Mapping the Interior by Stephen Graham Jones

First Nations Friday is an occasional post where I review works by First Nations, Inuit and Metis authors.

A novella by author Stephen Graham Jones


Twelve your old Junior lives it his mom and little brother in a small modular home.  He is haunted by the loss of his father when he was four.  Now, on the cusp of becoming a man, he has to learn to cope with his feeling about his dad, a man he mostly knows through stories told by his mother.  Using those clues and traditions passed down from his native Indian culture, he weaves a vivid tale of his father's remarkable return to the living and of his brother's downward health spiral.  Or is it just a tale, has Junior broken through the veil to somewhere else, some time else.

I was captivated by this short story and am left wondering which parts were Junior's imagination and which were the truth finally coming to light.  A good mix of reality and mysticism.

Cover image courtesy Tor.com

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First Nations Friday: Flight by Sherman Alexie

This book starts out strong and just keeps getting better.

At only fifteen years old, Zits has already lived in over 20 foster homes.  He's lost hope of any one ever truly caring for him and of becoming a member of a family.  The only person who seems to care about him is Officer Dave.

As he is about to commit a heinous act, something happens and Zits finds himself somewhere else, some time else and some one else.  What follows reminded me of  the late night trips Mr. Scrooge took in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, though I found the events and emotions provoked in Zits' trips more poignant.

I was captivated by this novel and by the trips that Zits found himself trapped in.  He was confronted by some serious situations which he found he couldn't control.  By the time I reached the final trip, I was so caught up in the tale that I could hardly see the words on the page due to my streaming tears.

Zits thought he knew much about life and why his was so rotten.  As he travelled into other lives, he had the opportunity to learn that other people who's lives might look great have secrets within that an outsiders can't know and that because of them we each have serious decisions to make.  In the end, Zits has to think about what he is doing and learn how to make his own decisions.  Thanks to author Sherman Alexie for making me care about a character who didn't care about himself, for leading me to cheer for him and wanting him to find his way.

First Nations Friday is an occasional post where I review books by First Nations, Metis and Inuit authors.

Cover image courtesy Grove Atlantic

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First Nations Friday - Sweetest Kulu by Celina Kalluk

I was looking for some board books for my new niece and was attracted by the lovely cover of Sweetest Kulu by author Celina Kalluk an Inuit throat singer.

The story tells of the gifts given to a newborn by the animals of the arctic.  The language is gentle and flowing and had a calming effect on me. I learned that the word Kulu is an Inuit term of endearment.  How perfect for a baby book.

Little Kulu is dressed in a teal outfit on each page as is a different arctic animal. I particularly loved the pages with the arctic char, the snow bunting and my absolute favourite was the narwhal beluga page.   If I could have a print suitable for framing, that would be the page.  The book is illustrated by Alexandria Neonakis.

This book provides plenty of material for both parents and children to enjoy.  As the child grows older, they can learn the animals, colours, flowers and even play act the feeling that are introduced.  This is a book that I could enjoy reading again and again.

Cover image courtesy Inhabit Media.

Video of Celina Kalluk singing "Daylight Remains" featuring throat singing.

"Daylight Remains" by Celina Kalluk - English from DEEP INC. on Vimeo.

First Nations Friday - Birdie by Tracey Lindberg

First Nations Friday is an occasional post where I review works by Canadian Indian, Inuit and Metis authors.

Birdie is one of those people who fell through the cracks even when everything was done right.  It didn't help that she felt she didn't deserve the good that happened in her life.

She is a likable character that I quickly found myself caring for.  I wanted her to succeed.

She had three good women in her camp, as well as her mother and grandmother during  her younger years.  Her aunt Val, her cousin Freda and her employer Lola. They each loved her for their own reasons, yet only Val  understood where Birdie was at and what internal road she was travelling.  It wasn't  a spirit quest, but rather a dream quest.

