Heather Ramsay, a former reporter and freelance journalist who worked in Haida Gwaii is hitting the road this spring and summer with her debut novel, “A Room in the Forest.”
This coming-of-age novel explores identity, belonging, and the tensions of personal discovery.
Published by Caitlin Press and released in March, Ramsay’s debut follows 19-year-old Lily as she leaves a stifling life working in her father’s small-town Alberta furniture store for a job in the ancient forests of Haida Gwaii.
Her journey toward a new beginning becomes complicated when she encounters a group of tree planters who challenge her assumptions about the land she’s entering and the stories she carries with her.
In “A Room in the Forest,” Ramsay takes readers on a profound journey of personal growth and transformative power of the wilderness set against the stunning backdrop of Haida Gwaii.
Tour Dates and Appearances
Ramsay will be reading from her book at several venues across British Columbia and Alberta:
- May 15 – Masset Playhouse, Haida Gwaii 7 p.m.
- May 20 – Sidekick Brewing, Chilliwack (with Taryn Hubbard), 7 p.m.
- June 11 – Caffé Fantastico, Victoria, 7 p.m.
- July 8 – Abbotsford Community Library (with Al Rempel and Connie Braun), 6:30 p.m.
- Aug. 12 – Shelf Life Books, Calgary, 6:30 p.m. (Books by Shelf Life Books)
- Aug. 28 – Quesnel Public Library (with Emma Jarrett), 6:30 p.m.
She will also be part of a northern B.C. tour alongside other authors such as Al Rempel, Adrienne Fitzpatrick, Daniela Elza, and Leanne Boschman:
- Aug. 16 – Omineca Centre, Prince George, 6:30 p.m.
- Aug. 19 – Smithers Public Library, 6:30 p.m.
- Aug. 21 – Terrace Public Library, 6:30 p.m.
- Aug. 22 – Port City Spirits, Prince Rupert, 6:30 p.m.
Her books will be available at all venues and can be ordered from bookstores across Canada.
Ramsay currently lives and writes in the unceded Ts’elxwéyeqw territory (Chilliwack, BC). Her writing is deeply shaped by the places she’s lived, including 10 years in Haida Gwaii, seven years in Wet’suwet’en territory, and her childhood in Treaty 7 (Tsuutʼina and Blackfoot Territory, Calgary, AB).
\With an MFA in Creative Writing from UBC, her work has appeared in The Fiddlehead, The Antigonish Review, Numero Cinq, Canadian Geographic, and more.
She has also co-written two books for the Haida Gwaii Museum: Gina’ Waadluxan Tluu: The Everything Canoe and gyaaGang.ngaay: The Monumental Poles of Skidegate.
