The Raddall, Richardson & Poetry prize winners
Steven Laffoley won the Evelyn Richardson Memorial Non-fiction Award for Shadowboxing: The Rise and Fall of George Dixon (Pottersfield Press).
Russell Wangersky received the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award for his collection of short stories Whirl Away (Dundurn)
The Atlantic Poetry Prize went to Lesley Choyce for his latest collection I’m Alive. I Believe in Everything. Poems New and Selected (Breton Books). The WFNS Literary Awards The 2013 Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia Literary Awards and its $29,000 Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia in prizes were presented in September. The event was held at the Institute ISSN 1187 3531 of Applied Creativity at NSCAD, just across the street from the Writers’ Fed 1113 Marginal Road office. Stephanie Domet, Invisible Publishing author and host of CBC Radio’s Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4F7 Mainstreet, emceed the proceedings, while Sarah Emsley and Ryan Turner Tel: 902-423-8116 Fax: 902-422-0881 presented the awards. www.writers.ns.ca The Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award, valued at $25,000, was presented to Russell Wangersky of St. John’s, Newfoundland, for Whirl Executive Director: Jonathan Meakin Away, a collection of short stories published by Thomas Allen Publishers. E-mail: [email protected] Mentorship & Outreach Officer: Three of the 12 stories in the collection are optioned for films and are being Sue Goyette adapted as screenplays. Whirl Away was also shortlisted for both the BMO e-mail: [email protected] Winterset Award and the 2012 ScotiaBank Giller Prize. Wangersky is the Communications & Education Officer: editorial page editor of the St. John’s Telegram and is the author of novels, short Heidi Hallett story collections, and the award-winning non-fiction bookBurning Down the e-mail: [email protected] House: Fighting Fires and Losing Myself. Eastword Editor: Peggy Amirault He’s currently working on two projects – a new collection of short stories, WFNS Board of Directors and a novel. In an interview with Tara Bradbury of The Telegram, Wangersky President: Sylvia Gunnery said he plans to use the Raddall prize money in the way it was intended: “The Past-President: Ryan Turner Vice President: Sarah Emsley interesting thing about this prize is it was set up by Thomas Head Raddall Secretary: Jaime Forsythe to provide enough money to give writers enough time to write. His son has Treasurer: Kathryn Herbert continued it and has increased the award substantially for that reason. I’m Members At Large: Don Aker, Brian hoping it will actually do that. How it will pan out, I don’t know.” Braganza, Binnie Brennan, Kelsey McLaren, Andy Wainwright Also shortlisted for the Raddall Award were Donna Morrissey for the Deception of Livvy Higgs (Penguin Group) and Keir Lowther for Dirty Bird The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is a registered not-for-profit organization that operates (Tightrope Books). with funds raised from membership fees, from The Evelyn Richardson Memorial Award for Non-Fiction was presented fundraising endeavours, corporate sponorship, to Steven Laffoley for Shadowboxing: The Rise and Fall of George Dixon with operating support from the Government of Nova Scotia through the Department of (Pottersfield Press). George Dixon (1878-1908) from Nova Scotia was one of Communities, Culture and Heritage, and with the first great black boxing champions. The author of five non-fiction books, project assistance from the Canada Council for the Laffoley’s latest is Pulling No Punches: The Sam Langford Story – a biography of Arts – all of whom we gratefully acknowledge for assisting us to make the work of the another boxing legend from Nova Scotia, Sam Langford (1883-1956). Also WFNS possible. The WFNS is a member of the shortlisted for the Richardson Award were Jerry Lockett (The Discovery of Atlantic Provinces Library Association, Access Copyright, the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Weather: Stephen Saxby, the tumultuous birth of weather forecasting, and Saxby’s Gale of CANSCAIP (Canadian Society of Children’s 1869, Formac) and Hugh MacDonald (Cape Breton Railways: An Illustrated History, Authors, Illustrators and Performers), the Cultural Cape Breton University Press). Federations of Nova Scotia, the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), and the The Atlantic Poetry Prize went to Lesley Choyce for I’m Alive. I Believe in Nova Scotia Children’s Literature Roundtable. The Everything (Breton Books). This collection of new and selected work covers a opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the wide range of subjects: war, peace, surfing, organic gardening, aging, seaweed, editor or of WFNS. Services and markets advertised or mentioned are Halifax, Saskatoon, Glasgow, outhouses, cement mixers, crows, watermelons, not necessarily endorsed by WFNS. We reserve the mushrooms, geese, truth, lies, and madness – to name a few. Choyce has right to edit manuscritps and letters. Copyright to bylined material remains with the writer and published more than 70 books for adults and kids. Also nominated for the cannot be reprinted without the permission of the award were Carole Glasser Langille for Church of the Exquisite Panic: The Ophelia writer. Poems (Pedlar Press) and George Murray for Whiteout (ECW Press). n Typeset in Amethyst, an original type design by Jim Rimmer, New Westminster, BC. Printed offset at Gaspereau Press, Kentville, NS.
