Shirley Martin will be promoting her new book Calm Harbour, Turbulent Seas at Volume One Books on Aug. 23<\/p>\n
Sail into a new read with\u00a0Calm Harbour, Turbulent Seas\u00a0from\u00a0Ucluelet author\u00a0Shirley Martin who will be signing copies of her new book at Volume One Bookstore in Duncan on August 23.<\/p>\n
“I am very excited about coming to Duncan to promote my new book,” said Martin.\u00a0“Volume One is a lovely bookstore, and I am looking forward to being there to chat with people about west coast history, and about writing Calm Harbour, Turbulent Seas.<\/p>\n
Martin has lived in Ucluelet since 1951 as it was where she was born and raised\u00a0and has\u00a0strong west coast roots and connections to it. Aside from the four years she spent attending the University of Victoria and another three years upon graduation in our capital. Ucluelet\u00a0has always been her home.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I love,” said Martin. “It was a great decision to return home, and to raise our children in Ucluelet, to spend our working years here, and now, to enjoy our retirement years here on the west coast.”<\/p>\n
Martin was inspired to write her new book after first noticing\u00a0a gap on bookshelves when it came to west coast history books.<\/p>\n
“Before mine, there has been no comprehensive history of Ucluelet written, and I saw the need to preserve and share the fascinating history of Ucluelet and area, ” said Martin.\u00a0“The name Calm Harbour, Turbulent Seas\u00a0has a literal meaning, as our harbour is protected, but just offshore mariners frequently experience turbulent and dangerous seas \u2013 we live along the area known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, which has seen many a shipwreck. Also, the name of Ucluelet comes from the Yuu\u0142u\u0294i\u0142\u0294at\u1e25 people, and means \u201cpeople of the safe harbour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Martin says the book also comes with a metaphorical meaning, as throughout Ucluelet\u2019s history there have been turbulent times, including the catastrophic effects of colonialism on the local First Nations, wartime and internment of Ucluelet Japanese Canadian citizens, disruption of resource industries such logging and fishing, and the changes wrought with the transition to tourism. Her new book which was published by Harbour Publishing and\u00a0released on July 22 of this year is already on the BC Bestsellers list.<\/p>\n
“I was thrilled that Harbour Publishing agreed to publish my book, and I am so excited about it making the BC Bestsellers list,” said Martin.”That feels like the icing on the cake.”<\/p>\n
Martin’s new book covers aspects of early First Nations history as Ucluelet sits on the Traditional territory of the nuu\u010daan\u0313u\u0142 people. It tells of the arrival of fur traders, whalers and missionaries and the resultant cataclysmic changes and how\u00a0Ucluelet\u00a0went from once a resource-based industry\u00a0then shifting\u00a0into tourism, which brought yet another period of adjustment.<\/p>\n
“There is naturally a strong marine component, with tales of shipwrecks, lifeboats, and the building of Amphitrite lighthouse,” said Martin. “Transportation was key, first by ship, late planes, and finally, the long-awaited road.”<\/p>\n