Vol. 5 No. 4

• Special Event
• Awards & Lists
• News & Features
• Books & Writers
• Community Events

In other news

VPL Writer in Residence

The Vancouver Public Library is pleased to announce that they will be accepting applications for their sixth writer-in-residence in 2010. Deadline is January 15, 2010. Complete details can be found on their website.

New Westminster Poet Laureate Search

New Westminster is seeking its next Poet Laureate. Deadline to apply is January 29, 2010. For more information, click here.

BC Bestsellers

The Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia is posting a weekly list of BC’s bestselling books.

Special Event

Spoken World
Get your tickets before they’re gone! Tickets for the Vancouver International Writers Festival’s spoken word extravaganza with Ivan E. Coyote, Shane Koyczan, Ariana Waynes and Skeena Reece and Sal Ferreras are going fast. View highlights from Spoken World 2009 on YouTube and Flickr.
Read more

Awards & Lists

The Costa Awards (formerly Whitbread) have been announced and to the surprise of many Colm Toibin won the fiction prize over Hilary Mantel. Full story
The finalists for the Charles Taylor Prize for non-fiction have been announced and two of the finalists are also on the BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction shortlist. Full story
The Guardian’s list of books to watch for in 2010. Full story
Graphic designer Bill Douglas has chosen 10 innovative book covers from the past decade. Full story

News & Features

More than 250 Canadian writers have signed a petition protesting illegal digitization of books by Google. Full story
There has been some confusion about whether you can take a book in your carry on luggage on flights to the U.S. The latest words is: yes. Full story
The Guardian has asked well known writers if Tolstoy is the greatest writer of all time. Full story

Books & Writers

Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer (who was at this year’s Festival) praises an early novel from the Nobel Prize winning writer JMG Le Clezio. Full story
The CBC Arts page has a feature on Don Gillmor‘s novel Kanata. Full story
A Festival favourite, Jasper Fforde, has ventured into the realm of science fiction. Full story
The third in a trilogy of novels by the Spanish master Javier Marias has just been released. Full story
Jonathan Raban, who was here two Festivals ago, has turned his discerning eye and mordant wit to books by and about Sarah Palin. Full story
The American novelist Anne Tyler‘s latest book got some rough treatment at the hands of this NY Times reviewer. Full story
Alison Gopnik in the New York Times Sunday Book Review on Reading in the Brain. Full story

Community Events

TOM GAMMARINO
Reading and book signing with the author of Big in Japan. Thursday, January 7 at 6:30pm. Sophia Books, 450 West Hastings Street.
CHARLES BERNSTEIN
The Kootenay School of Writing presents a talk by author, editor, and scholar Charles Bernstein. Friday, January 8 at 8:00pm. Admission: $3-5 sliding scale. W2 Perel Gallery (112 W. Hastings). More information at www.kswnet.org.
JUDAISM, ZEN, AND THE PRACTICE OF POETRY
Reading and discussion with poets Norman Fischer and Emily Warn. Sunday, January 10 at 7:00pm. Admission by donation. Crossreach Adult Day Centre (3348 W. Broadway). More information at www.mountainrainzen.org.
VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Women of the World Poetry Slam featuring Christa Bell. Monday, January 11 at 8:00pm. Admission: $5/$3. Café Deux Soleils (2096 Commercial). More information at www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
CANADIAN AUTHORS ASSOCIATION
Journalist Gillian Shaw discusses social media and its importance to Canadian authors. Wednesday, January 13 at 7:00pm. Tickets: $5/2, free to CAA members. Alliance for Arts and Culture (100-938 Howe). More information at pr******@ca*****************.org.
WORLD POETRY NIGHT OUT
Multicultural, multilingual readings by Don Benson, Alejandro Mujica-Olea, Katherine and Gavin Farnsworth, and Candice Jones, with musician Evelyn Benson and hosts Adriadne Sawyer and Heidi Mueller. Wednesday, January 13 at 7:00pm. Urth Coffeehouse (72 8th St., New Westminster).
IAN FERGUSON
Reading by the award-winning playwright, humourist and author of How to Be a Canadian. Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 2:00pm. Lillooet Room (level 3), Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (1961 East Mall). More information at www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca.
GREG MORTENSON
The author of Three Cups of Tea is coming to Kidsbooks in January! His powerful presentation will highlight his new adult book, Stones Into Schools; Promoting Peace With Books, Not Bombs, In Afghanistan and Pakistan. Adult tickets include a copy of the new book. For tickets and details, visit www.kidsbooks.ca.
STORIES OF SLOTH AND REGRETS
Vancouver Storytellers presents storytelling by Erin Graham, Larry Matier, Tony Rainbow, Alvin Sanders, and Rita Taylor. Sunday, January 17 at 7:00pm. Tickets $7. St. Mark’s Anglican Church (1805 Larch). More information at www.vancouverstorytellers.vcn.bc.ca.
WORLD POETRY CELEBRATES TANGLEWOOD BOOKS
Multicultural, multilingual readings by Godwin Barton, James Mullen, Lucia Gorea, Roger Blenman, Farina Reinprecht, Ibrahim Honjo, and Warren Dean Fulton, hosted by Adriadne Sawyer and Alejandro Mujica-Olea. Monday, January 18 at 7:00pm. Tanglewood Books (1553 W. Broadway). More information at ar******@un******.com.
ESCAPE CLAUSE: A SPECULATIVE FICTION ANTHOLOGY
Hear selected readings from Escape Clause, stories of wonder and delight, from speculative fiction writers. Featuring Linda Demeulemeester, Eileen Kernaghan, Casey Wolf, Ari Goelman, Clelie Rich, Marcie Lynn Tentchoff, and Maryke Hendrikse. Monday, January 18 at 7:30pm, free. Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye Rooms, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. For more information please contact Vancouver Public Library at 604-331-3603.
Upcoming
ANN ERIKSSON
Join author in a discussion of her most recent book In the Hands of Anubis. January 21 at 7:00pm. Christianne’s Lyceum of Literature and Art, 3696 W. 8th. More information at www.christiannehayward.com.
DOUGLAS BURNET SMITH
Author reads selections from Sister Prometheus: Discovering Madame Curie and from his forthcoming collection, Surface to Air. Monday, January 25 at 7:30pm, free. Alma VanDusen & Peter Kaye Rooms, Lower Level, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. For more information please contact Vancouver Public Library at 604-331-3603.
2010 HAIKU INVITATIONAL
While the cherry blossoms bloom from March through May, you are invited to write your haiku with fresh inspiration. The poems will be judged during the summer and winners announced in the fall 2010. Winning poems will then be featured during the 2011 festival. So start planning now to submit your cherry blossom haiku this coming spring. The deadline for the next round of haiku submissions will be May 31, 2010. More information at www.vcbf.ca.