PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND’S GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON/BUZZPEI.COM GOING ISLAND’S WHAT’S TO GUIDE EDWARD PRINCE February 2020 Katharine Dagg Page 2 The BUZZ February 2020 The BUZZ February 2020 Page 3 Page 4 The BUZZ February 2020 Profile: Mo Duffy Cobb by Jane Ledwell It also helped prepare her to seek pub- lication of her book, Unpacked: From PEI to Palawan, a memoir of her fami- ly’s travels in the wake of the unimag- Moving words inable loss of their daughter, Tya, to stillbirth. “It’s a different world in publishing than when it [the Writers’ Guild] was established,” Mo reflects. “Authors can do so much on your own…”—but, she adds, “you have to take unconventional risks.” Placing her manuscript was complex, “because it was a memoir, but a travel memoir, that didn’t take place in Atlantic Canada—plus it was a grief memoir, and, unh, who wants to read that.” Mo did a “Pitch the Publisher” event, “at a microphone, in a room full of publishers and editors and the pub- lic… There’s such a human element— people in the room who have access and agency.” It paid off: Lesley Choyce of Pottersfield Press, selected the book for publication. The SeaWords conference that put Mo on an author’s path also inspired Mo and the Writers’ Guild to initiate a literary festival, Wild Threads, featur- ing workshops and readings by some of Canada’s foremost writers and publishers. Mo is excited about the second season for Wild Threads. “Wild Threads has a shot at becoming a first- class literary festival, that has really exciting potential to give PEI writers a real shot.” Mo says, “We want PEI to be a place with really well-developed cultural experiences. We’re not small fries.” Mo reflects, “Most people don’t have time or capacity to focus on writing. Writing has to fit into a platform of things that go hand in hand with writ- BUZZ ing.” For Mo, a mom of three growing children, the balance is with teaching, but, she says, “between teaching and Author and PEI Writers’ Guild president good experiences through the Writers’ writing parts of my life, besides family Mo Duffy Cobb holds a mug of coffee Guild.” She continues, “The Writers’ business… it’s a balancing act.” in her Charlottetown kitchen, reflect- Guild has been a really good oppor- ing on the recent strategic planning tunity for networking with publish- In her writing life, Mo has been retreat and the path to make the ers and writers, being around that working with Lori Mayne on “a organization more accessible, after inspiration… ‘company-ography’” of her father 30+ years serving Island writers. “We Regis Duffy’s bioscience business. Mo want the Writers’ Guild to be accessi- “Being a writer used to be ‘not a real says, “I’m not at sea writing a poetry ble to everyone, regardless if they’re thing,’” Mo remarks. It was hard to be book or something. I am on contract; published or not—we want to include an aspiring writer “with a crushing I have firm deadlines. The structure diverse voices; we want to be inclu- desire to move forward.” A turning has helped me move forward with sive,” Mo says. point for Mo was attending SeaWords, the book in a good way.” The sci- a creative writing conference hosted ence-heavy non-fiction is also inspiring From providing bursaries to reinforce twice by the L.M. Montgomery her to consider future projects in a dif- the message “people shouldn’t feel like Institute at UPEI. ferent style. “I feel like I want to write you need money to write,” to creat- something fluid,” she says. ing a welcome space for youth and SeaWords was “one of the things that emerging writers, Mo says, “We want really brought me into the world of Mo wants the Writers’ Guild to flourish to continue with the original intentions writing,” Mo says. “I wasn’t sure about to support emerging and established but add some more options… We want authors or publishers—even though writers. Mo admits, “I’m a demanding the Writers’ Guild to have a broader I had a manuscript at that point.” Mo leader!” She reflects, “I have the elec- wingspan, to create more experiences.” credits the conference—and following tric energy that we can do anything. I up in networks—with the opportunity have a big-thinking vision, because I Mo says, “Even as a writer from a to develop her memoir and to pursue am a dreamer—there’s no question.” very small island, I’ve had a lot of her MFA in creative writing. The BUZZ February 2020 Page 5 LIVE @ the Centre Bruce Guthro Winter calendar Songwriters Circle Two legends, a prospect, Ben Caplan, Rose Cousins, Letterkenny on tour, and more and a birthday—Jan 31 On January 31, Bruce Guthro will host two music legends and one of the regions upcoming prospects, in