AGM in Edmonton June 8 - 10, 2007 For more info click here.

Poetry & Literary News

THE GRIFFIN POETRY PRIZE ANNOUNCES THE 2007 CANADIAN AND INTERNATIONAL SHORTLIST

Scott Griffin, founder of The Griffin Trust For Excellence In Poetry and David Young, trustee, today announced the Canadian and International shortlist for this year’s prize. The C$100,000 Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the most lucrative poetry prizes in the world – exemplifying the international spirit of the form. The prize is awarded annually for the two best books of poetry, including translations, published in English in the previous year. Judges John Burnside, Charles Simic and Karen Solie read 483 books of poetry, including 18 translations, received from 15 countries around the globe. The seven finalists – three Canadian and four International – will be invited to read in Toronto at the MacMillan Theatre on Tuesday, June 5, 2007. The winners, who each receive C$50,000, will be announced on Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at the seventh annual Griffin Poetry Prize Awards Evening. For more info: www.griffinpoetryprize.com/

THE POETS’ REWARD

When we celebrate National Poetry Month each April, we're tipping our hats not only to the art form, but to the poets themselves, who perform the thankless task of writing what few read and fewer still understand. It takes a very particular kind of masochism to engage in this pursuit, which brings the practitioner neither glory nor income and is derided even, occasionally, by poets themselves. "Poetry is - with good reason - easy to make fun of," says Toronto-based poet Ken Babstock, one of the nominees for this year's Griffin Poetry Prize. "Poetry is often the last resort for a lot of losers," adds avant-garde poet Christian Bök, Canadian winner of the 2002 Griffin Prize. But things may be looking up. Babstock talks about his delight at hearing that "indie-band kids" are reading his work ("they like it because no one's got their paws on it," he says). Meanwhile Dave Silverberg, founder and host of Toronto Poetry Slam, which pits poets against each other in a public competition, feels "it's gaining some cachet here and there. One of my friends [Shane Koyczan] opened for Violent Femmes at Massey Hall." But, he says with a laugh, poetry's "not going to play at Air Canada Centre any time soon." For full The Globe and Mail article click here.

POETRY MAKES THINGS HAPPEN

Poets may not be, as Shelley wrote, "the unacknowledged legislators of the world." But neither is it quite true, as Auden wrote in his lovely In Memory of W. B. Yeats, that "Poetry makes nothing happen." Poetry by itself may not change the world; poets are powerless to prevent the massacres in Darfur, end child abuse or cure multiple sclerosis. But poetry can and does mightily affect individual consciences, individual perceptions, individual memories. Collectively, who knows what sort of butterfly effect that has? Martin Levin asked a number of Canadian poets for the poet, or work, or even lines that most stay with them. For full The Globe and Mail article click here.

BOOK LOVERS UNITE AT FRYE FEST

Created in 1999 to honour Northrop Frye, a famous literary icon who lived his formative years in Moncton, the Frye Literary Festival gathers writers from all over North America for activities for all age groups and all styles of writers. The Frye Fest is definitely the place to be in April. And the over 10,000 people who attended last year's event attests to this. "Every year during the last weekend in April," says chair Dawn Arnold, "we invite French and English authors from around the world to come to Moncton and basically take over the town." The festival, organizers explain, is a wide-ranging programme of workshops, dialogues, readings, debates, lectures and kitchen parties, held through the day and into evening in an equally vast array of venues, from schools, cafes, restaurants and bars, to theatres, shopping malls and libraries, throughout Metro Moncton. And the whole thing is bilingual. "Among the larger events of the festival," explains chairperson Dawn Arnold, "is an evening extravaganza on Thursday, April 26 which joins three or four authors with musicians. It's a big party sort of atmosphere, to get everyone into the festival. It's also a chance for everyone in Moncton to meet the authors." For full article click here.

