Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sandra Birdsell Wins Regina Lifetime Achievement Award

Regina writer Sandra Birdsell has won the 2013 Regina Mayor's Arts and Business Award for Lifetime Achievement.

(And yes, I know this happened back in April, but I am a little late...)

The event is presented by Dr. Roberta McKay and Elmer Brenner, and the Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored by SaskEnergy.

Sandra, a Member of the Order of Canada whose books include Waiting For Joe, Children of the Day and The Russländer, has been awarded a long list of other medals and ribbons for her excellent novels, short stories and other work.

Congrats, Sandra!

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Friday, June 7, 2013

FictionKNITstas Bring Great Yarns to Regina

Lisa Bird-Wilson, book in hand,
knit shawl on shoulder,
traditional woven shawl on podium. 
The FictionKNITstas Tour arrived in Regina last week, featuring Lisa Bird-Wilson (Just Pretending - Coteau Books) and Faith Johnston (The Only Man in the World - Turnstone).

The event was sponsored by Coteau Books, the first publisher behind the Fictionistas, a unique reading series promoting female Canadian writers. (Several other presses have since joined in.)  And it was hosted by Brenda Niskala (For the Love of Strangers - Coteau Books).

This was the first reading I've attended at The Artful Dodger, a licensed coffee house on 11th Avenue, whose full name goes on to include "Cafe and Music Emporium".

Not a bad location for a reading — though there is the matter of that Dodger. who looms with Dickensian grace over the stage, competing for audience eye contact... But the readers were entertaining and their work, engaging, so I ignored that guy...

The FictionKNITstas Tour features a twist on the original reading series by showcasing hand-knit items that tie into elements of the authors' work — a Métis sash knit by a Saskatoon knitter (Bonnie Zink) for Lisa Bird-Wilson, a shawl by a Port Elgin, Ontario, knitter for Faith Johnston.

Faith Johnston with pine cone
patterned shawl
Brenda Niskala, with the Artful Dodger. 

Thanks, FictionKNITstas, for a great evening! Great yarns, great books, great readings. 

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Sunday, June 2, 2013

City of Regina 2013 Writing Awards

The 2013 City of Regina Writing Awards were presented last week to three talented local writers.

Daniel Macdonald took home the award for his play in progress. Runners-up B.D. Miller and Evie Ruddy were also honoured at the event.

Congrats to all!

B.D. Miller, Daniel Macdonald and Evie Ruddy. City of Regina Writing Award 2013.
B.D. Miller, Daniel Macdonald and Evie Ruddy.

The award is sponsored by the City of Regina, and administered by the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild. 

(And I'm so glad the runners-up are now honoured! Back when I was a runner-up in the Noughties, our presence was kept secret...) The event was hosted by last year's winner, Regina writer David Sealy

I didn't bring my real camera — mistake  but I kind of like this height-equalizing, tilty-writer effect, even though Brian, perhaps with good reason, looks slightly suspicious of me!


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