I've been creating posters, spreading event announcements, and whatnot for the Writers Festival Spring Edition this week. It entails a lot of surfing around on the web following links and finding out some neat stuff (being on Twitter for the Festival also helps.)

And I was putting together the announcement for what is certainly MY most hotly anticipated evening of the Festival... May 2nd. The day I get to meet one of my personal literary heroes, Ursula K. Le Guin. She'll be closing the Festival, right after a Writing Life session featuring Mike Carey (of Lucifer, Hellblazer, X-Men and Felix Castor fame), Jo Walton (author of Farthing, Ha'penny and Half a Crown, books set in a creepily believable fascist Britain), and Kelley Armstrong, Canada's first lady of vampires, witches, werewolves and demons.

And I find that Kelley Armstrong has been writing the Angel comic book lately. Hm, now I suppose I should check to see if Jo Walton has ever written for comics.  It would make for a really interesting conversation when they do their onstage.

I've always been sort of interested in writing for comics, actually. Ever since I read the script that Neil Gaiman reprinted in the back of the trade paperback Dream Country. Doesn't it seem, somehow, that it would be easier to foist the visuals onto an artist - someone who's really good at visuals - and just focus on the story?

But then I think about issues of collaboration. Of 'canon.' Of fitting into a much larger story arc, in some cases - jeez, if Armstrong's taking over Angel, think of the years' worth of the TV series (both of them), and what's been laid out already by the characters' creator and the dozens of writers that have already used those characters and settings, not to mention what the millions of fans have, in their groupthink way, established as rules about the world. (Fantasy and SF fans, in general, are among the world's most encylopedically continuity-bound - any inconsistencies spark mini-tornadoes of debate, speculation, and attempts to find ways of tying everything in to "the canon." But, this can lead to fascinating outbursts of collaborative creativity.)

And I think that's part of what fascinates me about 'genre fiction' - about comics and series in particular - the way the writers and the readers become co-creators, and the way stories spread from genre to genre. They're as fluid as folklore.

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 1:35 PM EDT

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The Guardian.co.uk's "Books" reporting has been feeling a little like the Mister Noodles of the lit world lately. At least it leads to good reponses, but the articles themselves... you read them, then realize how little content there actually was.

This is brought on by something I linked to because of the whole social media network thing, which I find leads me to more fairly pointless web content than I should really be putting up with. Take this article on "the top 10 best coffee moments in literature," for example. I don't see how any of these make the cut for really cool coffee moments, or even particularly cool literary moments. Maybe I'm just not reading well because it's onscreen and I've been staring at the screen for a few hours. 

But, but! The Guardian also suggests that I must be better at reading things in depth, (screen or no screen, perhaps) because I'm a woman.  Don't think I'll even get into the pop-psych vacuity of the piece... the funny thing is that it formed the basis for another article on how publishers could "masculinize" books in order to encourage men to read them. (I can point them straight toward Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and that's without even thinking too hard about it!)

Bookninja.com to the rescue - with a competition that makes me wish I'd thought of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies because it would be awesome... Re-masculate an existing book to make it more appealing to the male market, and win! 

I really need to stop blindly following links. But it's nice to know I can at least wind up somewhere that's clever... regardless of where I start...

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 3:37 PM EDT

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I'm heading out tonight to catch Daniel Cox at the Hard Cover Book Club meeting. . . his first novel, Shuck, just got nominated for a Lambda! He's reading at GayZone, 420 Cooper, at 6:30 if you got a hankering for some retro-90's New York hustlering!

Tomorrow I'm catching the Five Years of Dusty Owl photography vernissage, kicking off a showing at Swizzles. Photos from the last five years of the Dusty Owl Reading Series will be on display and for sale, and there will be wine and cheese! 

Saturday, the inimitable Warren Fulton is ringmastering the annual Pooka Pub Crawl (this one titled 'Mapping Shadows") - should result in interesting drunken poetry and random mayhem. 

And Sunday is the Fifth Birthday Party And Dusty Owl Family Reunion reading at 2:00! Past features will be taking the mike and rocking the house in honor of our five years in our new home. 

When I get a moment, too, I've got to do a little reviewing. I'm feeling the urge. 

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 1:05 PM EDT

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Had to say it - happy first day of spring!

I rang it in last night at the Fireborn reading with the other Kymeras - we also got to plug Marie Bilodeau's upcoming book launch at Maxwells on April 9th. The Kymeras will be performing, there will be poetry and stories, and copies of her book for sale (Princess of Light - the first of a trilogy which, according to her, she ill-advisedly signed a contract for before realizing that meant they were going to be expecting the second and third books, and sharpish.)

I'm not sure what it is that works so well about the four of us, but it is a great feeling to find a group of writers that have that kind of click. A couple of times last night people told me that the show had a tangible chemistry, and I think I have to agree. (It's not bragging, cause I know it wasn't my doing. It just happened, but it's so much fun to be a part of.)

