Book News Vol. 8 No. 28

BOOK NEWS

2013 Festival
The 2013 Vancouver Writers Fest program guides are now available at bookstores, cafes and library branches around Vancouver. Complete Festival details including a downloadable PDF of the guide are available online at writersfest.bc.ca. You'll find 81 events-interviews, discussions, readings and performances-for readers of all interests, with 100 writers from around the world including Margaret Atwood, Joseph Boyden, Anne Carson, Michael Crummey, Sarah Dunant, Tomson Highway, Wayne Johnston, Rachel Kushner, Anne Michaels, Colin Mochrie, Lisa Moore, George Packer, Michel Tremblay, Scott Turow and many more. Please join us and experience our 26th annual celebration of exceptional writers and passionate readers.

Tickets will be on sale September 3 for members, September 9 for the general public. If you'd like to become a member ($35 for one year, two years for $60) and receive great benefits, please visit our website:
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/get-involved/joinus

VWF Poetry and Short Fiction Contest
Submit your finest prose and poetry to the 15th annual Vancouver Writers Fest Poetry & Short Story Contest. The top entries in poetry and fiction will be published in subTerrain magazine and receive cash prizes. Details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/writingcontest

SPECIAL EVENTS

J.B. MacKinnon
The independent journalist and award-winning author of The 100-Mile Diet talks about his new book, The Once and Future World, providing an eye-opening account of nature as it was, as it is and as it could be. Event details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/jbmackinnon.

SPECIAL FOR BOOK CLUBS! $16 per person, minimum of 5 people, book by phone only at 604-629-8849.

Thursday, October 3 at 7:30pm
Frederic Wood Theatre
6354 Crescent Road, UBC

David Sedaris
The renowned NPR humorist comes to Vancouver's Chan Centre for an evening of cutting wit, social satire, riveting conversation and post-event book signing with his recent New York Times' bestseller release Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. Event details: http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/davidsedaris.

SPECIAL WRITERS FEST OFFER! Use the code "VWF" to get $5 off your ticket.

Tuesday, November 12 at 7:30pm
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
6265 Crescent Road, UBC

AWARDS & LISTS

Rawi Hage is the Vancouver Public Library's new writer in residence. The Montreal-based visual artist, photographer and award-winning author of three novels began his four-month tenure at the library this week, working with young writers at a camp.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Rawi+Hage+named+writer+residence+Vancouver+library/8791482/story.html

Frank Cottrell Boyce, last year's Guardian children's fiction prize winner, announced this year's shortlist at the Edinburgh International Festival. These include American authors John Green (The Fault in Our Stars) and Rebecca Stead (Liar & Spy), British author David Almond (The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas) and Katherine Rundell (Rooftoppers).
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/11/guardian-childrens-fiction-prize-2013-shortlist

A sprawling novel by Sergio de la Pava, about a Manhattan public defence lawyer that was originally self-published after failing to impress mainstream publishers, has scooped the $25,000 (£16,000) PEN/Robert W Bingham prize for debut fiction.
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/14/a-naked-singularity-from-self-published-to-pen-award

A diverse group of finalists are contenders for the 39th Toronto Book Awards, which honours books of "literary or artistic merit that are evocative of Toronto." Presented by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Public Library, this year's list includes two novels, a memoir, and collections of photography and poetry.
http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/awards/toronto-book-awards-finalists-announced

Neil Gaiman leads the Not the Booker prize shortlist. "I'm thrilled to be on the list", says Gaiman "and, I suspect, much happier than if I were nominated for an actual Booker."
http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2013/aug/15/neil-gaiman-2013-not-booker-prize-shortlist

John Green is arguably the most popular young adult author in America today—three of the 10 spots on the current Y.A. list belong to his books, including the sweetly tragicomic cancer novel The Fault in Our Stars, at number 1 after 37 weeks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/25/books/review/inside-the-list.html

YOUNG READERS

Tom Pitzhugh is bored with his life. The 12-year-old in the short story by Avi "Bored Tom" isn't interested in school or sports. After he takes in Charley, Tom must then decide if a cat's life would be better than his own. Ages 10 to 12.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/2013/08/06/2f4c55d6-f498-11e2-a2f1-a7acf9bd5d3a_story.html