Page 2 Eastword September/October 2013 Salty Ink chats with Raddall Award-winner Russell Wangersky
Chad Pelley, creator of Salty Ink: a spotlight on fresh Canadian fiction and poetry (http://saltyink.com), spoke with Russell Wangersky about Whirl Away and other topics. The interview is reprinted with permission. CP: In what ways has being a journalist helped you be a better writer? RW: Being a journalist – particularly in print – has helped tremendously, first because it means I’m always working with words. That helps with finding the right language, with pace and pitch, it’s just a huge value to other writing. The other thing it helps with is concentration: every newsroom I’ve ever worked in has been noisy and chaotic – if you can write in that clamour, slipping into a story in the relative quiet of your own home seems far easier. CP: The authenticity of your characters is both commendable and notable, like how Dennis in “McNally’s Fair” knew everything that can go wrong with a rollercoaster and how to cheat your way into passing a safety inspection. Is it just a matter of meticulous research, Russell Wangersky an inherent need to be accurate, or has your day job made you an all-around trivia buff know-it-all? RW: My day job involves paying attention all “Sharp Corner” – The idea actually came from a the time, and poking into scores of things that I find small piece of road just outside of St, John’s where there interesting. I worked with a firefighter for several years have been a series of accidents on what should be a who was a pressure vessel inspector – it sets you to relatively easy-to-navigate gentle curve. There’s a house thinking about what that involves. In order to do my right on that corner, and after passing it a few times, I job, I have to see things, and I have to talk to people began to wonder what it would be like to live there. about what they do, how they do it, and what they find “I Like” – I actually quite like cooking, and wondered irritating. Luckily, that’s become a skill I never turn off. what a relationship would be like if someone began to It bugs family members sometimes, who wonder why replace their need for physical contact with a kind of I have to talk on and on with everyone I meet, but it’s sensual relationship with food. hugely valuable. CP: You’re writing both short [fiction] and novels. When an CP: Pick three stories from the collection and tell us where idea or character comes to you, how do you decide whether the idea came from or what you were setting out to capture. it’d be best served as a short [story] or a novel? RW: “Echo” – It’s a story that started while I was out RW: I almost always think things will end up being running, when I ran past a small boy who said as clear longer than they are – if I think an idea might be a as a bell “You don’t care what I think.” That made me 5,000-word short story, even if I think it’s going to be that wonder, what is his world like? Where do those adult length right while I’m in the middle of writing it, it tends words come from? Most of my stories start that way: to come to a relatively quick end as soon as I understand trying to answer the question “what if you took that to just how it’s going to end. I like to make the characters, the logical extreme?” let them do their own thing, and bring the piece to a
Eastword September/October 2013 Page 3 close when they’ve decided what’s going to happen. I’m except sometimes, you run into collections that stretch not a writer who does long-term planning of narrative too far to make the theme work. And that can actually arcs with maps or models – I don’t enjoy that, because I weaken the package. always feel that you end up forcing your characters to do CP: What’s the one story from this collection that’s stayed things they might not, if you let them do the talking. So with you the most? And [the] reason why? I guess that, in reality, I let the characters and the issue decide whether it’s a story or a novel – and I’ve only had RW: For me, “Echo,” just because the boy in that story limited experience with novels. seems to be so caught in the way his whole life will unfold. And that’s a tragedy. CP: I find, personally, delivering a powerful short story is harder than writing a powerful novel. Why do you think CP: You’ve done very well with awards recognition and that is? have been well-reviewed. But what’s been one comment from media so far that you just couldn’t wrap your head around? RW: I’m not sure I do. I think it’s harder to deliver a powerful collection of short stories, because there are so RW: I know that journalists and reviewers have many different kinds of readers, and it’s hard to deliver a busy lives and many other duties. By far the strangest collection that people consistently enjoy – everyone has comment I had to deal with, in terms of just leaving me favourites and ones they don’t like. The beauty of short