Available September 2006 ISBN-10: 1-55380-043-5 ISBN-13: 978-1-55380-043-9 6 X 9 100 pp trade paper $14.95 Cdn $12.95 US POETRY

Eloquent, poignant and witty, Garry Gottfriedson’s new collection of poetry, Whiskey Bullets, approaches an old genre with a new flare that will challenge your expectations of cowboy poetry. This edgy collection explores themes of duality that exist in the parallel worlds of cowboys and Indians. Often satirical, Whiskey Bullets is a testament to adaptability, turning tragedy into humour and pain into passion. It speaks to the unique experience of growing up aboriginal, on the Tk'emlups Reserve (Secwepemc) near Kamloops, with strong First Nation values and traditions, while at the same time immersed in the cowboy and ranching culture of the interior of BC. Gottfriedson skillfully balances his indigenous vision and contemporary concerns, creating a blend of imagery that stimulates the mind’s eye like never before. Shattering the cowboy’s code of ethics he unveils hidden truths, unspoken and often ignored, bringing to the fore inescapable issues of gender, sexuality, race and politics, infused with aboriginal attitude. Form and content are carefully conceived to celebrate the distinctive aboriginal individuality, the "shape-shifting" attitudes that are required when one lives simultaneously in two cultures — Secwepemc and white — and their two languages. Candid and challenging, Whiskey Bullets is thought-provoking and engaging.

"Heartbreakingly honest, clever and tough, Garry Gottfriedson’s poetry will move your heart and spirit forever... "— Richard Van Camp

Garry Gottfriedson, a member of the Secwepemc First Nation, was born, raised and lives in Kamloops, BC. He is a self-employed rancher with a Masters degree in Education from Simon Fraser University. His published works include In Honor of Our Grandmothers: Imprints of Cultural Survival (Theytus Books, 1994), 100 Years of Contact (Secwepemc Cultural Education Society, 1990), Glass Tepee (Thistledown Press, 2002), nominated for First People's Publishing Award 2004, and Painted Pony (Partners in Publishing, 2005), his first children’s story. He has read from his work across North America and Europe, and more recently, in Taiwan.