Wild Coast Publishing

09/11/2026

History #16 from the new 'Wolves of Nootka' narrative history trilogy: One of the fascinating characters followed in The Wolves of Nootka is James Colnett, the captain of the Argonaut whose merchant trade vessel was seized in Nootka Sound. He was imprisoned and sent to San Blas, Mexico, an incident that caused the Nootka Crisis and put Spain and England on the verge of war. Earlier in his life he was a lieutenant in the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Bienfaisant that was sent as part of Admiral Sir George Rodney's fleet to break the siege of Gibraltar. Before it arrived, the fleet encountered a flotilla of Spanish warships and engaged in a battle that became known as the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, or the Moonlight Battle. The date was January 1780. The Bienfaisant blew up the San Domingo by accidentally igniting the magazine with cannon fire, and after that captured the Spanish flagship Fenix and its admiral, Capitán Generál Juan Francisco de Lángara y Huarte. The victory ensured the siege of Gibraltar was broken. This painting of the battle by Richard Paton naturally misrepresents the event, showing the English flagship HMS Sandwich in the foreground as the San Domingo explodes, when in fact it was well ahead by that point. The Bienfaisant should have been prominent in this painting, but alas it and Colnett's role were never at the forefront of public recognition, and Colnett continues to be largely unknown despite a career that had him circumnavigate the globe twice, and even venture into Japan to attempt to trade when such was forbidden at the risk of beheading. Colnett's incredible life, and those of other great adventurers of that era, is followed in The Wolves of Nootka trilogy, rated 4.65 stars on Goodreads and available at bookstores (order if not in stock), Kindle, Amazon and from the publisher: https://www.wildcoast.ca/collections/the-wolves-of-nootka.

08/27/2026

History #15 from the new 'Wolves of Nootka' narrative history trilogy: One of the female personalities central to the events of the late 18th century on the Pacific Northwest coast was a young girl named Apenas. She was daughter to Nootka tyee Maquinna and Hestoquatto, the Nootka arcomah, equivalent to a queen. While very young and hardly mentioned at all in the journals of the explorers who visited Nootka Sound during that time of political, social and military turbulence that resonated around the globe from events taking place in Nootka, one aspect of Apenas's life is told in exceptional detail. It is also shown through a remarkable illustration (it shows the wrestling match following the ceremony). This is because officers from the Malaspina expedition were invited to Apenas's coming of age ceremony. Consequently the event was recorded, including one exceptional aspect: Apenas was named by Maquinna as "Grand Tyee." This illustrated the exceptionally powerful role women played in early Indigenous life on the Pacific coast of America, countering a common view that women at that time were simply chattel and the society was patriarchal. Apena's powerful role is proof that wasn't the case. You can read the life and times of Apenas, Maquinna and Hestoquatto as well as the explorers who helped shape that age in The Wolves of Nootka trilogy, rated 4.65 stars on Goodreads, available on Kindle, Amazon, through bookstores (order if not available) or directly from the publisher at wildcoast.ca.

08/26/2026

Fifty-four of Wild Coast's last 100 online orders were from the United States. Both sides of the border share the love of British Columbia's coast. No doubt every U.S. citizen who has visited BC's coast is richer for the experience. So a trade war between us? Why? The president says Canada has been ripping the U.S. off. Please tell him otherwise, rather, the more we share, the richer we all are.

07/30/2026

History #14 from the new 'Wolves of Nootka' narrative history trilogy: Frances Barkley (nee Trevor) was 17 when she met Charles Barkley in Ostend, Belgium in 1786. In six weeks they were wed, and Frances took the very unusual step of joining Charles on his voyage aboard the Imperial Eagle, a trading ship heading to Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island to secure furs. That voyage earned Frances the honour of being the first woman to openly circumnavigate the globe, but her story is so much more. A shipwreck, a massacre, storms, discoveries of new lands... She was also the first European woman to visit numerous cultures around the world. Imagine the meeting between a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman and Hestoquatto, the Nootka arcomah, equivalent to a queen (her story is covered in the post history #13). What a moment that would have been! Frances's travels are brought to life in The Wolves of Nootka, from her courtship with Charles through their sojourn in Madagascar and the drama of having the Imperial Eagle seized, to their shipwreck off the coast of France and beyond. The Wolves of Nootka is available on Kindle, Amazon, in bookstores (order if not in stock) and from the publisher:

The epic tale of the people and events that shaped the northwest coast in the late 18th century, finally brought to life.

