First Book Published
"An ancient Coast Salish spindle whorl once used for spinning, a mystic raven and a fearsome Sasquatch... will Hannah uncover the message that they carry?"
This is the intriguing promo for fine arts assistant Carol Anne Shaw’s first book, Hannah and the Spindle Whorl (Ronsdale Press). Released this week, the 244-page book is the story of a 12-year-old girl who uncovers an ancient Salish spindle whorl hidden in a cave near her home on Vancouver Island, and is transported back to a Salish village in a time before Europeans had settled in the area.
A well-known artist locally, Mrs. Shaw started at Shawnigan Lake School in 2001 in the general office. In 2005 she became an assistant for the junior grades in the Fine Arts Department.
“I had the idea for the book long before I wrote it. The idea came to me years ago when my sons were in elementary school,” she recalls. “I was struck by the fact that so little Canadian history prior to colonization is covered. We always say, ‘Canada is so young! Only 300-400 years old!’ but there have been people here for over 6,000 years.”
She will be one of the featured writers at The Word on the Street Festival in Vancouver in late September and expects to be doing some readings locally as well.
“I am not native, nor am I an anthropologist, but I love Vancouver Island and I'm always curious about days gone by. Hannah and the Spindle Whorl is more an adventure tale than anything else. It is a story of friendship, loss, loyalty and hope If it inspires one young person to be curious about our island and its history, then I'm happy.”