At the beginning of the book, I couldn't follow what was happening, sort of like the confusion that Birdie was feeling in her life.  Within a few chapters, I was so wrapped up in the telling that I was weeping.  I can't pinpoint one particular reason for the tears, rather it was the accumulation of all she had been going through.  The story wasn't all gloomy by any means. The references to the long running television show  The Beachcombers  brought found memories to mind and made me smile along with Birdie.

I thank author Tracey Lindberg for inviting me into these women's complex lives.  Each of the was on a journey and they needed Birdie to help them move along to their next stage, just as she needed them to care for her physical body while she tended to her spiritual one.  This is a moving debut novel and hints at wonderful literary future for Ms. Lindberg.

Cover image used courtesy HarperCollins Canada.

First Nations Friday - Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse by Win Blevins

In Stone Song, author Win Blevins tells a fictionalised story of the Lakota warrior His Crazy Horse. While the events, locations and most of the people involved are based in fact, the thoughts of Crazy Horse are as imagined by the author.  To bring this warrior to life, Mr. Blevins carried out extensive research into the beliefs and practices of the Lakota people.

His Crazy Horse is thought to have been born in the winter of 1840-41 and died September 5, 1877 at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.  There are no known photographs of him.

By all accounts he was a skilled warrior and brought much honour to his family and people.  At the same time, he was a private and a humble man.  He was not known to wear the marks to show his battle accomplishments. 

This is a long book full of descriptions of the lands and the people.  Much time is spent exploring the beliefs and practises of the Lakota.  These lengthy descriptions served to introduce me to the mind set of these people, which is much different from that of white people who were the newcomers to the Americas at that time.  It was interesting to learn of the many challenges facing the tribes at that time.  The white soldiers were ever pushing the Lakota from their traditional lands.  Yes, they were invited to live on agencies, camps controlled by the military, and become dependent on the skimpy generosity of the government, but that would be merely a shadow of their former lives.

By the end of this book, Mr. Blevins had succeeded in bringing life to the legend of His Crazy Horse.  While I can't really identify with him as a warrior, I can see him as a man who only wanted to be allowed to live his life as his spirits directed and to provide for his family.  His Crazy Horse left this world long ago, but he is is still remembered and the stories of American Indians are still unfolding to this day.

Thank you to author Win Blevins and NetGalley for my review copy.

FIrst Nations Friday : Peace Pipe Dreams: The Truth about Lies about Indians by Darrell Dennis

First Nations Friday is an occasional post where I review books written by First Nations, Metis and Inuit authors.

Who are these people we live amongst. They live in towns, in cities and on reserves.  I say that we, the foreign arrivals to this land, live among them even though they are  the smaller population.  We used to call them Indians but now they are referred to as First Nations, Metis and Inuit, or by the proper name of their Nation.  They were here first and choose to share their  land with us, the newcomers.

With this being true, why is it that so many Canadians know so little about our neighbours and much of what we claim to know is wrong.  What little I learned in school was from fourth grade and comprised the role that some un-named Indians helped Laura Secord carry word to General Brock about an invasion across the Niagara River. Wow, not much.  Probably something was discussed about teepees and long houses and buffalo, but that was the end of it.

Talk about inadequate.

As an adult, I'm much wider read and have learned quite a bit, but still feel that I am missing the majority of this significant history.  Darrell Dennis's book Peace Pipe Dreams: The Truth about Lies About Indians has cleared up a lot of mis-information and gaps that I had.  This book should be required reading in all Canadian civics classes as well as for all persons desiring to become Canadian citizens.

It is well written, with clear explanations and examples where required.  Topics that could have been heavy and sleep inducing are kept to manageable bites of information. The depth of details should be suitable for most readers.  Source information is cited for those wanting further information.

Peace Pipe Dreams answered many questions I had about the First Nations and many more that I didn't even know I needed to ask.  It also had me laughing at un-expected points; who knew that Darrell is such a funny guy (he is a comedian when he's not a writer).

