dana the book lady

(dana deathe joins the war against cliché…)

blog makeover

January 11th, 2012 by Dana No comments »

So, I recently decided that I’d like to start 2012 off with a bang by giving my blog a little makeover! I’m going to take a little time out to freshen things up around here, but in the meantime I’ll be reading When Fenelon Falls by Dorothy Ellen Palmer.

I had heard about this book, and since my family’s cottage is near Fenelon Falls I thought seriously about reading it but had decided to pass, for fear that it would be like another cringe-worthy Northern Ontario tale I had read once called Minnow Lake, which un-ironically included aliens. Enough said.

Anyways, I changed my mind when I read a quick review of this book and Ms. Palmer in an “Underrated Canadian Books of 2011″ article that I can no longer seem to find. If I manage to locate it, I’ll come back here and provide a link. Reading this article and wishing for summer days at the cottage convinced me to give it a shot. Hopefully soon, my first post on my shiny new made-over blog will be a review of When Fenelon Falls. Thanks!

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Posted in miscellany

story is a state of mind

December 11th, 2011 by Dana No comments »

Some of you might remember way back when my little blog turned 1, and I was lucky enough to celebrate by posting an interview with Giller-shortlisted author Sarah Selecky. A long-time creative writing teacher, Sarah is dedicated to her craft, and I’m so excited to have the chance to tell you about her new creative writing e-course, Story Is a State of Mind.

Sarah was kind enough to answer some of my questions about this new program, launching December 12, in time to make a totally unique gift for the writer on your list this season.

1. How has life changed for you in the year since your book This Cake Is for the Party was shortlisted for the Giller Prize? Did that recognition open any new opportunities to you?

It’s been a year of travel, conversation, and opportunities. I’m so grateful to the Giller jury for selecting Cake in 2010. It was a game-changer, for sure. I didn’t expect the nomination — I was just getting ready to get back to life-as-normal when the shortlist was announced! As tremendous as the Giller experience is, there’s a lot of pressure associated with the nomination. And a heavy demand on your time all of a sudden. I had to learn how to say “No, thank you.” When you’ve spent 10 years writing short stories and trying to publish them somewhere, you never say “No, thank you.” It’s the other way around – you say, “Yes please!!!” So I had to learn how to say no to some opportunities and invitations, even very good ones.

Overall? It’s been the most extroverted and exposed time of my life as a writer. I’m grateful to have met the other finalists, especially Jo and Alex. Those two friendships in particular kept me afloat when I felt most overwhelmed.

2. The Story Is a State of Mind e-course is the first writing course or tutorial that utilizes our current digital technology advances and connectivity. How did you come up with the idea to create an online writing course?
It started as a wish. I was teaching my courses online in a wiki already (similar to what the Banff Wired Writing program and the UBC optional-residency MFA offers in terms of online workshopping). But there were a few problems: first, the obvious problem of time zones. Second, the problems around flexibility. Many writers came to me saying, “I wish I could take your course, but the time isn’t right for me right now.”

Then there was the issue around my own writing time. I love teaching so much. I offer writers advice and methods that are different than what academic programs offer, and I think it’s important. But if I spend all of my energy teaching, I don’t have the space and time I need to write. I wished for a way that I could keep teaching more people what I love AND still have time to write.

I discovered that this is not an uncommon wish. People have created successful, inspiring and educational digital programs that work this way, in different fields of study, like Chris Guillebeau and Danielle LaPorte. But nobody had created one for creative writers. So I did.

3. If I were a writer, how would I know if the Story Is a State of Mind course is right for me?

I made this for writers who know they’re good, or at least have a feeling that they’re good at writing, but they fear doing it anyway. Or they resist it. I made SSM for writers I know who struggle so much with writing itself. Writing is one activity that could potentially give them so much joy – if they just learned how to trust themselves, and teach themselves to write oftenand write well. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer: this is for you if you know you love to write, feel that you’re called to do it, and want some support and instruction as you start writing a new story. It’s is designed especially for short fiction writers, but any writer can benefit from the methods.

4. Can I give the e-course to the writer in my life as a gift for the upcoming holiday season?
Absolutely. It’s easy to do – you purchase SSM online, and then give the enrollment code to the writer in your life (they won’t see the receipt).

5. Is there a deadline, or completion date set for students enrolled in the course?
Nope! That’s one of the beautiful things about the way I designed the class. I know that discipline and routine are crucial for a healthy writing practice. If a writing program is too open, I fear that writers won’t feel motivated enough to complete the exercises. So the program itself is very structured.

But the community aspect is flexible, and the timing is flexible. If you have an inconsistent schedule, a demanding job, or a family, you can work at your own pace and still contribute to the discussion with other participants, at any time. There are no static deadlines: you make your own deadlines.

