Here’s a few photographs I took of Jack Hodgins last week for an interview that ran in the Oak Bay News. I hadn’t seen Jack in a couple of years so it was great to have a few minutes to chat. His latest novel The Master Of Happy Endings is just out.
Tag: Canadian
Renowned Canadian poet, novelist, artist and librettist, P. K. Page has died aged 93 at her home in Oak Bay, British Columbia.
Just two days ago I’d stopped by the Cadboro Bay Book Store and asked Amber what was new in the store and she pointed out a new chapbook Cullen by P.K. Page, published by Outlaw Editions. I bought a copy and after heading out realized I was passing by the street P.K. lived on so I turned back and drove up the street thinking that if I saw someone at the window or other signs of activity I’d stop by and ask her to sign the book. The house was quiet and dark though so I drove on.
I remember a few years ago during a photo session the conversation turned to aging and facing the end of one’s life and she said (as I remember it) that she was not afraid of dying, what terrified her was not having the chance to finish all the creative ideas she had.
With the title of Malcolm Lowry’s posthumously published novel October Ferry To Gabriola in my head (even though it’s November) I boarded the ferry in Nanaimo to head over an check out the 6th Annual Poetry Gabriola Festival at the Surf Lodge. I had a great time, saw a few familiar faces and met a lot of new people. Artistic Director Hilary Peach and her crew are doing a great job with this island festival. I saw a great group performance, learned a little about haiku, heard an imromptu ukele and voice duet, was read to and listened to an amazing panel discussion. The only downside was having to leave before Saturday’s evening events including an show featuring Christian Bök, Alexis O’Hara and Paul Dutton which would have been amazing I’m sure.
Artwork featured on the festival poster and program is by Sheila Norgate
Festival Artistic Director (and performer) Hilary Peach
Hilary Peach and Production Deputy/Publicist Kathy McIntyre contemplate the day ahead
Members of the Easy Writers group practice the finale of their One Sweet Ride show
The lighting director checks out the stage action
Lunch in the Surf pub
Antony Holland in the Surf pub, he was performing Sunday
Christian Bök grabs a few moments of internet time in the Surf pub
Books and Cd’s on sale
Checking out the merchandise
Introducing Winona Baker and Naomi Beth Waken for a presentation on Haiku and Tanka
Hilary with volunteers
An impromtu ukele and voice duet
Festival photographer Victor Anthony shoots a portrait of poet Naomi Beth Wakan
Poet and psychotherapist Drek Daa arrives at the Surf Lodge
(L-R) Alexis o’Hara, Evalyn Parry, Sheila Norgate and Hilary Peach at the Self-Scripted Women event
Poet K. Louise Vincent reads
Vancouver Island poet and novelist Marilyn Bowering reads
Montreal’s Alexis O’Hara sets up for her evening show with Christian Bök and Paul Dutton
LP: You’ve got a new book out, a travel book, Beyond Belfast, published by Penguin. What’s it about?
WF: It’s about a two-month, 560 mile hike I did along the Ulster Way “the longest waymarked trail in the British Isles.” It was bogs, banshees and blood sausage. With sheer-drop coastlines, crumbling castles and many’s a pub.
LP: Why Northern Ireland?
WF: I was raised by the daughter of a Belfast orphan, and Northern Ireland has always been there, lurking in the background — not the least of which is due to family rumours of a lost inheritance and a possible castle of my own. My grandfather’s past is murky at the best of times, and a mystery lurks at the heart of the story.
LP: One of your first books was Hitching Rides with Buddha, where you hitchiked across Japan. As a slightly older person than you were then, were there any differences or challenges in the physical act of traveling?
WF: I’m certainly more creaky and less patient when it comes to bad meals and questionable sleeping arrangements. I camped on the trail several times in Northern Ireland, and I when I woke I always felt like I’d just come from the wrong end of a pummeling.
LP: What’s next? Are you working on another novel?
WF: The next book is a Christmas memoir with an illustrator. It’s a gift book about my own childhood in northern Alberta titled Coal Dust Kisses.
LP: Will we ever see another Canadian political/historical book from you?
WF: It may be a while. I really feel I’ve said my piece — and anyway, my Canadiana usual springs out of anger and outrage, and lately I haven’t been angry enough to launch into another extended harangue. Irked, yes. Annoyed, certainly, But not really angry.
LP: You’ll be on the road promoting this new book, do you bring reading material and if so, what for this trip?
WF: I’m reading a travel/political memoir titled Untapped. It’s about the scramble for Africa’s oil. It’s fascinating — and sobering. (Although I love writing fiction, I prefer reading nonfiction.)
Will Ferguson’s website is: www.willferguson.ca
Photo (from First Chapter ) of Dave Bidini, with Bobby Orr button, Hockey Canada tuque and short lived mustache.
The Toronto Star has a great profile on writer/musician Dave Bidini, check it out here.
Canadian writer Michael Ignatieff, also known in certain circles for being the leader of the federal Liberal party, was on hand for the afternoon book signing of his latest publication True Patriot Love at Victoria’s Munro’s book store. A huge lineup snaked through the store and outside and down the sidewalk as people waited for a chance to have their book signed.
Crowd waits outside Munro’s for their chance to get their books signed
A smile for the camera
Munro’s Books’ Jessica Walker and Jim Munro look on as Michael Ignatieff signs
The line up inside Munro’s
The Grande Dame of Canadian Letters, P.K. (Patricia Kathleen) Page, launched her latest book ‘You are Here’ , published by Hedgerow Press, with a book reading and signing at the Winchester Galleries Humboldt Street location in Victoria. The 92-year-old Page, who is especially noted for her poetry, has had nearly forty books published in genres including memoirs, fiction, non-fiction, children’s literature, written a libretto and is a noted painter under the name P. K. Irwin. She has two more books coming out in 2009.
P. K. Page waits for the reading to begin
Greeting friends and the press
Publisher Joan Coldwell from Hedgerow Press introduces the author
Reading from You are Here
An attentive crowd listens during the reading
Reading
The painting on the easel behind her is one of P.K.’s creations
Relaxing after the reading
Signing books
More about photography than writing but for anyone concerned about cuts to the arts.
I’ve had this book The Surface Of Meaning by noted typographer/poet/writer Robert Bringhurst and published by CCSP Press for several months now and wanted to post about it for a while but wasn’t quite sure how to present it. In the end I thought a selection of pages from the book might be the simplest and best way to highlight this outstanding volume.
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Who’s That Canadian Writer?
Naomi Lakritz, in the Calgary Herald, has a column pointing out results from a poll showing that 50% of Canadians can’t name a Canadian author.