Room in the Forest By Heather Ramsay

A Room in the Forest is a novel that explores loss and belonging in the context of family, workplace, culture and land. The story is predominately set in the forests of Haida Gwaii and at a logging camp where three of the main characters work. These multi-generational and multicultural characters are not only struggling to find their place in the camp hierarchy, but they are each harbouring secrets that help to isolate them from their ultimate goals of finding connection. The story shifts perspective between four characters: a young woman who is new to the islands, a young man who grew up with his Haida grandparents, an older worker at the logging camp and a mysterious man who had spent several years wandering in the woods. The research for this novel included literature searches related to the natural and social history of Haida Gwaii and more specifically into stories about the supernatural being known as gaaxid or the half drowned man. My work also included ten years of discussions and lived experiences with Haida Gwaii community members about logging, growing up on the islands, biology work, birding, fishing, boating and more.