Reflections on Project Quiver as the Presale Rolls on
I went for a hike this morning with my brother-in-law, Norm, above my Vancouver Island farm. A distinguished standup paddleboarder (Norm Hann Expeditions), Norm has been in my life for nearly 20 years, and he was there on my second visit to Jamie MacDonald of Ravenbeak Natureworks when we both carved our own English longbows and together, along with Jamie, carved a bow for my then young son Oli.
On our hike we reflected on life: family, purpose, growth, distractions, setbacks, and more. Not surprisingly, we talked about Project Quiver and the impact it has thus far had on my life and the lives of my family members. Obviously I have dedicated a significant amount of time to the Project, and to the forthcoming book, Quiver. Fortunately, I have shared the experience with my daughter, Ela, and occasionally with my son, Oli, who joined us on our 2025 visit to Ravenbeak Natureworks and our visits to a couple other bowyers also.
For the most part, the entire experience has been deeply rewarding and strongly aligned with my values, until recently. Now that the book is complete and in the hands of the publishers, I find myself entrenched in the promotional phase of the book launch, and in particular, supporting the presale that is going on now. This has largely resulted in a deep dive into social media, into murky waters that I never cared nor dared to tread. Now battling in these unknown currents, I find myself out of alignment, struggling to gain exposure for the book while staying in integrity with my purpose.
As we near the halfway point of the official presale, I am yearning to bring Project Quiver back into my truth, which means writing authentically (hence this) and bow carving. Thanks to Ryan Gauthier of Stormcrow Archery, I have two bows underway from staves that he gifted me: one sassafras and the other persimmon. I am continuing to support the presale, largely via the lowest hanging fruit for exposure - social media, including on our new Facebook account - but I am posting with more awareness of my conundrum, and with an appreciation that the tools of technology are bringing me closer to other bowyers, with whom one day I may have a genuine conversation and perhaps even carve a bow.
And so as the presale rolls on until July 13th, please help spread the word to anyone who you think might be positively impacted by the book, Quiver: The Art of Life through Bowcraft. It has been a true labor of love that I trust will stand as a timeless and unique testament to the powerful legacy of traditional and primitive bow carving and archery.
Above photo: Ela showing me footage of my warbow shoot at Fenwick Bows in New Brunswick in September 2025. Photo by Deanna Fenwick.
One Week Remains of Official Quiver Presale!
The Quiver presale ends July 13. While we have had orders from around the world - from South Korea, Australia, Sweden, Costa Rica and more - demonstrating the global reverence for the bow and arrow, we hope you will continue helping us increase awareness for the book. Please consider sharing this newsletter and posting on your social media.
Quiver: The Art of Life Through Bowcraft, published by Trope of Chicago, is set for release October 2026 with a 2000-copy First Edition printing. Each presale book purchase includes a limited bookplate hand-signed and numbered by the authors. And we have also created a set of 14 stunning bookmarks, one for each bowyer featured in the book.
Use the limited time code PROJECTQUIVER5 to save an extra 5% on your purchase.
Salish Wolf Podcast.
#85 Joddy Pettit on Project Quiver
Joddy Pettit is a bowyer in Colorado with 30 years of experience. Through his company, Meadowlark Adventure Gear, he sells traditional bows and bow making supplies. He is the author of the Building the Bamboo-Backed Reflex/Deflex Bow.
#86 Patricia Gonsalves on Project Quiver
Born on the Caribbean island of Barbados, Patricia spent her formative years travelling and living on boats. It was during this time that she developed her love of the art of archery, all thanks to a green-clad archer and his merry men. With literary heroes like Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, and the White Company, Patricia pursued her passion for archery throughout her academic career, incorporating the art into all aspects of her education.
#87 Erica Cardinale on Project Quiver
Erica Cardinale is a bowyer based in Raleigh, North Carolina, who likes to push the limits of bow carving. While not carving with any commercial intentions, she aims to create the most beautiful and functional bows, often gifting them to others who appreciate them.
#88 Martin Birk on Project Quiver
Martin Birk is a bowyer based in Bornholm, Denmark, an island in the Baltic Sea, where he also teaches archery. He carves bows under the brand of Birk Bows and is known on social media as the Scandinavian Archer.
About us.
Ela Harper is a photographer and content creator based in Costa Rica. At just 15 years old, Ela is carving her own path - literally and creatively. She has traded traditional schooling for hands-on experience in photography, travel, and Brazilian jiujitsu.
Todd Howard is a traditional archery instructor, acupuncturist, and writer living in Nosara, Costa Rica. Traditional archery came into his life a decade ago through his dedicated practice of Qigong, and soon after he began carving bows.
