Ian Rankin Special Event – TONIGHT
The Vancouver International Writers Festival and McArthur & Co. are proud to present Ian Rankin Thursday, September 17 at 7:30pm, at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church, for the North American launch of his novel The Complaints featuring his new protagonist, Malcolm Fox. For complete event details, visit www.writersfest.bc.ca. Tickets will be available at the door from 7pm.
The Globe & Mail offers a review of Ian Rankin’s new novel, The Complaints, which he will be reading from at tonight’s Special Event: ” If the point of crime fiction is to make you think while entertaining you, then Ian Rankin definitely does it better than most.” And fellow crime novelist PD James praises The Complaints in the Guardian.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/new-detective-same-rankin/article1283677/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/sep/12/rankin-complaints-pd-james-review
David Sedaris Special Event
Tickets are now available to the general public, but you can still do your bit for the VIWF by using the special code “writers” when you book. A portion of the ticket revenue will then come to the Festival. Call 604 280 3311 or visit www.ticketmaster.ca. Event details at http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/specialevents.
Margaret Atwood Special Event: The Year of the Flood
The Vancouver International Writers Festival presents Margaret Atwood: The Year of the Flood on October 1, featuring a dramatic reading with Ms. Atwood, accompanied by some of Vancouver’s finest performers. Singers and musicians Rebecca Jenkins, Linda Kidder, Jane Mortifee, Joel Bakan and Lorna Fortin will sing and play hymns written for The Year of the Flood and actors Donald Adams, Linda Quibell and Adrienne Wong will read selections from the novel. Tickets are now available through VancouverTix (www.vancouvertix.com). Details at http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/specialevents.
The NY Times writes that in her new novel, The Year of the Flood, Margaret Atwood takes her reader into the post-apocalyptic future with “inventiveness and narrative panache,” while the Globe & Mail writes calls the novel the work of “fearless imagination.” Read the full reviews here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/books/15kaku.html?_r=1&ref=books
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/facing-a-poisoned-future/article1283648/
Volunteer!
We still need volunteers with week-day day-time availability to help on our Production and Catering teams. If you are interested in an inside look at the festival, are a team-player, have a great sense of humour, can lift 5 to 10 kg and don’t mind a little physical work, please check out our volunteer pages on our website and register at http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/community/volunteers. Volunteers are also still needed to help with program guide distribution! If you like to work on your own and don’t mind making return trips to the same bookstore or community centre or coffee shop to keep them stocked with our 2009 program, please contact di**********@wr*********.ca. WE NEED YOU now!
Steven Galloway responds to Barbara Kay’s “recent bloviations on the quality of Lisa Moore’s novel February and the state of Canadian literature” in the National Post.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/09/17/steven-galloway-proud-of-canlit.aspx
Lauren B. Davis uses the controversy around British writer Julie Myerson’s recent memoir, Lost Child: A Mother’s Story, as a springboard to discuss the pros and cons of writing personal non-fiction that includes negative details about the lives of others.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/the-truth-has-a-price/article1283661/
BOOKS & WRITERS
Kate Pullinger’s new historical novel, The Mistress of Nothing, imagines the life of real life servant Sally Naldrett, whose boss, Lady Lucie Duff Gordon, banished Sally from her service when she became pregnant following a trip to Egypt. Read a review in the Globe & Mail.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/historical-non-fiction/article1286857/
2009 Festival participant Zoe Whittall reviews Vancouver author Marguerite Pigeon’s debut collection of poetry, Inventory, as well as new collections by Jeanette Lynes and Adeena Karasick.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/poets-who-take-you-to-school/article1275847/
Diana Evans’ second novel, The Wonder, “draws on her background as a dancer and an irrepressible love of London that sparkles through the various narrative threads.” Read the full review in the Globe & Mail.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/books/dancing-the-story-of-london/article1289597/
The NY Times reviews Lev Grossman’s third novel, The Magicians, “a homage to early wonderment.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/books/review/Agger-t.html?ref=books
In this profile in Quill & Quire, Michael Turner, who’s appearing in Event #37 and #61 at the Festival, admits that he’s “never really been interested in defining [his] voice… Different projects and different material require different voices.”
http://www.quillandquire.com/authors/profile.cfm?article_id=10877
In this week’s Georgia Straight, Douglas Coupland also talks about voices, how the one you hear in your head, the one you write with and your physical voice, differ completely. Coupland will be appearing in events #21 and #47.
http://www.straight.com/article-257470/profile-douglas-coupland
The NY Times profiles the “Dame of the British Interior,” Margaret Drabble.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/magazine/13Drabble-t.html?_r=1&ref=books
EVENTS
JOANNE ARNOTT
On Edge Reading series presents the author of Mother Time: Poems New & Selected. Thursday, September 17 at 7:00pm, free. SB406, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Granville Island.