Duncan wants to draw, but instead, he finds a stack of letters listing the crayons' demands. In The Day the Crayons Quit, author Drew Daywait explains that Red is overworked, Gray is exhausted and Black wants to be considered a colour-in colour. Some colours are tired, others underutilized, and a few want official titles. Ages 3 to 7.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/drew-daywalt/day-crayons-quit/

NEWS & FEATURES

Crime novelist Elmore Leonard, whose louche characters, deadpan dialogue and immaculate prose style in Get Shorty, Freaky Deaky and Glitz established him as a modern master of American genre writing, died on Tuesday at his home at 87.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/21/books/elmore-leonard-master-of-crime-fiction-dies-at-87.html

Sales of Orwell's 1984 on Amazon increased by 6,021 per cent in a single day following Edward Snowden's recent NSA revelations, The New York Review of Books notes. The parallels between our own ostensibly liberal, democratic societies and Orwell's Oceania are stark.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/joe-bilsborough/snowden-fallout

Sweden's crime writers are too interested in love, says Maj Sjöwall, renowned as the architect of the modern Scandinavian crime thriller.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/14/sweden-crime-writers-interested-love

The English translation of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's newest book won't be out until 2014, but it has inspired frenzied coverage in Japan, where it became the "fastest-selling book ever on Amazon Japan."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/16/212529718/book-news-english-translation-of-new-murakami-novel-expected-in-2014

All 883 of Barbara Cartland's novels, including 57 previously unseen works, are to be published as a result of a new distribution agreement. The collection includes 160 manuscripts the prolific romance novelist left behind when she died 13 years ago.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23691203

A man using the British Library's wi-fi network was denied access to an online version of Shakespeare's Hamlet because the text contained "violent content". Author Mark Forsyth was writing his book in the library, and needed to check a line from the famous play.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23680689

Linwood Barclay's crime thrillers have sold five million copies and won him critical acclaim worldwide, yet he's still not a household name in Canada. A Tap on the Window, his newest novel, hit bookstores last week and a movie deal for his novel Trust Your Eyes was recently picked up by Warner Bros. for seven figures.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2013/08/14/linwood-barclay-video-national.html

As Inspector Wexford returns, Ruth Rendell talks about politics, her influences and the secret to keeping the reader intrigued. 'Withholding information from the reader should be part of any story', she says, in an interview with Vanessa Thorpe.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/18/meet-author-ruth-rendell-wexford

The inspiration for 21-year-old Samantha Shannon's The Bone Season, the ambitious first novel in a projected seven-part series to be published by Bloomsbury, came from an internship with literary agent David Godwin the
summer after her first year at Oxford.
http://www.vulture.com/2013/08/novelist-samantha-shannon-on-the-bone-season.html

The 3rd Annual Geist Erasure Poetry Contest is now underway! Information re: entries can be found here:
http://www.geist.com/contests/erasure/erasure/

There's only one week left to enter the Aesthetica Creative Writing Competition, which offers both existing and aspiring writers the chance to showcase their work to a wider, international audience. For more information, visit www.aestheticamagazine.com/creativewriting.

BOOKS & WRITERS

Rawi Hage‘s Carnival is a tale of a taxi driver's nocturnal meanderings, showing lyricism, compassion and great human spirit, says Edward Docx.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/03/carnival-rawi-hage-review-docx

Jimmy Rabbitte has pretty good cause for his mid-life crises in Roddy Doyle's The Guts. His online business dedicated to the revival of old Irish punk bands has seen modest success, but now Jimmy's forced to traffic in bogus Celtic-rock bombast.
http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/books/Book+review+Guts+Roddy+Doyle/8773523/story.html

Mary Novik's MUSE takes us to the Avignon Papacy and the fiery love poetry of 14th-century writer Francesco Petrarch, while Solange trains for a future as a scribe.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Muse+Mary+Novik+Love+poetry+labour+lost/8806905/story.html

Are fewer women reaching the top in publishing in the digital age? 2012 Festival Author Kate Mosse discusses the role of women in publishing on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Listen online.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038c0dp

COMMUNITY EVENTS

JANI KRULC, GILLIAN SAVIGNY, AND RAY HSU
An evening of hot literature and cool company in Vancouver. Hosted by Dina del Bucchia. Thursday, August 22 at 7:30pm, free. Pulp Fiction Books, 2422 Main Street.