stunned, was when I was on private radio in Halifax for stories, to me, is that as a writer you can sit and work and my memoir Burning Down the House. I was on a call-in hold the whole thing in your head – you never lose your show, and the host sat me down, an ad started to run and place or have to go back and see where and when things he said, “I haven’t read anything except the back cover. happen. You’ve got 30 seconds to fill me in on what it’s about.” I think I wasted 10 of those seconds with my mouth CP: Do you have any favourite short stories, collections or hanging open. short story writers? CP: This is your third book in a row [from] the fantastic RW: Oh, that changes a lot. Right now, I’m really Thomas Allen. Have you worked with the same editor each taken with three short-story collections: Dan Chaon’s time, and is that a good thing, that familiarity with each Stay Awake, the horrendously harsh but intriguing Guilt other? – Stories by Ferdinand von Schirach and Zsuzi Gartner’s wonderful Better Living Through Plastic Explosives. RW: I’ve worked Janice Zawerbny for all three. She is a very gentle editor, although one that just politely won’t CP: Is there one book you wish you [had written] or learned give up when she sees a problem. We get along very well, a lot from as a writer? and it is a good thing – you get an idea when either of RW: I think the book I learned most from was you is uncomfortable with something. You also get to Alistair MacLeod’s The Lost Salt Gift of Blood, which I first know the mechanics of the publishing house pretty well, read in high school. It was the first book that actually and that helps a lot if anything gets in a jam – you know sent the message that the things that were happening in who and when to call. the close world around me could actually have a broader CP: You’re writing books at quite a pace: one every two years value to others. since 2006. You’ve probably got another one underway, do CP: There’s certainly a thematic link in all these stories – you? people with one foot past their tipping point. Was this RW: I’ve just finished the first draft of a novel, but a intentional, to write a suite of stories around a concept, or first draft that still has a lot of work to be done, because are you always writing stories and grouped these together it is quite a peculiar thing. I like writing much more for a theme? Do you prefer themed collections as a reader? than editing – and I like to be working on something all RW: I think themed collections and linked stories the time. It means the house doesn’t get painted, but I do seem to be popular with publishers, perhaps because manage to get potatoes in the ground in the spring. n they feel that it’s one way to try and subvert readers who [they] believe are more attracted to novels. In Whirl Away, the theme came after the stories – they just seemed to naturally fit together after the fact. I like both kinds –
Page 4 Eastword September/October 2013 36th Annual Atlantic Writing Competition Results
for Children Prize and the Young Adult Novel Prize catagories. WFNS hopes to confirm sponsors for other AWC prize categories in the near future. The Writers Fed is now accepting submissions to the 37th annual Atlantic Writing Competition. The deadline for submissions to AWC 37 is February 1, 2014, with shortlists for each category revealed on June 30, category winners announced on July 31, and the prize-giving ceremony in September. Details are available at www. writers.ns.ca. Congratulations to all who entered the competition this year. The winners are as follows: The Creative Non-Fiction Prize Judge: Marjorie Simmins Winner: “Mine Said Wednesday” by Gillian Osmond Don Aker prepares to announce the winner of the Joyce Barkhouse (Lunenburg, NS) Writing for Children prize. The H.R. (Bill) Percy Novel Prize Judge: Lesley Crewe Winner: “Enough” by Marina Harris (Indian Harbour, NS) At a breezy prize-giving event at the Halifax Word on the Unproduced Play Prize Street Book and Magazine Festival on Sunday, September Judge: Gary Blackwood 22, the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia revealed the Winner: “Science Inaction: a love story” by Griffin winners of the 36th Atlantic Writing Competition (AWC). McInnes (Halifax, NS) These prize winners were selected from more than 100 entries and were judged by WFNS members and past The Poetry Prize AWC-winners who have achieved significant professional Judge: Susan McMaster success. Judges this year were Marjorie Simmins, Lesley Winner: “I Wait in the Next Room” by Ryan Marshall Crewe, Gary Blackwood, Susan McMaster, Keir Lowther, (Noonan, NB) Don Aker, and Daphne Greer. WFNS recognizes the support of the Province of The Budge Wilson Short Story Prize Nova Scotia through the Department of Communities, Judge: Keir Lowther Culture, and Heritage for the AWC program. We are Winner: “Joey Moulton” by Steven Naylor (Halifax, NS) pleased