About the Author

Gerry Mackie is the author of four books and has contributed to a dozen others. He has 40 years of experience building and maintaining a cottage in the country.

Laura Elise Taylor is a journalist and photographer.

Reviews

[Review of previous edition: ] For those lucky enough to own a waterfront cottage, this is the ultimate reference book.... It's an all-in-one must-have for any cottage-owner.--Karen Turner "The Ottawa Citizen" (12/15/2007 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] The Cottage Bible is the answer to every cottager's prayers. Once in a while a new book comes along that we wished we had long ago because of its value as a source of information. The Cottage Bible is just such a book. It is well-designed, very user friendly, and just chock full of information. It answers all the questions a cottager has probably wanted answers to and many more that he or she never thought of to ask. It's a book to have handy in a prominent place at the cottage, because every member of the family, and visitors too, will enjoy dipping into it.... Each page is a gold mine of information.... It doesn't matter where the book falls open, you want to begin reading -- the pages have so much appeal.-- "Muskoka Magazine" (2/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] A compendium of how-to and a collection of problem-solving tips, this book covers everything from buying a property to lake health and water quality, and looking after the septic to building a dock.-- "The Leader Post (Regina)" (1/26/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] An encyclopedia of facts and fancies for those lucky souls who own cottages.--Bill Robertson "Star Phoenix (Saskatoon)" (12/15/2007 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Cottagers, prepare to worship [this] must-have guide.... This book is invaluable: it gives you all the information you need to make decisions on what sort of property suits you when purchasing a cottage or what to expect if you're already the proud owner. No topic is too small for writers Gerry Machie and Laura Elise Taylor.... The authors cover all aspects of owning a cottage in great detail.--Peggy Mackenzie "The Toronto Star (Metro Ed)" (8/30/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Everything from buying a cottage to identifying insects.--Patrick Langston "Vancouver Sun" (7/26/2014 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] For almost every question anyone might have about cottage life, this is a fun reference.... Perhaps the eingle most important bit of information in the whole book is on page 188: the recipe for the skunk odour remedy that includes peroxide. It really works.-- "Escarpment Views" (6/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] I can see how this book got its title. It has information on a wide variety of subjects. You can find out about building a dock, closing camp for the winter, living with wildlife, water and septic systems and toilet problems. I wish we could have had toilet problems at our camp. A toilet would have been a luxury. And our water involved a pail and a lake.--Karen Craib "Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal" (3/28/2010 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] If you have a cottage, you'll want The Cottage Bible. If you don't have a cottage, you'll still want this book from the Boston Mills Press.-- "Inside Toronto" (5/27/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Jam-packed with information ... An essential collection of trouble-shooting and problem-solving tips.... This is a book that belongs on every cottage bookshelf ... Truly comprehensive in its scope--Linda Turk "The Chronicle-Journal (Thunder Bay)" (1/20/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Mackie creates a book brimming with information and beautiful illustrations. From the experienced cottager to someone looking for their first seasonal property, The Cottage Bible enables you to enhance your cottage experience.... A long time cottager, [Mackie] knows his audience and the result is a book accessible by all.--Joanne Bury "Sideroads" (8/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Practical, comprehensive, environment-friendly advice, from how to build a dock, to tips on swimming safety and making s'mores.... Recommend[ed] without hesitation, particularly to novices.--Edie Austin "The Gazette (Montreal)" (12/15/2007 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] The book makes great cautionary reading for anyone considering a cottage purchase. It's also full of solid advice for even experienced cottagers. And even for the old salts who know it all, The Cottage Bible is the perfect coffee-table tome. Weekend guests who pick it up and leaf through will appreciate -- if they didn't already -- just how much work their hosts have undertaken to provide that cherished getaway.--Carolyn Leitch "The Globe and Mail" (5/2/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] The complete guide for any cottage goer or owner... The book is filled with striking colour photographs from cottages all over Canada and is broken down by subject for easy reference.--Amberly McAteer "Canadian Living" (5/31/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] This book is both a how-to and a collection of trouble-shooting and problem solving tips.-- "Carp Magazine (Toronto)" (5/31/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] This soft-cover delight is replete with colour photos and useful graphics... It is a primer for urbanites yearning to be at one with the wild, while clinging to civilized comforts.-- "Winnipeg Free Press" (12/14/2007 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] This 360-page reference book is one that every cottage owner can use.... Its 1200 colour photographs and illustrations add visual information and beauty to this essential collection of cottage knowledge.-- "The Cottager" (4/1/2008 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Very well done. It covers everything from how to deal with blood suckers to how to fish and how to care for a cottage.--Lois Cooper "Muskoka Today" (12/13/2007 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of previous edition: ] Whether you've recently decided to take the plunge or your cottage has been in the family for decades, this is one book your cottage should not be without.... The Cottage Bible is all its promises it to be and more.... [It] will soon become the most indispensable resource on your cottage bookshelf.--Kim Good "The Muskoka Sun" (7/31/2008 12:00:00 AM)

The all-in-one compendium of vacation-home knowledge.--Glenn Cameron "Road Stories Blog" (7/13/2016 12:00:00 AM)

The book is ideal for new cottage owners like us but is packed with useful tips that even some experienced cottagers could find useful.--Lisa Goodmurphy "Gone With The Family Blog" (4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM)

The 280-page book covers advice on buying a property; lake health and water quality; boating, swimming and fishing essentials; living with wildlife; do-it-yourself projects and more, all with full-colour photographs and illustrations.--Jessica Lovell "Guelph Tribune" (3/24/2016 12:00:00 AM)

This is a fun book!... There is an index, lots of good wildlife book references, for enquiring minds. The photos are wonderful, especially of the wildlife you will meet and enjoy in an Ontario cottage country... Mackie and Taylor have included some interesting cottage topics, including the formation of lakes, getting into geology, as well as biology, flora and fauna. They provide practical support for those who choose to live by a lake. Until you have a cottage, even if you inherit one, you never know what you do not know until you need to know it! ... You begin to learn a lot of new things: opening the cottage, closing the cottage, but what fascinates me is the wildlife and how the book teaches cottagers to respect nature.--Jennifer A. Jilks "Cottage Country Reflections Blog" (4/26/2016 12:00:00 AM)

While a bit smaller than most coffee table selections, it's a great book to have kicking around the cabin. It houses the answers to many cottage questions that arise when outside of Wi-Fi's reach, like getting to know your lake, cottage maintenance and repairs, decoding animal tracks, learning how to fish, and more.-- "Roam New Roads Blog" (9/14/2015 12:00:00 AM)