THE BRAVE NEW WORDS: MANITOBA WRITING AND PUBLISHING AWARDS ANNOUNCED

A Night Like No Other! At the Brave New Words: Manitoba Writing and Publishing Awards Gala, history was made! For the first time ever, poets were honoured with a prize of their own, the Lansdowne Prize for Poetry, alongside their fiction and non-fiction counterparts. The big story of the night proved to be Faith Johnston, whose memoir of Dorise Nielsen became the winningest title ever at the awards. A Great Restlessness: The Life and Politics of Dorise Nielsen by Faith Johnston walked away with four awards, totaling $11,000, including the prestigious McNally Robinson Book of the Year Award. For press release see: http://www.mbwriter.mb.ca/mwapa/mwapa.html

WRITERS! THERE'S STILL TIME! SAGE HILL WRITING EXPERIENCE DEADLINE EXTANDED

The deadline for all summer programs at the Sage Hill Writing Experience has been extended to May 10 (midnight), including applications for any of the 13 scholarships. Please see website for further details. For more info: sage.hill@sasktel.net or www.sagehillwriting.ca
 
ATLANTIC BOOK AWARDS ANNOUNCED
David Adams Richards, Wayne Johnston and Steve McOrmond were among the 25 poets, authors and illustrators nominated in the 10 categories of the 2007 Atlantic Book Awards announced Wednesday. The winners will be announced at the Atlantic Book Awards ceremony at Pier 21 in Halifax May 11 after a week of Atlantic Book Festival events throughout the region. For press release: http://www.writers.ns.ca/bookfest07/

TORONTO WRITERS’ CENTRE CELEBRATES ITS FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY

May 1, 2007 marks one year since the Toronto Writers’ Centre opened its doors in the heart of Toronto’s Yorkville.  And it’s been a busy first year with writers of all genres flocking to the Centre on a daily basis.  In addition, over 20 different public events were offered over the past year, from last May’s reading with Vincent Lam (now Giller Prize winner for Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures), to a popular PEN Canada event featuring writers in exile, to stories from seasoned travel writers.

The Toronto Writers’ Centre is also a source for professional development and learning for those interested in literature and books.  The Centre offers Editor/Mentorship programs, Private Writing Coach services, E-Classes, and has hosted high school students for lively sessions on the writing life with member authors.  As well, the Centre has offered workshops on getting published, novel development, publishing e-books and becoming a successful freelance writer.

To celebrate a year of writing, the Toronto Writers’ Centre is offering an Anniversary Special.  The first 25 new members to join will receive seven months membership for the price of six with no initiation fee.  A sweet deal for the serious writer.  For more info: www.writerscentre.ca.

THE CBA ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR CBA LIBRIS AWARDS

The Canadian Booksellers Association (CBA) is pleased to announce the nominees for CBA Libris Awards 2007. Celebrating the Best in the Business, and voted on by members of the Canadian book industry, CBA Libris Award Winners will be announced during CBA’s Libris Awards Presentation, June 10, 2007, at Metro Toronto Convention Centre during BookExpo Canada 2007.
http://www.cbabook.org/awards/CBA.Libris.Awards.2007.Shortlist.pdf

BC BOOK PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUCED

The West Coast Book Prize Society is pleased to announce the winners of the 23rd Annual BC Book Prizes. They are as follows:

• Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize Sponsored by Friesens, Webcom and TranscontinentaL
  Carol Windley, Home Schooling (Cormorant Books)
• Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize Sponsored by the BC Teachers’ Federation
  Don McKay, Strike / Slip (McClelland & Stewart)
• Hubert Evans Non-fiction Prize Sponsored by Abebooks
  Heather Pringle, The Master Plan: Himmler’s Scholars and the Holocaust (Viking Canada)
• Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize Sponsored by Sandhill Book MarketingKatherine Gordon, Made to Measure: A History of Land Surveying in British Columbia (Sono Nis Press)
• Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize Sponsored by the BC Library Association
  Sarah Ellis, Odd Man Out (Groundwood Books)
• Christie Harris Illustrated Children’s Literature Prize. Sponsored by Kate Walker and Company, Michael Reynolds and Associates and Craig Siddall and Associates
  Maggie de Vries and Renne Benoit,Tale of a Great White Fish: A Sturgeon Story (Greystone Books)
• BC Booksellers’ Choice Award In Honour of Bill Duthie
  Sponsored by BC Booksellers' Association and Duthie Books
  David Suzuki and Greystone Books, David Suzuki: The Autobiography
• LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S AWARD FOR LITERARY EXCELLENCE
  Patrick Lane is the recipient of this award, established in 2003 by the Honourable Iona Campagnolo, to recognize British Columbia writers who have contributed to the development of literary excellence in the province.