to work in partnership with the province to The Joyce Barkhouse Writing for Children Prize develop and promote our cultural resources for all Nova Judge: Don Aker Scotians. Winner: “Secrets: A Strange Tale” by Georgia S. Atkin The Atlantic Writing Competition program provides (Halifax, NS) an important avenue for the development and promotion of emerging writers throughout Atlantic Canada. In The Young Adult Novel Prize addition to facilitating feedback through the AWC Judge: Daphne Greer assessment process, WFNS seeks to partner with sponsors Winner: “The General Store” by Lori McKay who are able to provide further mentorship support for (Dartmouth, NS) n prize winners. WFNS is grateful to the Canadian Society for Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers (CANSCAIP) for offering a Blue Pencil Mentorship package to the winners of the Joyce Barkhouse Writing
Eastword September/October 2013 Page 5 Congratulations to Alice Munro Maiden Voyage for Alice Munro on winning the Nobel by Andy Wainwright The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia wishes to There are coordinates to fame congratulate Alice Munro on receiving the Nobel Prize You are not hard to find in Literature 2013. Nova Scotia’s writing and publishing When I finally meet you in the bar communities should take note that this international It is too late acclaim, as well as the national laurels Munro has earned Things the darkness hides over the years, is for a writer whose work has a distinct The map-lines of our faces regional focus. Writers may stake, or be drawn to, specific territory in their texts, but literature pays little attention We drink and laugh to geography and grows, instead, in the expansive Navigating our lives like two friends cartography of readers’ minds. ~ WFNS Back from a skirmish, not a war You announce you could live in this city Andy Wainwright recalls Alice Munro In a water-mark I plot In 1982 Alice Munro came to Halifax to give a reading at The main street of your town Dalhousie University. As a Canadian literature specialist in the Department of English who taught her work, I Later I reveal you to strangers was delegated to introduce her. To provide some human Those who read you like a book context for what would otherwise be a basic recitation In the harsh light Our voices of her publications and accomplishments, I asked if we No longer searching for common ground might meet for a drink before the reading. We did so Plugged into the crowd in the old Victory Lounge on Spring Garden Road and We lose whatever it was talked about writing and the books we liked. We had begun to find My memory is of a gracious, intelligent woman Your face in contour now whose great talent, the ability to combine “deep caves Fifteen years of moving into the wind … with kitchen linoleum” in compelling, unforgettable ways, was profoundly evident over 30 years ago. If But for awhile in the Victory Lounge someone had told me back then she would be the first It seems like once-upon-a-time Canadian writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature I Spices and Cathay, no maps would not have been at all surprised. After the reading Before we knew whole continents I transformed some of my thoughts and feelings into a Were in the way poem and put it in the mail. She replied to thank me and say it was the first time anyone had ever written a poem The maiden voyage, there for her. On the quay the girls Between the lines Who let me hold their hands
Page 6 Eastword September/October 2013 President’s Report Markets etc. n Room (www.roommagazine.com) Sylvia Gunnery “Room is a space where women can Summer is now officially behind us and speak, connect, and showcase their we’re digging out socks and cozy sweaters creativity.” Calling for submissions from bottom drawers. We’ve had lazy Issue 37:3 Geek Girls, deadline: hours of reading in hammocks or on January 31, 2014. beaches, and we’ve been goofing off in the freedom of extended daylight. We’ve n The Malahat Review: (www. had intense hours of writing, trying to malahatreview.ca) At Home in be faithful to our routines. I hope you’ve Translation theme issue. The enjoyed it all. Malahat Review invites the world’s Your Board of Directors has had writers to Canada through works two meetings (one in July and one in translation from a Canadian in September) with committee work perspective. Deadline March continuing throughout the summer 15, 2014. Looking for: English (more about that in a minute). The WFNS translations of contemporary Literary Awards, the announcement of the Atlantic Writing Competition (written and/or published since winners, and our presence at Word on the Street were at the very top of our 1970) poetry, fiction, and creative to-do list. By now, many of you know first-hand that the energy poured into non-fiction from any language or those events has definitely paid off. A gigantic Thank