Sooke is well-known as an artistic community with many talented people passionate about all aspects of the arts. Sooke has the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra along with its various sub-groups, choirs, musicians, artists working in all mediums, and writers.

Most writers tend to work in solitude, weaving out their plots and writing stories not always with a lot of input.

What some know and many others don’t is that Sooke has a group of eclectic writers, who call themselves the Sooke Scribblers. They get together once a month, on the first Wednesday, and ponder the ridiculous. During their pondering they came upon an idea to print an anthology of stories and poetry celebrating British Columbia’s 150 year history.

As a result, they came up with Reflections from Sooke, an 87-page book which tells stories of Sooke’s bygone days.

“We have taken some of the history that has made Sooke into the town it is now, by either writing a factual account of the Sooke area’s history, or taken liberties by fictionalizing it,” says Scribblers’ founder Shirley Skidmore in the book’s introduction.

Writers contributing to the book include: Nancy Bennett, Kate Hamer, Jo Haverty, Jacqueline Lamoureux, Peter A. Lee, Jill Morton, Paulina Pallot, Shirley Skidmore and Bill Skuce (who also created the cover and many of the illustrations).

A sample of poetry from the book:

The Scots Who Came to Sooke (a Tribute to John Muir)

By Nancy Bennett

For over three months we sailed on through

with the captain, a devil from hell.

We fought our way through with the worst of the food

and the worst of the weather as well.

To his table was ladled the best of the beef

while the pork it turned green on our plates.

and the water was foul, and the crew mutineered

and the wind it danced jigs with our fates.

When we finally arrived at Victoria’s Fort

No soldiers stood out at salute

No welcome was given by Douglas, the nave

as we wobbled our way from the boat.

For three years we paid the debt we had laid

for the land that was to be home.

in Rupert we dug for the black gold called coal

while round us the wild things roamed.

Not wanting to be the lapdog to the rule,

we turned our back on the fort.

Let them keep their classes and lily white lasses

whose hands were not blackened by work.

No, its off the wilds and the free land for us

the Muirs and the rest do agree.

We’ve traveled too far to bow down to the rule

In this place called “Sooke” we’ll be free.

Oh Douglas has orders to create a new order

with the old order deeply enforced.

No fine British gent would erect his tent

in the hills where the Scots stay the course.

Let them keep their high glances and dignified stances

The lands big enough for us all!

I’m off to place where the land’s a bit rough

with the Scots who have answered Sooke’s call.

The book is being launched in Sooke on Saturday, November 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Reading Room Bookstore.

The money earned from sales of Reflections from Sooke will go toward the Sooke Scribblers’ yearly writing contest at Edward Milne Community School.

Skidmore said they hope to encourage students to become interested in writing.

“So far two students that won prizes in our contests have joined the Sooke Scribblers and they have stories in the book,” said Skidmore.

“We would like to encourage new members and they can obtain information by contacting me at -shirleysm@shaw.ca”