I get something similar from the core group at Sean Zio's Dusty Owl Playdate - five or so committed folks that show up on Tuesdays to stretch the writing muscle, and to write whatever we write, fearlessly, whether it's good or not. We get to know each other's work, we start to point out to each other what our strengths are, and, in a way, maybe it's a little like a support group. Once it gels, you feel a lot safer with the other participants, and you're freed up to surprise yourself. 

Note: being fearless with your writing doesn't necessarily mean it's great... but it does mean it gets written in the first place. Maybe it sucks, but it's writing. Pearl Pirie says something similar in her lovely interview on Ottawafocus.com today, about writing reams without obsessing over how great it is. (She also says a lot of other smart stuff. Read the interview!)

Energy, energy, energy. Must be spring. 

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 10:13 AM EDT

Updated: Friday, 20 March 2009 10:26 AM EDT

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I did a couple of interviews with Jane Crosier. The strangest, I think, was one that I called in, from a car rocketing through the dark in Montreal, worried that I'd probably lose cell phone reception as we dove into the tunnel. Luckily, Steve Zytveld was on the other end, in the studio, and held it together when my reception burbled - not in the tunnel, but on the far side of Montreal. (It seems true - east of Montreal there be dragons.) It was fun, and a couple of days after I got home I got a card from Jane thanking me for being there - a real touch of thoughtfulness, and of being invested in this work of making and nurturing art, of cultivating the earth you're planted in. When I found out she was a gardener I was not suprised. 

Jane's been holding down the mike at Literary Landscape as long as I've been aware of the show. I heard this morning that she had passed away - I'd known she was sick, but I hadn't known how serious it was. 

The people that love, read, follow, think and talk about writing are fundamental to writing. Take a moment to think about a theatre with no audience, no critics, no reviews, no engaged receivers. What I love about the literary community in this town is that people talk about and care about what's going on. Shows like Jane's are a common home for all of us who inherited that kink that made us word-addicts. It goes without saying that Jane will be missed. 

Here's her son Matthew's announcement of the funeral details.

Feel free to post or re-send this information to anyone who may be interested.

Crosier, Jane Ann (Rioux) died March 2 2009 age 61 after a heartbreaking battle with cancer. Beloved wife to Peter, loving mother to Matthew (Valerie) and Benjamin. Devoted grandmother to: Catherine, Alexander and Tessa. Daughter to Ray and Dora Rioux. Sister to: Raymond, Francis, Carol and Nancy. Lovingly remembered by the Crosier and Rioux families.

Born and raised in Port Hope, a graduate of York University Winters College. She worked for the OCDSB for more than 30 years at Glen Ogilvie, Gloucester High, Colonel By and Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Host of the Literary Landscape on CKCU for 12 years.

An inveterate gift giver and unrepentant doer of good deeds. Jane loved gardening, her felines, skating on the canal and preparing wonderful family events. "getting out and doing something".

The service will take place at Saturday March 7 @ 1:30pm, in the Library of Gloucester High School, 2060 Ogilvie Road, Gloucester, Ontario, K1J 7N8.

The reception will follow starting @ 3:30pm. The reception will take place in Kanata. For details call (613) 552-1832 or e-mail familycrosier@gmail.com

Sorry Mom we will be showing pictures. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.


thank you

Matthew Crosier

 

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 3:45 PM EST

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I got this list from John Barton and the Coalition to Keep Canadian Heritage Support for Literary and Arts Magazines. On February 17, 2009, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore announced in a speech he made in Montreal (http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/minstr/moore/disc-spch/20090217-eng.cfm) that the Canada Magazine Fund and Publishing Assistance Program will be merged to create the Canada Periodical Fund. Initiatives from this new body will come on stream in 2010.

Departing from his prepared remarks, James Moore indicated that eligiblity for funding could potentially be restricted to those magazines with an annual circulation above 5000. With notable exceptions, the circulation of virtually every Canadian literary and arts magazine, large and small, is below 5000.

That's a lot of government funding that could potentially be yanked from the magazines that need it the most (because they don't make money from advertising, the way glossy stuff like the Walrus does...) How ass-backwards is that? "Because you don't already have circulation or advertising revenue, we're not going to get you the support you need to get circulation and advertising revenue"?

And as a poet, I have to say, if it wasn't for little magazines how many of us would have a hope of seeing print? 

So, here's another list of governmental addresses you can write to. I think I'm going to start keeping a file of stock paragraphs, facts, and well-crafted objections that I can cut and paste into letters every time another government initiative threatens to remove support from our cultural sector. Save me some writing time so I can focus on writing stuff to send to all those little magazines.