You to our office staff, country. Also invites submissions Board members, and volunteers who contributed to the work (lots and lots of of translated works by Québécois work) and to the fun (lots and lots of fun)! and Québécoise writers and of This year, we have a new structure for governance of our organization: writing from Acadie and elsewhere the Board meets every second month with committees meeting during the in French-speaking Canada. Equally months in between. This is a very good rhythm for getting work done interested in translations of work and providing support for the Board and for our Executive Director. The by Canadian writers in languages committees are: Finance, Fund Development, Membership, Personnel, Policies other than English and French, & Procedures, Programs, Recruitment & Nominating, and Strategic Planning. including the works of First Jamie Forsythe summarized the function of the new structure in her Nations writers. Translators: must minutes from our June 24 Board meeting: “A committee in itself doesn’t have be Canadians, Canadian residents, the power to pass a motion or to expend funds – instead, it does the legwork or Canadian expatriates, may be to bring information to the board. This helps with division of labour and trained professionals, knowledgeable gives focused energies to specific areas. Having members on committees authors, or proficient enthusiasts. engages membership and provides the opportunity for membership Also invites thoughtful essays about representation across the province. Builds greater capacity in the organization the process of translation and the to do more things. A lot of committee work can be done through emails, importance of translation today, phone calls, Skype, etc., saving on travel time and easily keeping everyone as well as reviews of works in connected.” translation published by Canadian In the Eastword summer issue, I spoke about volunteers “jumping in and translators and/or Canadian splashing around” (my mind was obviously at the beach). Those of us who are publishers. Details on website. working in the office and serving on the Board would appreciate your volun- teer efforts, for sure. As the need arises, we’ll post requests for volunteers on our weekly e-loop. You might drop into the office or call – perhaps an hour of your time would ease the day’s workload a bit. Some of you may be able to help without even leaving home. If you’re a Writers’ Council member, for example, you might respond to email questions about writing and publishing. As a volunteer, you’ll share time with friends, make some new ones, and be part of helping the WFNS grow even stronger. Bonus! n
Eastword September/October 2013 Page 7 Who’s doing what
n The Creative Nova Scotia Awards in Poetry. He won the GG in 2007 were presented on October 25. for All Our Wonder Unavenged, which And two of the five Established also received the Atlantic Poetry Artist Recognition Awards went Prize and the $25,000 Lieutenant- to Writers Fed members. Carol Governor’s Masterworks Award in Langille has four books of poetry 2008. In an interview with Andrea published with a fifth due out soon. Nemetz in the Chronicle Herald, Her most recent collection Church of Don said Bite Down Little Whisper is the Exquisite Panic: The Ophelia Poems his interpretation of “our place in (Pedlar Press) was shortlisted for the nature, the interconnectedness of Atlantic Poetry Prize. Carol teaches the world of humans, plants and poetry at Dalhousie University animals.” n Internationally renowned rug- and travels extensively giving hooking artist Deanne Fitzpatrick readings and workshops on the art is auctioning off the 15 hooked of poetry. Christy Ann Conlin is rugs she created for her new a fiction writer, essayist, dramatist book collaboration with award- and poet, who has three new books winning children’s author Sheree scheduled for publication in the Fitch called Singily Skipping Along, future, including a novel, Listening published by Nimbus. Bidding is for the Island; a short story collection, open until 5 p.m., Sunday, December The Diplomat: Stories of Exile and 1 at singilyskipping.ca. Each rug Return; and a young adult novel, that Fitzpatrick created for the Meadowsweet. The Community Arts playful children’s picture book and Culture Recognition Award about body movement for kids aged was presented to the Town of New n Dann Alexander’s latest book, two to five is one-of-a-kind and an Glasgow and the County of Pictou. Throwing Dice, is now available amazing piece of artwork. All of The prestigious Portia White Award through Lulu.com at a price of $9.51 the proceeds from the auction go to went to Laurie Swim in recognition plus $5.99 shipping and handling. L’Arche in Atlantic Canada. L’Arche of her 40-year career in advancing It will be available on Amazon communities are places where the craft of quilting to the fine art in December. Throwing