The distinguished writer and poet Tom Wayman discusses his new memoir The Road to Appledore: Or How I Went to the Land Without Ever Having Lived There in the First Place (Harbour Publishing, 2024), with Joseph Planta.

The Road to Appledore: Or How I Went to the Land Without Ever Having Lived There in the First Place by Tom Wayman (Harbour Publishing, 2024). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Road to Appledore

Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

A lot of people dream of wanting to ditch city life and move to the middle of nowhere. In a new memoir, Tom Wayman recounts his own move from Vancouver to southeastern BC deep in the Slocan Valley. With his candid introspection, and philosophical insight, Mr. Wayman, who joins me now, provides a moving, sometimes funny, always interesting narration of what rural life was and is like for him in The Road to Appledore: Or How I Went to the Land Without Ever Having Lived There in the First Place. We get glimpses, in his perceptive writing as to what it’s like to live with others in a remote place, even if they’re not physically close. There’s a certain community that emerges amongst those who live close to nature, not to mention bears or other non-human species. We also see the satisfaction that Tom has in growing his own food, as well as flowers that make life itself a little more beautiful. Tom Wayman is the author of twenty poetry collections, three collections of critical and cultural essays, three books of short fiction, and a novel. He has edited six poetry collections as well. In 2022, he received the George Woodcock Award for Lifetime Achievement. In 2015, he was named a Vancouver Literary Landmark, with a plaque on Commercial Drive commemorating his championing of people writing for themselves about their daily employment. He also spent many years teaching in both alternative and mainstream post-secondary institutions. Visit his website at www.tomwayman.com for more. This new book is from Harbour Publishing. We spoke three weeks ago. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Tom Wayman; Mr. Wayman, good morning.

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