This year’s gala, emceed by William Deverell and attended by the Honourable Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, took place at Government House in Victoria on April 28, 2007. The BC Book Prizes were established in 1985 to celebrate the achievements of British Columbia writers and publishers. The prizes are administered and awarded by members of a non-profit society who represent all facets of the publishing and writing community. The West Coast Book Prize Society congratulates all of the winners!

The 2007 BC Book Prizes On Tour has just wrapped up too and more than 2,900 people around the province have had the opportunity to meet and hear some of the finalists for the BC Book Prizes.  This year, BC Book Prizes On Tour visited a record 15 communities with readings in schools as well as public venues like libraries and book stores. Check out photos of the authors on tour at our website. 

League News

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE LEAGUE’S AGM MAY 11

You don’t want to miss out on the exciting roster of events that will take place at this year’s Annual General Meeting. The AGM will be held in Edmonton from June 8 – 10. Panels include: Form Poetry: This panel will explore various forms of poetry and how form might actually free the creative process--content vs. context; The Poem Made Visible: This panel includes a screening of video poems, or excerpts of video/film poems by other LCP members. We are also hoping to include screenings of videopoems being produced by students of an Edmonton performing and visual arts school; Technology - Enabling Poetic Collaboration: The web (i.e. websites, blogs, MySpace, email, etc.) has allowed poets and artists to collaborate on some exciting projects. This panel would focus on how technology can enhance the collaborative capabilities of poets and artists working in other genres and; The Feminist Caucus: Women Poets in Canadian History featuring Catherine Owen, Alison Clarke and Karen Schindler. The Anne Szumigalski Lecture will feature Mark Abley. Following the lecture is a reception, dinner and the Awards Gala. For further details please see the online schedule and registration forms at: http://www.poets.ca/linktext/agm.htm

NEWS FROM THE FEMINIST CAUCUS COMMITTEE

By Anne Burke, Chair. As we know, times and places are subject to change, (see attached map), so let’s do lunch! on Friday and head out to the panel for 3:30 p.m. in the EVERGREEN Room, on the second floor of Lister Centre; then the Open Reading & Business Planning Meeting on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Prairie Room.  (More topics and volunteers are needed for next year!  The agenda is the same as last year’s). Panelists are: Catherine Owen/Anne Marriott; Alison Clarke on Dorothy Livesay, and Karen Schindler on the Arts and Letters Club. All the nominees for the Pat Lowther Award are awesome and we expect to launch the 25th Anniversary Anthology. For full report see: www.poets.ca/linktext/newsletter

DONATE A POETRY BOOK TO THE VICTORIA SCHOOL LIBRARY

A library in Edmonton’s Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts was destroyed by fire April 9. Damage is estimated at $2 million. Victoria School is Edmonton’s Kindergarten – grade 12 Arts School, and alumni include: Arthur Hiller, Leslie Neilsen and League member, Diane Buchanan.

Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts was very involved in the first Edmonton Poetry Festival held last September. On the “Vic Poetry Day”, September 21, the school hosted a videoconference between former parliamentary poet laureate Pauline Michel, who visited the Edmonton school, and Mary Dalton, who was reading at a school in Newfoundland. Halifax poet laureate Lorri Neilsen-Glenn also read to students. In addition, Victoria School hosted League members who read their poetry to students in elementary, junior high, and high school classrooms. Local poets graciously donated books to the classroom in which they read—and the school’s library.  

The loss of this library to students is great. It housed one of the best novel collections in Edmonton high schools, a large collection of art books, as well as specialized resources to support Victoria School’s International Baccaulaureate program.

League members are invited to bring a book to the AGM in Edmonton to donate to the Victoria School Library. Let’s help Victoria School rebuild its library and introduce students to poetry by poets from across Canada. Thanks in advance! For more information, log on to the Victoria School website: http://www.victoria-school.ca/

St@nz@
Read articles from St@nz@, the League's electronic newsletter for members

POETRY MARKETS FOR CANADIANS
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