Billed as his first reading in 16 years, Stephen Reid treated the crowd to a variety of writing including his fiction (his first novel Jackrabbit Parole) and a poem.He also shared the stage with a number of students from his very popular Camsoun College classes.
Finally posting my last images from the Vancouver/Olympic trip and these were taken when I first got there. I saw an ad for the Real Vancouver Writer Series a the W2 Culture + Media House on Hasting Street and thought I’d check it out. There were four evenings in the series and I was only able to stay for a short time at the second event in the series but had a chance to hear Charles Demers, Jenn Farrell and Chris Walter. I couldn’t stay to hear him read but had a nice chat with Kevin Chong who I hadn’t seen in several years. Oddly enough I then passed him on Broadway a week later while rushing to an appointment (it’s not that small of a city). Actually I also saw Chris Walter and his family walk by a week later as well while I doing a photo shoot with DOA in East Van, again it’s not that small of a city. Event was hosted by Sean Cranbury, bookman about town. I also noticed a man there with grey hair, someone aside from myself, who I had no idea who he was until I was looking at the Real Vancouuver Writers site checking for ID’s tonight and it turned out be Ian Weir who I haven’t seen since my first photography job a hundred years ago at the Kamloops Daily Sentinel. Wished I’d known that at the event. I must say it was great to see the place jammed with people out for a reading.
Sean Cranbury
Charles Demers
Jenn Farrell
Chris Walter
Chris Walter again, one tall dude
Jen Sookfong Lee being interviewed
Out to Sidney on a wet Friday night to take in one of the Sidney Reading Series events at the Red Brick Cafe on Beacon Avenue. Writer MAC Farrant hosted the event with readings from Vancouver novelist Mary Novik and Susan Musgrave, best known as a poet but who is also a novelist, essayist and columnist. Musgrave, a long time resident of the greater Victoria area now spends much of her time in Haida Gwaii.
Books for sale from both writers
MC and writer MAC Farrant
Mary Novik
Susan Musgrave
Due to travel/work I missed the 3rd annual Pacific Festival of the Book that ran May 4-15. Well, I did manage to run in to (for maybe 10 minutes) one panel discussion and here, finally, are a couple of photos from the event. I didn’t want the Festival to pass without a mention even if it’s late because every festival/event is important.
Banner for festival along Quadra Street
A panel discussion on the writer and responsibility, moderated by Trevor Carolan (centre, in vest) and with (L-R) Walter Hildebrandt, Rhona McAdam, Janet Marie Rogers, Stephen Henighan and Gary Geddes
Stephen Henighan and Gary Geddes
Audience listens to Gary Geddes (L)
It was a full house as Wendy Morton and her Planet Earth Poetry series presented Robert Bringhurst and Jan Zwicky at the Black Stilt Cafe.
Listening as Jan Zwicky reads
The Open Mike that opens every reading allows newer poets, such as UVIC student Stephanie Warner, a chance to practice their craft.
Robert Bringhurst reads
Jan Zwicky reads
Robert Bringhurst, Carla Funk, and Wendy Morton (bottom to top, at right) listen to Jan Zwicky read.
Touchwood Editions and Brindle and Glass Publishing hosted their latest At The Mike event at the Cornerstone Cafe in Victoria’s Fernwood district with featured writers Ian Ferguson and Mark Leiren-Young. Ferguson read from How To Be A Canadian, the bestseller he co-wrote with brother Will Ferguson. Leiren-Young read from his debut book Never Shoot A Stampede Queen, a memoir of his time as a small town reporter.
Ian Ferguson and Mark Leiren-Young
Ferguson and Leiren-Young tag team
Ian shows off his Kaleidoscope Theatre t-shirt
Ian reads from How To Be A Canadian
Mark Leiren-Young reading from Never Shoot A Stampede Queen
Leiren-Young during the reading
Crowd at the Cornerstone Cafe.
Host and poet Wendy Morton introduced poets Monty Reid from Ottawa and Dvora Levin at the weekly Planet Earth Poetry readings at the Black Stilt cafe in Victoria. An open mike reading preceded the two main readers. A special guest who read during the open mike and then came back to read last was sidewalk artist and storyteller Ian Morris.
Host Wendy Morton
Ian Morris
Ian Morris
Ottawa poet Monty Reid
Monty Reid and audience at the Black Stilt Cafe
Dvora Levin reads with backing from duo Kouskous, Amber Woods and Gary Cohen
Dvora Levin
Books by Monty Reid and Dvora Levin
Four different writers, Craig Boyko, Samantha Warwick, Grant Buday and A. S. Penne, took their turn in front of the microphone at the Fernwood Cornerstone Cafe as part of a monthly reading series held at the cafe.
(L-R) Samantha Warwick, Craig Boyko, Grant Buday and A. S. Penne. Photo on wall by Ariel Rubin.
Grant Buday
A. S. Penne
Samantha Warwick
Craig Boyko
Ruth Linka, Brindle and Glass Publisher (L) and Amber Rider of the Cadboro Bay Book Company
Writer Terry Glavin (L) chats with Grant Buday. A.S. Penne in background.
Craig Boyko signs books following the reading.
Rocksalt: An Anthology of Contemporary B.C. Poets published by Mother Tongue Publishing had a launch and reading at Victoria’s Bolen Books. The anthology edited by Mona Fertig and Harold Rhenisch contains poems from 108 contributors from British Columbia.
Posters, books and postcards for the launch.
Publisher and editor Mona Fertig performed MC duties
Kyeren Regehr reads.
Donna Kane reads
Derk Wynand reads
Peter Morin reads
Crowd listens to Maleea Acker
Marilyn Bowering reads
Patricia Young reads
Carla Funk stands, waiting for her turn, she was the final reader of the evening
Audience members follow along in their copies of Rocksalt
Jailbreaks 99 Canadian Sonnets (published by Biblioasis) had it’s Victoria launch as part of the weekly Friday night reading series Planet Earth Poetry at the Black Stilt Cafe. Regular host Wendy Morton was out of town so MC duties were handled by Yvonne Blomer. Jailbreaks editor Zach Wells was joined by contributors Lyle Neff, Steven Price and Alan Wilson. All four read their own poem in the book as well as a selection of other sonnets in the book.
Poet Yvonne Blomer handled the MC duties.
Zach Wells reads
The audience at the Black Stilt cafe listens to Zach Wells.
Lyle Neff reads.
Steven Price reads
Alan Wilson reads
Kaleb , being held by mom Rachel Lebowitz, keeps an eye on dad Zach Wells (foreground) and Steven Price
Zach Wells signs a book for writer Harold Hoefle. Hoefle is just back from launching his new novel The Mountain Clinic in Montreal