A LITTLE DISTILLERY IN NOWGONG
Launch of Ashok Mathur’s new historical novel. Friday, September 18 at 7:00pm. Century Restaurant and Bar (432 Richards Street, Vancouver).
GEIST EVENING WITH EVELYN LAU
Evelyn Lau will read her work, discuss the art of writing, and answer questions from the audience. Saturday, September 19 at 7:00pm. Admission is $5.00 or free for participants of Geist’s September workshops. Listel Hotel, 1300 Robson Street. For more information, visit http://geist.com/events/evening-evelyn-lau.
BEST OF VAN SLAM 2009
CD release party featuring RC Weslowski, Nora Smithhisler, Chris Gilpin, Johnny MacRae, Steve Miller, Duncan Shields, Spillious, Lisa Slater, Scruffmouth, Zaccheus Jackson, Relevant, Fernando Raguero, Shannon Rayne, and Lucia Misch. Saturday, September 19 at 8:00pm. Admission: $8-$12 and includes a copy of the CD. Rhizome Café, 317 East Braodway.
SUSAN TELFER
Book launch of Susan Tefler’s first book of poetry, House Beneath. Sunday, September 20 at 6:00pm, free. Rhizome Café, 317 East Broadway, Vancouver.
NEW BC POETS
Readings from 4 Poets by Daniela Elza, Peter Morin, Al Rempel, Onjana Yawnghwe. Monday, September 21 at 7:30pm, free. Peter Kaye Room, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street.
IVAN E. COYOTE – INAUGURAL READING
Acclaimed writer and performer Ivan E. Coyote will tell stories, read from some of her many award-winning works and talk about her writing process. Monday, September 21 at 7:30pm, free. Alice MacKay Room, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street.
BOB MCKENZIE
TSN hockey insider shares confessions about his life as a hockey parent from his new book Hockey Dad, followed by question-and-answer and book signing. Tuesday, September 22 at 7:00pm. Chapters on Broadway (2505 Granville).
ROBSON READING SERIES
Readings by Ameen Merchant (The Silent Raga) and David Chariandy (Soucouyant). Thursday, September 24 at 7:00pm, free. UBC Bookstore Library, Robson Square (800 Robson Street). Information at www.rsquare.bookstore.ubc.ca.
BOOK LAUNCH
Women Elders in Action invite the public to attend the launch of the anthology Mythogyny: the lives and times of women elders in BC. Thursday, September 24 at 6:30pm. Teck Gallery, SFU, Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver.
SHORT READINGS
Local authors Cristy Watson, Ian Lauder, Vaughan Chapman, and Virginia Gillespie read from a mix of poetry and other works. Thursday, September 24 at 7:30pm, free. Pelican Rouge Coffee House (15142 North Bluff Rd., White Rock).
PLAY CHTHONICS READING
Readings by award winning poets Jordan Scott and A.F. Moritz. Friday, September 25 at 7:30pm, free. Graham House at Green College, 6201 Cecil Green Park Road, UBC. More information at http://playchthonics.blogspot.com/.
WORD ON THE STREET
National book and magazine festival – held downtown at Library Square in the concourse. Fun and educational for all ages. Sunday, September 27 from 11am to 5pm. Vancouver Public Library, 350 W. Georgia. More information at http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/vancouver.
LITERACY AND BEYOND WINE TASTING GALA
Hal Wake and wine columnist Anthony Gismondi host the 3rd annual event with dozens of B.C. wines, West Coast cuisine, jazz, and live and silent auctions in support of Literacy B.C. Monday, September 28 at 6:00pm. Beyond Restaurant + Lounge (1015 Burrard Street). More information at www.literacyandbeyond.com/.
Upcoming
802ND BIRTHDAY AND LIFE CELEBRATION OF RUMI
The World Poetry Reading Series and Vancouver Public Library present the poetry of Rumi in English and different languages. Monday, September 28 at 6:30pm, free. Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia, Vancouver.
BOOK LAUNCH AND PARTY
Wear your plaid, dungarees, overalls, long johns and join West Coast contributors Charlotte Gill, Jaspreet Singh and John Vigna as we celebrate the launch of Cabin Fever, the Banff Centre’s newest literary journalism anthology. Wednesday, September 30 at 8:00pm.The Brickhouse (730 Main Street).
Produced by the Book News Collective: Hal Wake, Clea Young, Brenda Berck, 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 – 18-25 October inclusive
Vancouver International Writers Festival
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Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
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