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Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, December 19, 2012

ARVIAT
A group of people came together to help author Byron White celebrate the publishing of his new book earlier this month.

Author Byron White, middle, is congratulated on his first novel by Samantha Abbott, Courtney Cribb, Chi Chi Arinze, Conor Fudge, Sonia Osbourne, Susie Johnson, Amanda McLaughlin and Marvin McKay-Keenan, from left, in Arviat earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Gord Billard

White teaches the Nunavut Teacher's Education Program in Arviat, and held a book signing on Dec. 7 to launch his novel, Camp 13: Working in the Lumber Woods.

Camp 13 is about an actual lumber camp run by White's father, Stan White, and his uncle, Allan.

Byron said he began interviewing people for the book about 15 or 20 years ago.

He said the novel is set around the early 1950s.

"I've always loved history because it's important to know your roots, just like it's important to know your culture in the North," said Byron.

"I wanted to preserve a bit of the history there, so the younger people could realize it.

"That's why I did all the interviews, to get the facts, and then I put it in novel form so it would be easier to read.

"A lot of people find dry facts hard to go with."

In addition to Arviat, Byron has spent time in Cape Dorset and Rankin Inlet, and has been up North, off and on, since 1999.

His book is widely available in stores and online.

Byron said he finds himself surprised the book is selling beyond expectations.

He said part of that might be the vast changes taking place across Canada.

"People are trying to hang onto their roots, find out where they come from and have some kind of anchor.

"It's selling well back east, but there's also been a bit of demand coming from the state of Maine, as well as pockets in Northern Ontario and other places where logging was prevalent.

"And, strangely enough, there's interest coming out of Australia.

"A number of books are being purchased in Nunavut and some are ordering them for e-readers."

Byron said he's received nice support for his novel in Arviat.

He said the evening of his book signing turned out to be a comfortable event.

"I had mentioned it to a few people, they showed up and we had a good bit of fun.

"It was lighthearted and the books disappeared pretty fast.

"That wasn't the intent of the signing, all together, but it was nice.

"There's a company showing interest in a sequel, so maybe I'll get to do a trilogy."

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