The Giller prize short list is out. There are ballots in Canadian public libraries so your can enter their annual “Guess the Giller” contest. Lotus gives you the rundown better than I could. Writing Group Tomorrow night I’m off to a new writers’ critique circle. The group is over a year old and comes highly […]
Giller Prize Short List Read More »
I got this cute “letter” from NaNoWriMo today. Go ahead, write a novel during the month of November. I can’t stop you. I’ll be too busy marking. We got this email today from your imagination. It was misaddressed to us, so we’re sending it along to you. We hope it finds you well. —–Original Message—–
Cute ad for NaNoWriMo Read More »
Lullabies for Little Criminals is unique. For days I’ve been trying to decide how to approach this review. If I outlined the plot, you would think it’s depressing. It isn’t. It’s a charming, hopeful tale about a motherless thirteen-year-old with an immature, heroin-addicted dad. It’s also about childhood’s irrepressible happiness. I’ve never read a story about
lullibies for little criminals Read More »
I just discovered the Canadian Book Challenge. It looks like fun and best of all, the prizes include Kraft dinner or a hockey puck! I like the idea of reading one book from each province or territory over the next year. The Can Lit I most often read is from Ontario or Quebec and oh
Crazy Canucks love their writers Read More »
Happy Thanksgiving! Monday is Thanksgiving (in Canada) and I will be spending it with family at my parent’s cottage in the Kawarthas. I do have a pile of marking to do this weekend but I plan to goof off and enjoy my family as much as possible. My only other ambition is to convince my
Happy Thanksgiving, IFA & Richard Scrimger Read More »
Welcome aboard Japan! I just had a look at my mapping widget and I’ve had hits from two new places in Australia (East and West coasts) plus Japan, perhaps Tokyo. My map counter doesn’t name names so I’m going by general area. I have also had over 4000 views now. Very gratifying. Guess I won’t
WOTS – Final Clips Read More »
Booking Through Thursday Do you have “issues” with too much profanity or overly explicit (ahem) “romantic” scenes in books? Or do you take them in stride? Have issues like these ever caused you to close a book? Or do you go looking for more exactly like them? (grin) It’s funny this question came up because
Pornographication of society – BTT meme Read More »
Here are some more quick clips from Word on the Street. In each case, I have asked my interviewees to name their favorite book. Most people named novels but this Atlanta Georgian preferred poetry. This charming librarian from the Toronto International Film Festival Group made me want to live downtown so I could pop into
Clips from Word on the Street – Part II Read More »
This year the weather was perfect for Word on the Street. The crowds were thronging, children were laughing, musicians were playing… My only complaint is I couldn’t do it all. I bought magazines and books, met lots of nice people who publish literary journals and even wrote an impromptu poem. I also went book-buying bananas!
Word on the Street – Favorite Book Clips Read More »
I love the the original “Myth” series by Robert Asprin. Refreshingly funny, these books take on the conventions of the fantasy novel in a light-hearted way. Like the best send-ups, they are done with love and contemporary satire. The Myth series, not including co-written books: Another Fine MythMyth ConceptionsMyth DirectionsHit or MythMyth-ing PersonsLittle Myth MarkerM.Y.T.H.
Forget what ails you with Asprin Read More »