s English Department, and the proud author of sixteen books.
Having been in search of a longtime collaborator, Oliver found a wonderful illustrator in the accomplished talent of Natalia Nova, while she was living in Ukraine. The story of how Futuristic Gypsy was born is as breathtaking as the comic itself. One night, before the war in Ukraine broke out, Oliver and Natalia were brainstorming over a wandering Gypsy character on the phone, when the war began. Natalia gathered her drawing tablet and sketches and left with her landlord in her car for the train station. While her street and country were being bombed, Natalia boarded a train for Poland, drawing Futuristic Gypsy in shelters, bunkers, and on the train, the whole time keeping in touch with her partner, Oliver, via email. When Natalia reached her family in Poland, and revealed the character sketches, they both knew they had something special.
Book: Medusa and the Playboy: New and Selected Poems
This anthology, which features over three hundred new poems, is a triumph and culmination of over twenty years of poetry in the making. There are no boundaries that Oliver Allen has not tried to reach in this complete work, speaking on death, loss, life, love, the absurd, the abstract, and the meaning of family. This work in its entirety summarizes a major milestone in the poet, writer, and amateur musician Oliver Allen's life thus far.
Borrow Medusa and the Playboy from the Library.
Book: Futuristic Gypsy
In a post-apocalyptic world, where pandemics, disease, and famine have devoured the Earth, Zombies, Goblins, and mutant Vampires have metastasized into cancerous hordes preying on innocent human survivors. However, one woman, who they call Futuristic Gypsy, now wanders the Earth, protecting and defending humankind against such evil. With her trusty electric rapier sword, sawed-off shotgun, and reliable super-charged motorbike, Futuristic Gypsy hunts and kills the Zombie hordes, like something from a deadly beta video game unreleased, and does so with style and grace.
Borrow Futuristic Gypsy from the Library.
What inspires Oliver to write?
For Oliver, it is simple – he has to do it. It's the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up, and the last thing he thinks about before he goes to sleep. When he was a child, Oliver kept a journal and entered logs daily, every time his parents had a fight, or a girl broke his heart - it was his soul food; his therapy in expressing his feelings.
What challenges has Oliver encountered while writing?
Finding and working with a traditional publisher has definitely been a challenge. Oliver thinks they are too busy to notice the work of someone like him because there are so many strong writers these days. Competition is quite fierce. Oliver considers himself an average writer, and there are some gifted writers coming out of Vancouver and Canada - he just wants to be invited to the party. He is not expecting to win anything else these days, he is just proud and humbled at his self-publishing efforts thus far. That being said, Natalia and Oliver would definitely like to work with a publisher and editor one day.
Asian Impact Society (AIS) and Stephanie Shieh
Asian Impact Society is a grassroots, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization based in the Tri-Cities. The organization was formed during the pandemic by parents concerned about the rise of anti-Asian aggression in the community. Asian Impact Society’s mission is to share experiences through stories and art and to raise awareness on racial injustice. Through unity, compassion, empathy and education, its mandate is to eliminate discrimination, create space for healing and build stronger and more inclusive communities.
To learn more about Asian Impact Society, please visit: https://www.asianimpactsociety.com, or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Stephanie Shieh is Chinese Canadian and grew up in Chemainus on Vancouver Island with her mom, dad, and sister. Stephanie is the real-life Mina. Mina's Lunch is her story about a childhood experience she had at school, and how her mom helped her understand that it is ok to be different.
Book: Mina’s Lunch: A Story About Food, Culture, & Belonging
Mina loves dumplings! They’re her favourite food and an important part of her Chinese culture. What can she do when her classmates think her lunch smells funny? This story explores themes of cultural diversity, a child’s emerging sense of self, and figuring out where they belong in our multicultural world.
Borrow Mina's Lunch from the Library.
What inspired Asian Impact Society to create Mina's Lunch?
When Asian Impact Society (AIS) was formed, they wanted to engage the public in conversations about racial injustice and discrimination. However, they knew it wasn’t enough just to have conversations with individuals who are and were targets of racial injustice. They wanted to find a way to share personal stories with the broader community and reach those who have never experienced racial injustice or understand what it means to be diverse and multicultural. They wanted to share something real, engaging, and educational. This is what led them to the idea of writing a book.
