Author Tanis Helliwell is more than happy to wait patiently for just the right moment to release a book.
For her it is a conscious decision, made primarily in the name of research and due diligence, though she admits there is often a bit of trepidation as well. After all, the kinds of topics she broaches meander far from mainstream. Her newest book and seventh, Hybrids: So You Think You Are Human, explores the theory that humans may have interbred with other sentient life forms at some point during their evolution. A few ruffled feathers—metaphorical and otherwise—are something she has come to expect when offering such hypotheses in her writing.
“I know it’s going to be a far stretch for some people,” she said. “I’m not unaware of that, and that’s why I tried to do as much mythological, archeological and scientific research [as possible] so that I could tie it into something known and proven.”
For Hybrids, Helliwell combed through dozens of archeological, mythological and cultural accounts. She also consulted a varied demographic of living people — everyone from psychotherapists, doctors and coaches to organizational consultants and biodynamic organic farmers. What she came up with was a list of 22 different human-hybrids, including angels, giants and centaurs, of which she believes share genes with some people.
“I’ve been working with people for about a decade now and finding that although we say that we’re all human, which I agree with, that we could have many different evolutions, many different starting places,” she said. “The whole idea of hybrids, not only with what we’re creating [synthetically] but what nature seems to be creating itself became interesting to me.”
Helliwell travels frequently from her home in Powell River to conduct workshops and share her insight around the globe. As fate would have it, she has come to a variety of groundbreaking conclusions over the years—often way ahead of her time, becoming a leading authority for not only the idea of hybrids but elementals and past lives as well.
“I don’t feel that my work has ever been to convert people,” she said. “I have always felt that my work is to present options in front of people that they may not have considered, and that for some people may explain the reasons behind their own behaviours or their own interests.”
Hybrids had its soft launch earlier this month and has already begun to resonate with readers far and wide. Online reviews on sites like Amazon.com have been overwhelmingly positive and Helliwell says she’s been “astounded” by the response.
“I’m glad that it’s getting a deeper look, not just ‘well, this is interesting entertainment’,” she added.
A local book launch and author’s talk will take place on Thursday, September 17 from 7:30 to 9 pm at Ecossentials, 6812 Alberni Street. The event is free to attend and refreshments will be served. For more information, interested readers may visit iitransform.com.
