BC Book Prizes

Greetings from Nelson
Posted by Rita Wong

The drive from Vancouver to Nelson went by quickly thanks to Bryan Pike’s excellent driving, Meg Tilly’s delicious home-baked cookies, and Heather Burt and David Jones’ friendly conversation and company (well, everyone was friendly and generous, actually).  What did I do?  Mostly slept, catching up on rest after a hectic week of late nights and marathon grading.  Had a yummy mushroom and tofu hotpot for dinner, at the New China Restaurant. I didn’t take the photo here, but uploaded it because it expresses how grateful I feel for all the work that makes such a road trip possible.  All you might see is the little green shoot above the ground (or the writers parachuted into the classrooms and libraries), but so much is going on underneath to make it possible. Happy to be here with such wonderful travel mates, and looking forward to the week.  Tomorrow, we hit Trail!

Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink

Northern Team Touches Down
Posted by Mary Novik

Last night, Theresa Kishkan, Kari-Lynn Winters, Nan Gregory, and I arrived on a flight from Prince Rupert after a fabulous road trip visiting communities along the Yellowhead Highway in Northern BC. Shortly after touchdown, Theresa was embraced by her husband, John, who whisked her off for some private time at their home on the Sechelt Peninsula. Kari-Lynn, Nan, and I stuffed our luggage into a van captained (once again) by our producer, Bryan Pike, and sped off to our homes to shower and dress for the soiree at the Metropolitan hotel. This was a grand event, with overflowing glasses of wine, canapes by Diva, a silent auction to support the BC Book Prizes, and lots of schmoozing with local literati. It was fun to talk to the other finalists, especially the other novelists short-listed for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, David Chariandy, Claire Mulligan, Shaena Lambert, and Heather Burt—all great friends and fine writers. Afterwards, I finally found time to catch up with the blogging, savouring the posts made by my fellow tourees, Kari-Lynn and Theresa at http://www.bcbookprizes.ca/tour/category/northern_leg/, which wonderfully capture the bi-polar ups and downs of our travels along the Yellowhead. I’ve uploaded a set of photos titled 2008 Northern Tour: Prince Rupert to Prince George—and back! Click on this link to see the photographs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcbookprizes/sets/72157604638679276/with/2428659814/ 

I hope you’ll enjoy these highlights of our interactions with landscapes and communities and will chip in with comments. We’d especially welcome reconnecting with people we met along the way—new friends that we hope to hang on to in the years ahead.

Mary | http://www.marynovik.com

Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink

The Trip to Nelson
Posted by David Jones

The drive has been most pleasant, with Bryan and the writers and getting to know each other as we travelled the highway winding from Vancouver to Nelson.

As I reminisce about cycling this same way on the rail bed of the Kettle Valley Railway just a few short years ago, I notice my van-mates’ eyelids begin to droop, and soon they are fast asleep—all except for Bryan’s, of course. A veteran of the steering wheel, his steely gaze is fastened to the yellow line snaking toward us as we swerve down Highway 3.

Highlights, (in order of importance):

1) Meg Tilly’s homemade cookies.

2) The K burger at our lunch stop in Keremeos.

3) A brief but ineffectual blizzard. Apparently, I’m riding a juggernaut. The tour is unstoppable (except by 2—see above)

4) The sighting of the marmot at the side of the road. I believe it was trying to flag us down, but Bryan’s policy on hitchhikers is unswerving —particularly when a member of the ground squirrel family is involved. We drive on as if it wasn’t even there, and I can only hope that it wasn’t some kind of medical emergency.

Through much of it, I’m trying to compose something worthy of the attentions of the students of Glenmerry Elementary school, whom we shall be visiting tomorrow morning. No doubt, they’re expecting me to say something fascinating and I have to hold up my end of the tour.

At last, we arrive at the New Grand Hotel, where we’ll be staying for the week. As I lie back on my comfy bed and gaze up at the ceiling—which is an impressive distance above me—I suddenly realize that my room is a perfect cube. I don’t know whether this is by accident or design, and I haven’t actually measured it, but I’m almost certain that it’s exactly as tall as it is wide as it is long.

