Book News Vol. 9 No. 52

BOOK NEWS

A Dram Come True
A whisky tasting fundraiser in support of the Vancouver Writers Fest.

Join us at Hycroft, the perfect spot to share a dram with old pals or make new friends while enjoying uisce beatha (the water of life). Sample rare and distinguished single malts curated by Dave Mason, President of the West Coast Whisky Society.

Tickets: $120
Preview Tasting Tickets (access to bars 45 minutes early): Add $40
7:30pm, June 5 at Hycroft
Details and to purchase tickets here, http://writersfest.bc.ca/events/dram-come-true.

Incite 2015
An evening of memoir with Cathie Borrie (The Long Hello), Lynette Loeppky (Cease) and Kara Stanley (Fallen). Details: https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite.

FREE!
7:30pm, March 25
Alice MacKay room, VPL Central Library
Click here for details: https://www.writersfest.bc.ca/events/incite

AWARDS & LISTS

The nominees for the 2015 B.C. Book Prizes have been made public. The winners of all seven prizes will be announced on April 25th.
http://www.straight.com/life/410561/bc-book-prizes-shortlists-2015-unveiled

Marilyn Robinson has won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction for her novel, Lila, the final book in her Gilead trilogy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/13/books/lila-by-marilynne-robinson-honored-as-top-fiction-by-national-book-critics-circle.html

The Carnegie medal and Kate Greenaway 2015 shortlists have been announced. "In its 78 year history, no author has ever won a hat-trick in the Carnegie or the Kate Greenaway medal–but this year it might happen."
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/mar/17/carnegie-medal-and-kate-greenaway-2015-shortlists-announced

YOUNG READERS

Which are the best owls in children's books? "From Harry Potter's loyal Hedwig to the very worried Sarah, Percy and Bill in Owl Babies, children's literature is full of owls despite–or maybe because of–the fact we so rarely see them in real life. The Book Doctor spots the very best."
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/mar/16/the-best-owls-in-childrens-books-hedwig-harry-potter-owl-babies

NEWS & FEATURES

The literary community is mourning the loss of science-fiction writer Sir Terry Pratchett. Numerous authors, including Margaret Atwood and Neil Gaiman, have begun to eulogize him online.
http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/the-literary-community-remembers-sir-terry-pratchett/100431

Have you seen the Canada Reads book trailers yet? If not, here's your chance to see them before the competition ends.
http://www.cbc.ca/books/2015/03/watch-the-canada-reads-book-trailers.html

The Tokyo Chuo Metropolitan Library is trying to restore books that were damaged in the 2011 tsunami. An exhibit is being shown in tandem, featuring photos of the restoration process and rescue of local archival material, as well as some of the actual books that have been worked upon.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/11/japan-tsunamy-library_n_6848994.html

Speaking of libraries, which are the world's most unusual? This list includes libraries with snow globe, glass eye and vintage Valentine collections.
http://flavorwire.com/509543/unusual-library-collections-around-the-world

Vancouver's literary history is being honoured on its streets. 26 plaques have been inaugurated so far, featuring information about each site, as well as links to additional information online (including an interactive map).
http://www.quillandquire.com/book-culture/2015/03/12/marking-vancouvers-literary-landmarks/

Are you a devotee of fanfiction? This comprehensive guide to the genre unpacks "the tense tug-of-war between artists and their creations' biggest admirers," and also includes a reading list.
http://www.vulture.com/2015/03/fanfiction-guide.html?mid=twitter_nymag#reads

Penguin Random House has launched a new website to help parents raise lifelong readers. The site provides parents with advice and tips, as well as popular books for different ages.
http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/penguin-random-house-helps-parents-raise-readers/100225

How do you succeed in the ebook market? According to author Fay Weldon, you must "‘abandon your dignity and write a racy page-turner!"
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/fay-weldon-interview-abandon-your-dignity-and-write-a-racy-pageturner-10086140.html

How does Google's new search algorithm affect publishers? "If you're a publisher whose online presence isn't up to the task of delivering content to a mobile device, and if your site looks the same regardless of the platform someone is using to view it—seamlessly—your search rankings are going to take a hit. I'm guessing a big hit."
http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2015/on-mobile-shift-publishers-must-follow-googles-lead/

BOOKS & WRITERS

Here are three small press books worth a read: Calbacor: An Extracted History, a "genre-bending work;" Cauchemar, a southern gothic tale; and To Dance the Beginning of the World, a collection of short stories.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/book-reviews/three-small-press-books-worth-a-read/article23451002/

