CBU Press book on popular children’s list

Selby the Lobster nominated for Hackmatack children’s choice award

One of the region’s most popular awards for children’s literature, the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award will include the story of Selby the Lobster, published in 2011 by Cape Breton University Press.

The Hackmatack Children’s Choice Book Award is a literary program designed for young readers in Atlantic Canada. Each year, thousands of children aged nine to twelve (grades four to 6) read from the selection of forty outstanding Canadian books in four categories – English fiction and nonfiction, French fiction and French nonfiction – and vote for their favourites in the spring of each year.

The winners of the Hackmatack Award in each category are announced at the final award ceremony in May. Selby the Lobster is on the Hackmatack reading list for 2012-2013, with the winner announced in spring 2013.

Written by Don Downer of Corner Brook and illustrated by Newfoundland native Gisele LeBlanc-Turner, Selby the Lobster is a natural science book for young readers.

The story explores Selby’s habitat and lifecycle in and near Ragged Harbour, foraging for food and avoiding predators, including Jake the lobster fisher, who really wants to catch Selby.

CM Magazine says of Selby: “What is fun about Selby the Lobster is that all the information comes quite naturally…. The illustrations … work with the text to tell a better story. They are not diagrams in disguise…. The text doesn’t read like a dressed-up list of facts, either.”

Selby was published as one of three books on marine life for young readers, also by Downer and LeBlanc-Turner: Selina – An Atlantic Salmon and Schnider – A Harp Seal Story.

Posted by Mike Hunter on March 20, 2012

New book explores Mi’kmaw language relationship with landscape

Less familiar are the origins of those names – Sɨpekne’katik, We’koqma’q, Tlaqatik – identifying aspects of the landscape that are integral to the cultural psyche and spirituality of the Mi’kmaq.

The ancient landscapes of Eastern North America are reflected not just in place names, but in the language and cultural expressions of the Mi’kmaq. The rhythms, sounds and patterns of their language are inextricably bound with the seasonal cycles of the animals, plants, winds, skies, waterways and trade routes.

This world view is examined in a new book co-authored by Saint Mary’s anthropologist Trudy Sable and Mi’kmaw linguist Bernie Francis. The Language of This Land, Mi’kma’ki is published by Cape Breton University Press and making its way into Maritime bookstores the week of March 19.

Language has sustained the Mi’kmaq to the present day, a product of a lineage of Elders who spoke it, who danced the dances and walked this land, Mi’kma’ki, carrying its traditions forward despite centuries of cultural disruption, discrimination and degradation.

The Language of This Land is an exploration of Mi’kmaw world view as expressed in language, legends, song and dance – which include not only place names and geologic history, but act as maps of the landscape. In this book, Sable and Francis illustrate the fluid nature of reality inherent in expression – its embodiment in networks of relationships with the landscape.

Dr. Trudy Sable has been a community researcher and educator working collaboratively for more than twenty years with First Nations and Inuit peoples within Canada and internationally. She is Director of the Office of Aboriginal and Northern Research at the Gorsebrook Research Institute (Saint Mary’s University).

Dr. Bernie Francis, is an authority on the Mi’kmaw language who collaborated with linguist Doug Smith to develop the Smith/Francis Orthography, the writing system for Mi’kmaw adopted as the official orthography in Nova Scotia.

Sable and Francis are currently working on Pjila’si Mi’kma’ki: Mi’kmaw Place Names Digital Atlas and Website, a project initiated by the Mi’kmaq-Nova Scotia-Canada Tripartite Forum, Committee on Culture and Heritage, with funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

The Language of This Land, Mi’kma’ki will be formally launched at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, and in Halifax on Thursday, March 29, 4 p.m. at the Patrick Parker Library (Room L-135), Saint Mary’s University

Everyone is welcome.

