Still

Still is the story of Kayla, who lives and works on the streets of Kelowna, Canada, and of Little Zoe, a woman working in the sex trade who is missing. Set in a vibrant and diverse community of people living unhoused, the novel explores sex work, street life, the opioid crisis, what it means to survive, and what it means to find a home—especially in one’s self.

As Kayla—whose past is darker than she tells—searches for her missing friend, she also uncovers much about her own life. The novel delves into both the pain and resiliency of childhood, with flashbacks to Kayla's past with horses and how she came to be on the streets. Kayla also becomes friends with an outreach volunteer struggling with postpartum depression, alcohol abuse, and bipolar—yet who yearns to rekindle her passion for photography and share it with Kayla.

The book considers what home means, how picture-perfect lives are not always what they seem, how different forms of community are possible, and how we can tell the stories that are ourselves. It asks what it means to be missing and what we can—and cannot—go back to. Ultimately, Still is a story of community, friendship, resilience, and hope.

Check out a Global TV feature on the book here.

“Still paints a multi-layered portrait of the ways in which people who live in tents and parks and alleys - wounded people who look out for each other and show up for each other - constitute a family. Open-eyed and compassionate, the novel glows with respect for those community bonds. Kayla is the perfect guide and a great character in her own right, with the fear and pain she’s running from coiled inside her determination to find her friend. A signal achievement.” - Anne Fleming, Giller Prize shortlisted author of Curiosities

“Evocative and unforgettable, Still holds a light up to the street life we so often neglect, showing us the people, their dreams, their challenges, and their humanity with compassion and hope. Yet it celebrates so much more, such as friendship and self-empowerment…The story is told with a vivid and poetic style that stays with you long after you put down the book.”— Munira Hussein, Africa Writing Prize shortlisted author of A Curve of Darkness, Unfit for Society, and Highland Cactus

“Suffused with tenderness, Still celebrates and uplifts the marginalized… Joanna Cockerline’s writing is richly observed, compassionate, and brimming with beauty.” — Kevin Chong, Giller Prize shortlisted author of The Double Life of Benson Yu

“Still explores the life of the underdog with honesty, love, and integrity. From survival to strength, these words ring true, the characters breathe with life, and this compelling story is told with heart… an incredible book.” — T.S., Community Activist