07/15/2026

History #13 from the new 'Wolves of Nootka' narrative history trilogy: There is a woman who was a central figure during the early European encounters to the Pacific Northwest, but her name is virtually unknown and her story untold — until The Wolves of Nootka trilogy. Her name is Hestoquatto. She was the wife of Nootka Sound tyee Maquinna and so arcomah, the equivalent of queen, to her people. Little is said of the wives of tyees in the various journals written by explorers to Nootka Sound in the late 18th century, but the exception was Alexander Walker, who details Hestoquatto's beauty and Maquinna's doting love for her. Their love story extends from the visit of Captain James Cook in 1778 through the upheavals that followed where Nootka Sound became the epicenter for European trade, colonial ambitions and naval supremacy. Hestoquatto's power and influence on this era are detailed in The Wolves of Nootka, the new trilogy rated 4.7 stars on Goodreads and recent winner of an IPPY Award for best new fiction (though technically the trilogy is narrative history, not fictional). Celebrate her life and times as she deserves, as she is a principal part of our history. The Wolves of Nootka is available on Kindle, Amazon, at bookstores (order if not in stock) and from the publisher:

The epic tale of the people and events that shaped the northwest coast in the late 18th century, finally brought to life.

06/26/2026

History #12 from the new 'Wolves of Nootka' narrative history trilogy: James Colnett should be one of the foremost figures in early British Columbia history, but remains largely unknown. With an exemplary career in the Royal Navy, he had the distinction of being one of the early explorers to visit Nootka Sound to trade furs in the late 18th century. Most distinctly, he has the honour of being arrested by three different nations: Spain, China and and France, an achievement rarely duplicated in history. You can read about Colnett's remarkable life and career in 'The Wolves of Nootka,' rated 4.7 stars on Goodreads and winner of a 2026 IPPY Award for best new Western Canadian fiction. It is available in bookstores, Kindle, Amazon and from the publisher: https://www.wildcoast.ca/collections/the-wolves-of-nootka

06/19/2026

'The Wolves of Nootka' received a silver medal yesterday for best new Western Canadian work of fiction. The IPPY award is a surprise, as 'The Wolves of Nootka' is a historic narrative covering the explorations, wars and politics of the world 1774-1792, so is more fact than fiction. But a win is a win! Rated 4.7 stars on Goodreads, you can find 'The Wolves of Nootka' trilogy in bookstores, on Kindle and Amazon, and from the publisher:

The epic tale of the people and events that shaped the northwest coast in the late 18th century, finally brought to life.

06/12/2026

History #11 from the new 'Wolves of Nootka' trilogy: George Vancouver became one of the most accomplished explorers in world history, but his legacy was largely dismissed and forgotten after his journeys. Why? In large part it was due to a cartoon and a midshipman called Thomas Pitt. Vancouver had the insolent young man flogged, even though he was related to Prime Minister William Pitt, destined to become Baron Camelford and a future member of the House of Lords. When the two met again in later life, Pitt struck Vancouver with his cane, a confrontation satired by a cartoonist who used it to confront the Royal Navy's overuse of the lash. The cartoon discredited Vancouver, who died not long after. Never underestimate the power of a cartoon! You can read about the voyages of Vancouver, the confrontation with Thomas Pitt and other naval adventures in the era 1774-1792 in The Wolves of Nootka trilogy, available on Kindle, Amazon, from bookstores and from the publisher. Rated 4.7 stars on Goodreads. https://www.wildcoast.ca/collections/the-wolves-of-nootka

06/08/2026

A new camping opportunity on Saltspring Island! This is a beautiful location, so it will be a wonderful addition to the Gulf Islands.

The nation says the Fulford Harbour-area campground will be accessible by bike, foot and boat once it is completed.

06/04/2026

The first U.S. citizens to have a role in the Pacific Northwest were John Kendrick and Robert Gray, captains of the Lady Washington and Columbia Rediviva. Kendrick was one of the 'Sons of Liberty' who took part on the Boston Tea Party, and served as a privateer in the American Revolutionary War. The pair were the only trade ships to over-winter in Nootka (and Clayoquot) during the fur trade there in 1780s and early 1790s, and took to Macau, China, the crew from the 'North West America,' the English ship the Spanish had seized at Nootka, allowing news of the seizure of English ships by the Spanish to reach Europe. That news fueled the 'Nootka Controversy' that eventually pushed England and Spain to the brink of war over Nootka Sound. The two captains had to fight off several raids by local clans during their years trading for furs, but Gray took his revenge by burning down Opitsat, the winter home of Wickaninnish in Clayoquot Sound. The village was described as "a work of ages" in a journal fragment by the fifth mate on that voyage. You can read about Kendrick and Gray as well as the early Spanish and English explorers to Nootka in the late 18th century in the new 'Wolves of Nootka' trilogy, available on Kindle, Amazon, bookstores and from the publisher: https://www.wildcoast.ca/collections/the-wolves-of-nootka