I’m sorry if the photo doesn’t do it justice as the lens I’m using introduces some distortion. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Someday, all hotel rooms will be like this.

David Jones
posting from inside the Cube

Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 | 2 Comments | Permalink

BC Book Prize Soiree
Posted by Meg Tilly

I have returned home from the Soiree where I met three out of my four road trip companions and I’m not nearly so nervous now. 

Bryan, the man who gets to hold the steering wheel gave my husband the heads-up on a romantic retreat that he had purchased at the auction the year before, and apparently “my eyes lit up” so Don outbid the other eager bidders and scored it for me.  Go Don!

I met Sally, who was so lovely that I got tongue-tied and inarticulate.  Odd how that happens sometimes when I think someone is nice. 

And then towards the end of the evening I had the good fortune to meet Gayle Friesen, the author of For Now.  Also up for the Sheila Egoff Children’s Literature Prize and her dashing husband whose name eludes me.  And there was none of that dancing around stilted conversation, it was like we had known each other before.  Had dinner, flopped on the sofas afterwards, comfortable, feet tucked onto the sofa or stretched out and propped on the coffee table. 

I hadn’t planned on buying her book, because I have a stack of books a mile high that I have in my to-read pile, but now I am going to have to.  Want to.  If her book is half as generous and honest as she is, it will be a fabulous read.

Me, Gayle and husband.  (Her husband.  Mine is wielding the camera.)

Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink

The April 19th In-Progress Shelf
Posted by Heather Burt

If I were an efficient person, what I’d be doing on this Saturday morning is packing for my trip to the Kootenays (about which I’m VERY excited), or practicing my tour presentations, or even figuring out what to wear to the Soirée tonight. Instead, I’ve been browsing the Guardian’s feature on writers’ rooms — kind of addictive, if you’re into that sort of thing — and experimenting with photos of my own writing space. If my Flickr capabilities are up to snuff, what you see in the attached photo (in addition to my bicycle-cog clock and my grandmother’s 1915 music diploma) is the little shelf in which I keep books that are in some way “active” in my writing/reading life. In here I’ve got books I’m currently reading, books I plan to read very soon, books I’ve recently finished but haven’t yet transferred to the regular shelves (because doing so always involves a certain amount of shuffling and — eww — dusting), books that are somehow connected to my current writing project (the still embryonic second novel), as well as one or two books that have no particular reason for being there other than that’s just where they got put. The presence on this shelf of my fellow Ethel Wilson nominees has certainly brightened up not only the shelf itself but also my recent reading life ... and I’ll soon have to make room for the works of my Kootenay tour-mates, which I plan to acquire at the Soirée tonight. It’s an honour and a pleasure to be in such impressive company!

Hope to see you tonight or on tour next week ...
Heather

Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink

These Are Some Good Times
Posted by Kari-Lynn Winters

Thoughout this tour, the words of Trace Adkins’ keep ringing in my ears.  His words sing out:
“These are some good times.  Take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you’re gonna miss this.”

His words remind me to live in the present—to be in the moment.

As I think about this tour, I know he’s right.
I ‘ll tell you what I am going to miss.

-Insightful children, asking sophisticated and difficult questions.
-Inspiring talks with the other authors, about writing, about fashion, about scenery, about books, about families, about stories, about life.
-Bryan’s coy sense of humour. His friendly and welcoming smile.
-Intelligent and caring teachers/principals who give us warm welcomes where ever we go.
-Librarians who adore books and make a difference in their communities.
-Incredible scenery.
-Yummy food.
-Gorgeous and well stocked book stores with dedicated and kind-hearted owners.
-Generous donations and accommodations.
-The smiling faces in the sea of audience members.
-Acting and presenting with Nan Gregory.
-Being driven to each event.
-Giving schools free books (paid for by donors).
-Spending time with new friends.
-Making a difference in the lives of hundreds of children each and every day.

Let me end with a poem written by Lee Bennett Hopkins, which I think says it all.

