News

Johnston in Wolfville Wednesday evening

Posted by on February 23, 2015

A.J.B. JohnstonA.J.B. Johnston will make a presentation “History and Fiction” in Wolfville on Wednesday (Feb. 25).

In this presentation, Johnston outlines his transition from historian to novelist and give some background on his research and sense of 18th-century France and England in the crafting of his Thomas Pichon novels #pichonnovels (Thomas, A Secret Life, and The Maze (both CBU Press).

His talk is sponsored by the Wolfville Historical Society, and is scheduled for 7 p.m., Room 132, Beveridge Arts Centre, Acadia University.

Mr. Johnston recently made presentations and readings in Fredericton, Moncton, Sackville, Liverpool, Sydney and Port Hawkesbury.

The series is thanks, in part, to an “Author Promotion” grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.

A.J.B. Johnston will make a presentation “History and Fiction” in Wolfville on Wednesday (Feb. 25). In this presentation, Johnston outlines his transition from… Continue»

Annapolis Royal presentation postponed

Posted by on February 16, 2015

A.J.B. JohnstonA.J.B. Johnston’s presentation “History and Fiction” scheduled for Feb. 16 presentation in Annapolis Royal, has been postponed due to the weather.

The original post is here: http://cbup.ca/blog/4842/

A.J.B. Johnston’s presentation “History and Fiction” scheduled for Feb. 16 presentation in Annapolis Royal, has been postponed due to the weather…. Continue»

“stunning”: review of Gaelic poetry collection

Posted by on February 10, 2015

Intangible PossibilitiesNice review in Atlantic Books Today of Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman, Dàin le Lodaidh MacFhionghain /Intangible Possibilities, Poems by Lewis MacKinnon

“MacKinnon offers a lyrical slice of Cape Breton heritage … and gives readers a place to land at the edge of the cliff, overlooking an endless Atlantic Ocean. Intangible Possibilities is a stunning East Coast vista.”

Intangible Possibilities is MacKinnon’s second collection of original Nova Scotian Gaelic poetry (with English translations) published by CBU Press. Famhair: agus dàin Ghàidhlig eile (Giant: and other Gaelic poems) came out in 2008.

MacKinnon is the current holder of the Scottish Bardic Crown, official bard (poet laureate) of the Royal National Mod. He is the first poet to the appointment from outside of Scotland. He has appeared in numerous literary events and festivals in Scotland and Ireland, most recently the Queen’s Baton Relay (Commonwealth Games) in Stornoway sponsored by Scottish PEN.

Read the full review here: http://atlanticbookstoday.ca/intangible-possibilities/

 

 

Nice review in Atlantic Books Today of Rudan Mì-bheanailteach is an Cothroman, Dàin le Lodaidh MacFhionghain /Intangible Possibilities, Poems by… Continue»

AJB Johnston “History and Fiction” presentations

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A.J.B. JohnstonA.J.B. Johnston’s presentations on History and Fiction continue this month. He will be in Annapolis Royal on February 16, and Wolfville on the 25th.

In this presentation, Johnston outlines his transition from historian to novelist and give some background on his research and sense of 18th-century France and England in the crafting of his Thomas Pichon novels (Thomas, A Secret Life, and The Maze (both CBU Press).

On Feb. 16, Johnston will speak – during Annapolis Royal Heritage Days – at St. Luke’s Church Hall in Annapolis Royal at 2 p.m. This is in observance of Nova Scotia Heritage Day (Viola Desmond Day).

On Feb. 25, he will speak to the Wolfville Historical Society, 7 p.m., Room 132, Beveridge Arts Centre, Acadia University.

Mr. Johnston recently made presentations and readings in Fredericton, Moncton, Sackville, Liverpool, Sydney and Port Hawkesbury.

The series is thanks, in part to an “Author Promotion” grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.

A.J.B. Johnston’s presentations on History and Fiction continue this month. He will be in Annapolis Royal on February 16, and… Continue»

“Astounding”: review of These Were My People

Posted by on January 27, 2015

9781927492901_FCA recent (January 24, 2015) review in the Charlottetown Guardian says Vince MacLean’s These Were My People, Washabuck: An Anecdotal History is “a fun book to read if you take it slowly [for] the amount of information is astounding.”

Reviewer Elizabeth Cran says she appreciates MacLean’s anecdotal approach to the book, for “History is a narrative, usually with commentary, and this is rare and more valuable.”

Agreed!

You can read the full review at: http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/Living/2015-01-24/article-4018562/A-commentary-on-a-Cape-Breton-community%3A-These-Were-My-People/1

Vince was the guest speaker at the Old Sydney Society’s monthly meeting January 22, 2015. There was a great turnout considering inclement weather in the area that day.

A recent (January 24, 2015) review in the Charlottetown Guardian says Vince MacLean’s These Were My People, Washabuck: An Anecdotal… Continue»

Celtic columnist unwraps Naughty Little Book

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Naughty Little Book of Gaelic“I was hooked!”

Columnist Dan MacDonald finally unwrapped his last Christmas gift: The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic: All the Scottish Gaelic You Need to Curse, Swear, Drink, Smoke and Fool Around, by Michael Newton.

Newton’s book “may not appear to be as deep and scholarly as … his earlier work, but it covers an area … generally glossed over and often completely ignored.”

