Kay Chornook was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, but as a teenager went to live amongst the rocks, trees and lakes of northern Quebec and Ontario. She visited Monteverde, Costa Rica, as a volunteer in 1990, fell in love with the people and the rainforest, and has returned each year. Ten years later, Kay moved back to Hamilton, an industrial city undergoing a vibrant artistic renaissance, and found herself enamored with her birthplace, so she stayed.
Walking with Wolf was created through a collaboration between Kay Chornook and Wolf Guindon, Quaker, father, pioneer & conservationist. Wolf provided the stories, told to a tape recorder while walking through the jungle, and Kay put them to paper, adding her own observations, research, and commentary. Over seventeen years they worked together to record Wolf’s oral history and eventually produce this book, a labor of love that reflects their respect and concern for the future of our planet.
Kay has published numerous human interest articles for newspapers as well as contributed a chapter to Circles of Strength: Community Alternatives to Alienation, New Society Publishers, 1992.
17 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 2, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Star
I can’t wait!
May 8, 2008 at 3:05 am
Lynn
If this book reads like your blog, it will be a huge success. I, too, can’t wait to read it.
P.S. You have one very proud sister!
May 8, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Joyce E. Osborn
I am one of Wolf’s nieces and I am very excited about this book. How can I order copies?
May 9, 2008 at 1:36 am
walkingwithwolf
I’m in the process of getting a Paypal account so that people can order through this blog – stay tuned to the blog for further information. Very happy to hear from another family member!
May 13, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Peter (Transcon Printing)
Hello Kay,
I really wish you all succes you diserve with this book. Let me know when you’ll get your copies. All the best. PG
June 1, 2008 at 1:45 am
Phyllis Calendine Poorman
I knew Wolf when he was a handsome young man from Fairhope, AL. He was/is very smart, sure of himself, and no matter how bad things looked, he always looked on the upper side of things. You can count on me to buy one of your books. I am very excited for Wolf and his family that he is in “print.” Congratulations to Wolf and Kay upon their accomplishment!!
June 25, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Miranda Pope
Your friend Rick, from San Pedro la Laguna, turned me on to your book. I will be delighted to buy a copy. I just recently self-published a novel set in San Pedro, at http://www.lulu.com/preview/paperback-book/heart-of-the-sky/7239260
which includes a lot of historical and cultural details, so I am also taking notes about how you have been promoting your valueable book. I suspect your enthusiasm promotes it for you. Bien hecho!
August 25, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Roberta Llewellyn
Kay, I am deeply grateful for the wonderous and delightful, touching, personal descriptions of your time in Monteverde and your work with Wolf Guindon and the book you have fashioned in honor of his dedication and that of others in protecting the bio-region and wilderness of Monteverde. I spent some time in Monteverde many years ago with Lucky Guindon as well as with Sue and Jon Trostle, and other Quakers. I wrote an article for “Friends Journal” on these people and their amazing journey as pacifists leading them to Costa Rica and eventually to do conservation work as well as thier working together with the local people in creating community. I wanted so much to do something on the scale that you have managed to do but hadn’t the time nor particular talent that you clearly have in capturing the light and feel of that magical place and community. How do I actually get a book? Please give my regards to those people, if possible, I have mentioned by name and send them my love, as well as love from my daughter, Jamuna, to Lucky whom she met a few years later after I had traveled by myself to MonteVerde (1998). Peace, Roberta Llewellyn
March 3, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Nadine
Dear Kay,
I just returned from ten days in Costa Rica–my first visit. Along the road to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, I discovered your wonderful book and purchased it. For the rest of my stay in Costa Rica, Walking with Wolf accompanied me. We hiked in Monteverde, Santa Elena, and Arenal, and in quieter moments, I read the book cover to cover, finishing it on the beach at Playa Hermosa at the end of our trip.
Walking With Wolf gave me something I had been unable to find before our trip, something that I always look for: a book that gives me a flavor of a place, beyond what sights to see and where to stay. By the time I left, I felt much more intimately connected to the sights, sounds, and stories of this gorgeous part of our planet.
What a rich, beautiful contribution you have made! I look forward to reading your blog…as well as future visits to Costa Rica. Pura vida!
March 4, 2010 at 12:20 am
walkingwithwolf
Nadine, what a very kind and supportive letter. I am always thrilled to hear that people have enjoyed the book – I’ve met people that have come to Monteverde partly because they read it, and others who have enjoyed it because they went and now had a history to this special place. I hope you make it back again soon. I really appreciate your comments, peace KKKKK don’t know where you are but I’ll be doing a book tour up the west coast in April/May.
March 16, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Merel
I purchased “Walking with Wolf” in St. Elena for a friend of mine and hoped to be able to find another copy for myself in Toronto. However, I have not been successful!! Could you please help me out and tell me where to find a copy? Many thanks, Merel
March 20, 2010 at 11:33 pm
walkingwithwolf
Hi Merel – I used to have books at Pages, but it closed. There are some bookstores in Hamilton that have them…otherwise, you can order thru this blog and it will be sent from hamilton. Go to the Buy this book….the price has gone to $20 plus postage, about what you probably paid in Monteverde. Gracias for your interest, Kay
March 27, 2010 at 1:26 am
Jason
this is amazing your book good luck with it.
March 30, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Val
Hi Kay,
I had the wonderful opportunity to live in Monteverde for a year in ’07-’08. Thank you so much for writing your blog because I am able to keep up with what is going on there. I miss it so much! Luckily I will be returning in May for a short period of time for research.
Thanks again for sharing,
Val
February 26, 2012 at 8:04 pm
Dennis Spain
Kay.. This is Dennis, the Gringo that didn’t speak any spanish (and still doesn’t) that was in the hospitial in Puntarenas with Wolf. Just wanted to say thanks for all the help and strength I got from you and Wolf’s family. Please pass my reguards to them. I’m still in Playa Hermosa/Jaco, And still under a Dr’s care for my blood clots. I haven’t had any more, but still on the blood thinner med’s. I hope for not much longer.
Best reguards
Dennis
February 28, 2012 at 8:47 pm
walkingwithwolf
Dennis, so great to hear from you and know you are okay! Wolf is also doing much better than he was last November in Puntarenas. He spent another 2 months, or more, in the geriatric hospital in San Jose, but since last March has been pretty good! If you have the chance to come to Monteverde, get in touch and visit. We all enjoyed meeting you in the hospital. I will pass on your regards to the rest of the family. Take good care and come and see Monteverde someday soon! Kay