Last Thursday, January 25th, at St. Peter’s College, we had a famous Canadian writer, Trevor Herriot, come and read his stories to us. It was like going on exciting adventures just by listening to him!

Trevor Herriot is a prairie naturalist, activist, and writer of five books. His book Grass, Sky, and Song: Promise and Peril in the World of Grassland Birds was shortlisted for the Writers’ Trust Nonfiction Prize, a Governor General’s Literary Award, and the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. He has written 8 books and all of them were displayed at the event.

Trevor has been a regular visitor to the College and Abbey as both a writer and instructor. This is his first visit since the pandemic, and he shared his delight at being back.

The author discussed his creative process and his latest work, the novel “The Economy of Sparrows,” which was published in the fall of 2023. The novel explores themes familiar to Herriot, showcasing his reverence for the natural world and his fascination with local history.

Students from the English class, along with their English professor Mark Doerksen, attended the event to appreciate literature together. Additionally, about 20 other adults attended the presentation, including monks and members of the surrounding communities. Most people came to hear about Trevor’s work, see him in person, and ask questions.

Trevor made everyone feel like we were right there in the story with the characters. It was amazing to hear how he described everything so vividly.

After reading for about 20 minutes, Trevor spent the remainder of the hour talking and answering questions from the audience. It was a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about his writing process and the stories behind his books.

The event was organized by Br. Benedict van Ginkel, the librarian, with the help of Jordan & Jayden, the Student Services. It was wonderful to see different parts of the college coming together to make this event happen.

When the night ended, we left the library feeling inspired and excited about reading more books. Trevor Herriot’s visit was a big hit, and we can’t wait for the next time we get to hear from another great author!