270. Nature, Art, and Literature: Pacific Northwest Book Launch & Season Preview

 Join the team behind Skipstone (an imprint of the nonprofit, independent Seattle publishing house, Mountaineers Books) for an evening of nature, literature, and advocacy to celebrate the launch of *Cascade of Life: An Artist's Seasonal Guide to the Wild Northwest* by author and illustrator Emily Poole, joined by Mountaineers Books Editor-in-Chief Kate Rogers. More than just a book launch, this evening is an exclusive preview of the art and natural history books arriving from Mountaineers Books/Skipstone in the upcoming Fall season. From Red-winged Blackbird to Silver-haired Bat, delicate winter twigs to spring's rushing creeks, these books ask readers to explore a year-round relationship with the natural world. **About Cascade of Life: An Artist's Seasonal Guide to the Wild Northwest** *Cascade of Life* invites readers to step beyond the typical field guide and into a deeper dialogue with the natural world. Award-winning artist and naturalist Emily Poole explores the wondrous variety of the Pacific Northwest — from rocky shorelines to alpine slopes to arid steppes — through the rhythms of the four seasons, spotlighting species that are especially active at different times of year. Original illustrations and essays feature popular species like gray whales and Anna's hummingbirds, as well as overlooked or misunderstood plants and animals, such as pickleweed and coyotes. Blending stunningly vivid paintings with personal anecdotes and field-based insights, each chapter encourages the reader's curiosity and offers accessible, hands-on activities to deepen their connection with nature. Part field guide, part journal, *Cascade of Life* is a welcoming, inspiring exploration of our landscapes and the species that define them. Acclaimed artist **Emily Poole** has been exploring the wild spaces of the western United States since childhood. Her work has been used by organizations such as Creature Conserve, HawkWatch International, and the National Museum of Wildlife Art and has appeared regularly in *High Country News*. Her illustrations have been featured in six natural history books, including *BirdNote, Northwest Know-How: Trees*, and *A Little Book of Hummingbirds*. She lives in Eugene, Oregon. Find her online at epooleart.com. **Kate Rogers** is editor-in-chief of Mountaineers Books, a Seattle-based independent, nonprofit publisher of outdoor literature and art, nature and ecology, and conservation and stewardship titles that includes two imprints, Skipstone and Braided River. Her publishing career has spanned more than thirty-five years, including positions at Waldenbooks, Bantam Doubleday Dell, and Sasquatch Books, and as founder–principal of a book packaging firm. A graduate of the Denver Publishing Institute (DPI), she also is a part-time lecturer on editing and publishing at the University of Washington and DPI. **Katie Campbell** is a digital editor and reporter at KUOW, Seattle's NPR station. In 2024, Katie created the KUOW Book Club, featuring stories and authors from the Pacific Northwest. She's interviewed numerous luminaries in the region, including Sonora Jha, Lynda Mapes, Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe, and Daniel James Brown. All readers are invited to join the KUOW Book Club at kuow.org/books. She also covers books and the local literary scene for Seattle Now Arts & Culture on Sundays. Originally from Florida, Katie is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Journalism.  **About Skipstone Books** Skipstone titles promote a deeper connection to our natural world through sustainable practices, visual art, and thought-provoking written word. Skipstone books inspire us to effect change without losing our sense of humor, celebrate the freedom and generosity of a life outdoors, and explore where we fit in on our planet and our own natural neighborhoods. [](https://www.elliottbaybook.com/item/yDfsidgn99tO-aw_aSXlag) Buy the Book ### Cascade of Life: An Artist's Seasonal Guide to the Wild Northwest (Hardcover) Elliott Bay Book Company