6. As a writing teacher, what are some of the most common challenges that developing writers face, and how does Story Is a State of Mind address those kinds of hurdles?

Creative writing is maddeningly difficult, because writers have to learn how to use language to get beyond language – they strive to create authentic emotion in their line without explaining it. This can feel like a magic trick (at best) or an impossible paradox (at worst). It involves a lot of technique, but it also involves a lot of faith.
So often writers get in their own way — fear and doubt can paralyze brilliant, talented writers. Story Is a State of Mind gets to the heart of this. It shows writers how they can understand, manipulate and break down those patterns so they can write through their fear and resistance and discover their best work.

7. This is such an innovative program! I love the personalized feedback you will offer to the students. What’s next for you, once this project gets underway?

Thank you! The personalized feedback (or Style Diagnosis) is my favourite part. It’s offered at the very end of the program. Personalized feedback was the one part of an in-person workshop that I wasn’t willing to go without, so I engineered this amazing digital feedback presence that is incredibly accurate. I’m proud of it.

My husband and I have set off on a working adventure this year. Right now we are living in Hawaii, and the change of perspective is such a gift. After SSM launches, I will take a two-week vacation. A real one: no computer. It’s been three years since I’ve done that! When I get back, I’m going to finish a collaborative writing project I started this summer with author Heather Jessup (details to be announced).

After that, I’m going to write again — solo. I’m really looking forward to that. I have an idea for something new, but it’s too soon to put it into words here.

*Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Sarah! Anyone who has read Sarah’s stories will agree that she definitely knows what she’s doing, so I’m sure this course will be a huge benefit to any writer. It’s like knowing your hairdresser will be good because her hairstyle looks good, too. More details on the program here. Happy writing!

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Posted in can-lit, fiction, miscellany, short stories

xmas 2011 gift guide

December 7th, 2011 by Dana 1 comment »

It’s already December 7th, and if you’re anything like me, you’re already done shopping and your wrapped presents are waiting in the closet to be gifted. OK, I am exaggerating, but this year I am pretty on the ball with Christmas preparations, with only a few more things to find and make. *Pats self on back.

If you’re not in such great shape, and still need some gift ideas this year, here are some suggestions for the book geek in your life.

For your Mom: unsurprisingly, I think that any book from this year’s Giller Prize shortlist would be a great gift to give Mom, but I find myself continually recommending Alone in the Classroom by Elizabeth Hay for Moms and Mother-in-law gifts. Although I haven’t read it yet, I think Blue Nights by Joan Didion would probably also make a perfect gift for the “Mom” reader in your life.

For your Dad (or brother, or boyfriend, or cousin.. for any man, really): I can’t stop talking about The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt. It’s definitely a masculine book, and it reads like a screenplay so I’m pretty sure the book is already destined to be made into a movie. Give your Dad the chance to read it before Hollywood gets her dirty paws on it…

For the book geek who has read everything: check out these shirts and swag by Out of Print Clothing! These t-shirts are my new little obsession. I already have three: the 1984 shirt, the Fahrenheit 451 shirt and the Atlas Shrugged shirt. It’s just lucky for me they haven’t made this Corduroy shirt into an adult size!

For pretty much anyone else: I have to say, Tina Fey’s Bossypants was probably the best book I read in all of 2011. It’s probably more suited to gift to your sister or your girlfriend, as Tina gets pretty candid about woman-stuff, but her intelligence and wit is sure to entertain anyone on your list.

But what if you’re done buying for readers and need a gift for the writer in your life? In that case, take a quick look at Story Is a State of Mind, the new writing e-course launching next week from creative writing teacher and renowned Canadian author Sarah Selecky. Stay tuned and I’ll post more exclusive details on this soon!

I totally wanted to close this post with a video clip of this 'Community' skit, but apparently it's the one clip YouTube doesn't have... way to drop the ball, YouTube!

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Posted in miscellany

‘half-blood blues’ by esi edugyan

December 5th, 2011 by Dana 2 comments »

This past weekend I finished reading this year’s Giller Prize winning novel, Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan. So much has already been said about this amazing book, I fear there likely isn’t much that I can add, but nonetheless, here are my two cents (that’s what the Internet is for, right?)

I think it’s worth noting that we were really close to not getting to share in such a beautiful novel. The book could have died with publisher Key Porter’s closure in Fall 2010, but thankfully the novel and its author were picked up and treated with love by Thomas Allen Publishers.

It’s no wonder Half-Blood Blues received so much attention on the literary awards circuit this year. Along with Patrick DeWitt’s The Sisters Brothers, Edugyan’s novel was nominated for the Man Booker Prize, the Governor General’s Award, the Writer’s Trust Award, and as mentioned above, it is the winner of the Scotiabank Giller Prize.

