Bill Arnott’s Beat: An Emerita in New West

[dropcap]I[/dropcap] was reading author tips from Elmore Leonard who stated emphatically, “Don’t start a story with weather!” So I won’t. However, it may interest you to know it was a warm day, spring blossoms blushing the city like a haiku/tanka festival.

I was meeting with powerhouse writer, publisher, Laureate Emerita Candice James in the literary city of New Westminster, BC’s former capital. Silver Bow Press is the company she runs, having taken over a four-title-a-year publisher and grown production to twenty new books a year – novels and poetry. Next year she anticipates bringing thirty select books to print. The list of submissions is extensive, the majority of it exceptional work from established authors.

Crossing town for our visit I felt an odd sense of nostalgia. James and I both made an unlikely professional transition to the arts – writing and music, from a background in finance. There aren’t many of us. Having done that for twenty-five years I knew Greater Vancouver as well as anyone – certainly better than most cabbies, the result of conducting countless house calls, office and coffee meetings everywhere in southwest BC. My father-in-law was a cartographer, designing and publishing street maps. And on multiple occasions relied on me to find new or missing addresses. This was before the existence of the google car with the pointy thing or CSIS and retailers knowing precisely where we are (and what we’re shopping for) at all times. [perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”#44ABD2″ class=”” size=””]”Arriving at Silver Bow’s hub of operations I felt I was settling into the best bookstore/coffee shop ever – clean and bright, surrounded by stacks of crisp new volumes – a dizzying array of James’ own work, Silver Bow publications and signed copies of literary classics spanning forty years.”[/perfectpullquote] But having cocooned for the past few years in Vancouver proper, I’d become insulated by readings and performance gigs within walking distance of home. It felt good to break from the downtown chrysalis, remembering the vast veins of creative bullion beyond my trickling creek and small prospector pan. There is indeed “gold in them there hills” or in this case, the well-treed town down by the Fraser.

Arriving at Silver Bow’s hub of operations I felt I was settling into the best bookstore/coffee shop ever – clean and bright, surrounded by stacks of crisp new volumes – a dizzying array of James’ own work, Silver Bow publications and signed copies of literary classics spanning forty years. It was as much a chance to catch up with Candice as anything, and to learn more about the New West lit scene, where she was Poet Laureate from 2010-2016, being involved with and/or running Poetic Justice and Poetry New West, Royal City Literary Arts Society and Poetry in the Park. Her successful reading series continues to draw a wealth of talent.

I returned for Poetic Justice, the weekly Sunday offering at the Heritage Grill, where American spoken word artist and activist Francisco Escamillo joined locals for a featured set. The fact this LA-based pro, known as the Bus Stop Prophet, wanted to be a part of the New West event indicates the extent of this thriving hub’s exposure and growing influence. I felt fortunate to be part of it, proud for my artist friends and the literary city-within-a-city we can all call our own.

First published by the Federation of BC Writers.

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Bill Arnott is the bestselling author of 2019 WIBA Finalist Gone Viking: A Travel Saga and Dromomania. His Indie Folk CD is Studio 6. Bill’s received awards for prose, poetry, songwriting, and been a featured performer at hundreds of literary festivals and mixed-media events internationally. His work is published in Canada, the US, UK, Europe and Asia. When not trekking the globe with a small pack, weatherproof journal and often-dead camera phone, Bill can be found on Canada’s west coast, making friends and misbehaving. https://www.amazon.com/author/billarnott_aps

Bill Arnott

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Bill Arnott is the bestselling author of A Season on Vancouver Island, theGone Viking travelogues, andA Perfect Day for a Walk: The History, Cultures, and Communities of Vancouver, on Foot(Arsenal Pulp Press, Fall 2024). Recipient of a Fellowship at London’s Royal Geographical Society for his expeditions, Bill’s a frequent presenter and contributor to magazines, universities, podcasts, TV and radio. When not trekking with a small pack and journal, Bill can be found on Canada’s west coast, where he lives near the sea on Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh land.