Dice is a people, with and without intellectual audience and for carving a niche collection of experimental short disabilities, come together to learn through fibre art that is comparable satire mixed with some storytelling, from each other, discover life-long to any realist painter in Atlantic with some of the stories set in friendships, and work to create a Canada. Atlantic Canada. Dann is a freelance more compassionate world. For more n Miki Fukuda’s poem “Breakfast writer based in Beaver Bank. His first about Deanne’s work, see www. Is the Most Important Meal of the book Planned UnParenthood, Creating A hookingrugs.com. Day” is forthcoming in Beer and Life Without Procreating was released n Val Spencer has a story included Butter Tarts: Canadian Food Literary last year and continues to sell in the 2013 edition of Best Canadian Journal in December. Also, Paisley through online retailers worldwide. Stories, out next month from Oberon Chapbook Press will release her Press. chapbook of poetry An Apparition as a Goldfish in a Glass Bowl in November. n Don Domanski’s ninth book of poetry – Bite Down Little Whisper (Brick Books) – has earned him his fourth nomination for the Governor General’s Literary Award
Page 8 Eastword September/October 2013 Impressed – new books
The Last Stand Flying With a Broken Wing Our Own Little World Hat Girl Schools, Communities and the Laura Best in paintings and verse Wanda Campbell Future of Rural Nova Scotia Nimbus Sept. 2013 $12.95 Geoff Butler Signature Editions $17.95 Paul W. Bennett ISBN 978-1-77108-038-5 published by Geoff Butler, ISBN 978-1927426-20-3 Fernwood Sept. 2013 $19.95 Granville Ferry, NS, $35 ISBN 9781552665787 Cammie Deveau is visually ISBN 978-0-9694447-3-2 Pertice McIlveen, a young impaired. She’s being raised geoffbutlerartstudio@gmail Ontario woman who loves The clock is ticking for by her bootlegging aunt 902-532-5707 Hemingway and hates hats, rural and small town and dreams of a new life. receives a mysterious key in 150 colour paintings with communities in Nova Scotia. When Cammie learns about the mail. Accompanied by poems. The earth is our own Paul Bennett argues that to a school for blind and her best friend Es, she travels little world in space, and the offset the demographic shift visually impaired children to Gannet Island off the coast particular countries we live that threatens to extinguish she’s convinced a new life is of New Brunswick to find in are its neighbourhoods. what remains of rural waiting for her in Halifax. the door it fits into. There We also live in our own little communities, schools must Cammie and her best friend she discovers a cottage by the private worlds. The paintings be transformed once again devise a plan to blow up the sea has been willed to her by and verse in this book peer into vital community hubs. local moonshiner’s still. But a secret benefactor, PM, on into each of these worlds. Rather than continuing the things get worse than she the condition she wears the Geoff Butler is a trend toward centralized, ever imagined. hats that come with it. She painter, writer and book bureaucratic school systems, Laura Best has had accepts the challenge. As she illustrator, born on Fogo we must build or maintain more than 40 short stories seeks to solve the mystery Island, Newfoundland, near smaller community schools published in magazines and of PM, Pertice is changed by Brimstone Head which has and support innovative anthologies. Her first young the hats she wears and the been designated by the Flat local enterprise to create adult novel, Bitter, Sweet, was islanders she meets. Earth Society as one of the sustainable living practices shortlisted for the Geoffrey Hat Girl, which won four corners of the earth. and provide community- Bilson Award for Historical the H.R. Percy Prize in Geoff practices his art daily based education on a more Fiction for Young People and the 2010 Atlantic Writing so as not to fall over the human scale. made the Best Books for Kids Competition, is Wanda edge. His self-published This is the sequel to and Teens 2011 list. She lives Campbell’s first novel. books include Art of War: Vanishing Schools, Threatened in East Dalhousie. Visit her She has published several Painting it out of the Picture; Communities: The Contested at laurabest.wordpress.com collections of poetry, The Look of Angels: Angels in Schoolhouse in Maritime including Daedalus Had Art; and With Every Breath Canada, 1850-2010. a Daughter. She lives in We Take, a modern fable in Paul W. Bennett is Wolfville, where she which a snowflake helps put a Halifax author and teaches Creative Writing an end to war. Every now the founding director of at Acadia University. She and then, he strolls down Schoolhouse Consulting. has also edited anthologies Alphabet Soup Road to for Penguin and Hidden write and illustrate children’s Rooms, an anthology of early books. Canadian women poets.
