Girls Who Bind by Rory James

A poetic look at the emotions/feelings/concerns of a teen who binds their chest.  While they realize that they are genderqueer, their family and friends think that they are female, just as they always have.

Jamie is having a hard time deciding how to tell their parents and friends.  They told their best friend Levi about being genderqueer, but wasn't ready to tell about the binding.

I really like this book.  I found the poetic presentation stripped the story down to its basics, making the issues clear.  This book could be a great aid to those considering similar questions.  Parents would also benefit in learning more about some of the many issues under consideration by their children and their friends.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from West44Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

#IndigoEmployee

The Sky Over Lima by Juan Gomez Barcena

Set in Peru at the turn of the twentieth century, this is the fictionalized account of a love affair via letter.  Spanish poet Juan Ramon Jimenez had fallen in love with Georgina, a young woman in Lima who wrote to him begging for a copy of his recent book of poetry that had not yet been published in her country.  They subsequently carried on a correspondence for a few years during which he fell in love with her. 

Unknown to Juan, it was actually two young men who collaborated to compose and send the letters of Georgina.  It had started out innocently, as they did seek a copy of his book.  For what ever reason, they continued with the ruse until it threatened to be exposed.

It was fascinating to read how the author proposed the reasons for why Jose and Carlos continued with this fakery.  It felt so real, that it was possible it truly did occur in that manner.  Some letters have survived the ravages of time and obviously led the author to create this captivating story.  The rest, pure speculation...

I loved this book.  It is a unique tale made even more appealing by it's historical accuracies.  Jose and Carlos are young men at odds with the futures their fathers have decided for them.  Instead, they fancy themselves to be poets, even though they are not published and it seemed they weren't destined to be.  They both came from a life of privilege that allowed them the time to indulge in such whimsy as this.  I wonder if they regretted their activity afterwards and if they ever tried to make amends for their actions.

This is a highly readable tale which effectively transported me to another time and lifestyle.

#IndigoEmployee

Steampunk Haiku Challenge

Rikki at Rikki's Teleidoscope  is hosting a steampunk themed haiku challenge.  It's voting time.  Please click and visit.  There are some very cool poems to be read.  Then vote for your favourite.  It would be nice if you liked mine most and wanted to vote for #1, but please feel free to vote for which ever you enjoy most.

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.

What if Red Ran Out?

Not your everyday question.  You ask it in a group, and it goes silent and they look at you wondering what you could possibly mean.  To be honest, I'm not all that sure myself.

I'll go back to the beginning. 

A few weeks ago I received a package of poetry books in the mail from John at The Book Mine Set.  John is the host of the Canadian Book Challenge.  I'd won a contest, and they were the prize.  As I browsed through the books, one of them grabbed my attention and I couldn't put it down.  In fact, I could barely bring myself to turn from the cover and open the slim volume.

I find that I am transfixed by the question asked in the title, What if red ran out.  What does it mean.   Does it ask, what if all those items of everyday life that happen to be red, just stop existing, or is it that they have just lost their perceived colour.  I am leaning toward the second.  What if we couldn't see that a tomato was red, would it still get ripe?  Would we know the burner on the electric stove was hot?  How would you blush?  Would we have to change the colours of our beloved red maple leaf flag?  What if red ran out?

The question is a line from a poem titled Baffled King Collage.  I keep rereading the poem, but as soon as I get to that line, I'm stopped, I can't seem to put it behind me.

I have experienced a world without red. I'm not colourblind or anything like that.  I have been scuba diving, and red is the first colour that you lose as you descend.   Getting technical, red has the longest wavelength, and travels the shortest distance through water.  You can check the article on Wikipedia for details.  At first you don't really notice, but as you go deeper,  you'll notice that what you are looking at just doesn't seem as rich. It all seems flatter.

Would it be like that on land if for some reason the human population lost the ability to see red?

My daughter wrote a post on this question.

Shannon at Illusion esk.

Does this question resonate with you?  Leave a comment and share your thoughts, or better yet, write a post on your blog and send me your link.  I am curious.

What if red ran out by Katia Grubisic.  Katia is the new editor of ARC Poetry Magazine.

The Cold Panes of Surfaces by Chris Banks

I get most of my book suggestions from industry newsletters or by reading reviews on other book blogs.  This one came via my son.  He came home from school excited one day and told me that I just had to go and buy this book of poetry called Bonfires.  He had been studying poetry in English class and it turned out that his teacher had published some of them in a collection.  Off we went to the local independent store.  Couldn't find the suggested edition, and bought his second book instead.  Here I am with Chris Banks' book in hand and my son every day asking whether I have started reading.  Well, it is National Poetry Month, I decided I would jump right in.

I haven't read a poetry book in decades and thus had to sit and reflect on how to go about reading these little nuggets of , well, what are they.  Here's what I came up with.

Reading poems is like eating pierogis.  They appear soft and smooth on the surface, but you can't see what's inside.  It's going to be a surprise.  You can guess what's in there, but you can't be sure.   Next you can choose to slather on all sorts of expectations such as sour cream and fried onions.  That's like having expectations that the poem with be all sappy with lovey dovey stuff or that it will be hard to understand.  You can eat just one and savour it, or you can munch down on a bowlful and go back for more.

In the end, your hunger gets to you, and you just have to dig in.

That's what I did, one or two poems at a time for the most part, though a few days I was gluttonous and ate a whole bowlful. I was pleasantly surprised.  Some of the poems, I was able to find their flavour right away, others I had to take a second or third bite.  There was one poem I just had to keep going back to.  "Wrecking Ball" is about teenage suicide.  Mr. Banks is a high school teacher;  I never before considered how such an incident could impact on the teachers.

In the poem "The Sky is Falling" the reader is asked to consider experiencing something you had never even heard of for the very first time.  Something way outside your realm of ever considering possible.

I was intrigued by several poems that reached out to historic figures.  General Maresuke Nogi and the poet Ikkyu and both new names to me, but I found I couldn't leave them in the poem, I had to search them out and learn more.

I haven't quite finished reading this collection, but I will be coming back to it time and again for a taste or two.

I am hoping in the next week or two to host an interview or guest post with Mr. Banks.

I hope that those readers who read some poetry this past month will share their experiences by leaving a comment.  Tell me about  your favourite poet or poem or leave a link to your poetry review.

Needlework Tuesday

Last evening was the monthly meeting with my local quilt guild, the Elmira Needlesisters. Being on the program committee, it was my turn to arrange the speaker. In our ten years as a guild, we haven't looked to the past of quilting and tried hand piecing. I invited Helen Martin of Cambridge, Ontario to show us how its done.

After showing us several examples of hand pieced quilts we were enthused to give it a try ourselves.

We made cardboard templates, and transferred the outlines to the back of our fabrics. Some members even had time to start sewing. The first pic shows the two blocks that Helen made as samples. The next photo shows my fabrics cut out and ready for sewing.


I donated fabric to the guild for the background and asked those who wished to use that fabric to donate their blocks back and we would use them for a community project next year.


I did find time to work on my cousin's quilt this week. I rolled once. yippee. Always a feel good moment. I am now well beyond the boarders and into the body of the quilt. Much of the 'blue' fabric is filled with motifs adapted from the Mariner's compass, but there were some empty spots that I filled in with stars. In my mind sailboats and stars are permanently linked ever since reading the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield.



Sea Fever
I must go down to the seas again,
to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship
and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song
and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face
and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again,
for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call
that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day
with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume,
and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again
to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way
where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn
from a laughing fellow rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream
when the long trick's over.
-- John Masefield