| Calgary poetry publisher ("Stop right there: did you say ‘poetry publisher?’" "Yes, I did." "And they're still in business?" "Yes, and they're becoming even more of a national concern." "Wow, they must be really clever and tenacious." ) Frontenac House has lined up its annual quartet of books for spring 2003. Toronto poet Kevin Irie's book Dinner at Madonna's and Camrose poet Eric Barstad's A Gloss on Our Painted Gods, along with go-go dancing for Elvis by Red Deer's Leslie Greentree, and Wayward by ex-Calgarian and neo-Nelsonite Ali Riley, will all appear next April.
As you may have noticed, Frontenac is no longer bound by Alberta's borders when it comes to selecting their authors. That gives us something to look forward to next Poetry Month, when there will be launches in Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton. Toronto audiences will have to wait for next fall for their readings, however.
Edmonton's Wendy Mcgrath reads from her first novel, Recurring Fictions, at Pages on Friday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m. The same day, it's the The Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society Student Reading, when writers from the fall creative writing courses present their work. The event is at 7:30 p.m. (go to the notorious "door #3" at 922 - 9th Avenue S.E.) and it’s free to members, with a small fee for others.
That's the day after the Wole Soyinka panel at the University of Calgary, remember: that event is on November 28 at 4 p.m. at the Rozsa Centre. The reading is free, but the parking isn't, so take the LRT or allow time to find a spot.
December's literary events begin with Deborah Miller and Susanne Heinz reading at McNally Robinson. Their book, Grandmother's Radio, is a collection of poems that address their own ancestors' involvement with the Holocaust – from the perspective of both the victims and those responsible for the terrible events. That's on Sunday, December 1 at 11:30 a.m. Then on Tuesday, December 3, Brian Brennan visits the store with his new book, Scoundrels and Scallywags: Characters from Alberta's Past. He reads at 7 p.m. |