Eastword September/October 2013 Page 9 Lasso the Wind Duddy Doesn’t Live Here Fire Spook Spit Feathers Aurélia’s Verses and Other Anymore The Mysterious Nova Scotia Lobster Chronicles 3 Poems A Novel Haunting Jessica Scott Kerrin George Elliott Clarke Bruce Graham Monica Graham Kids Can Press Aug. 2013 Illustrations by Susan Tooke Pottersfield Press $19.95 Nimbus Sept. 2013 $15.95 $16.95 ISBN 978-1-897426-52-4 ISBN 978-1-77108-093-4 ISBN 978-1-55453-708-2 Nimbus Oct 2013 $24.95 ISBN 978-1-77108-050-7 The story of Duddy McGill A comprehensive retelling Ferguson is trying to help – dreamer, schemer and a of one of Nova Scotia’s his grandfather figure out The first collection of walking disaster. Set in rural most mysterious legends. his legacy. His grandfather children’s poetry by Nova Scotia, on the Parrsboro Monica Graham exposes doesn’t want to have any renowned poet and shore of the Bay of Fundy, the fascinating history regrets, like his old friend playwright George Elliott this hilarious story chronicles behind the fire-spook of McDermit, who famously Clarke. By turns absurd, one man’s misguided vision Caledonia Mills, a true story caught a giant lobster but witty, playful and profound. of himself and the chaos he that spread as quickly and regretted not returning it to Clarke’s poems speak to the unleashes on his neighbours. uncontrollably as the flames sea. So when another giant vivid wonder, the bright Duddy McGill was that started it all. But were lobster is caught in their joys, and the secret pains of first introduced inIvor these spontaneous fires and fishing community and put growing up in this world. Johnson’s Neighbours. Here sinister sightings the work of up for auction, Ferguson There is a separate section at they are again, the same cast a poltergeist, or of a troubled cooks up a plan with his the end of the book, a group of characters with a few young woman? Featuring real grandfather to bid on the of poems Clarke wrote to new faces added, ten years testimonies, original research, lobster and set it free. Will his daughter, Aurélia, on her later and trying to come to and over 60 images, Fire this be his grandfather’s birthdays until she turned grips with life and all its Spook mingles old rumours legacy or will the town’s nine. The reader sees the challenges and complexities. with fresh insights, providing richest man ruin everything? stages of childhood through Bruce Graham, the a comprehensive look at Spit Feathers is the a father’s eyes. author of several books one of Nova Scotia’s most third book in The Lobster Also featured are bold published by Pottersfield haunting mysteries. Chronicles – joining Lower and contemporary collage Press, lives in Parrsboro. Monica Graham, the Trap and A Narrow Escape illustrations by Susan Tooke, Ship’s Company Theatre has a freelance writer for – a trilogy about how life the award-winning artist and adapted three of his novels newspapers and magazines changes for three boys in a children’s book illustrator. – The Parrsboro Boxing Club, across the country, is the small coastal town when a George Elliott Clarke Ivor Johnson’s Neighbours, and author of several books of giant lobster is caught. Each is originally from Windsor, Diligent River Daughter – for non-fiction, includingHistoric book describes the same Nova Scotia. He’s the the stage. New Glasgow, Stellarton, events through a different Poet Laureate of Toronto, Trenton, and Westville and boy’s eyes. where he teaches Canadian The Great Maritime Detective. Jessica Scott Kerrin is literature at the University of Monica lives near Pictou. the author of the bestselling Toronto. Martin Bridge series. She lives in Halifax.
Page 10 Eastword September/October 2013 Spotted Dog Last Seen What Lies Across the Water Turn Us Again If This is Freedom Jessica Scott Kerrin The Real Story of the Cuban A Novel A Novel Five Groundwood Books Charlotte R. Mendel Gloria Ann Wesley $14.95, 978-1-55498-387-2; Stephen Kimber Roseway, Sept. 2013, $20.95 Roseway, Sept. 2013 $19.95 E-book $8.95 Fernwood, August 2013 ISBN 978-1-552665701 ISBN 978-1-552665718 ISBN 978-1-55498-388-9 $29.95 ISBN 9781552665428 Called to his dying father’s If This Is Freedom continues A mystery novel for middle What Lies Across the Water bedside, Gabriel Golden’s the story of struggle for readers. Derek isn’t happy recounts the events leading life is turned upside down black Loyalist settlers about having to do repair up to the arrest of five after receiving his mother’s in Nova Scotia after the duty at the old cemetery for Cuban anti-terrorism agents journal. It chronicles American Revolutionary his grade-six community wrongfully arrested and his mother’s life in post- War that began in Chasing service project. But when convicted of “conspiracy to war Britain, her genteel Freedom. In the black the lessons on cemetery care commit” espionage against upbringing and her eventual settlement of Birchtown, turn out to be so strange the United States. In light of marriage to Gabriel’s father. times are especially hard for and