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Shortlisted for a 2020 BC Yukon Book Prize
"Penn documents the sprawling biodiversity that can be found on the West Coast, from orcas to moss to yes, even Bigfoot." --The Tyee
A freshly designed, new edition of a funny weekly chronicle that offers a year-long, intimate view of the flora and fauna populating the West Coast.
A Year on the Wild Side is a witty commentary on the social and natural history of Vancouver Island. Composed of short, readable essays arranged into 12 monthly chapters, this engaging book reveals the magic and humour of the natural world and reminds us of our place within it.
As the weeks and seasons unfold with the turning of the pages, you'll be in sync with the living world that surrounds you. Discover what berries are ripe and the best time to pick them. Learn why the termites swarm, where the herring spawn, and when the maple leaves fall. Get up close and personal with fascinating creatures like the snowy owl, the giant Pacific octopus, the river otter, and more.
The West Coast is abundantly alive, and A Year on the Wild Side invites you to indulge in unforgettable experiences, week by week, all year long.
Briony Penn
Briony Penn is an award-winning writer, naturalist and environmental activist. She holds a PhD in Geography from Edinburgh University and a BA from the University of British Columbia. Her creative non-fiction includes Following the Good River: The Life and Times of Wa'xaid (Rocky Mountain Books, 2020), winner of the Victoria Butler Book Prize and shortlisted for a BC Book Prize, and Stories from the Magic Canoe (Rocky Mountain Books, 2019), which won the Jeanne Clarke Book Award. Her book The Real Thing: Natural History of Ian McTaggart Cowan (Rocky Mountain Books, 2015) won the BC Book Prize and the Hamilton Mack Laing Award for Environmental History. A former columnist for Focus Magazine and Monday Magazine, Briony has also written for numerous publications, including Canadian Geographic and Explore Magazine. She lives on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.
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