Double Trouble with 2 Sasky Poets

Well, if I can't blog about my own writing, at least I can blog about someone else's!

Just got back from MRB (GP), and enjoyed a lovely evening with friends and colleagues and people from far-flung communities. Fellow Facebooker Friend of mine Brenda Schmidt and Judith Krause are two talented Saskatchewan poets with new books out from the same publisher who are touring at the same time, and Winnipeg was the final leg of their journey.

First Judith read from her book Mongrel Love which was a mix of poems which touched on emotions, death, one about a horse (which was disturbing and compelling at the same time) and a few other tidbits (yes, yes, crappy poetry review, but that's what you're going to get).
And then Brenda read from her book Cantos from Wolverine Creek which had some great poetry about birds, far-away memories of nursing, and food (loved the "cookie triage" poem! Heh! The crumbly carnage!)

I should also mention that I enjoyed a lovely Dim Sum lunch with Brenda and Judith earlier today, along with a bunch of other people (all of whom were also at the reading tonight). So all in all, not only a lovely evening, but a lovely day!

One crazy fun book launch!

I managed to make it out to Chandra Mayor's book launch last night (All the Pretty Girls), and let me tell you it was fun! High energy and full of life and love and of course tinged with sadness (for some of the subject matter was quite serious).

Chandra held her launch at the Lo Pub, a swanky little underground dive bar which was really quite cozy. Although I'm not sure if that's because of the clientelle who was there last night (who were all there for Chandra). What would I find if I went there tonight? Of course we'll never know, because I'm not sure why I'd go there again, truth be told ;-)

In any case, Chandra also shared the stage with another person, who's beautiful sounding name I won't attempt to spell here (I can't seem to find the hundred invitations to the event I had!). Suffice to say that her book of poetry was quite beautiful, although quite serious in many parts (having to do with missing/abused women in the Vancouver area). There was a rep from Sagehouse at the readings as well, who gave a small presentation about what she and her organization does to help young women (sometimes girls, really) in awful, awful situations.

It was a great evening to bring awareness to a problem in all of our cities, to give thanks to two great readings, to hear host Rosanna Deerchild in her true, crazy (and as Chandra said, slightly inappropriate) form! And, most of all, to enjoy the company of friends and colleagues in a very un-bookstore like launch. Fantastic all around!

The End of Manitoba Book Week

Well, it was a blast. The launch of Prairie Fire's Home Place 2 (non-fiction) issue on Thursday, April 24, was a gala affair. About 150 people showed up for the hour and half of readings (and cake afterwards).

Unfortunately, the readings did go over a bit, and I was forced to miss Kerry Ryan's launch of her new (and first!) poetry book The Sleeping Life. I missed her reading, but I did get to buy a copy of the book and get her to sign it. Unlike a certain A.G. who feels autographs are so "fanboyish" I quite like getting my book personalized by the author. I like to think the writer themself enjoys doing it!

Last night was the 20th Annual Manitoba Book Awards, put on by the AMBP (Association of Manitoba Book Publishers) and the MWG (Manitoba Writers Guild). A really good time for shmoozing with the local literary crowd, including writers and publishers. The award ceremony itself went off with nary a hitch, and most of the acceptance speeches were really quite good (the greetings from the province were actually quite nice).

Speaking of "foot in mouse" disease, Morley Walker wrote a horrible article in Saturday's Freep which basically debased the whole awards show. His big rant was why the book HE thinks was the bestest and greatest Manitoba book since sliced bread (the Manitoba Encyclopedia by Great Plains Publishing) wasn't among the nominees or winners.

Hey Morley, here's a heads up: That's YOUR opinion that the book was the best.
And here's another heads up: Just because a book is submitted does NOT mean it will win or even get nominated! There is a jury that selects these things outside of your realm of influence (shocking, I know)

It's really sad to see Winnipeg's literary journalist giant constantly and consistently bad-mouth Manitoba publishing and writers.