PANDORA'S LITERARY AWARDS
Sean Cranbury hosts an awards gala with a musical performance by M'Girl and harpist Amanda Hartley, as well as award presenters Wayde Compton, Evelyn Lau, Steven R. Duncan, Dennis E. Bolen, and Jillian Christmas. This event kicks off the 10th annual Summer Dreams Literary Arts Festival. Friday, August 23 at 7:30pm, free. CBC Studio 700, 700 Hamilton Street, Vancouver.

KELLEY ARMSTRONG
Author launches a new adult series set in Cainsville with the first book in the series, Omens. Followed by a talk, Q&A and book signing. Monday, August 26 at 7:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby. Complete information at 604-431-0463.

VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
Youth poetry slam featuring Cathy Petch from Toronto. Monday, August 26 at 8:00pm. Cost: $4/$6. Cafe Deux Soleils, 2096 Commercial Drive, Vancouver. More information at vancouverpoetryhouse.com.

EMERGE 2013 FUNDRAISER
A night of incredible talent all in support of this year's emerge anthology that features work by all 36 writers of the Writer's Studio at SFU. Readings by Betsy Warland, Wayde Compton, Jen Currin and a special reading by the emerge publisher, Andrew Chesham, with musical guests Leanne Dunic and Ryan Ogg of Luck Commander. Thursday, September 12. Entrance by donation (suggested $15) so arrive early to ensure entry. Max 75 people. Calabash Bistro, 428 Carrall Street.

TO TIMBUKTU FOR A HAIRCUT
President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver Rick Antonson will regale you with tales of his epic journey by train, boat, four-wheel drive, camel and on foot. Monday, September 16 at 7:00pm. West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at 604-925-7403.

SMALLPOX AND THE TSILHQOT'IN WAR
Author Tom Swanky shows who, where, when, why and how smallpox featured in the Tsilhqot'in War, a pivotal event in B.C.'s history. Wednesday, September 18 at 7:00pm. West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at 604-925-7403.

Upcoming

THE MAYAN MYSTERIES
Sharon MacGougan will talk about her novel, The Mayan Mysteries. The real-life ancient mystery of the disappearance of the Mayan people converges with the inner transformation of a fifteen-year-old girl in this adventure story. Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30pm. West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at 604-925-7403.

VANCOUVER BOOK FAIR
The Vancouver Book Fair is the only antiquarian, collectible and rare book fair in Western Canada. A wide selection of exciting & unusual books, ephemera, maps, photographs & much more will be on offer at the fair. September 28-29, 2013. UBC Robson Square, 800 Robson Street, Vancouver. Complete information at www.vancouverbookfair.com.

NICHOLAS SPARKS
The bestselling author of blockbuster books and films such as Safe Haven, The Lucky One and The Notebook signs his new novel, The Longest Ride. Wednesday, October 2 at 7:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby. More information at 604-431-0463.

SIDNEY LITERARY FESTIVAL
Sidney will host 14 award-winning local authors whose genres cover mystery, war, children's literature, poetry, short story whimsy and local life. October 4-6, 2013. Sidney, BC. Complete information at www.sidneyliteraryfestival.com.

SO WHERE DO YOU GO AT NIGHT?
Author, sailor and adventurer Patrick Hill will share adventure stories from his 14 month family sailing trip through the exotic islands of the South Seas, Hawaii and Glacier Bay. Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30pm. West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Drive, West Vancouver. More information at 604-925-7403.

DAVID ZIEROTH
The Governor General Award-winning poet and author will read from The November Optimist and talk about working with Gaspereau Press and about his own initiative, The Alfred Gustav Press. Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00pm, free. Peter Kaye room, Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street. More information at www.vpl.ca.

F.G. BRESSANI LITERARY PRIZE
IL CENTRO Italian Cultural Centre is thrilled to announce the publication of the Rules & Regulations for the 2014 Edition of the F.G. Bressani Literary Prize. The literary prize honours and promotes the work of Canadian writers of Italian origin or Italian descent. Deadline: April 2, 2014. Complete details can be found here: http://italianculturalcentre.ca/blog/bressani-literary-prize/.