Our 2024 White Pines Authors Part 3

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.

Now, with over 100 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.

Janis Bridger

As a child, Janis wanted to be a nurse, paleontologist, accountant, and monster truck driver. She didn't become any of those and travelled through the South Pacific and Europe instead, before earning a diploma in professional photography and working in the dark for a few years. She eventually found her way to teaching and stumbled into a teacher-librarian position. She continues to share her passion for books, social justice, and outdoor education with her students. Obaasan's Boots is Janis' first book, co-written with her cousin, Lara Okihiro, about their Japanese Canadian family's experience during WWII. Find out more about Janis at https://janisbridger.ca/ or on Instagram at @janisbridger_creates.

Book: Obaasan’s Boots

Cousins Lou and Charlotte don't know a lot about their grandmother's life. When their Obaasan invites them to spend the day in her garden, she also invites them into their family's secrets. Grandma shares her experience as a Japanese Canadian during WWII, revealing the painful story of Japanese internment. Her family was forced apart. Whole communities were uprooted, moved into camps, their belongings stolen. Lou and Charlotte struggle with the injustice, even as they marvel at their grandmother's strength. They begin to understand how their identities have been shaped by racism, and that history is not only about the past.

Borrow Obaasan’s Boots from the Library.

What inspires Janis to write?

Janis’ own children and the students she teaches inspire her to write about topics that teach about social injustices and how they can become the catalysts for positive change. As she tells her students, in the future, they will be the leaders of the world and by learning about historical wrongs, Janis hopes that they become the kind, compassionate leaders who won't let discriminatory policies happen again.

Janis’ writing has always been very personal and was never created to be shared with others. When her grade eight English teacher chose one of her pieces to be read over the school announcements, Janis wanted the floor to swallow her up. But it was Mrs. Spencer who made her believe that her words were important for others to hear. She planted the seed that Janis was a writer, though it took decades for that seed to germinate!

What challenges has Janis faced while writing?

Soggy paper or a wet cell phone! Some of Janis’ best ideas come to her when she is walking in the forest... usually when it's raining. She found out quickly that writing notes is quite difficult when paper is saturated with rain and the drips from her hood, thus texting herself has become the better alternative.

More seriously though, finding time to write, especially within a collaborative partnership, was challenging. That said, with a co-author to be accountable to and a publisher's deadlines, Janis and Lara leaned on each other, endured, and successfully completed their first children's historical fiction novel.

Rebecca Zorg

Rebecca Zorg is a Vancouver-based author with roots in Sweden and Arizona. A lifelong storyteller who won her first writing contest in fifth grade, Rebecca holds an MA in Creative Writing and pens novels across genres like her contemporary women's fiction title Breakaway Baby and an upcoming psychological thriller about an aspiring actress trapped in a glass house. She spent her childhood between Oregon and Arizona before returning to Sweden as a teenager. Her formative years attending an international school in Sweden lend a unique perspective to her work. When not writing, Rebecca enjoys dancing, making jewelry, taking enrichment classes, and playing with her chorkie, Freya. Readers can connect with her at local author events or via her Instagram at @rebeccazorg.

Book: Breakaway Baby

Leila Shah had her life all planned—until one reckless night changed everything.

Notorious bachelor and captain of the Vancouver Vanguards, Ragnar Colton, has one rule: never mix ice and spice. That changes the night he's set to face off against his backstabbing ex-teammate and spots Leila Shah wearing his jersey, unable to take his eyes off her.

Leila's world, usually confined to her work and the solace of painting, expands unpredictably when her best friend drags her to the game, and she catches her NHL crush wink at her. Spurred by a dare, Leila finds herself in Ragnar's arms after their intimate date, forcing her to confront the defenses she built after past heartbreak. But just as Leila dares to let her guard down, events unfold that prey upon her insecurities. Humiliated, she flees, vowing to put the night—and Ragnar—behind her. Yet, six weeks later, a positive pregnancy test disrupts her plans to forget him.

Borrow Breakaway Baby from the Library.

What inspired Rebecca to become a writer?

From a young age, Rebecca has been captivated by the power of storytelling. Her middle name, Shahrzad, connects her to the legendary Scheherazade from One Thousand and One Nights, and Rebecca likes to think she was destined to become a writer. Her mind constantly wanders into "what if" scenarios, and if she lets it, it takes her on creative adventures that she feels compelled to follow through writing. For her debut novel, Breakaway Baby, the inspiration struck with the resurgence of the Canucks combined with the news of her sister's pregnancy, sparking a narrative she had to explore.

