| Paul Martin, the new Liberal leader, recently gave the CBC a list of his "favourite things." His No. 1 author is American historian Barbara Tuchman, known for The March of Folly, The Guns of August and other good popular histories. Martin identified the Flashman series by George MacDonald Fraser as his "favourite fiction books." Unsurprising choices for a practical, worldly fellow – history and historical fiction with a bit of swash to its buckle (or vice versa). But is it just me, or is it actually a bit disappointing/irritating/dumb that no Canadian writing made Martin’s list?
Greg Hollingshead, the Edmonton fiction writer who also directs The Banff Centre’s writing and publishing programs and teaches at the University of Alberta, reads this week at the University of Calgary. You can hear the author of the novels The Healer and Spin Dry, and three story collections, on Thursday, November 20 at 7 p.m. in Room 109 of the Social Sciences Building. The reading is free and everyone is welcome.
On the same day, at the same time, Single Onion, the Calgary reading series, presents a trio of poets at the Triangle Gallery. Prince Edward Island’s Richard Lemm joins Calgary’s Jocelyn Grossé and Emily Elder. Megan Emmett provides music. This reading is also free and, once again, everyone is welcome. So, it looks like "everyone" will have a decision to make on Thursday.
At least Sarah Murphy, the Calgary author of Die Tinkerbell Die, is reading on a different night. She’s at Pages on Friday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m., with her new book Forgotten Voices of Jane Dark. Where is everyone gonna park? Try the Kensington parkade under those condos next to the river. Or just take the bus.
Brian Brennan, the popular local history writer, reads from Boondoggles, Bonanzas and Other Alberta Stories at the Alexander Calhoun Library on Tuesday, November 25 at 7 p.m. It’s free, but you need to register by calling 221-2010.
Matthew Shaw, the author of Great Scots! How the Scots Created Canada, launches said book at McNally Robinson Booksellers on Monday, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. Is it free? Yes. Who is welcome? Everyone.
The novella, a prose narrative longer than a short story but shorter than a novel, is incontestably a form for which there are few contests. After you write one, write a cheque for $20 US, payable to Low Fidelity Press. Place the cheque and the novella in an envelope addressed to The Novella Award, Low Fidelity Press, P.O. Box 21930, Brooklyn, New York, 11202-1930. Add a stamped, self-addressed postcard and/or your e-mail address for notification purposes. Mail all that before February 1, 2004. You could win The Novella Award. Get more details at www.lofipress.com. |
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