| Local writers make global IMPAC
Two Calgary-based writers figure on the long list for this year's IMPAC literary award: Calgary author Fred Stenson, and Eden Robinson, this year's Markin-Flanagan Writer in Residence at the U of C. Stenson's novel The Trade and Robinson's Monkey Beach will be considered alongside works by fellow Canadians Margaret Atwood, Elizabeth Hay, Joan Clark, Michael Ondaatje and Anita Rau Badami. The six IMPAC judges have over 100 titles to read in time for the May 2002 announcement of the award, the biggest of its kind in the world. Is it likely that another Canadian will follow Alistair MacLeod's win in 2001? Who can second-guess the oracles? What readers may not realize is that we all have a chance to send in our reviews of any of the nominated titles. Just write to dubaward@iol.ie. For the complete list of nominees see www.impacdublinaward.ie/2002/longlist.htm.
Calgary's Society of Poets, Bards and Storytellers are the people we have to thank for the annual Stroll of Poets in the city's northwest. They're offering monthly poetry readings now on the first Tuesday of every month, which means December 4 in this case. Show up at 7 p.m. at Annie's Book Company (912 - 16th Ave. N.W.) and bring a toonie so they can pay for some of the costs that go with putting on these events. Doreen at 270-0684 has more info.
Another monthly reading series (we're up to at least three once you add the Single Onion readings held the week of the full moon – mentioned here last week) bases itself at Weeds Cafe in Capitol Hill (1903 - 20th Avenue N.W.), where smoking is feasible. Boardwalk Writers offers their event on December 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Scott at 276-6151 has all the important "further info" you may require. Or if you can get to a Web-connected computer go to www.boardwalkwriters.org.
While you're there, have a look at the closest thing to a one-stop Web site for Calgary writers: www.writtenword.org. There you'll find links to the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society, the Calgary Writers Association, IFWA (the Imaginative Fiction Writers Association), the Calgary Freedom To Read Week Committee, PanCanadian WordFest/Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival, and the Writers Guild of Alberta. The Calgary Women's Writing Project used to be there, too, but now they're at www.cwwp.org.
A special tribute will be paid to Mordecai Richler at the Jewish Book Fair 2001: A Celebration of the Written Word, which begins Sunday, December 2 at the Calgary Jewish Centre. The fair begins with at 5 p.m. with a "smoked meat and shmooze session" featuring readings of Richler’s works. Then at 7 p.m., William Weintraub, author of Getting Started: A Memoir of the 1950s with Letters from Mordecai Richler, Mavis Gallant and Brian Moore, will share some of his personal memories of Richler. The fair continues throughout the week, and also includes a reading by David Albahari on Monday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. For more information contact Judy Shapiro, editor of the Jewish Free Press, at 252-9423.
And finally, two very different upcoming readings: readers of young adult novels can catch Rebecca Tingle reading from her new work, The Edge of the Sword, the opening book in a trilogy, on Saturday, December 1 at 2 p.m. at Socrates Corner Books. And even though it's not until December 17, you may want to schedule time for this event in advance – Aritha Van Herk will be at Pages that day to launch Mavericks, her new history of Alberta. The reading's at 7:30 p.m. – it promises to be energetic, irreverent and crowded. Get there early if you don't want to sit on the stairs. |