I highly recommend this book for all Canadians who love their country. It's important to learn the truth about where it came from.

 Thank-you to Douglas and McIntyre for use of the cover image.

First Nations Friday - Circles by Ruby Standing Deer

First Nations/Aboriginal Friday is an occasional post where I review books written by First Nations Authors.  ( in Canada we refer to our founding peoples as First Nations)

Regardless of the time period or the culture, it is not always straightforward for a boy to become a man.  Even before he was born, others knew that Feather Floating in Water was destined for great deeds.  He would lead his, and many other peoples to a new and safe land.  He was not left alone to achieve this; he had the wisdom of several elders and the words of his ancestors and spirit guides to teach him. 

This story is set around 1500 in an un-stated North American location.  For most of the story I pondered which tribe these people might be and where they lived.  After I finished reading, I finally realized that it didn't really matter; it wasn't a narrative of a specific tribe, rather that of a way of life and of a belief system that could be applied to many peoples. 

The Band of Fish People are peaceful.  Their way of life shows respect for the animals that provide for them.  Through his dreams, Feather Floating in Water, learns that he must lead his tribe and others that will come to follow him to a new land.  His belief in the ways of his people is strong and he trusts that the elders and those that have come before will guide him.  I was impressed with how Ms. Standing Deer conveyed this belief system and made it feel real to me.  She had me carefully reading the words of the ancestors.

While it took me a few chapters to get into the gentle tone of the book, but the closing chapters, I was totally involved with the characters and was fearing for their continued safety.  This is a gently told story which was a good reprieve from the business of my everyday life.

This story should appeal to a wide audience from chapter reading grade school children on up to seniors.

To begin reading now, a sample of the opening chapters is available at Ruby's website.

Thanks to author Ruby Standing Deer for use of the cover image.  

First Nations Friday - Him Standing by Richard Wagamese

 First Nations Friday is an occasional Friday post where I review books written by First Nations/Aboriginal authors.

 

I recently learned that Orca Book Publishers has a line of books that they call 'Rapid Reads'.  These are shorter stories, both fiction and non-fiction, that are both shorter in length and easier to read.  The target readers are ESL students, people with lower level reading skills, those who want a one night read.  I feel they would also be a great choice for people who are having trouble focusing, perhaps due to an extended illness. At  present there are 29 adults titles available.   Him Standing by Richard Wagamese is the first I have read.

 

Lucas Smoke is just 20 years old, yet he has the carving skills of much more experienced artist.  When he holds a piece of wood in his hand, he can see his subject within it.  He feels that he is making a good living by carving the images of people along the boardwalk.  He learned much of his art by watching his grandfather carve spirit masks, which were highly sought by collectors.

 

Undoubtedly he would have continued carving people, except that fateful day when Gareth Knight stopped on the boardwalk to challenge Lucas to a particularly difficult commission.

 

This story was non-stop action right from the first page where we learn that Lucas is a nature, perhaps even a savant at his craft.  It continues a a brisk pace and kept my attention for every minute.  And yes, I did read it through in one evening. Even though this book is rated at a grade 2.8 level, it still have sufficient detail and was a complex enough story to keep me interested. 

 

 

Thanks to Orca Book Publishing for use of the cover image and for my review copy.

 

Also by Richard Wagamese:

 

One Native Life

Dream Wheels

 

 

The 6th Canadian Book Challenge is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.

First Nations Friday - The Shadows that Rush Past by Rachel A. Qitsualik

First Nations Friday is an occasional post that features books by Aboriginal authors.


Mythology plays a large role in many cultures around the world, it is no different with the Inuit of Canada.

 In this book, author Rachel A. Qilsualik tells the story of four mythological creatures: Amautalik, Akhla, Nanurluk and Mahaha.  Each of these creatures is big and scary, some more human in appearance and some more animal.  Each is a threat to the neighbouring Inuit who must find a way to escape the threat to them or to defeat the beast.

