On a recent blog post by Confined Space author Deryn Collier, she describes some of the encounters she’s been having since her One Book, One Kootenay shortlisted novel was published.
In the Smart Food popcorn aisle on a recent trip to Safeway:
Reader: Go home.
Deryn: What? Sorry? Are you talking to me?
Reader: Yes! I’m talking to you. Aren’t you supposed to be writing?
Deryn: Um. Just needed a snack.
Reader: And I need to know what happens to Bern. I really think you should be writing. Go home. Right now.
Coroner Bern Fortin, protagonist in Confined Space, has that effect on a lot of readers. To find out why — as well as why Collier’s book was chosen by a panel of learned librarians as one of three shortlisted books for 2013’s One Book, One Kootenay recognition — mystery-lovers and others may want to come to a reading by Collier at the Nelson Public Library on Thursday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m.
You could also read the book, and in fact the Kootenay Library Federation encourages Kootenay booklovers to read all three shortlisted books, and vote. Also shortlisted is The Dolphin’s Tooth: a Decade in Search of Adventure by Kimberley author Bruce Kirkby, and Never Going Back by Nelson author Antonia Banyard.
As the shortlist authors tour select libraries in the Kootenays, the feature reader is joined by co-shortlist authors via video. In Collier’s reading in Nelson, she is joined by Kirkby in a 10-minute film clip, and — as a special bonus — by Banyard in person.