Hear WordFest author Spring Warren at the Westward Whoa! Event on Thursday October 12 at the Glenbow Museum
WordFest kicks off sticking it to the oil industry and more
It’s another week of literary overload. As WordFest touches down with over 70 acclaimed writers from around the world the Calgary lit scene keeps turning with everything from random acts of poetry to ill-tempered insects.
Calgary is an oil town in an oil province. Bill Marsden wants to hammer the point home — our economic success depends on immense and ongoing damage to the environment. In Stupid to the Last Drop Marsden tears apart the oil industry and invites Calgarians to re-examine the status quo. Join him at Pages Books on October 4 7:30 p.m.
Thomas F. Legg has been a theatre carpenter and a private pilot. He’s performed the poetry of Robert Service and appeared on CBC Radio. Now in Birthmarks he collects stories from his childhood and heartfelt prose poetry to provide a glimpse into his world. He reads at McNally Robinson on October 5 noon.
Rona Altrows writer-in-residence at the Memorial Park Library shares her expertise with the community in “To Market We Will Go” a session that teaches writers how to market their book. What makes an effective cover letter? How should your manuscript be formatted? Find out at the library on October 6 10:30 a.m. Call 260-2600 to register.
Since 1967 Eric Carle has written more than 40 children’s books including bedtime favourites The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Grouchy Ladybug . To celebrate the ladybug’s 20th birthday head over to McNally Robinson for an afternoon of Carle classics on October 6 1:30 p.m.
In a time of darkness the warrior Sapionka sees a vision of hope that could turn his world around. In Blue Moon author Linda Jackson continues to build her fantasy universe with the story of Sapionka’s ancestor Shamonah. Join her at McNally Robinson on October 9 noon.
Class is in session and first-year university students are getting their first taste of the demands of higher education. Paula Henderson has been there and she’s assembled The College Survival Guide a collection of tips lists and quotes to help students save their sanity. She hits McNally Robinson on October 11 noon.
All this week the Mama of Dada Sheri-D Wilson has been sharing poetry where it’s least expected. From 17th Avenue to CBC to the Calgary Drop-In Centre she’s brought vivid verse to the Calgary masses — and now she’s going on the road first to Queen’s University and then to Paris France. For more information on her travels and on the 36 other poets spreading the word across Canada visit national-random-acts-of-poetry.blogspot.com.
Free Calgary books!
Think you know everything about Calgary? The Calgary Book of Everything by Fast Forward writer Roberta McDonald might teach you a thing or two on everything from weather to crime The Red Mile and more. E-mail Kari at kwatson@ffwd.greatwest.ca with the subject line “book giveaway” to receive one of a limited number of free copies.
