| One of Calgary’s annual book traditions returns Sunday, September 28. Word on the Street (WOTS) will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Eau Claire Market. It’s free, it’s outdoors and it’s a little different from other book events because it’s not, in fact, a "book" event. Call it a "print" event, since magazine and newspaper publishers, as well as book publishers and bookstores, are among the more than 50 exhibitors presenting their wares for browsing, buying or subscribing.
But perhaps "print" isn’t inclusive enough, either, since theatre, literacy and storytelling groups are participating, too. (You really start to appreciate why they call it Word on the Street, eh?) You will be able to hear the words of children’s authors including Shirlee Smith-Matheson and Ken Rivard. Kids can also chalk up the sidewalk, make up Clothesline Poetry and create their own bookmarks.
At the Writers’ Block in the Barley Mill, the focus will be on script writing (with Alan Boss of CBC Radio and Joanne Levy of Independent Production), songwriting (with Russ Broom), journalism and book publishing. Authors from Wayne Arthurson to Rick Ranson, by way of Brian Brennan, Marie Jakober and Sarah Murphy, will all read at the Authors’ Tent. Poets, including Tom Wayman, eatlardfudge and Derek Beaulieu, will read as well. As always, WOTS will unfold on the same day in Halifax, Toronto, Kitchener and Vancouver. For more information – and this is one case where there really is a lot of it – visit www.thewordonthestreet.ca.
You can get warmed up for WOTS at the previous night’s filling Station launch event for issue No. 28, featuring Aritha van Herk, Jill Hartman, Jonathon Wilcke and Fran Kimmel. It’s Saturday, September 27 at Webster Galleries (812 - 11 Ave. S.W.) at 7 p.m.
Pages on Kensington welcomes poet and novelist Robert Hilles on Thursday, September 18. His new collection introduces new work and looks back over the 11 volumes of poetry he’s published so far. (Eleven! Feel free, with all due respect to Hilles, to picture the amplifier scene from Spinal Tap: "But this one goes to 11.")
Then on Wednesday, September 24 at Pages, Karen X. Tulchinsky presents her third novel, The Five Books of Moses Lapinsky. The very next day, the bookstore moves its reading site to the Alliance Française (now well-housed at the Memorial Park Library, 12 Ave. and Third St. S.W.), where author and translator Susan Ouriou will be reading from her first novel, Damselfish.
Finally, for those who want to help celebrate the birthday of Leonard Cohen, Annie’s Book Company (912 - 16 Ave. N.W.) is holding a special event on Sunday, September 21. The Leonard Cohen Night promises musical entertainment, an auction of Cohen memorabilia and out-of-print books, an exhibit of Cohen-inspired paintings and readings of Cohen-inspired verse. There will even be a selection of Cohen's favourite foods and beverages. For tickets and more information, call 282-1330 or e-mail annie@anniesbookcompany.ca. |
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