These stories were totally unique to me.  They were not a typical 'feel good' tale where the strong man of the village goes out and easily slays the monster.  It took cunning and intelligence to be victorious.

The art work by Larry MacDougall and Emily Fiegenschuh brought these tales to life.  I spent as much time looking at the art work as I did reading the stories. 

While I did enjoy these tales, I do think I would have enjoyed them more had I read them with a child.  A child who would have asked questions and made guesses about the nature of the creatures an how they would have defeated the beast. 

This would appeal most to children ages 8-12. 

This book is a nominee in the 2013 Ontario Library Association,  Forest of Reading program at the Silver Birch Non-fiction level.

International Book Giving Day Giveaway

February 14 is International Book Giving Day. 

I am giving away one copy of Blueberry Rapids by Rene Andre Meshake.   Click the link to read my earlier review.

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment.  Open to international participants.  Contest closes first thing in the mornning February 15, 2013.

First Nations Friday - The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor

 Part of my 1000 post celebration.

For about the past four years I have done an occasional end of the week post I title First Nations/Aboriginal Fridays where I review a work by a First Nations author.  This all began when I joined the Canadian Book Challenge, and John , the host, suggested that we could choose a theme for our books.  Since at that time I had read very few books by First Nations authors, I thought I would try and complete the challenge that way.

 

At first it was difficult to find books, but then I found All My Relations: An Anthology of  Contemporary Native Fiction edited by Thomas King.  This gave me lots of authors to search for and that lead to further authors etc.  Now my wish to read list of First Nations authors is pages long. 

Highlights from past First Nations/Aboriginal Fridays posts.

 

Best author photo ever is that of Michael Kusugak, found in his book Curse of the Shaman: A  Maple Island Story.
 

Youngest author who's book I have reviewed.  The Delta is my Home by Tom McLeod and Mindy Willet.

 

Most touching family memoir, Crazy Dave  by Basil Johnston about his uncle.

 

While I was training for my half marathon, I learned about Tom Longboat, who ran and won the Boston Marathon, but I knew next to nothing about him till I read The Man Who Ran Faster than Everyone by Jack Batten.

 

And finally, there is the book that got me interested in reading humour and short stories, (and the best book title) Furious Observations of a Blue-Eyed Ojibway: Funny you don't Look Like One Two Three by Drew Hayden Taylor.

 

To find more First Nations books that I have reviewed, check the list of tags in the side bar where they are also listed by Tribe membership.

 

One of the most satisfying parts of reviewing books by First Nations Authors, is that a large number of students visit and read these reviews.  I can tell when a book is being studied at some school/college or university.  All of a sudden I have dozens of visitors to a particular post and then none again for a few months.  I do wish that they would occasionally leave a comment telling me which school they are from, I do have a curious nature.

 

This week's review: The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor

 

 

Pierre L'Errant is a secretive man.  He is travelling to the Otter Lake Reserve, but his is exhibiting mysterious behaviour such as hiding in the airport all day and only leaving the buildings when it is night time.

On the Reserve, sixteen year old Tiffany Hunter has been told by her father that she must move all her belongings to the room in the basement; no explanation is given to her.  Being a teenager is tough enough when your mother runs off with another man and you are a visible minority in your school.  Now her father doesn't appear to want her in his daily life.

This book has all the earmarks of a Modern Gothic novel: mystery and horror.  Next, add in a little romance and the angst that accompanies all teenage affairs of the heart and the stage is almost set.  We also learn, that the swamp at the north end of the reserve is believed to be populated by unseen monsters and demons.  Thank goodness I wasn't sitting home alone while reading this. 

 

I can't tell you any more about the story as I'm sure I would spoil the suspense and mystery.

