Explore local books this season
Discover the stories and talents of writers from the Rat Creek Press neighbourhoods
The Rat Creek neighbourhoods are filled with artists, including authors. Some are full-time writers and others, like Dorte Weber, took up writing as a creative outlet to their day job.
Dorte Weber began writing in 2021 when she was forced to take her holidays in February and there was nowhere to go. The beginnings of a seven-part romance series set in Georgian era Scottish borderlands had been bubbling inside of her for years. Her retirement has allowed her to launch into writing full time. The book launch of A Horseman for Harriet was held at La French Taste on November 28.
Many of the books on this list include a version of not only Edmonton, but also our neighbourhood. There is poetry, romance, memoirs, local narrative, and a surprising number of great alternative reality fantasy fiction.
The list includes a local pick up (Paper Birch Books, Audreys Books) and/or an online order platform. You can also ask your friends and family — you might know someone who knows the author and you can get a signed copy!
If you know of any local authors who did not make the list, please leave a comment with the title, author’s name, and link to purchase.
Poetry
Moving to Delilah by Catherine Owen
An award-winning poet writes about establishing roots in Edmonton after moving from Vancouver. Her 1905 house, Delilah, becomes a home as she learns to garden and explores the neighbourhood and surrounding environs. Available from: Audreys Books & Freehand Books
Non-fiction/Memoir
Little Yellow house: Stories of living in Alberta Avenue by Carrisa Halton
An extended love note to a notorious neighbourhood. Available from: Audreys Books & carissahalton.com
Trauma to Tango by Aydan Dunnigan
Haunted by ghosts of the recent and distant past, the author abandons his faith, his marriage, and his career as a pastor and heads off to the tango salons of Buenos Aires. Available from: Amazon
Twisted Sisters by Patricia Dunnigan
A delightful memoir of Patricia's adventures. Available from: The Carrot
Give and Take - Motherhood and Creative Practice by Christina Ignacio-Deines
An anthology exploring the diverse ways contemporary artists navigate the unique tensions of motherhood. Available from: Audreys Books & Demeter Press
Residential Schools by Larry Loyie, Wayne K Spear & Constance Brissenden
First-person perspective of the residential school system in Canada, as it shares the memories of more than 70 survivors from across Canada. Available from: GoodMinds.com
The Bad Kitty Handbook by Christie Mawer
A journey toward authentic female sensuality. Available from: thebadkitty.com
Cookbook
Rat Routes and reasons to gather by Sarah De Lano
Culturally diverse culinary journeys in Edmonton’s wild and natural spaces. Available from: Audreys Books or free download (proceeds to Multicultural Family Resource Society)
Fiction
Mad Cow by Alexis Kienlen
A novel about a rural family during the early 2000s BSE crisis. Available from: Non Publishing & Amazon
Romance
Third Chances & A Horseman for Harriet by DS Weber
Books I and II of The Kings Colours Series. A seven-part series set in the late Georgian era, a time of war, social injustice, and instability, but also a time of new ideas, reforms, and progress. D.S. Weber writes about couples finding love in difficult times. Available from: dsweber.com
Serial Love by Christie Mawer
Eyes Wide Shut meets Silence of the Lambs in this first book of The Bad Kitty Untethered trilogy. Available from: thebadkitty.com
Alternative/Fantasy/Sci-Fi
CONDOLADY by Elisabeth Béliveau
Award-winning artist Elisabeth Beliveau considers the significant and insignificant moments that make up our lives — and sometimes change them completely. Available from: elisabeth-belliveau.com
Winterkill Trilogy: Winterkill, Heartfire, Darkthaw by Kate Boorman
Set in a fictional version of Fort Edmonton, a powerful enemy lurks in the woods outside Emmeline’s settlement calls to her. Available from: Audreys Books & Amazon
What we Buried by Kate Boorman
A brother and sister speed through the deserts of Nevada to unearth deep family secrets that force them to relive their pasts as they try to retain a grip on the present. Available from: Audreys Books & Amazon
Into the Sublime by Kate Boorman
Four girls entered a dangerous cave. Three of them came out alive. Two of them were rushed to the hospital. And one is soaked in blood and ready to talk. Available from: Audreys Books & Amazon
The Heathens and the Dragon by Kate Boorman
A thirteenth century adventure. Available from: Audreys Books & Thistledown Press
The Head by Robyn Braun
A bizarre journey through trauma, bad relationships, and toxic workplace culture. Available from: Audreys Books & Amazon
Avenue of Champions by Conor Kerr
Giller Prize-longlisted book, Avenue of Champions tells the story of Daniel, a young Métis man searching for a way to exist in a world of lateral violence, intergenerational trauma and systemic racism. Based on Papaschase and Métis oral histories and lived experience. Available from: Audreys Books, Paper Birch Books & Amazon
Prairie Edge by Conor Kerr
Land back in action: The protagonists plan to capture a herd of bison from a national park and set them free in downtown Edmonton. Available from: Audreys Books, Paper Birch Books & Amazon
Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
2024 CBC Canada Reads Selection, and multiple award-winning first novel. Haunting, fierce, an ode to female relations and the strength found in kinship, Bad Cree is a gripping, arresting debut by an unforgettable voice. Available from: Audreys Books, Paper Birch Books, Amazon & Amazon - French Edition
The Ronos Trilogy: Catalyst, Beacon, Eviscerate by Tyler Rudd Hall
Sci-fi teen book set in an alternative future Edmonton. Available from: Amazon
The Amiskwaciy novels: Humane, Urbane by Anna Marie Sewell
Books I and II in the series. Amiskwaciy’s notoriously unknown detective and self-professed asshole Hazel LeSage, investigates crime a shape-shifting Edmonton. Available from: Audreys Books - Humane, Audreys Books - Urbane & prairiepomes.com
Children’s
The Gathering Tree by Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden (Grades 4-7)
As long as the rivers flow: A last summer before residential school by Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden (Grades 4-7)
The Lawrence Series: The Moon speaks Cree, When the Spirits Dance, Goodbye Buffalo Bay by Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden (Grades 4-9)
Wild Waters: Inside a voyageur’s world by Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden (Grades 6-12).
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Here's another children's book: What good thing happened to you today? By Valerie Kulchisky
What Good Thing Happened to You Today? is a children’s colouring book with a rhyming story throughout, in the manner of Dr. Seuss. The story, meant to be read to a child, especially at bedtime, elicits positive memories of the day. Both the reader and the child end their day with memories of good things that happened to them that day. Available on Amazon.ca and Thriftbooks.com
Thank you for recognizing the books of Cree author Larry Loyie and myself. Local authors always appreciate recognition. The University of British Columbia has opened the Larry Loyie writing is healing exhibition at the Indian residential school history and dialogue centre. The display will be open until May 23 on campus. Our authors are not isolated, they receive Canadian and international Attention.