Canada's west coast has one of the most extensive networks of staffed lighthouses remaining anywhere in the world and the authors visit all the most significant sites, ranging from the Carmanah Point light that watches over the hikers of the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Islands station -"Little Alcatraz" - which is just a tower rooted on a rock 50 kilometres west of Prince Rupert, to the popular harbour lights of Vancouver and Victoria.

Jam-packed with magnificent full-colour photographs and firsthand accounts from lightkeepers on every part of the coast, this spectacular book captures the romance and beauty of British Columbia's lighthouses. Here are the lightkeepers' own tragic, inspiring, humourous and eerie stories of life on the lights. Guiding Lights is not only a lovely gift book, but a moving tribute to the people who have lived and worked on the lights and a valuable portrait of what continues to be a proud maritime heritiage.

Chris Jaksa and his partner Lynn Tanod developed a love for photography and writing while travelling extensively in Central and South America. They have had their work published internationally in numerous periodicals, including Canadian Geographic, Canadian Living and Sunset. Chris has exhibited his award-winning photography in numerous galleries. He and Lynn live in Vancouver, BC.

Chris Jaksa's profile page

Lynn Tanod and her partner Chris Jaksa developed a love for photography and writing while travelling extensively in Central and South America. They have had their work published internationally in numerous periodicals, including Canadian Geographic, Canadian Living and Sunset. Lynn is a teacher with a background in the performing arts. She and Chris live in Vancouver, BC.

Lynn Tanod's profile page

• Short-listed, Bill Duthie Booksellers' Choice Award for BC Book of the Year