In early 2022, AIS was awarded B.C.’s Multicultural and Anti-Racism Grant, which provided them with the financial means to develop and publish a book. Tiffany, one of the Society’s board members, came up with the idea of using a contest to engage the public. The contest was called “Your Stories Your Voice.” The community was invited to share their stories about multiculturalism, diversity, or discrimination; with independent and diverse members of the community invited to adjudicate the contest. Stories were presented to the judges anonymously, and the best story was selected based on a set of criteria. Mina’s Lunch, submitted by Stephanie Shieh, was the unanimous favourite among the judges. The story was fine-tuned with the help of local author-illustrator, Kirsten Hepburn, who also brought the book to life with her amazing illustrations.
What challenges did AIS encounter during the development, writing, and publishing of Mina’s Lunch?
The challenge for AIS was encouraging people to write their stories. Many people would verbally share their stories but did not feel comfortable writing and sharing it with the public. AIS wanted to encourage participants from various cultural backgrounds, particularly those for whom English was not their first language. Although there is a sizable BIPOC community in the Tri-Cities, it was difficult to connect with the various groups. AIS ended up reaching out to the larger not-for-profits that serve the community to share the project with their networks. Despite these challenges, AIS received some incredible stories, some of which can be read on their website.
Omid Kaveh
The 1979 Revolution in Iran brought many drastic changes to its society, many of which would seem unbelievable to those who live in free democratic countries. Over a year or two, liberty of thought and freedom of expression of the feelings and opinions of individuals were taken away by the ones in power. The only way to survive was to blend in and accept everything that you were told. However, under such conditions, many people managed to make some sort of meaning out of their lives and tried to find happiness. Omid grew up in such a society and against all the odds he survived. His deep ties with ancient Persia and his beliefs in the righteousness of his deeds helped him to find a way of life before and after moving to Canada.
Book: A Gift from Cyrus
There was once an ancient clay tablet that held a single phrase from the Cyrus Cylinder stamped upon it. It was a message from Cyrus the Great, intended to wake his nation up from its centuries-long slumber.
A follower of the Zoroastrian religion, Arya was only twelve years old when the 1979 Revolution happened in Iran. Growing up in a society ruled by the Islamic revolutionaries, he finds himself in a desperate situation that results in a chance to learn from the ancient clay tablet. He survives decades of social discrimination, injustice, and war before moving to Canada in search of both the life he's missed out on and the love of his life—who mysteriously disappeared years ago.
Borrow A Gift from Cyrus from the Library.
What inspires Omid to write?
Pain is not an easy thing to write about, unless it is eased by the hope of a better future. Omid wanted to share the untold, which required courage. Being a voice for the silenced is only possible if one has experienced it themselves, and Omid strived to tell a story about a time when despite all the limitations and restrictions imposed on them, an innocent soul could find love in its most pure form imaginable. He wrote a novel inspired by unbelievable true events, not only so he could tell a fascinating story, but more importantly, so he could deliver a message hidden between its pages. A message which can be received only by those who are willing to listen.
What has been the most challenging part of writing for Omid?
Marrying two very different cultures, bringing them close enough to understand and respect the values honoured by each, and expressing the advantages and drawbacks of them from different perspectives, was what challenged Omid the most while transforming his thoughts into words on paper. Arya, the book’s main character, was born and raised in an oppressive society in the east. As a member of a minority religion, his life was a battlefield between good and evil. However, at a breaking point in his life, he found no peace in staying oppressed any longer. That's when he decided to move to Canada to not only find the life he'd lost but to search for answers about his dreams from the past. Arya finds himself in an entirely different culture, a land in which every single soul is valued and respected, regardless of their beliefs.
Through the book, Omid wanted to demonstrate how eastern and western cultures can find things in common and welcome each other with mutual respect and understanding for values owned by each.
About the White Pines Local Author Collection
The Port Moody Public Library created the White Pines Local Author Collection to highlight and support local authors, poets, and illustrators from our community. We launched the collection in May 2019 with 12 inaugural authors. Learn more about this collection and how you can become a White Pines Local Author.
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