Trees Rule in the Bookstores

Trees make the city greener and people happier. Or the readers among them at least.

The two top bestsellers for BC in 2016 were both about trees. Vancouver Tree Book come in second with only another book on the same topic beating it to the finish line.

I suppose now would be a good place to apologize to all my tree friends for the paper. Sorry buds. If it was wrong to write a tree-friendly book made out of trees, I stand guilty. The only thing I’ll say by way of explanation is that the paper I chose was Forest Stewardship Council certified. That means it came from trees grown like crops rather than old growth venerables. So we’re good here, right?

David TraceyTrees Rule in the Bookstores
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More hotcakes anyone?

Much as it goes against my humble nature, I feel obliged to point out that Vancouver Tree Book is the #1 Bestselling Book in BC again this week. If my math is correct that makes four weeks in a row.

And it would confirm what I’ve heard from retailers, three of whom actually used the term “selling like hotcakes.” We must be short on phrases to depict items enjoying robust sales because all three went straight to the hotcakes. And each time I had to think, who buys pancakes anymore?

Anyway thanks to all the tree aficionados out there who have made the book popular.

Big shout out to those who have been kind enough to not only buy but then comment on the book in emails, texts and personal conversations. Writing can be a long and grim haul with very little to show for it, in my experience, so your generosity means a lot. It’s particularly gratifying to hear stories of people discovering trees and the urban forest we happen to live in with the book in hand. Keep looking up!

 

BC Bestseller List 28May2016

David TraceyMore hotcakes anyone?
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And the hits just keep on coming for Vancouver Tree Book

Still pinching myself and expecting to wake up from a dream, but for now I’m happy to report Vancouver Tree Book has landed atop the bestseller list from the Association of Book Publishers of BC for the third week in a row.

As reported in this weekend’s Vancouver Sun.

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David TraceyAnd the hits just keep on coming for Vancouver Tree Book
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Vancouver Sun Review of Vancouver Tree Book

Van Sun Review 13Apr2016

Steve Whysall from the Vancouver Sun took the time to sit down for a chat about my new book. I thought we had a really positive chat. We talked like any two plant people do when they get to geek out a bit on their favourite topic, but also went into the bigger ideas behind the book involving getting people to look and learn about the trees in their urban environment as the first step towards saving them. But you never know until the print hits the pavement how you came across. Fortunately, I think Steve was spot on in taking a wide angle look at not just the book but the motivation that led to it. Throughout the whole writing/shooting/production slog of getting this book done I tried to counsel myself with the notion that even thought it would never make economic sense, it might lead at least one person to see trees and the city differently. Thanks to the Vancouver Sun, read by many more people than will ever see the book, the idea is now out there and anyone who has an inclination to shift their gaze upwards to the canopy now knows where to go.

David TraceyVancouver Sun Review of Vancouver Tree Book
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Global TV News Hour on Vancouver Tree Book

GlobalBC TV 15apr2016

Global BC TV News Report on Vancouver Tree Book

I’m always happy to talk to journalists — my peeps! — even when they come from TV Land. In this case the interview, to judge from behind the lines, went really well. Anyone bound by stereotypes of TV news reporters being superficial and lusting for blood and gory imagery should have seen Linda Aylesworth from Global ask about trees in Vancouver. Along with ace cameraman Sergio Magro, we spent at least 90 minutes in Stanley Park talking and shooting trees, all for a 2-minute report. How do you capture a big idea like saving the city with a book encouraging a healthy urban forest in just a couple of minutes? You don’t, ultimately, because the human brain needs more time and information to process fast moving words and pics into something like a conviction. But you can make a lot of progress in that short time if you do it well, and I thought they did, with a thoroughness that surprised me. Apart from my mug on the screen, I think the result is great and proof of their dedication to the craft. Oh, except for a glitch at the beginning of the on-air version where the graphic said it was a book for children. Which it is, if you count among children all the rest of us who still hope to capture the inner scientist and nature-loving affinity of youth.

David TraceyGlobal TV News Hour on Vancouver Tree Book
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CBC Early Edition Interview

rick-cluff (1)CBC’s Early Edition with Rick Cluff asked me in to the studio to talk about the urban forest and upcoming Tree Week events. And he was kind enough to give a prop to Vancouver Tree Book, calling it a “terrific little handbook to keep in your pocket when you’re walking around looking up.”

Click the blue bar to hear the interview (no download necessary).

David TraceyCBC Early Edition Interview
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