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A&E column: ‘Cougar Annie Tales’ play coming to Cowichan, and books to check out

Coming up in arts and entertainment
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Author Carolyn Whitney-Brown is doing a book launch reading on Oct. 30, 2022. (book cover)

The ever-popular story of an unusual Vancouver Island woman Cougar Annie Tales is headed to Cowichan this weekend.

The show, which tells the real-life story of pioneer settler Cougar Annie, is headed to the Duncan Showroom on Sunday, Oct. 23 for a 3 p.m. curtain time.

“In the early 1900s the legendary west coast settler Cougar Annie was anything but a typical woman,” a press release describes the show. “She trapped over 70 cougars, homesteaded a rainforest bog, opened a remote post office, and outlived four husbands.”

Singer/songwriter Kat Kadoski lived in Clayoquot Sound for three years caretaking Cougar Annie’s garden and learning about the woman. The resulting play uses dramatic narrative, images, letters and original compositions to tell of the life of this most unconventional of characters.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Get them at showroomproductions.ca/buy-tickets

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Riot Brewing in Chemainus has a couple of evenings of entertainment booked.

On Saturday, Oct. 22 get ready for a Halloween themed trivia night — billed as the Tim Burton Edition.

The night runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

“Weird, macabre, odd — is it the hosts or Tim Burton? Yes to both!” says a press release. “Join affable weirdos Coop and Math on a trip through the colourful and crazy world of Tim Burton. We may be entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”

Entry is $10 for a team of up to four players.

Then on Nov. 12 the brewery welcomes musical duo Woodstick.

“These talented musicians will blow you away with their technical prowess and fun interpretations of folk and rock classics. A night of good tunes and good times,” says a press release for the show.

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A Cowichan Valley author is a finalist in the 2022 Canadian Book Club Awards.

Kate Gateley’s debut novel, Tides of the Sovereign had made the cut in the Fantasy/Sci-Fi genre.

“I’m thrilled to be included among so many other talented authors as a 2022 finalist,” says Gately from her home in Cowichan Bay. “Not only does this competition value all forms of publishing, but it also connects authors to the most important review demographic of all — the readers.”

The plot of the novel, which came out on March 15 and is being billed as the first in a trilogy, is described as “bringing a spark of West Coast magic, mystical adventure, and an ardent romance.”

The awards are open to both traditional and self-published books.

Both book club members and non-members are allowed to vote. Winners will be announced on Dec. 30. For more information go to thecanadianbookclubawards.ca

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Another Cowichan Bay author is also at an exciting stage.

Carolyn Whitney-Brown’s book Flying, Falling, Catching: An Unlikely Story of Finding Freedom was also published in March of this year.

On Oct. 30 the author will be doing a book launch reading with The Low Commitment Blues Band at Sylvan United Church in Mill Bay at 1:30 p.m. The event is free with support from the Canada Council for the Arts through the Writers Union of Canada.

The book is co-written with the late Henri Nouwen. It is the story of Nouwen’s friendship with the Flying Rodleighs trapeze troupe.