What has been the most challenging part of writing for Rebecca?

One of the biggest challenges Rebecca has faced is learning to trust the writing process. Initially, she found herself constantly editing her first draft, trying to make it read like a polished third draft, only to revise it extensively later on. It took time, but Rebecca learned to embrace the organic evolution of a story and have faith that future revisions will refine the narrative.

Additionally, while Breakaway Baby is a hockey romance at its core, it explores various subgenres, including contemporary women's fiction, suspense, and thriller elements. Maintaining focus and striking the right balance between these genres was a constant challenge during the writing process.

Susie Choi

Meet Susie Choi, a thirteen-year-old dynamo already making waves in the literary world. She embarked on her journey with Fox Hotel at the tender age of seven, nurturing this project with love and creativity for five years. At twelve, she proudly made her debut as a published author. A fervent lover of books and a daydreaming enthusiast, Susie finds inspiration everywhere. Currently, she's diligently crafting her next literary masterpiece. When not immersed in her writing, she navigates the adventures of seventh grade, always with a book in hand and a world of possibilities in her heart.

Book: Fox Hotel

John, the only human, or “monster” in a world full of foxes is sent on a mission to find a magical statue in the human world to save the king of the foxes from a deadly disease. However, living amongst humans proves just as difficult. There's Ron, his unfriendly, suspicious boss in the human world, and Ben, a boy who hardly ever talks to him despite begging John to adopt him. Wait up. These guys can't possibly have been John's creators, could they?

Borrow Fox Hotel from the Library.

What inspires Susie to write?

Susie has always wanted to question and investigate, and writing was a way to express the essence of the everyday. Storytelling has an inimitable power, one that can deeply move audiences, and she is grateful to be able to share her thoughts with others through her stories.

What challenges has Susie faced while writing?

When your story becomes words on paper, it often loses the vigor that it had in your mind. Attempting to convey the scope and the energy of a story within an unfamiliar world was difficult, and having to compromise with herself was confusing for the eight-year-old Susie. However, she grew throughout the four-year journey of Fox Hotel and hopes to continue delivering her ideas in a way that captures the story's spirit.

Jillian Ma

Jillian Ma is a Learning Support Teacher whose professional career has been devoted to thoughtful inclusion of children with special needs in education. Jillian has a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a double major in Psychology and Sociology, a Bachelor of Education, from the University of Alberta, and a post graduate diploma in Special Education through Queens University, Ontario. Love Always and her first book, In My World, give children with autism a voice through meaningful storytelling. It is an absolute honor for Jillian to watch her students grow and to be able to share this narrative of parents who have opened her world and heart to so many beautiful things.

Books: In My World and Love, Always

They are simple, heartfelt stories that follow the life of a child with autism through his imaginative journey as he seeks to be accepted, loved, and celebrated for his strengths and abilities. In addition to the qualities that make children on the autism spectrum exceptional, they have the hopes, dreams, and the desire to belong that all children do.

These books are a powerful reminder that with a little help from each of us, children with autism can fulfill their potential. Although raising a child with special needs is hard, learning to let them go out into the world and hope that they will do well is even tougher.

Borrow In My World and Love, Always from the Library.

What inspired Jillian to become a writer?

Jillian wanted to share with everyone the beautiful journey that led her to write a children's book inspired by her students who are neurodiverse. Working with these incredible children has been nothing short of inspiring. Every day, she witnesses their resilience, their unique perspectives, and their unwavering courage in facing challenges that many of us can hardly imagine. Through their eyes, Jillian learned to appreciate the little victories, the moments of joy, and the immense strength that resides within each of them. Their stories are not just about overcoming obstacles; they are tales of triumph, of boundless creativity, and of the purest forms of love and friendship.

It was Jillian’s twelve years of teaching experience that stirred something within her to create a children's book. She wanted to capture the essence of her students’ spirit, to celebrate their diversity, and to share their messages of acceptance and understanding with children everywhere. The books are not just stories but a testament to the beauty of differences and the power of empathy. For her two published books, JIllian worked thoughtfully to come up with a narrative that she hopes will resonate with young readers and inspire conversations about kindness, inclusivity, and the beauty of every individual.

