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Connections: TD Canadian Children’s Book Week and more

Posted by Mike Hunter on May 8, 2013

It’s a busy week for books for kids. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s semi-annual Best Books for Kids and Teens magazine is on its way to libraries and booksellers. This Spring’s edition selected Hugh R. MacDonald’s Trapper Boy for inclusion.

May 5-11 is TD Canadian Children’s Book Week and Montreal author Anne Renaud is among the dozens of author giving readings various parts of the country. Anne is reading at Ottawa-area schools and libraries. Renaud’s The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan will be launched by CBU Press on May 18.

The Hackmatack Children’s Choice Awards take place on May 10. CBU Press’s connection to this year’s Hackmatack include Selby the Lobster by Don Downer and Gisele LeBlanc-Turner (2011) and Philip Roy’s Ghosts of the Pacific (Ronsdale, 2011). Roy is author of Blood Brothers in Louisbourg (2012) and of Me & Mr. Bell (forthcoming) both from CBU Press.

It’s a busy week for books for kids. The Canadian Children’s Book Centre’s semi-annual Best Books for Kids and Teens … Continue»

New book about Nova Scotia giant from CBU Press

Posted by Mike Hunter on

Biography of Anna Swan for young readers to be launched May 18 in Tatamagouche

One of Nova Scotia’s most famous people is the subject of a long-overdue book. Anna Swan (1846-1888), a native of Colchester County, was billed by P.T. Barnum’s America Museum as “The Nova Scotia Giant Girl.”

The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan, by Montreal writer Anne Renaud, is the first full-length book on the life of Ms. Swan – whose remarkable story is often eclipsed by another famous giant, Scots-born Angus MacAskill.

Anna Swan grew to an astonishing size – nearly 2.5 metres (almost 8 feet) tall. Despite her unusual and challenging physical attributes, she rose above adversity and led a life of love, happiness and great accomplishments.

Anne Renaud is the author of several picture books, as well as historical non-fiction books for children, including, A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival and Pier 21: Stories from Near and Far. Her work has been nominated for several awards, including the Silver Birch Award, the Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award and the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s & Young Adult Literature. Anne is also a regular contributor to children’s magazines.

The Extraordinary Life of Anna Swan is targeted toward young readers 9-11 years.

The book will be officially launched at the Creamery Square Heritage Centre in Tatamagouche at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday May 18.

There will be a second reading and opportunity to meet the author at 2:30 in the afternoon.

On Friday (May 17) Anne Renaud will visit students at Truro Elementary and Bible Hill Central schools.

Everyone is welcome.

Biography of Anna Swan for young readers to be launched May 18 in Tatamagouche One of Nova Scotia’s most famous… Continue»

“Our Grandmothers’ Words” interview to air on CBC

Posted by Mike Hunter on May 2, 2013

Be sure to tune in to Information Morning on CBC Radio One Cape Breton, Friday (May 3) at 7:40. Host Steve Sutherland chats with Mi’kmaw Elder Murdena Marshall and co-creator Prune Harris about their new book Nkij’inen Teluet / Our Grandmothers’ Words: Traditional Stories For Nurturing, Featuring The Art Of Gerald Gloade, by Prune Harris, Murdena Marshall, Diana Denny, Flo Young, Susie Marshall and Cheryl Bartlett.

Nkij’inen Teluet / Our Grandmothers’ is being launched Friday, May 3, 10 a.m., at Chief Allison M. Bernard Memorial High School

Be sure to tune in to Information Morning on CBC Radio One Cape Breton, Friday (May 3) at 7:40. Host… Continue»

New Mi’kmaw book of traditional stories released

Posted by Mike Hunter on April 25, 2013

“Our Grandmothers’ Words” launches May 3 in Eskasoni

Eskasoni First Nation, NS, April 26, 2013 – As the title suggests, Our Grandmothers’ Words: Traditional Stories for Nurturing, the latest Mi’kmaw/English publication from CBU Press, comes from a desire by Elders to share traditional knowledge with a new generation.

This book combines the Grandmothers’ – Murdena Marshall, Diana Denny, Flo Young and Susie Marshall – understandings for pregnancy and birth alongside a number of stories in turn recollected from their own grandmothers.

Assisted by researchers Prune Harris and Dr. Cheryl Bartlett, Canada Research Chair in Integrative Science, Our Grandmothers’ Words shares knowledge and wisdom from teachings passed down from women to women, over the generations.

The book is built around Sali’j, a young Mi’kmaw woman who, when she learns she is pregnant seeks guidance from her mother, grandmother and godmother. As is the Mi’kmaw way, she is encouraged and instructed little by little, story by story.

The twelve stories in the volume have been related by grandmothers and are recorded in Mi’kmaw with English translations.

The book also features the work of Mi’kmaw visual artist Gerald Gloade, whose striking paintings complement the traditional teachings and stories.

Nkij’inen Teluet Kina’matnewe’l Telimuksi’ki We’wkl Atukwaqnn / Our Grandmothers’ Words: Traditional Stories for Nurturing, will be in stores May 1, and officially launched at Chief Allison M. Bernard Memorial High School in Eskasoni at 10 a.m., on Friday, May 3.

