Young authors in town

Lively City column by Dan Hilborn
Published Nov. 26, 2005


A former student of Alpha secondary will be returning to Burnaby this weekend to unveil his first full-colour novel.

Trevor Lai, the 25-year-old creator of the popular Ralphy the Rhino comic book series, has just completed his 11th title, Ralphy in Space 2: Escape from Saturn.

Lai will sign copies of his new book at the Brentwood Mall Coles bookstore at 2 p.m. today, Nov. 26, and then again at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, Nov., 27 at the Chapters outlet in Metrotown.

"I kind of laugh because it takes three years to produce a new Star Wars movie, which is the same amount of time I had between my two books," Lai said this week. "This is the conclusion of the first Ralphy in Space book, where he gets trapped on Saturn with his best friends and basically he has to earn the trust of the inhabitants to get back home."

The story will introduce readers to the newest creatures in Lai's fantasy world - the Coogis, so named by the author's younger sister, who thought they were so cute they reminded her of the sound adults make when they tickle a child (as in coogi-coogi-coo.)

Lai also said that he is negotiations with a cartoon production studio to turn Ralphy the Rhino into a children's animated television series.

Since publishing his first Ralphy the Rhino comic at the age of 17, Lai has sold more than 20,000 books.

Last year, Lai joined forces with Canadian astronaut Terry Wong to deliver his special edition comic, Ralphy's Wish List, via helicopter to children in Toronto's Hospital For Sick Kids. A total 1,200 copies of that special comic were delivered to children in hospitals across the country, including Sunny Hill Hospital in Vancouver.

In addition to this weekend's book signing, Lai will demonstrate his ability to draw a Tyrannosaurus Rex in under two minutes, and 22 lucky children will walk away with a free, giant-sized poster autographed by the young author.

WILDLIFE ARTIST

Another young artist from Burnaby is turning heads across the country with the inclusion of her work in the 2006 Robert Bateman Special Edition Calendar.

Kristal Okamoto, 17, will be signing the calendar at the Burnaby branch of TD Canada Trust, 1933 Willingdon Ave., from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., today, Nov. 26.

The calendar, which is going into its fifth year, features the winners of an annual art contest which has received more than 10,000 entries since its inception. Bateman, Canada's foremost living wildlife artist, lent his name to the contest and calendar in an attempt to counter the reality that most young children can identify 1,200 corporate logos, but only 12 species of wildlife that live near their own communities.

The calendar featuring Okamoto's work is sponsored by the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

SCENES OF ITALY

Greetings from Italy, a collection of paintings by Burnaby's own Luigia Zilli is on display in the library of the Italian Cultural Centre until Dec. 8.

Zilli, who moved from Italy just six years ago, will exhibit 30 different paintings in oil and acrylic showing the people, landscapes, nature and cityscapes of her original home.

The winner of the 2004 Burnaby Arts Council People's Choice Award, Zilli is also slated to show her work in Coquitlam and Chilliwack in the new year.

Zillia also plans to bring a collection of her newer works - a collection of paintings of British Columbia scenery and people - on vacation with her when she returns to Italy later next year.