Kim Echlin's new novel, Under the Visible Life, is the story of Katherine and Mahsa, "musicians from different walks of life who bond over their shared love of jazz." Echlin is interviewed here:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/author-kim-echlin-on-why-she-wrote-her-new-novel-whose-sentences-are-her-favourite-and-more/article23451321/

Making Nice, by Matt Sumell, is a "boisterous, brutish and brilliantly funny" debut. It mixes "slapstick with goofy humanity" in order to tell the story of a thirty-something loser.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/11/making-nice-matt-sumell-review-sandra-newman

"Talking to Toni Morrison about failure is a bit like talking to Einstein about stupidity: it's incongruous, to say the least." In this interview, Morrison discusses creative failure, success and recognizing when something isn't working.
http://arts.gov/NEARTS/2014v4-art-failure-importance-risk-and-experimentation/toni-morrison

Chigozie Obioma's The Fishermen is a "promising debut," spinning a "simple, almost mythological conceit into a heartbreaking elegy to Nigeria's lost promise." The novel mixes forms of oral storytelling and the traditional English novel, telling the story of four middle-class Nigeria brothers who receive a dark prophecy.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/mar/13/the-fishermen-chigozie-obioma-review

COMMUNITY EVENTS

SILVIA MORENO-GARCIA
Author reads from her debut novel Signal To Noise. Thursday, March 19 at 7:00pm. Storm Crow Tavern, 1305 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.

POETRY READING
Pam Galloway and Susan McCaslin at People's Co-op Bookstore. Both poets will be reading from their new works, Pam's volume of poetry (Passing Stranger) and Susan's memoir (Into the Mystic: My Years with Olga), both from Inanna Publications. People's Co-Op Bookstore, March 19, at 1391 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, 7-9 pm. Host, Nancy Tam:

PEN AND SWORD
Authors C.C. Humphreys, Sebastien de Castell and Kris Sayer will discuss their personal journeys studying swordplay to enrich their writing, characters and stories. Monday, March 23 at 7:00pm. Central Branch, VPL. More information at 604-331-3603.

NOIR AT THE BAR
Drink, mingle and hear talented local authors read. Featuring Linda L. Richards, Robin Spano, Owen Laukkanen, Sam Weibe, Glynis Whiting, E.R. Brown, Charlotte Morganti, and Dietrich Kalteis. Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00pm. Shebeen Whisk(e)y House, 210 Carrall St., Vancouver.

BRANDON MULL
Author of the Five Kingdoms series reads from his latest book Crystal Keepers. Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, Burnaby.

WRITING THE SPIRITUAL LIFE
Susan McCaslin will be offering a reading and short writing workshop based on her new spiritual autobiography Into the Mystic: My Years with Olga. Wednesday, March 25 at 6:30pm, free. Banyen Books and Sound, 3608 4th Ave. W., Vancouver. More information at banyen.com.

NVCL LOCAL AUTHOR SERIES
Readings by Amir Ahmad Nasr and Pasha Parvaneh Hashemi. Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00pm, free. North Vancouver City Library, 120 W. 14th Street, North Vancouver. More information and registration here, nvcl.ca/calendar.

TWISTED POETS LITERARY SALON
Features George McWhirter and Tina Biello plus open mic. Thursday, March 26 at 7:00pm. The Cottage Bistro, 4468 Main Street, Vancouver. Suggested donation at the door: $5. Sign up for open mic at 7 pm. More information at
www.pandorascollective.com.

DARK SIDE II
Andrew Pyper (The Damned) and Nick Cutter (The Deep) present their latest books. Monday, March 30 at 7:00pm. Chapters Metrotown, Burnaby.

Upcoming

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH
Readings from Candice James, New Westminster's Poet Laureate and George Fetherling, author of many books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction. Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30pm. New Westminster Public Library, New Westminster. More information and registration at 604-527-4667.

POETRY WITHOUT BORDERS
Poets Patrick Friesen, Rhona McAdam, Inge Israel and Beth Kope present an evening of readings and conversation. Wednesday, April 8 at 7:30pm, free. Munro's Books, 1108 Government St., Victoria.

AN EVOLVING CITY
Event featuring George Bowering and Wayde Compton. Thursday, April 9 at 7:30pm, free. Pulp Fiction, 2422 Main Street, Vancouver.

UNHANGED AUTHOR
Free workshop for writers thinking of entering the 2015 Arthur Ellis Unhanged Author competition. Saturday, April 11 from 10am to 5pm. VPL Central branch, 350 W. Georgia Street, Vancouver. Complete details at crimewriterscanada.com.

NEIL MCKINNON
Author reads from his new book The Greatest Lover of Last Tuesday. Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00pm, free. VPL Central Branch, 350 W. Georgia St., Vancouver. More information at vpl.ca.