 

We do spend a lot of time with Tiffany and learn of her troubles of coming of age while living first, in a broken family and then by being the outsider at school and in her boyfriend's group of friends.  She also is dealing with the heritage of the Hunter Clan.  Her grandmother speaks to her in the language of the Anishinabe, of which she is the last fully fluent speaker on the Otter Lake Reserve.  Tiffany hardly understands a word, but her grandmother continues to do this.  How is it that Pierre understands her?

 

This novel is clearly written for a young adult audience.  It is just creepy enough to keep their attention, but not too scary to cause nightmares.  Much of the focus is on Tiffany and her boyfriend, with that story running parallel to that of why Pierre is visiting the reserve.

 

I continue to enjoy the writing of Drew Hayden Taylor and look forward to another of his works.

 

Additional books by Drew Hayden Taylor:

 

Furious Observations of a Blue-Eyed Ojibway

Motorcycles and Sweetgrass

The Bootlegger Blues

 

There is still time to enter my 1000th post contest for one of four quilt patterns

First Nations Friday: Moccasin Creek by Rene Andre Meshake

One day, Giniw and Okomissan (his grandmother) decided to go in the canoe to Moccasin Creek.  Giniw wanted to wear his new leather boots.  After some time of paddling, he noticed that one of the ribs in the canoe was cracked.  This had never happened before when he wore his moccasins, making him wonder if hadn't the boots caused the trouble. Okomissan assured him that the canoe was still strong even if one piece was damaged, that it gained it's strength from a combination of all the component parts.  Giniw realized that it was the same with his family,  that they functioned as a group.  I won't relate the entire story to you, I'll leave that for you to explore with your child.  Let me say that the story provides several launching points for you to talk with your child about choices, families and communities.

One of the most unique features of this book is how Mr. Meshake has entwined the English and Ojibwe language.  The text runs fluidly from one language to the next.  In most cases the reader can determine the meaning from the surrounding text, thought there is a dictionary at the back of the book for all the Ojibwe words.

 

The artwork in this book is captivating.  It appears that the drawings are superimposed on backgrounds of rock and bark, though I can't say that some aren't really rock paintings.  I particularly like the images of the beaver and the canoe paddle.  A fun activity to do with your child would be to decorate canoe paddle  and moccasin outlines with pictures that mean something in your family.

 

My father wore moccasins as casual footwear his whole adult life.  I think it had to do with wearing steel toed boots every day at work.  After he passed away, mom and I decided that we would send him on his way, wearing his favourite footwear, his latest pair of moccasins.

 

Also by Rene Andre Meshake:

 

Blueberry Rapids

The Copper Axe

 

The Canadian Book Challenge is hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.  You are invited to join in the challenge by reading 13 books by Canadian Authors.  Visit John's site for details, and for listings of reviews of hundreds of Canadian novels.

First Nations Friday: Baseball Bats for Christmas by Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak

 Baseball Bats for Christmas is unlike any Christmas story I have read before.  It is set in Canada's far north in the community of Repulse Bay, which is situated on the Arctic Circle.  Time, 1955.

Christmas in Repulse Bay is celebrate in church with family and friends.  Gifts are not bought, they are given from the heart.  Supplies that can't be found on the land or sea, are flown in by the Hudson's Bay Company.  This year, the pilot brought six trees, which the children had never seen before.  Trees don't grow this far north and they wondered what they were for.  Read the story and follow the children as they find a use for the trees.

The story is suggested for ages 4-8.  Each page has one to several paragraphs and is accompanied by colourful illustrations by artist  Vladyana Krykorka.

This book would be a wonderful addition to your Christmas reading, even if you no longer have little ones in the house.

Visit author Michael Kusugak's website and learn more about him and his works.

Also by Michael Kusugak:

The Curse of the Shaman: A Marble Island Story

This book is reviewed as part of the 6th Canadian Book Challenge, hosted by John at The Book Mine Set.  Visits John's site  for links to reviews of 100's of  additional titles by Canadian authors.