his Bruce Guthro Songwriters Circle—PEI. He will also throw a birthday celebra- tion for a music icon. Joining Bruce in his “circle” at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown are his daughter Jodi, Terry Kelly and Matt Minglewood. Matt Minglewood’s birthday is going to add another com- ponent to the fun. The careers of Bruce, Matt and Terry are well known. Collectively, they’ve performed in dozens of coun- tries, multiple continents and they have won international, national and regional awards. Bruce’s daughter Jodi is in the earlier stages of a promis- ing career. She has released 7 singles on her way to her debut album and recently joined her father on a tour Ben Caplan with his band FRASER MCCALLUM through Germany and Denmark. Tickets can be purchased at the This month, Confederation Centre’s live March welcomes the return of Island Eastlink Centre Box office in person performance series kicks off a bustling songwriters Rose Cousins and and by phone (629-6625), weekdays winter calendar of dance, choral music, Catherine MacLellan with individual from 11 am to 5 pm, or at rock, folk, and so much more, all LIVE @ concerts on March 21 and 28, respect- eastlinkcentrepei.com. the Centre. The complex will stage two ably. Cousins’ hometown release show dozen events between February and for her new record BRAVADO will take May, hosting these shows between the place in the Homburg Theatre fea- Mainstage, The Mack, Memorial Hall, turing an opening set from John Paul and partner venues, St. Paul’s Anglican White (The Civil Wars). and Trinity United. While the record comes out February On February 20 at The Mack, the 21, Cousins has already dropped two Centre presents East Coast singer- singles from the album. The first, “The songwriter with a twist, Ben Caplan Benefits of Being Alone,” is thought and his five-piece band. With his provoking, upbeat, and poppy with unruly mane and booming voice, a horn section. The second, “The Caplan brings a striking presence to Fraud,” is a ballad that features back- the stage. Combining timeless melo- ing by Atlantic String Machine. The dies with a contemporary folk feel, he award-winning songwriter describes explores subjects with understanding, the new album as the sound of a heart an open heart, and wry, noir humour. trying to open. “It explores the compli- Expect a mix of songs from all of his cation of emotion, its irrational tenden- albums, including his latest, Old Stock. cies, and its wisdom,” she offers. “It invites us to feel the courage it takes to Opening for Ben will be Toronto sing- be vulnerable.” er-songwriter Laurent Bourque, whose new album Blue Hour, was produced April promises more than showers, by PEI’s Dan Ledwell and includes the with dance umbrella and the Choral CBC Music Top 20 charting “Matador.” Music Programme staging public performances for springtime. Classic Saxophone quartet PROTEUS come Albums Live returns with a tribute to together in Memorial Hall on February Tom Petty: Damn the Torpedoes April 28, delivering a unique and personal 14. CBC Radio darling Basia Bulat is repertoire that promises to take the back on the Mainstage, bringing her audience on a journey through tra- national tour to the Island in support ditional works, reimagined classical of her new album, Are You in Love?, arrangements, and new music with due out March 27. “incredible precision and a great deal of emotion” (Le Voyageur). The group For LIVE @ the Centre concerts and all perform on different sax types and theatre bookings from visiting acts like strive to present music from many Letterkenny: Live on Tour, Jesse Cook styles, which highlight the character of visit confederationcentre.com. the sax and its diverse personas. Page 6 The BUZZ February 2020 The Pourhouse Smitten: A Winter Review Tanya Davis & Catherine MacLellan reunite—Feb 14 & 15 Tanya Catherine Long-time friends and artistic col- and the rest of it) for 30 years now, laborators Catherine MacLellan and since they serendipitously ended up Tanya Davis are teaming up for two as neighbours while in elementary shows over Valentine’s Weekend, school. Having long ago established an February 14 and 15, at The Pourhouse inquisitive and comedic rapport, they in Charlottetown. Smitten: A Winter have brought their musings to shared Revue will see solo sets, new collabora- stages across Canada and overseas, tions, and special guests performing. from a West Coast tour for Mental “These are not Valentine’s shows Health Week to the Island favourite necessarily,” clarifies Davis, “though of Mittentime Review. course we’re going to talk about love! Smitten is Davis’ first show since Also, all of the spin-offs of love, the moving back to PEI this winter.