interesting, he doesn’t America’s supposed post- Gabriel is shocked as he the former slaves. Like many have time to dwell on the 9/11 zero-tolerance policy discovers dark secrets about desperate Birchtowners, past. And when it rains, the toward countries harbouring his parents’ relationship, Sarah Redmond has signed lessons take place in the terrorists, the story of the shaking his preconceptions an indenture agreement, nearby public library, which Cuban Five illustrates the about his father – and a work contract meant means he can avoid the injustice and hypocrisy of himself. to protect her rights and cemetery altogether, at least this case. Award winning Based on a true story ensure a living wage. Sarah’s for an afternoon. journalist and author and winner of the H.R. Percy employers do not honour One day an anonymous Stephen Kimber answers Novel Prize in the Atlantic the agreement, and Sarah donation arrives at the questions such as: Why Writing Competition and and her family are all but library – a copy of a new were these men, who tried the Beacon Award for Social shattered when she takes mystery novel, with a secret to prevent terrorist attacks Justice, Turn Us Again is a a wrong step – one she’ll code penciled inside. And against Cuba, charged with powerful exploration of come to regret as it sets off a when Derek and his friends espionage against the United the dynamics within family chain of events that put her track the clues from one States? And why does the relationships, enticing the under further pressure. With mystery novel to the next, U.S. continue to protect and reader to embark on a her faith in the settlement they discover a time capsule harbour known terrorists? journey towards a more running dry and the filled with clues that may Stephen Kimber is a complex understanding of Birchtowners abandoning the finally help Derek put his professor of journalism at the the issue of abuse. settlement, Sarah faces the haunting past and terrifying University of King’s College Charlotte R. Mendel’s taxing option of whether to memories and nightmares in Halifax and an award- writing has appeared in hold on to the only real life to rest. winning writer, editor and City Lights, the Tel Aviv she has ever known or let go. broadcaster. supplement of The Jerusalem Gloria Ann Wesley is Post, The Breastfeeding Diaries, a writer and poet. Her first The Nashwaak Review, The novel was Chasing Freedom, Healing Touch of Horses and also published by Roseway. several other anthologies. She lives in Enfield.
Eastword September/October 2013 Page 11 Carol McDougall wins Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature The Beacon Social Justice Literary Society is pleased to announce that Carol McDougall is the winner of the 2013 Beacon Award for Social Justice Literature. Carol’s winning manuscript, Wake The Stone Man, was chosen by a jury of writers, and will be published by Roseway Publishing in the spring of 2015. Set in Northern Ontario the novel follows the complicated lives of two girls Steven Laffoley musing over “magnetic poetry” at the WFNS whose friendship is torn apart by personal tragedy and Literary Awards. the impact of the Residential school system. Carol McDougall lives in Dartmouth, but grew up in Thunder Bay, which inspired the landscape for Wake the Contests Stone Man. McDougall has been active in the Nova Scotia n The Malahat Review: University of Victoria, P.O. Box writing community for many years as a writing instructor, 1700, Stn CSC Victoria, B.C. V8W 2Y2 (http://web.uvic. editor, and publicist. She is the author of the Nova Scotia ca/malahat/) 2014 Novella Prize: The Malahat Review Far Guide to Frugal Living, and co-author of Baby Steps, a series Horizons Award for Short Fiction – Deadline February of board books for babies. Wake the Stone Man is her first 14, 2014. One prize of $1,500. Entries may be sent novel. by regular mail or email. Enter a single work of fiction, Carol is the Founding Director of Read to Me! the with a minimum length of 10,000 words and maximum hospital-based early reading program which provides a length 20,000 words. No restrictions as to genre, subject free bag of books and reading resources to every baby matter, or aesthetic approach apply. Entry fee $35 for born in Nova Scotia. In 2005 McDougall received the first entry. Entry fee includes subscription. Far Horizons Mayor’s Award for Cultural Achievement in Literature, Award for Poetry – Deadline May 1, 2014. Eligible poets and the 2010 Progress Women of Excellence Award for have yet to publish their poetry in book form (a book of her contribution to the Arts. poetry is defined to have a length of 48 pages or more). Now in its third year, the Beacon Award was created Writers who have self-published a book of poetry are to celebrate fiction which promotes social justice issues, ineligible. Send up to 3 poems. One prize of $1000. and is given annually to an unpublished novel. For more Details on website. information visit: www.beaconaward.ca n
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