Everyone is welcome.

“Our Grandmothers’ Words” launches May 3 in Eskasoni Eskasoni First Nation, NS, April 26, 2013 – As the title suggests,… Continue»

New Celtic studies book launched

Posted by Mike Hunter on

Celts in the Americas (Michael Newton, Editor), new from CBU Press, was launched during the annual Celtic Studies Assoc. of North America conference inToronto on April 20.

Leading scholars from a number of Celtic disciplines from across the continent (and from across the pond) participated in the three-day conference, including Prof. Michael Newton (St. FX University).

Celts in the Americas (Michael Newton, Editor), new from CBU Press, was launched during the annual Celtic Studies Assoc. of… Continue»

We were saddened to learn of the death of Rita MacNeil

Posted by Mike Hunter on April 17, 2013

We were saddened to learn of the death of Rita MacNeil this morning – she was a talented and iconic Cape Bretoner who will be missed.

In 2011, CBU Press published Getting it Done: Conversations with Cape Breton Leaders by Steve Sutherland at CBC Cape Breton’s Information Morning. Included in that collections is an interview with Rita MacNeil. We have provided that excerpt here: Rita MacNeil excerpt.

Our condolences go out to Rita’s family and her many friends and colleagues.

We were saddened to learn of the death of Rita MacNeil this morning – she was a talented and iconic… Continue»

Interviews with author Philip Roy now on-line

Posted by Mike Hunter on April 2, 2013

We are pleased to feature six segments of an interview with Philip Roy about the writing of Blood Brothers in Louisbourg in addition to a reading. Just click on one of the links below to connect with our YouTube channel.

On the background for the his characters Philip Roy, Background for His Characters

Learn about Philip’s other creative talents http://youtu.be/LQqcLMIcLRI

On interpreting history in a fun way http://youtu.be/sIQamtqJZRw

On the talents of the young writers he meets in his writing workshops http://youtu.be/_uZ56aFJxWk

On a possible sequel http://youtu.be/jjYkOi3oQnI

On writing “beyond the storyline” http://youtu.be/5Avz2bjocRY

Philip reads from Blood Brothers in Louisbourg http://youtu.be/_0uBjQwspjQ

We are pleased to feature six segments of an interview with Philip Roy about the writing of Blood Brothers in… Continue»

“MacDonald had a lot of inspiration for ‘Trapper Boy'”

Posted by Laura Bast on March 25, 2013

“I am the grandson of a coal miner,” Hugh MacDonald told the Cape Breton Post. “My grandfather, John Allan (Red Jack) MacDonald, spent his last day on earth working underground.”

Be sure to check out Ken Chisholm’s column from last week and an interview with The Chronicle Herald to find out more about where Hugh MacDonald got the inspiration to write his children’s novel about the experience of trapper boys in the coal mines of Sydney Mines in the 1920s. Both his father and an older neighbour had first hand experience in the mines and told MacDonald their stories, making the mines come alive.

Read more about MacDonald’s inspiration in Ken Chisholm’s column here and the Chronicle Herald article here, and find out more about Trapper Boy here.

“I am the grandson of a coal miner,” Hugh MacDonald told the Cape Breton Post. “My grandfather, John Allan (Red… Continue»

Two CBU Press books shortlisted for awards

Posted by Mike Hunter on March 21, 2013

The Language of This Land The Atlantic Book Awards shortlist was announced Wednesday evening at an event in Halifax – among them, two books from Cape Breton University Press.

The Language of This Land, Mi’kma’ki, by Trudy Sable and Bernie Francis has been shortlisted for the inaugural Atlantic Book Award for Scholarly Writing, sponsored by Marquis Book Printing.

French Taste in Atlantic Canada – 1604-1758: A Gastronomic History / Le goût Français au Canada Atlantique 1604-1758 : Une Histoire Gastronomique, by Anne Marie Lane Jonah and Chantal Véchambre has been shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award (Non-fiction).

Since 2006, books published by Cape Breton University Press have consistently been contenders for these important annual regional literary awards. Congratulations Anne Marie, Chantal, Trudy and Bernie on their nominations.

The Atlantic Book Awards, celebrating the best in Atlantic Canada literature, will take place Thursday, May 16, at Alderney Landing, Dartmouth.

The Atlantic Book Awards shortlist was announced Wednesday evening at an event in Halifax – among them, two books from Cape… Continue»

A.J.B. Johnston and Louisbourg 300

Posted by Laura Bast on February 25, 2013

Thomas: A Secret Life, A.J.B. Johnston’s most recent book.

Next week, on Saturday, March 9, 2013, author A.J.B. Johnston will be giving a presentation on the history of Louisbourg to a Forum organized by the Féderation des Acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse to mark Louisbourg 300, a celebration marking the 300th anniversary of the founding of “Île Royale” — modern-day Cape Breton Island.

The event will be held on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 1pm at the Ramada Hotel in Dartmouth. Attendees must pre-register.

Next week, on Saturday, March 9, 2013, author A.J.B. Johnston will be giving a presentation on the history of Louisbourg… Continue»