One treat during the awards was when Kelly Hughs, owner of Aqua Books and generous donor to the Landsdowne poetry prize, lambasted Walker during his presenting speech. The crowd went wild! Funny thing then that Walker was no where to be seen after the awards...

Today's article in the Freep about the Manitoba Book Awards is surprisingly neutral. It mentions all the winners, and there are even a few choice quotes from winners about the importance of Manitoba publishers.

Huh. Change of heart Morley? Or trying to save face?

Mystery Crime at MB Book Week and Aqua Books

Tonight was a reading and panel discussion about crime/mystery/true crime writing, and featured three writers (one of whom was Michael Van Rooy...I can't remember the names of the others and I'm too lazy and tired to check right now - wait! One was Mike Macintyre (sp?) from the Freep).

It was pretty interesting.

Plus the event took place at the new Aqua Books location. Even though the bookstore was not nearly ready for business, the cafe in the back looks quite swank, and the upstairs events room worked beautifully. I also took a sneak peak at the writer studios, and they look pretty awesome!

Can't wait until the bookstore is up and running. Here's wishing Kelly all the luck and stamina in the world to get it ready for March 26!

Next up for my Manitoba Book Week flurry of events: PrairieFire's Home Place 2 launch, Kerry Ryan's poetry book launch (the same night at McNally Robinson Grant Park) on Thursday, and the Manitoba Book Awards on Saturday night. Can't wait!

Another great YA book launch

As part of Manitoba Book Week, Rae Bridgeman was launching her new book "Fish and Sphinx" at McNally Robinson Booksellers tonight (Polo Park location).

A great launch, and well attended by young and old! Full house! Complete with town crier at the beginning, a power point slide show of some of her drawings from the book (sliding along as she read), and a great reading with great questions.

A great night!

Getting out to meet the Writers

Carol Matas and Perry Nodelman (what a swell name) launched their new collaborative book today: Ghosthunters 1: The Proof that Ghosts Exist.

Very nice launch with lots of people (young and old). It was a virtual who's who of YA writers! Anita Daher! Rae Bridgeman! Margaret Buffie! ME! (well, not quite yet - heh!)

The launch was at the new McNally Robinson Booksellers at Polo Park (nice and close to me wittle house now!). A beautiful store. I had the privilege of getting an invitation to the gala opening night (la-dee-da!) two weeks ago. Very cool.
Tanya and I had dinner in the new Prairie Ink restaurant tonight, and the food as usual (for MRB standards) was very delicious. Tanya was drooling all over her cherry pie - quite disgusting, really ;-)

All in all, a nice night.

What happened to March?

Well, March was a blur.
I was fine until March 5. Then, I got sick. Then, I got food poisoning. Then, I was lingering and lingering ill for four weeks. Then I woke up and WTF? What month is it? APRIL??

So, that's why no blog.

And yes, no submission letters yet. Ugh.
I'm planning on working on them this weekend and next week FOR SURE!

Fourth draft - in DA BAG!

Woo-Hoo!

Well, I did it!

Yesterday I took the morning off from work to write, and write, and write, and suddenly it was 11am, normally when I start packing stuff up and get ready for work, and I was all "I can't stop! I can't!"
So I didn't. I kept writing, and writing, had a quick 20 minute lunch break, and then more writing, until suddenly it was 2:30 pm and I was done! Finished! The biggest rewrite I had to do (the last part of the book, which included moving chapters around, killing chapters, and rewriting chapters) was pulled off! Yahoo!!
Mind you, I got to work at 3:30 and worked till 7:30, but it was all good.

I like it. I like it a lot.

Today I just left it, and on the weekend I'll pull it out and reread the new parts to see if they still make sense (heh-heh).

My plan for next week is to get a submission letter going and start putting together some packages, do a little research on some publishing houses, and submit!!!!

Very exciting. "8)