"SOLO is a delightful book, which will give pleasure both to the reader and the traveller. Govier might do well to consider a sequel."
— The London Free Press

U.S. Praise for CREATION

"Govier has set the absolute gold standard for historical fiction... [She] is a gifted storyteller and a first-rate researcher. More than that, she is a brilliant chronicler of the bargains each man makes with himself."
— Beth Kephart, Book (Barnes & Noble)

CREATION was named a New York Times Notable Book for 2003. "A wily, intricate, speculative novel about John James Audubon, 48 years old with a wife and a girlfriend; he lives in fear that his eyesight will fail, or he will die before his work is done, or the birds will vanish. Govier depicts him as a man of multiple fidelities, not really able to resolve them all but trying his best to come clean."

The Christian Science Monitor also named CREATION as one of its noteworthy books in its Annual Guide to Books. "The most intriguing move Govier makes in this quiet but stirring novel is her decision to wind the story of artist John James Audubon around the much lesser-known story if Henry Wolsey Bayfield. The great mapmaker and the great bird painter meet again and again as they sail along the shores of Quebec. This window into the 19th century and Govier's invention of a friendship between Audubon and Bayfield are rare and captivating."

[Govier's] grasp of natural description, not to mention her psychological acuity and fluid handling of time, results in a shimmering, multilayered reality on the page." — Michael Upchurch, The New York Times Book Review

But Govier's Audubon takes such palpable joy in stalking his subjects and capturing their elusive beauty that ultimately the novel is not just a threnody for wild nature but also a paean to the artisitc impulse."
— Dennis Drabelle, Washington Post

Govier hovers beyond approval or condemnation, showing the artist in his natural habitat of selfishness and generosity, forced to murder the beings he loves. ... She's caught the conflicted ferocity and beauty of Audubon's paintings in a story that rises above the burdens of artistic genius and speaks to us back on the ground. ... fulfills [Govier's] opening promise about the power of fiction to tell truths that history can't approach" — Ron Charles, Christian Science Monitor

"The elegantly mannered and exquisitely nuanced writing of Creation masks a cautionary tale of annihilation, where the immensity of wilderness is no match for the rapaciousness of man."
— Barbara Lloyd McMichael, Seattle Times

USA Today picked Creation as a recommended summer for 2003.

Canadian praise for CREATION

"Creation is a sprawling novel, teeming with natural abundance, yet delivered in small, intimate scenes... the reward is deep engagement, the kind that promises a novel a lasting place in the affections of readers."
— Donna Bailey Nurse, The Toronto Star

"a marvellous piece of art... extravagantly lovely jacket"
— The Edmonton Journal

"writing so vivid you can almost hear the birds"
— Margaret MacPherson, Quill & Quire

"the sleeper hit of the season"
— The Hamilton Spectator

"Everything about Creation is elegant: Govier’s gentle, thoughtful, insightful prose to the physical production of the book itself. Into a small space, that tiny sliver of time and place, Govier has created a universe that abounds with truth."
— Gary Curtis, Maclean's

"a tour de force"
— The London Free Press

"The book, with its beautiful cover, is meticulously researched, its descriptions of birds, their colours, their sound, their habitats, enchanting... Creation is a worthy successor to... Angel Walk and Fables of Brunswick Avenue; it catches our interest, sparks our anticipation of the writer’s next effort and reaffirms her reputation as a novelist of note."
— Nancy Schiefer

FEEDBACK

From the Richmond Hill Public Library Writer in Residence program:

"I found the program to be one of the best services ever offered by the library. Ms. Govier was a great workshop leader, both professional and fun; her insights and opinions were extremely helpful, her encouragement was valuable, and her flexibility with the program was much appreciated."
— Brandon Moore

"The workshop I attended was very interesting for me. ... These workshop settings gave me a chance to interact with other writers, novice and published. The way Katherine used the workshop... was super."
— Marion Postlethwaite

"I was so pleased to have met you and appreciated your comments, your advice. ... I promptly read Angel Walk, which I not only thoroughly enjoyed, but also appreciated. I am amazed at the incredible amount of research you must have done. ... The opportunity provided by the library, and our brief meeting, has been inspiring."
— Hessel Pape

Katherine concluded the 2003 Uptown Author Series in Toronto: "A captive audience listened enthralled as Katherine Govier talked about what inspired her to write her novel, Creation. The book is centred around the summer John James Audubon ventured along the coast of Labrador to make a lasting record of the birds of that region. A look at Audubon's book, The Birds of America, in the Special Collections Reading Room at the Toronto Reference Library, was just the beginning of her extended research for the novel, which eventually took her to Labrador and three years later resulted in the completion of the book. A number of interesting questions were asked about the mysterious life of Audubon and his descendants and the surveyor, Henry Bayfield, who Audubon met on his journey.

"Comments after the reading included: 'Loved the history of Audubon;' 'I enjoyed her description of her research and how it developed into a passion;' and 'I loved the insights into the writing of the book. Ms. Govier is a wonderful public speaker.' Special thanks to Linda MacKenzie for introducing Ms. Govier at the last session of a very successful 2003 Uptown Author Series at the North York Public Library."
— with thanks to Carol Kosta