Amber McMillan Knihy

A striking original, deftly humorous collection of stories that considers the quest for truth: how we come to it or alternatively avoid it. A fervently comic debut, The Running Treesleads readers into a series of conversations -- through phonelines, acts in a play, and a rewound recording of a police interrogation -- to reveal characters in fumbling bouts of brutality, reflection, isolation, and love. The relationship between two siblings disintegrates after one asks the other for thepen; a professor and his former student get drinks years after a "romantic" encounter; a book club meets only to find that they have wildly different opinions about a new memoir about their town; and a long-haired feline contemplates existence and consciousness while his cohabitant licks his butthole. Whimsical, unconventional, humorous, and always pitch-perfect, The Running Treesexplores how we desperately try to communicate with each other amid the gaps in meaning we create.

Exploring themes of violence, love, and grief, Amber McMillan's poetry collection delves into the complexities of human emotion with fierce and elegant language. The verses invite readers to confront deep sorrows while offering a space for shared mourning. With an intimate and powerful voice, McMillan crafts unforgettable lines that resonate with the heart and mind, making this collection a profound experience for anyone who engages with it.

The author recounts the year she and her family spent on Protection Island, off the coast of Nanaimo, BC, including the people they met and lived amongst