The Vancouver International Writers Festival and the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad present
Spoken World
Spoken word stars from three continents. Featuring Regie Cabico (US), Morganics (AUS), Lemn Sissay (UK) and Kinnie Starr (CAN) and the improvised grooves of Sal Ferreras and his band, Poetic License. Regie Cabico won the 1993 Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam and top prize in three National Poetry Slams. Morganics is an award-winning Sydney based hip hop artist, performer and director. Lemn Sissay is a performer and playwright and the author of four poetry collections. Kinnie Starr has produced four critically acclaimed records and was nominated for a Juno Award for New Artist of the Year.
7:30 pm February 18 & 20
Performance Works
1218 Cartwright Street, Vancouver
Tickets: $20/$18 students & seniors (Vancouver Tix surcharges will apply). Tickets available through Vancouver Tix: 604.629.8849 or online at www.vancouvertix.com. More information: www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/specialevents.
plus:
Spoken World workshop
A one day spoken word workshop for students in grades 9 – 12 with Regie Cabico, Morganics, Lemn Sissay and Kinnie Starr.
9 – 4:30 pm, Saturday February 21
$35 (lunch included)
Register today!
Registration: 604 681 6330
About the Cultural Olympiad
The Cultural Olympiad is a series of multi-disciplinary festivals and digital programs showcasing the best in Canadian and international arts and popular culture.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/en/culture-and-education/cultural-festival-and-events/-/33968/1wly9jd/index.html
Linda Rogers has been named Victoria’s new poet laureate. In this interview with Monday Magazine, Rogers discusses her lengthy list of goals.
http://mondaymag.com/articles/entry/the-politics-of-poetry/
A new book fair has popped up in Toronto and its organizers claim it will be “much more interactive and entertaining” than the others. James Adams questions if the city needs two book fairs.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090114.wbkbookfair15/BNStory/globebooks/home
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090113.wbookexpo0114/BNStory/Entertainment/home
Over the holidays the results of a Harris/Decima Research poll conducted on behalf of Heritage Canada were released and the disturbing results showed that only 53% of Canadians can name a Canadian author. In this article, Philip Marchand looks at the reasons why.
http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1160345
According to a survey conducted by the US Census Bureau, Americans are reading more these days.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/books/12reading.html?_r=1&ref=books
The NY Times looks at the life and career of American poet W.D. Snodgrass who died this past Tuesday.
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article5481184.ece
Inger Christiensen, widely regarded as Denmark’s most eminent poet, has died after a short illness.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/books/12christensen.html?ref=books
AWARDS
Vancouver Island poet Don McKay has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada.
http://www.gaspereau.com/pr0901.shtml
Vancouver author Steven Galloway has been awarded the 13th annual Borders Original Voice Award in the fiction category. Read the press release here:
http://www.borders.com/online/store/ArticleView_ov2008
Jen Hadfield, a guest at the 2008 Festival, has won Britain’s prestigious TS Eliot Prize for her collection of poetry Nigh-No-Place. She is the youngest winner in the history of the prize.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/jan/14/eliot-prize-hadfield
Jumpa Lahiri is among the contenders for this year’s $20,000 Story Prize.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2009/01/13/story-prize.html
Canadian Susanna Kearsley is one of six authors on the shortlist for this year’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/13/romanticnoveloftheyear-fiction
BOOKS & WRITERS
North Shore journalist Carolyn Skelton interviews Iranian author Azar Nafisi in this week’s edition of the Vancouver Courier.
http://www.canada.com/vancouvercourier/news/artsandentertainment/story.html?id=b9ddf3c9-11ee-496f-a636-f14bbb100586
Of the stories in Festival favourite Ivan E. Coyote’s latest collection, The Slow Fix, this reviewer writes that the author is at her best when she “steps back from the comedic in favour of the earnest.”
http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/Books/article/568443
In Shani Mootoo’s new novel, Valmiki’s Daughter, everyone is hiding something. Read the Georgia Straight’s review here:
http://www.straight.com/article-194007/valmikis-daughter
The Georgia Straight writes that A. B. McKillop’s Pierre Berton: A Biography is “the book that Berton deserves. It honours his achievements without fawning. It details his shortcomings without meanness. It’s readable and thoughtful.”