Posted by Mike Hunter on March 15, 2012

Political anthology seeking short story submissions

Call for Submissions
Editor Sandra McIntyre with Roseway Publishing (Nova Scotia & Manitoba) is seeking short story submissions for an upcoming anthology of political fiction. “Political” is open to interpretation—stories can be about politics, whether overtly or obliquely, or political by virtue of their stance, voice, point of view, or underpinnings.
Stories should be 4000 words maximum. There is no minimum length. Short graphic fiction is welcome. Simultaneous submissions are okay. Multiple submissions are okay. Submissions of previously published stories are okay. Canadian authors only.
Payment: $100 for “anthology rights” (print and electronic rights).
The deadline for submissions is: June 1, 2012.
Send stories by email to sandra@sandralit.com
Send stories by mail to: Sandra McIntyre c/o Roseway Publishing 32 Oceanvista Lane      Black Point, NS B0J 1B0
To receive confirmation that your story has been received, please include an email address or a SASE with your submission.

Posted by Mike Hunter on March 7, 2012

Frank Macdonald to join book awards panel discussion

Alexander MacLeod hosts an evening with authors in support of Atlantic Book Awards Society

The Atlantic Book Awards Society will host a conversation between renowned Atlantic Canadian writers, Chris Benjamin, Vicki Grant, Frank Macdonald and Laura Penny, with host Alexander MacLeod, on Wednesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Neptune’s Studio Theatre. Tickets are twelve dollars and can be purchased at local bookshops Bookmark, Tattletales and Woozles.

Patrons will be the first to hear the shortlist of books nominated for this year’s Atlantic Book Awards, taking place May 10 to 17 with the final award show in St. John’s, Newfoundland on May 17.

Frank Macdonald is the award-winning author of A Forest for Calum, long-listed for the 2007 IMPAC International Dublin Literary Award; a children’s novella; and most recently, the novel, A Possible Madness. A long-time and award-winning columnist, Macdonald’s humorous, often satirical columns in the Inverness Oran have twice been anthologized.

Host Alexander MacLeod’s long-awaited first collection of short fiction, Light Lifting, was shortlisted for the 2010 Giller Prize and won the 2011 Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. MacLeod currently teaches at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

Chris Benjamin is a columnist with The Coast and a web writer/editor at CBC. He has written for The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Chronicle Herald, and This Magazine among others, is the author of the acclaimed novel, Drive-by Saviours and the book Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada.

Vicki Grant has been called “a superb storyteller” (The Canadian Children’s Book Centre) and “one of the funniest writers working today” (The Vancouver Sun). Her twelve young adult novels have appeared on shortlists for every major Canadian award and numerous American ones as well.

Laura Penny won a 2011 Atlantic Book Award for More Money Than Brains, a defence of the humanities and social sciences. Her previous book, Your Call Is Important to Us: The Truth About Bullshit, is a Canadian bestseller and was named a Globe and Mail Best Book of the year. Her writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, and The Chronicle Herald. She currently teaches at Mount Saint Vincent University and the University of King’s College.

Posted by Mike Hunter on March 6, 2012

An Evening with Alistair MacLeod, Nino Ricci and Iain Baxter&

Sense of Place: A Cross Border Exhibition

Cape Breton University Art Gallery

Opening Reception & Special Event

March 20, 2012  6:00 – 9:30pm

An Evening with Alistair MacLeod, Nino Ricci and Iain Baxter&

Join us for a special evening presentation with three Canadian cultural icons as they help us to celebrate the opening of Sense of Place: A Cross Border Exhibition at the Cape Breton University Art Gallery.

Sense of Place is circulated by the Windsor [ON] Printmaker’s Forum, bringing together works by 36 artists from Canada and Michigan exploring the theme of place through print making. The show maps out contemporary printmaking, from monotypes, etchings, woodcuts, lithographs and silkscreen to digital prints and found objects.

From 6:00pm – 8:00pm attend a lively exchange between MacLeod, Ricci and Baxter& at the Boardmore Theatre. The authors will read from their award-winning works, and Baxter& will discuss his career as a celebrated international conceptual artist. This will be followed by a panel discussion about the themes in Sense of Place, for which each contributed to the exhibition catalogue.