“Now is your chance to discover the translation and perhaps add to your vocabulary. After all, when you can tell someone “buinneach o’n teine ort” you clearly have the upper hand.”

You can read Dan’s column in the Cape Breton Post here: http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/2015-01-15/article-4009232/Gaelic-book-is-naughty,-but-nice./1

“I was hooked!” Columnist Dan MacDonald finally unwrapped his last Christmas gift: The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic: All the… Continue»

“The Good Sentence” interviews author Sparling

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Paul MacDougallSparling-1Did you catch The Good Sentence on  The Coast 89.7 Sunday evening (6 p.m., Jan. 25, 2015)? Host Paul MacDougall interviewed Heather Sparling, author of Reeling Roosters and Dancing Ducks: Celtic Mouth MusicThe Good Sentence is a regular feature The Coast’s Dialogue program. You can hear a rebroadcast Jan. 27 and 29 at 10 p.m.

Dialogue can be heard Sundays at 6 p.m. and is re-broadcast Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 p.m. You can listen on-line at: http://www.coastalradio.ca/about/listen-live/

Paul MacDougall is the author of Distinction Earned: Cape Breton’s Boxing Legends 1946-1970. Paul is also a writer, playwright and very active in Cape Breton’s literary scene.

Did you catch The Good Sentence on  The Coast 89.7 Sunday evening (6 p.m., Jan. 25, 2015)? Host Paul MacDougall… Continue»

Authr Johnston to visit CBU and book pub

Posted by on January 7, 2015

A.J.B. JohnstonA.J.B. Johnston, author of the Thomas Pichon novels (#pichonnovels) will be giving readings in Sydney later this month, part of a series of appearances in the Maritimes following release of his second novel The Maze, A Thomas Pichon Novel.

On Monday, January 19, Johnston will make a public presentation on “History as Fiction” in the CBU Library (4 p.m., everyone welcome), part of an “Off the Page” series sponsored by the Department of Languages and Letters at Cape Breton University.

Earlier in the day, he will meet with students in the Dept. of History and Culture at CBU.

On Tuesday evening, Johnston will read from The Maze, A Thomas Pichon Novel, as a featured writer at the popular Governors Book Pub, Authors with Glasses, at Governors Pub and Eatery in Sydney (7 p.m., January 20).

The Port Hawkesbury Library is hosting Mr. Johnston on Wednesday, January 21, at 1 p.m.

A historian at the Fortress of Louisbourg for 23 years, and the author of more than a dozen books, Johnston’s work focuses on French Colonial history in Atlantic Canada. His book Endgame 1758, won the Canadian Historical Association’s Clio Award.

Johnston has published two novels fictionalizing the life of Thomas Pichon (1700-1781), the French colonial official who betrayed his French masters by spying for the British, and was in many ways responsible for the 1755 fall of Fort Beausejour.

Thomas, A Secret Life (2012) and The Maze, A Thomas Pichon Novel (2014) are both published by CBU Press. A third and fourth novel in the series are nearing completion.

Last fall, Mr. Johnston appeared at a number of Maritime venues, visiting Liverpool, Fredericton and Sackville, NB. His travels have been partially covered by an Author Promotion Tour Grant provided by the Canada Council for the Arts.

A.J.B. Johnston, author of the Thomas Pichon novels (#pichonnovels) will be giving readings in Sydney later this month, part of a… Continue»

Stellings “The Manager” wins Hamilton Literary Award

Posted by on January 6, 2015

stellings-managercstellingsAwesome news out of Hamilton, ON, this morning. The Manager by Caroline Stellings, won the Hamilton Literary Award for fiction during a ceremony in that city Monday evening (January 5, 2015).

Congratulations Caroline!

“By turns, heartbreakingly tender and slapstick funny” (CM Magazine) The Manager was also recently shortlisted for the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC). It was earlier selected for inclusion in the CCBC Best Books for Kids and Teens publication.

This is Caroline Stellings’s fifth project with CBU Press, including the best-selling Malagawatch Mice and the Church that Sailed.

Stellings is also an accomplished artist and illustrator. She lives in the Hamilton area, in the small community of Waterdown, Ontario.

The Hamilton Literary Awards are an annual event with the goal of recognizing and celebrating the city’s published authors. The Awards are presented to books of outstanding merit and quality in three categories including fiction, poetry and non-fiction by authors residing in Hamilton and the surrounding areas.

Since its founding, the Hamilton Arts Council has worked to strengthen the role of the culture in Hamilton by making the arts accessible and relevant to the entire community. They advocate, mediate and communicate for the role of the arts in Hamilton’s social and economic development.

Awesome news out of Hamilton, ON, this morning. The Manager by Caroline Stellings, won the Hamilton Literary Award for fiction during… Continue»

Washabuck book a hit with this historian too

Posted by on January 2, 2015

9781927492901_FCIn a recent review of two books of Cape Breton history published in 2014, historian Ken Donovan says Vince MacLean’s These Were My People, Washabuck: An Anecdotal History, sets “a high standard for the history of small communities in Cape Breton.” (Nashwaak Review vol. 32-33, 2014)

“To his credit,” Donovan continues, “MacLean also places the history of Washabuck in the broader historical context of Cape Breton, Canadian and European history” and that a “sense of humanity and intimacy … comes across in the work.”

You can read the entire review here.

 

In a recent review of two books of Cape Breton history published in 2014, historian Ken Donovan says Vince MacLean’s… Continue»