Order your copy of, and learn all about, our new Conversations With Islanders Book (featuring the likes of Juno Winner Lennie Gallant, Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Moyse, Musical Comedian Lorne Elliott, and more than 40 PEI ‘Prince Edward Island’ based Business and Community Leaders) at the official website at www.tisti.ca or by contacting us at bookings@coreypoirier.com
FEEDBACK ON THE BOOK
“a thoughtful and thought-provoking book - an alchemist at heart, poirier distills every drop of gold out of these everyday islanders until they shine – intelligent, insightful and highly entertaining…”-stephen patrick clare, arts east.
“It seems to me that this book might find its way under a lot of Christmas trees this year, because it’s the gift that keeps on giving…:-)” Nancy Regan – Former Live @ 5 Journalist
…”Corey, your book is amazing. What you have done here to promote Island Business is quite remarkable. People love to read and hear stories that they can easily relate to. Your book and Expo Events are great tools for anyone in business.” Doug Shepherd, Executive Director, Andrew’s Hockey Growth
Hear Corey on SPUD FM talking about the new book at the link below:
Below you will find a release from Journalist Nancy Regan’s interview with Corey, about the new book:
— For Immediate Release —
Former Live @ 5 Journalist Nancy Regan Interviews Author Corey Poirier about his new book featuring Islanders
(Atlantic Canada) December 15th, 2010 – This past week Journalist Nancy Regan spoke with Author Corey Poirier about his new book, Conversations with Islanders, to discuss its official release.
Ironically, this interview came to life as a result of Corey approaching Nancyabout interviewing her for his Island Business News publication, and once the two journalists began speaking, well, things took on a life of their own. Be sure to check out the next issue of Island Business News featuring an article onNancy, but in the meantime, the following is the result of her interview with Corey as they chatted about his new book.
NANCY REGAN (NR): Corey, I’m interested in what motivated you to write this book, but because it’s obviously been a natural outgrowth of your Island Business News publication, can you take me back a chapter and tell me how and why the publication itself originally came to be?
COREY POIRIER (CP): Well, growing up in Prince Edward Island, I recall walking past local businesses, wondering about their unique heritage, success story. I just really wondered about their challenges, successes, what motivated the owners and employees of the businesses, basically, who they really were. I saw the newspaper as a way to share their success stories with readers, and in a way, preserve their history, their story and their modern day heritage. And you’re so right; the book is a natural extension of what we’ve been trying to do with the publication.
NR: What you say about heritage really resonates with me, and I think storytelling is such a big part of our heritage here on the East coast. That’s an important element in this book, isn’t it?
CP: Absolutely, and it’s funny you should mention that. Something I never really think about is how much storytelling is an underlying theme of everything I’m involved with. Whether it’s speaking to an audience in a corporate setting, bringing a stage play to a festival, or performing music or comedy in a club, it’s all rooted in storytelling, and perhaps as much as any of those endeavors, this book and the newspaper are heavily steeped in storytelling, and helping people share their own stories; giving their stories a voice, so to speak.
NR: One of the things I loved most about doing Live at 5 was that I felt like I had friends all over the Maritimes. It occurs to me that you must have met just about everyone on the Island by now…!?
CP: I don’t know about everyone, but I certainly have more friends and connections inPEI than ever before. I also have a better understanding of the unique businesses and personalities that makePEI such a great place for people to live, work, love and learn. Learning more about my own roots, and the roots of those around me, it’s just one of the many benefits of working with, and interviewing, so many others.
NR: So you really feel like this experience enriches your life…how do you think this book is going to enrich other peoples’ lives? How is it valuable to its readers?
CP: My hope is that readers will feel it not only represents the interviews we have conducted throughout the years but also that it represents the reader’s heritage as well. If you are fromPEI, even if you’re from the Maritimes, this book represents your heritage, as a reader, in some way. Copies of the newspaper (Island Business News) are in the archives of the library at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) and I hope the book will make it there too as I feel it is a great way to preserve the stories of today for future generations. As corny as it may sound, I think it’s cool that someone doing family history (or just wanting to learn more about their roots or heritage) in a hundred years time may be able to grab a copy of this book and learn about those involved, and even the people associated with those involved in this book. I’m hoping they can place this book alongside other books in their library knowing this is one of the few books of its kind; a book that representsPEI’s heritage or the heritage of some Islanders, and some Island Businesses at this point in time and at this point inPEI’s history.
NR: It seems to me that this book might find its way under a lot of Christmas trees this year, because it’s the gift that keeps on giving… 
CP: I hope so, because the book really was created to be shared. I know one thing for certain; it’ll be under at least one tree this year.
Conversations with Islanders will be available in stores across Prince Edward Island on December 16th – You can learn more by visiting www.tisti.ca