http://www.straight.com/article-194008/pierre-berton
Diana Athill undertook the writing of her latest memoir Somewhere Towards the End because, as she says, “book after book has been written about being young, and even more of them about the elaborate and testing experiences that cluster round procreation, but there is not much on record about falling away.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/books/14garn.html?ref=books
The NY Times on two collections of Allen Ginsberg’s letters.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/books/review/Campbell-t.html?ref=books
Slate looks at the treatment of women in Richard Yates’ writing.
http://www.slate.com/id/2207635/
EVENTS
FRANCIS MANSBRIDGE
Author of Hollyburn: The Mountain and the City reads as part of Brock House Restaurant’s literary talks series. Thursday, January 15 at 10:00am. Brock House Restaurant, 3875 Point Grey Road, Vancouver.
ROB KAPILOW
Win tickets to be in the audience of the CBC Radio Studio One Book Club on Friday, January 16th with Rob Kapilow from What Makes It Great on NPR. With his new book All You Have to Do is Listen, Rob gives the reader and listener a set of tools to use when listening to any piece of music in order to hear its “plot” – its story told in notes. To win tickets to the dynamically entertaining Rob Kapilow go to www.cbc.ca/bc/bookclub.
DREW HAYDEN TAYLOR
Award-winning author reads from his novel The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel, a teen story about an Ojibway vampire. Monday, January 19 at 7:30pm, free. Alice MacKay Room (Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia).
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Featuring Ivan E. Coyote. Monday, January 19 at 9:00pm. Tickets: $5. Café Deux Soleils (2096 Commercial Drive).
DIONNE BRAND
On Edge Reading Series presents the author of What We All Long For. Thursday, January 22 at 7:00pm, free. South Building, room 406, Emily Carr University, 1399 Johnston Street, Granville Island. More information at: http://www.ecuad.ca/node/2626.
EVELYN LAU
Author will read from her latest collection of poetry, Treble. Thursday, January 22 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $35. Wine, non-alcoholic beverages & snacks will be provided and the author will autograph your copy of her book. Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art (3696 8th Ave. W.). For more information phone 604-733-1356 or visit www.christiannehayward.com.
JEN CURRIN
Vancouver-based author will read from her books The Sleep of Four Cities and Hagiography. Friday, January 23 at 7:30pm, free. Pelican Rouge Coffee House (15142 North Bluff Rd., White Rock).
SUE SINCLAIR
Author of Breaker reads from her work. Wednesday, January 28 at 5:30pm. Buchanan E476, 1866 Main Mall, UBC, Vancover. More information at http://ubcgrapevine.net/.
WICKANINNISH INN WRITER INN RESIDENCE SERIES
Writer and DaVinci’s Inquest actor Stephen Miller is writer in residence at the Wickaninnish Inn from January 30 to February 1. Stephen is the author of historical thrillers including Field of Mars and its sequel, The Last Train to Kazan. Morning and afternoon workshops on Saturday, January 31, reading and discussion 5:30 – 7:00pm. Fireside chat with Stephen on Sunday, February 1 from noon – 3pm. Tickets available for sale at Tofino’s Wildside Booksellers (1-800-863-4664 or http://tofino-kayaking.com/store-accommodations.html). Events are free of charge for guests of the Inn. www.wickinn.com.
SEARCH FOR THE GREAT BC NOVEL OR NOVELLA CONTEST
Writing contest open to all writers living in British Columbia. Complete information at www.mothertonguepublishing.com.
Produced by the Book News Collective: Hal Wake, Brenda Berck, Clea Young, Ann McDonell and Sandra Millard.
To unsubscribe, please visit http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/booknews.
Hal Wake
Artistic Director
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2009 Festival – 20-25 October inclusive
Vancouver International Writers Festival
Suite 202, 1398 Cartwright Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
Canada
p: 604 681 6330 x102
f: 604 681 8400
e: hw***@wr*********.ca
w: www.writersfest.bc.ca