Best-selling Vancouver Island author Sylvia Bourgeois is releasing her latest historical fiction novel, Here, Now, on Nov. 22.
Here, Now offers a vivid glimpse into a 1920s logging camp on the shores of Nimpkish Lake.
Bourgeois is a resident of Fanny Bay who draws on her deep connection to northern Vancouver Island to craft a compelling tale of love, loss, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of the region’s rugged landscape and booming timber industry.
Here, Now follows the journey of Eva Clark, a young Seattle woman who trades her career aspirations for an unexpected marriage and life in a remote camp. As Eva grapples with personal tragedy and the challenges of her new environment, she finds strength and purpose.
“Resource industries are the backbone of our coastal towns,” said Bourgeois in a media release. “With Here, Now, my aim is for readers to connect with Eva’s evolving sense of belonging, while gaining insight into the natural beauty and the rich logging history which shaped those communities.”
The novel spotlights Bourgeois’ meticulous research into life in the early 20th century, from smoke-filled city saloons to our island’s mist-shrouded wilderness. Readers will recognize regional landmarks and gain discover the area’s forestry traditions.
Here, Now is the latest addition to Bourgeois’ “Island Echoes” series, which celebrates strong women navigating the vibrant setting and industry of the Pacific Northwest. The author’s previous work has garnered praise for its evocative portrayal of local scenery, well-defined characters, and gripping story lines.
Here, Now will be available from bookstores and online retailers on Nov. 22. Pre-orders are now open.
The Book Shelf at ShopRite at Home in Port McNeill is hosting a pre-release signing and reading at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15.
Sylvia Bourgeois was born and raised on northern Vancouver Island, in some of British Columbia’s most beautiful small communities. Sylvia now lives in Fanny Bay, and she considers her family, friends, and time outside to be most important to her. If she isn’t working her day job or on a boat with her husband, you can find her creating fine foods in her kitchen. Here, Now is Sylvia’s second novel.
