NW Book Talk – Richard Wing – 09-23-2026

Richard Wing: The Remarkable Story of Vancouver’s Old Apple Tree

 Richard Wing has spent years bringing the history of Fort Vancouver to life as a volunteer certified interpretive guide. Now he has turned one piece of that history into a children’s book about Vancouver’s remarkable Old Apple Tree. Working with local artist Pam Gunn, Wing traces the tree’s story from a seedling planted in 1825 through nearly two centuries of change in the Pacific Northwest.

 In this Northwest Book Talk conversation, Richard and host Patty Grasher discuss:

• How the idea for a children’s book about the Old Apple Tree began
• Telling local history through the “biography” of a tree
• The community’s role in protecting the tree and preserving its descendants
• Working with illustrator Pam Gunn to bring the story to young readers
• Why proceeds from the book help support Friends of Fort Vancouver
• How the book is opening new conversations about local history with children and adults

Listen to more conversations with Northwest authors, discover new books, and explore the stories behind them at NorthwestBookTalk.com.