Jillian's goal is simple: to spread awareness and foster a more compassionate world, one story at a time. She is beyond grateful to her students for teaching her invaluable lessons about compassion, perseverance, and the limitless possibilities that exist within each of us. They have touched her life in ways she cannot fully express, and it is with immense gratitude and joy that she is able to share both books with all of you.

What is the most challenging part of writing for Jillian?

Writing a children’s book on Autism as a teacher can be both rewarding and challenging. Niche topics may have a smaller audience compared to more mainstream children's books. Finding the right balance between staying true to her niche and ensuring her books reach enough readers can be a challenge. Finding a fresh and engaging angle on a niche topic can also be challenging. Many niche topic children's books aim to educate as well as entertain and learning to balance the educational content with the narrative flow can pose yet another layer of challenges. Part of Jillian’s process has involved ongoing reflection and trying to find a perfect balance between the two. In this, her hope has been that each book inspires her to keep navigating these challenges, while creating more ways and opportunities for meaningful storytelling.

Nika Askari

Nika Askari is a young author of thirteen years old. She has a lot of adventures and mysterious magic ideas in her imagination. These ideas led her to write her fiction adventure book, The Enchanting Tale of the Haunted Mansion. If you like a series of action and adventure and you want to support the young author, check out her book.

Book: The Enchanting Tale of the Haunted Mansion

This book is about an adventurous girl named Addison, who, along with her friends, enters a mysterious mansion in the forest. Inside the mansion they are drawn into a magical world, filled with people with the first initial ‘M’. From here, they are brought to an enchanted cave called the Cave of Wonders. Inside the cave, they come across a room filled with green light. They encounter many strange events as they complete missions and have incredible experiences. Join Addison and her friends on this epic journey to Avalonia.

Borrow The Enchanting Tale of the Haunted Mansion from the Library.

What inspires Nika to write?

Nika’s inner creativity helps her to write, and she gets inspiration from her surroundings so she can put her ideas into words

What is the most challenging part of writing for Nika?

Nika’s main problem is finding the budget to print her books. Nika has put all her ideas on paper, and she is waiting for someone to support her so that she can write more. She believes that she is a good writer for children, and she would like to keep making her stories available to them.

Emily Kirkham

Emily Kirkham is an avid hockey player, soccer coach, teenager chauffeur, dog poop picker upper, and occasional chemist (and not just what her husband calls her cooking experiments). Oh, and also a writer. These are in no particular order.

She calls Port Moody home, her driveway backing on the oldest road in the Vancouver area, which was built as an evacuation route in the event of bombs during the war. For now, it will do to escape the zombie apocalypse, or climate change, either way Emily and her family are covered. Find out more about Emily from her Instagram at @kirkham.emily.

Book cover of Sisters of the North by Emily Kirkham

Book: Sisters of the North: A Modern Retelling of Sense & Sensibility

A modern retelling of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility through the lens of two impoverished sisters facing life in a northern B.C. oil town. Ellie Dashwood, a welder on the oil worksite, and Valerie, a ballet dancer working as a bar waitress, try to navigate life in Sober, B.C., after their con man father dies suddenly, leaving them only his debts. As in Austen’s classic novel, Sisters of the North is rich in characters attempting to carve out a new life from the circumstances fate has dealt them. In their stories filled with humour, hardship, joy, and romance, the sisters steer a course through the many challenges they face. Struggling to make ends meet, Ellie takes out her frustrations playing beer league hockey at the local rink, while Valerie decides to up the ante by trading her job for a more lucrative life on the stage as a stripper. As they deal with their new realities, they discover that the men in their lives have not been completely honest. And yet, they have each other and hope for their future.

Borrow Sisters of the North from the Library.

What inspired Emily to become a writer?

Her mother, Yvonne Harris. She is a prolific writer, with over ten titles to her name, some of which were written with one hand (not voluntarily, but after a devastating stroke), and who has also met both British Monarchs of the twentieth century and demanded they fix climate change. Emily is inspired to attempt to live up to her legacy.

What is the most challenging part of writing for Emily?

Committing to the time. If you put the time in day after day, a book will get written. Over the past twenty years Emily tried again and again to finish a book, but it wasn’t until the time when she actually wrote every single day that she got it done. But that means waking up early, working on it when you maybe don't feel motivated but just getting some words on the page. That is the challenge.

About the White Pines Local Author Collection

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