The presentation will be followed by an opening reception and book signing from 8:00-9:30pm in the CBU Art Gallery. Meet the special guests and see the exhibition. Works by Ricci and MacLeod and Sense of Place exhibition catalogues will be available for sale.

Open to the general public. Free event.

Posted by Mike Hunter on March 5, 2012

CBU Press books inspire children’s day at Strathspey

Mabou, March 1, 2012 – Young singers, dancers and actors are taking over the stage at Strathspey Place, the entertainment and conference complex in Mabou, NS.

“Let’s Play” is planned for Saturday, March 31 (2 p.m.).

Readings and dramatizations from books include Muin aqq L’uiknek te’sijik Ntuksuinu’k / Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters (reading in English and Mi’kmaw) and a play adapted from T.R.’s Adventure at Angus the Wheeler’s – both are popular children’s books published by CBU Press.

Strathspey Place Players spokesperson Brenda Dunphy is organizing the afternoon event as encouragement to young people grades 2-6 from across Inverness County to enjoy a stage production.

Dunphy has been rehearsing with the youngsters for several weeks now. The line-up includes skits, interviews, dance, singing, readings and the play. The productions are in English, Mi’kmaw and Gaelic.

Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters (CBU Press, 2010) is a children’s book retelling the ancient Mi’kmaw legend, in Mi’kmaw and English, of the night sky, by Murdena Marshall, Lillian Marshall, Cheryl Bartlett and Prune Harris. T.R.’s Adventure (CBU Press, 2010) is a children’s fantasy by Frank Macdonald and Virginia McCoy. Mabou artist Peter Rankin (Nancy’s Wedding Feast and Other Tasty Tales, CBU Press, 2007) will also be featured.

Tickets for “Let’s Play at Strathspey” are $5.00 and available from the Strathspey Place box office (902.945.5300).

Posted by Mike Hunter on February 29, 2012

Johnston “at the table” this week

AJB (John) Johnston

Award-winning author A.J.B. (John) Johnston will be appearing on the CBC Maritimes current affairs television program At the Table (http://www.cbc.ca/atthetable/) February 24 at 1 a.m. (overnight Thursday 23th). Within a few days of airing, the program will be available for download for the early risers among us.

Johnston (author of more than a dozen books, including Endgame 1758, CBU Press, and hundreds of articles) was recently invested by France with the title Chevalier of the Order of Academic Palms. Read more about that at: http://cbup.ca/blog/johnston-to-be-knighted-by-france/

Posted by Mike Hunter on February 21, 2012

Book pub tonight

Our monthly dose of local lit., Governors Book Pub was postponed from last week due to weather. It’s back on for tonight at 7 p.m. at Governors Pub and Eatery.

The featured author is Nicole Dixon (High-Water Mark, Porcupines Quill, 2012).

And, in a special tip of the glass to love, an extended Governors open stage invites aspiring writers to delve into their teenage journals and share their pain. That’s right, “Sounds Like Teen Spirit – Things I Wrote as a Kid” will be a tribute to teen angst. Whom among the CBC audience are brave enough to go to the front of the “class” Monday evening and share those grade 10 poems about life, love and the pursuit of happiness? Those “Dear Diary” entries from grade 8? I will if you will!

Join us, tonight (Feb. 21) 7-9 p.m. “Sounds Like Teen Spirit” – sounds like a lot of fun.

Posted by Mike Hunter on

Valentine Book Pub on ice for this week

Governors Book Pub specially scheduled for Monday eve., Feb. 13, has been postponed due to the driving conditions and extremem cold. It will take place on the regular 3rd Tuesday: Feb. 21, 7-9 p.m.

Laura Syms says that the special Valetine format will be carried over to then. Follow the link for more info.

Posted by Mike Hunter on February 13, 2012

Campbell’s Women, War & Hypocrites “…a bold undertaking….”

Abdullah Drury. 2012. Review of Women, War and Hypocrites: Studying the Qur’an. Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations, 23(1): 97-98.

Posted by Mike Hunter on February 10, 2012