Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered a book! If you placed your order before the official release date of September 27, your personally signed book, along with my No Shucking Around Desolation Sound Oyster Recipe and (highly collectible) Adventures in Solitude Playlist lanyard are now on the way to places like Saskatchewan, Japan, Prince Edward Island, California, Sweden, the Yukon, Australia, Missouri, Quebec, Michigan, Germany, Ontario, England and many other… surprising places! Here’s hoping your book arrives safe, sound and swiftly. Thanks again.

Bolen Books in Victoria BC. Photograph by Michelle Edwards.

Thanks very much to Michelle Edwards of Victoria BC, who very kindly snapped this shot yesterday, proving that the whole system actually works: on the day Adventures in Solitude was released, it actually really was in a store, the store being Bolen Books of Victoria! Thanks again to Michelle for the snap, and to Bolen Books for being so snappy about getting the book on the shelf. Love the placement!

Whoo hoo! In theory, you should be able to walk into a bookstore or record store in Canada today and… actually purchase my debut book. Not sure if that’s a reality or not but today IS the official release date! The above video is the third instalment of the Adventures in Solitude Home Movies, giving you a better sense of the paradise that is Desolation Sound. The footage was shot at the Curme Islands, my favourite place to visit and swim in the Sound.

I’m spending the day at home signing all of the pre-ordered copies, thanks to all who have ordered them! Both book events on the weekend were a lot of fun, thanks to all who came… Word on the Street on Sunday and Rain City Chronicles on Friday. Next up in book event world is the official launch party here in Vancouver, at the MOV on Thursday October 7. It’s free with performances by Jill Barber and Said the Whale so if you haven’t already, please RSVP here. The Desolation Sound launch occurs the following night, Friday October 8, at Nancy’s Bakery in Lund.

Wishing you calm seas and northwest winds,

Grant Lawrence