The novel jumps between time periods; mainly between the narrator in 1992, and during his time as a jazz musician in WWII Berlin and Paris. Sidney Griffiths, our narrator and a revered jazz bassist, tells the story of himself and his fellow musicians, as they struggle to keep jazz alive in the face of war and oppression. Their ultimate goal, and what brings them to Paris, is to cut a record with jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

While there is a captivating love story woven into the narrative between Sidney and singer Delilah Brown, the real love story is between the characters and jazz music. Sidney and his lifelong friend, drummer Chip Jones, hardly know any motivation beyond jazz music, and their passion is so easily expressed through Edugyan’s words on the page.

Her prose is pitch-perfect, and it mixes effortlessly with the character dialogue, which is a realistic portrayal of how the characters would really interact with one another: “Hell, brother, ain’t no way it goin pay less than what we makin now” (84). I found it easy to be absorbed right into the story, and the grammatical style was easy to get into, once settled into a reading rhythm.

I LOVE her necklace!

Stylistically, my favourite part of the novel is the clever detail used at each text or mid-chapter break in the story: if you can read sheet music, you might recall that there are a few different symbols used on a staff to mark how long of a rest during the music the musician should take. For example, see this chart. In Half-Blood Blues, the symbol for a “whole rest” was used to designate a rest or a break in the text of the book. Very subtle, and very clever. Touché, production department!

Edugyan, Esi. Half-Blood Blues. Toronto: Thomas Allen, 2011.

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Posted in award winners, can-lit, fiction

Tags: award winners

‘the sisters brothers’ by patrick dewitt

November 7th, 2011 by Dana 3 comments »

It’s an exciting time, isn’t it? Hallowe’en is over and Christmas has begun, according to any store selling anything.

It’s not quite Christmastime in reality yet though, so what’s so exciting about November? The Giller Prize, of course!!

The Giller is Canada’s most lucrative literary award, and from the longlist announcement to the awards show, it is easily the most exciting time of the year to be a book-nerd in Canada.

The 2011 shortlist is made of six formidable novels by Canadian authors:

David Bezmogis, The Free World (HarperCollins)
Lynn Coady, The Antagonist (House of Anansi)
Patrick deWitt, The Sisters Brothers (House of Anansi)
Esi Edugyan, Half-Blood Blues (Thomas Allen)
Zsuzsi Gartner, Better Living Through Plastic Explosives (Hamish Hamilton)
Michael Ondaatje, The Cat’s Table (McClelland & Stewart)

Personally I have read most of Zsuzsi Gartner’s stories, the first five or so pages of both The Cat’s Table and The Free World, and am halfway through Half-Blood Blues. Thankfully I have been able to participate in an informal book-club-style discussion through a messages thread on Facebook, which was a great way for me to see how these novels were resonating with other readers this year.

This Globe and Mail article also does a pretty good job of assessing the playing field this year, although I’m not in total agreement with the panel over the book I’m rooting for.

I have yet to read anything from this shortlist that would disappoint me, but that’s not to say that I don’t have a clear favourite that I’d like to see win. Usually when I pick a book from a list of nominees for any award, it’s a guarantee that my pick won’t win… sooo, if that tradition continues, my apologies to Patrick DeWitt, but thankfully he has also already won the Writer’s Trust Award this year for The Sisters Brothers.

The Sisters Brothers is one of the only novels I can think of with a Giller nomination that could fit into a genre fiction box, and I think there is something to be said for a Western novel that could capture the attention of literary aficionados.

DeWitt’s writing is wry and punchy, and my gosh, I haven’t picked up such a readable book in a long long time. The story follows Charlie and Eli Sisters, two hired-goon gunslingers on a job to kill a man for his chemical formula made for extracting gold from rivers. Eli is our narrator, and he earns the reader’s sympathies easily, and tells the story so that you want to join the Sisters brothers on their immoral journey.

It’s also a very funny book, in a dry, Southern-propriety kind of way. When Eli and Charlie arrive in California, the city is gripped by an obsession with wealth due to the gold rush, and they meet a man who tells them he recently paid $30 for a meal in California that would have cost just him half a dollar in his hometown. “Charlie was disgusted. ‘Only a moron would pay that.’ ‘I agree,’ said the man. ‘One hundred percent I agree. And I am happy to welcome you to a town peopled in morons exclusively. Furthermore, I hope that your transformation to moron is not an unpleasant experience’” (174).

It’s a great man’s book – don’t hesitate to buy it for dads, brothers, and boyfriends this Christmas season – and it’s easy to visualize what a great film this book could make one day. For now though, it is definitely my pick for the winner of the 2011 Giller Prize.

I can’t wait to celebrate this year’s award by helping out at the Giller Light Bash, a party for beautiful book-loving people to celebrate the Gillers and to help raise money for literacy efforts at Frontier College. A great cause and a great excuse to party. Woo, November!!