Minister of Canadian Heritage: Hon. James Moore

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-992-9650
F:  613-992-9868
E: moorej@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
2603 St. John’s St.
Port Moody, BC  V3H 2B5
T: 604-937-5650
F:  604-937-5601

Liberal Heritage Critic: Pablo Rodriguez

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T: 613-995-5080
F: 613-992-1710
E: rodripa@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
7450, Les Galeries d’Anjou Blvd, Suite 530
Anjou, QC, H1M 3M3
T: 514-353-5044
F:  514-353-3050

NDP Heritage Critic: Charlie Angus

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-992-2919
F:  613-995-0477
E: angus.c@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
20 Duncan Avenue S.
PO Box 276
Kirland, ON P2N 3H7
T: 705-567-2747
F:  705-567-5232

Bloc québecois Heritage Critic: Carole Lavallée

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-996-2416
F:  613-995-6973
E: lavalC@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
110-5540 Chambly
Saint-Hubert, QC  J3Y 3P1
T: 450-926-5979
F:  450-926-5985

Liberal Leader: Michael Ignatieff

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-995-6364
F:  613-992-5880
E: ignatm@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
656 The Queensway
Etobicoke, ON  M8Y 1K7
T: 416-251-5510
F:  416-251-2845

NDP Leader: Jack Layton

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-995-7224
F:  613-995-4565
E: laytoj@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
221 Broadway Avenue, Suite 100
Toronto, ON  M4M 2G3
T: 416-405-8914
F:  416-405-8918

Bloc Québecois Leader: Gilles Duceppe

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-992-6779
F:  613-954-2121
E: duceppe.g@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
1200 Papineau Ave, Suite 350
Montreal, QC  H2K 4R5
T: 514-522-1339
F:  514-522-9899

Conservative Leader: Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper

House of Commons
Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A6
T:  613-992-4211
F:  613-941-6900
E: harpes@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
1600-90th Avenue SW, Suite A-203
T: 403-253-7990
F:  403-253-8203

Please don't feel obliged to write to all of the above!

Pick and choose based on how much time you have. However, do send the letters to write to both the House of Commons and constituency offices. That way, the entire staff of the recipient will be aware of the letter. Encourage them to read our magazines as well.

Finally, even if you only write one letter, write your own MP.

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 11:23 AM EST

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I'm reposting something that came through the Capital Poetry Collective. . . I find this really hard to believe. Not only is Ottawa, the city that hosted the first ever Canadian Festival or Spoken Word, and which has a stellar, active, vocal, diverse, and prolific literary community, not represented in the 2009 list of participating cities for the Poetry Faceoff, but there isn't a single city from Quebec represented. Yet Nova Scotia gets two? The hey? Is Cape Breton now a distinct society and the Quebecois not? I have nothing against Nova Scotia, but I'm really confused here.

This is the notice from CPC.... who are now starting to make noise about hosting a "CPC Poetry Faceoff" in response:

"I post this message with much disappointment. CBC, the Canadian
Broadcast Corporation, has just announced the line-up of cities taking part in the 2009 Poetry Face-Off and Ottawa has been left off the list? For some reason, the NATION'S CAPITAL has mysterious been excluded from a NATIONAL poetry competiton? Hmm...

Lets look at the facts:

Ottawa has upwards of five monthly reading series, Capital Slam has sold out nearly all of its shows this month, the 2008 Ottawa Slam Team placed 3rd at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word and the CBC Poetry Face-Off sells out at the NAC 4th stage every year it happens. They definitely aren't hurting for writers. Did I mention the Capital Poetry Collective has invited CBC personalities to host the Slam Finals and countless other events? So why would they deny Ottawa in 2009? Who made this call and what were their reasons for doing so?

This is not just about the city losing a cool event, we'll survive, this is about CBC denying five Ottawa poets the opportunity to be on regional and national radio as well as receiving payment for their work. How can they claim to support Canadian arts and culture and then deny artists an chance to get paid and have their work broadcast?

No reason has been given for Ottawa's exclusion.

This type of subtle censorship is hugely disappointing from those that claim to supply Canadian content to the Canadian people. I don't have any answers, but if you'd like some answers, ask CBC for yourself."

The list of cities participating can be found here:
http://www.cbc.ca/poetryfaceoff/

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 1:53 PM EST

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I wish I could actually convey some sense of what the tribute to Steve Sauve was like tonight, but I don't think anything would do it justice. I was reminded of a psychiatrist friend of mine, on another occasion, commenting on not being used to seeing so much healthy emotion in one place. As Kevin Matthews (who hosted with grace) said, the spoken word community is a family, and this was a family event, with everything that implied - laughter, tears, hugs, quietness, noise, and love. 

Bookended with Steve's poems "If I were you" and "If you were me," (the first a rousing tribute to the energy of what happens on stage, and the second a hilarious pean to "Steve Motherfucking Sauve," in which the word 'awesomosity' figures), the night featured performances of Steve's work by a wide range of poets, a deeply moving open mike, written tributes from those who couldn't make it, music, and a lot of memories. The great thing about it was that, as intended, it WAS a celebration, and a reaffirmation of all the things we've learned from Steve. I was touched and moved and proud to be even a peripheral part of this town's spoken word community.

It was cathartic and joyous and sorrowing, and illuminating, and encouraging, and grieving, and strengthening. Which is just what I think we'd all hoped it would be.

Steve will be missed: but Steve hasn't left us. 

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 12:49 AM EST

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The Ottawa Citizen printed a nice article about Steve Sauve today. . . and Alan Neal plugged the tribute show this morning as well in his weekend roundup of local concerts and shows.

Posted by Kathryn Hunt at 11:58 AM EST

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