Eden Mills Writer's Festival 2011 - A Stroll Down Publisher's Way

There aren't many times when I get to talk with dozens of authors in the course of a few hours.  Publisher's Way at the Eden Mills Writer's Festival is one of them.  In between author readings, I headed here and talked with the widest assortment of authors and independent publishers.  I wish I had a massive book budget as I could have filled several bags with future reads. 

The following are all the booths I stopped at, there were more, but time was limited so I did have to skip a few.  If I missed your favourite, please add details in the comments including a link to their site.  These are posted in the order that I visited with them.

David Beasley

Mr. Beasley is the author of over thirty fiction and non-fiction works.  He has also collected the works of Major John Richardson 1796-1852, and republished many of them. 

He has a very informative section about self-publishing that I found fascinating, much of the information being new to me.

 Jessica Ingold

While a student at the University of Guelph, in the Media Studies Program, Jessica has somehow managed to write and publish three works of fiction.  I guess it shouldn't be surprising, as she says that she has been writing stories from the time she learned her first letters.

Poetry London

 This group was founded in 2004 to draw attention to the poets of the London area.  They also feature guest poets from other locations.  Prior to each reading, which is held at the Landon Branch Library, the is a one hour poetry workshop led by Fanshawe College Professor Michelle Doege.

 Josh Martin

Josh is a writer and public speaker.  He says that his writing "tends to revolve around the topics of making the most out of life, work-life balance and simple living."  He has two non-fiction works available at this time.

Donna McCaw

Donna has written a book that provides all sorts of information on planning for your retirement, including: finances, health, timing, relationships and how to adjust to yourself as a retiree.

Rene Meshake

Aaniin.

Mr. Meshake is an artist and write.  He currently has three children's book and it working on more.  He is also available for classroom readings and workshops.  Pictured is his wife Joan Meshake.

Demeter Press

 Demeter Press is the publishing arm of the Motherhood Initiative for Research & Community Involvement.  I had an interesting, though unfortunately brief, discussion about mothers and blogging.  title: Mothering and Blogging: the Radical Act of the Mommy Blog.   They offer numerous other publications as well as The Journal of the Motherhood Initiative for Research and Community Involvement.

 The Book Band

Established in 2003, The Book Band represents a number of small presses and strives to promote the works of their authors.

 Canadians in Support of Afghan Women

"Canadians in Support of Afghan Women or C.S.A.W. is a volunteer Canadian solidarity group of women committed to making women's rights and protection under the law a priority in Afghanistan. To this end, CSAW raises awareness in Canada regarding gender discrimination in Afghanistan by supporting the empowerment of Afghan women and children through their education, employment and skill development."  They had a wide variety of items for sale to support their fund raising efforts.



 Frances Tyrrell

Frances is an incredible artist whose work has appears in publications such as Sears Canada catalogue, Carlton Cards Canada and many others.  She has also illustrated a number of children's books.  I could spend hours lost gazing into her illustrations.  That is Frances at the left side of the photo.

Peace and Cotton

Jeremy had the coolest t-shirt designs.  He will custom design and print from one to a huge number of shirts and ship internationally.  He also represents Jenny Panda.  Jeremy is at the right side of the photo.

Jenny Panda

Jenny is an artist and writer.  She is the author of several children's books and one of poetry.

 Erin Dunham

In January, Erin released her debut novel, The Art of Dying.    She is currently working on her next book, tentatively titled, The Year of the Dog.

Be sure to click through to her site and read her biography.  It is the best one that I have read in ages.  Eric is seated at the right side of the photo.

In Our Words

I had so much fun visiting with Sherry, Peta-Gaye, and Saskia (seated left to right).   All three are published  by In Our Words.

Sherry Isaac 

Sherry has recently published storyteller, a book of short stories.  In 2009, she won the Alice Munro Short Story Award.

