As most of you likely know, your esteemed author of the novel Cedar, Salmon and Weed began his writing career with a non-fiction book called Pacific Seaweeds. (Not to mention many scientific journal articles.) BC BookLook has a nice article on The Professor’s alter ego.  Check it out in the link below. (As a bonus, you’ll learn 10 fun facts about kelp to impress your friends with!) Forget Kale, Go Kelp!

Zbigniew (Spino) Pakula

17 May 1949 – 14 June 2015

Spike, in my novel, Cedar, Salmon and Weed, was based on Spino: “He was a good worker—summer resident widows, their husbands busy making money in the big city, frequently singled him out for odd jobs.  Of course, they were influenced by his swimmer’s physique, bleached curly hair, and pale blue eyes.” (p. 9)  The fictional Spike resisted the call of alcohol, but just barely; Spino, not.