The hopes and dreams of the people behind the beautiful photographs that come from the annual photography contest are the focus of the new Hope in Shadows book to be launched at Gallery Gachet next Thursday evening.

Published by Vancouver-based Arsenal Pulp Press, and edited by Brad Cran and Gillian Jerome, the book focuses on the lives of 33 people who took winning photographs in the annual Downtown Eastside photography contest run by Pivot Legal Society. The authors, Cran and Jerome, interviewed winners from the contest's first five years, resulting in a coffee-table book which not only tells the stories of the photographers in their own words, but has beautiful reproductions of their photographs.

Just as with the Hope in Shadows calendar, the book will create much needed income for residents of the Downtown Eastide. Local people will be able to sell the book and keep 50 % of the sale price. Individuals whose stories are featured in the book also will receive the royalties from book sales.

The book launch will be held at Gallery Gachet (88 E. Cordova) and will feature some of the original images from the original exhibitions from the past five years. Local MP Libby Davies will address the opening, along with Pivot Legal Society executive director John Richardson. The authors as well as many of the subjects in the book will be there to talk about their experience.

Half of the books printed will be available for purchase by local residents for $10, who will then be able to sell it for $20, in the same way the annual Hope in Shadows calendar is sold. The remaining half of the books will be sold in bookstores across Canada by Arsenal Pulp Press.

An original tragic-comedy inspired by the old tale of Romeo and Juliet and everyday life on our Downtown Eastside streets.

Written by Gina Bastone, with contributions by the artists, Mike Stack and Mr. William Shakespeare.