Peta-Gaye Nash

She is the author of a book of short stories titled: I too Can Hear the Drums.  Peta-Gaye is currently working on her first full length novel.

Saskia Maddock

Saskia is the author of two books of poetry:  her first,  life unmasked, and her newest, Swimming to the Surface.  She is Chair of the Oakville Chapter of the Canadian Federation of Poets.

 

Biblioasis

Biblioasis is a literary press, publishing poetry, fiction and non-fiction works in beautifully crafted editions.

The New Quarterly

"The New Quarterly is a magazine of Canadian fiction, poetry, and conversation, primarily about the writer’s craft. Our mandate is to nurture emerging writers by publishing and promoting their work alongside that of well-established writers we admire, and to provide an editorial context in which both can be read. We try to balance serious consideration of matters literary with playfulness and invention. The tone is generally celebratory."

Wye Write

Wye Write is a group of eight women, of differing ages and varied backgrounds, though they all live near the Wye River in Simcoe County..  They get together to write and critique each others works.   They have published two collections of short stories. 

Manhattans Music Club:
Mash Mondays

The first Monday of each month, you are invited to an evening of interviews and performances.  The interviewees come from all sorts of fields, broadcasting, writing, academia, research etc., though they will also entertain you with their musical skills.

Dakotaroo

Author Krista Breen has loved horses for as long as she can remember.  When taking a break from writing she can be found teaching in the arena at the Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre . 

Publishing one Dakotaroo story a year, the Appaloosa is now on his sixth adventure since 2004 and has more yet to come.  Krista told me that she uses a technique called 'torn construction artwork' to create the cover images.

I hope you have enjoyed my stroll and visits with all these wonderful people.  If you decide to visit their sites, please leave them a comment.

Eden Mills Writer's Festival: Parade of Authors

Sunday was a wonderful day for the 23rd Eden Mills Writer's Festival.  Daughter and I were quite excited to be attending.  Me, because I  was looking forward personally meeting authors at the signing table, and daughter, she was going to be introducing author Richard Scrimger.   

 James Bartleman

I'm sure I knew that James Bartleman had been Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, what I didn't know was that he is an author.  His first novel, though not his first book, As Long as the Rivers Flow, was published this year.  The wording of the title is taken from the treaties that were signed many years ago with the Native Peoples.  IE: The land would be given to them for as long as the rivers flow. 

This book deals with the devastating and lingering impacts of the abuses of the Residential Schools. In this book, he says that he is trying to personalize what is going on at the Northern reserves, the epidemic of suicides.

There is a podcast of  a conversation between himself and Shelagh Rogers of the CBC that he highly recommends.

Jill Murray

 What's a writer to do when she'll be attending a big festival and hasn't the slightest idea what to wear?  She asks her Twitter followers.  Well, that explains why Jill is sporting a very cool Batman outfit.  Like Batman, her main character from Rhythm and Blues, Alya, is trying to find her true identity.  Jill says that sometimes you have to try on several before you find the right one.

Jill then read a selection from her book.  Alya has just heard that she has an audition and she is agrees to attend.  Moments later she is wondering what she has gotten herself into.  This self talk leads to a fantastic description of what he parents are like.  She didn't want to tell her parents about the audition and has sworn her brother to secrecy, so I am expecting horrid overbearing parents, but I find that I have been totally misled.

 I thought it was cool that Jill read from her ipad instead of from a copy of her book.

Scott Chantler

Today was the first time that the Festival had hosted a cartoonist.  This makes it a challenge to do a traditional reading.  First Scott set the scene for us, the writing scene that is.  He told us that a comic book starts with a written script.  Since it is very time consuming to draw the images, you don't want to do any more of those than you have to.  Instead, he writes a panel by panel script with details of setting, people and props, and then the dialogue.  Only after this is agreed upon with an editor/publisher does Scott do his drawings.  Within about 3 panels of the reading, I didn't even notice that this was any different from the usual type of reading.  Great success.

Two Generals is based on his grandfather's second world war diary.  Scott also brought one of his prize possessions, his grandfather's helmet from the war. 

Natale Ghent

Interesting fact brought to our attention by the young  person who introduced her: Natale studied Landscape Architecture a the University of Guelph.  She also has a long standing interest in magic and was described as " A magician with words."

Not only a magician with words but with pen and ink, as in drawing.  Ever since reading Kurt Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions, she has wanted to include her own drawings in a book.

Natale read to us from her book Gravity Brings Me Down.  She choose a selection where her female lead character, Sioux Smith, has to go in to the boys bathroom to remove from graffiti.  Things don't go as planned.  The scene then dissolves into hilarity when a plain pair of enormous white briefs enter.  Nope, can't clarify that statement, you have to read the book to find out how they fit in.

Rene Meshake

I have been waiting all year to hear Rene.  Last year at the Festival I spoke with his wife Joan for quite a while, but didn't get a chance to hear him read.

This year he read from his newest book The Copper Axe.  Rene is a survivor of the residential school system.  During his years at school his culture, language and family were denied him.  Like many, he had no idea that the Anishinaabe has a history of copper use, though he did wonder why his grandmother always told him stories of a metal axe.

Rene continues to encourage his cousins in the north to stay in school and to follow on their oral traditions of story telling and to use the skills that they have learned in the social medias to write books.  He has combined his paintings and Photo Shop to colourfully illustrate the story of The Copper Axe.

Adwoa Badoe

I hate to admit it, but I was still talking with Rene while Adwoa started reading.  Daughter was there talking pictures and insisted that I include her here. 

Adwoa read from her latest book, Between Sisters, which is set in her home country of Ghana.  Daughter says this would be an awesome book to read.

Tish Cohen

When I attend an author reading, the one thing I expect most, is to hear the author read and preferably from his or her latest book.  Tish took the podium and did exactly that; she opened her copy of Switch and read.

After hearing the opening pages, I now want to read more about Andrea Birch and find out about her thirty seven foster siblings.

Richard Scrimger

My daughter had the privilege of introducing Richard.  She took her task seriously, even writing to him and asking a variety of questions to get material.  She sure did learn more about him that you would usually learn about an author.  In case you are wondering, sour cream and bacon potato chips, and the licorice should be black.

Prior to reading from his latest book, Me & Death, Richard had a few comments for the audience.  How to make a book attractive to a young reader: you have to find an interesting character and get him/her in trouble as soon as possible.  In this case, he made his character, Jim, a schmuck, not a nice guy.  He also offered advice to budding authors: that book you've been working on and editing for the past 8 years, put it away and let it rest, time to grown and get on with your next book.  Use that first book as a learning experience.

It didn't take long for Richard to have the audience rolling with laughter.  Not only is the book interesting, but he is such a high energy person that you couldn't help but get excited as well.

When asked how he got his hair into such a cool style, he said "Neglect."

Next week is Banned Book Week.  If you are looking for a great book to read and to kick the week off, the pick up Me & Death, it has been banned from some Catholic School Boards in Alberta, Canada due to the inclusion of a talking penis in one line of the story.

My daughter and Richard after he has signed her book.  Notice that daughter is wearing the same colours as those featured on the cover of the book.

Guy Gavriel Kay

Mr. Kay was the last author reading that I attended at the Festival.  I haven't read any of his works, but I did borrow one from my sister's shelf and he graciously signed it for her.  Won't she be surprised.

In his introduction, he told us he had been described as "writes history with a quarter turn to the fantastic."  This has made me curious.  I will definitely have to peak into one of his books and find out why my sister raves about his work.

He read from his latest book, Under Heaven.

Thanks for joining me for my visit to the Eden Mills Writer's Festival.  On Saturday I plan to write about 'Publishers Way', an assortment of the authors and publishers who set up shop for the day along the main street of Eden Mills.