Good books.
Good times.
Good stories.
Good rhymes.
Good beginnings.
Good ends.
Good people.
Good friends.
Good fiction.
Good facts.
Good adventures.
Good acts.
Good stories.
Good rhymes.
GOOD books.
GOOD times.

Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink

Four Strong Winds (the last night)
Posted by Theresa Kishkan

Driving back to Terrace from Smithers, on the final stretch of the river, nearly full moon at play in the clouds above the mountains, we listened to Johnnny Cash. This was that last recording (“A Hundred Miles”?), produced by Rick Rubin. John’s ravaged ethereal voice sang right into our ears (as Nan observed), an oratorio for this last night of ours on the Northern Tour. We were returning from readings in Vanderhoof and the Smithers Public Library. Mary and I really loved our time with the students of Nechako Secondary School. Again, a dedicated group of teachers and Richard the librarian; a fine gathering of young people asking intelligent questions about research and revision. And it was great to return to Smithers, a town with such appeal. We ate at Java’s again, lured back by the wild grain pies and fresh salads. The library was welcoming, the turn-out warm and friendly. (On a personal note, I should not be surprised that the librarian, Cathy, turns out to be Ian Mackay’s sister. Ian is the source for the black cod in my essay, “Autumn Coho at Haskins Creek”, as well as an old friend. His sister asked where I lived and when I said, “Pender Harbour”, she said, “That’s my home town!” This happens all the time but somehow I wasn’t expecting it tonight and was so pleased. “Say Hi to my family,” she said as we left.)

This tour has been an extraordinary experience. Nan, Kari and Mary are wonderful writers and beautiful strong women. I haven’t tired once of hearing their work. Nan brings drama and deep poignancy to her presentation of childhood’s disappointments and moments of clarity. Kari is a force of nature—ebullient and imaginative. Mary illuminates the 17th century with her own rich elegance. I’ve begun to see the ways our work intersects, too, which is of course a result of the human desire to find connection.

I have the Johnny Cash recording at home but I wonder if it will ever sound as beautiful as it did tonight as we drove that dark highway, one of the hundred he sang about, his guitar as intimate as anything I’ve ever heard, while Bryan guided us safely back to the Coast Hotel in Terrace. God speed us all.

Filed under: | 0 Comments | Permalink

The View From My Window
Posted by David Jones

Less than 48 hours before I strap myself into a minivan with our driver, Bryan Pike, and three other lucky writers nominated for B.C. Book Prizes in various categories–Heather Burt, Meg Tilly, and Rita Wong—for our upcoming tour of the Kootenays.

I’m looking forward to returning to my old stomping grounds, where for many years I worked in the bush, filling small paper bags with dirt to be assayed for gold, although we would be happy to find metal of any kind. Or diamonds. Or, after a few months in the bush, any small, shiny object. But even more, I look forward to escaping the din of construction from across the street–if only for a week. Yes, THIS is what I see when my gaze drifts from the computer screen to my office window (as it so often does). Hard to believe that it will one day be a practice rink for the 2010 Winter Olympics. 

Because I prefer quiet when I write–especially when it gets hot and I have to open the windows—I’m hoping they finish before I get back.

They’ll have to work really, really fast.

See you on the road,

David Jones

Filed under: | 0 Comments | Permalink

Gladstone Secondary & Grandview Elementary, Vancouver
Posted by Jaimie Tait

Today was the last day of the Lower Mainland portion of the BC Book Prizes Tour.  We all had a fantastic week together visiting all the schools and Libraries. Today we visited Gladstone Secondary and Grandview Elementary.

This is Ruth Campbell, illustrator of Elf the Eagle

Lisa signing a copy of her book for the Grandview Elementary Library. Gillian and Shaena answering questions about their books at Gladstone Secondary.

Filed under: Greater Vancouver Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink

Mission Public Library
Posted by Jaimie Tait

Ruth Campbell, illustrator of Elf the Eagle and Lisa Cinar author/illustrator of The Day It All Blew Away and I all climbed into the van and made the trip to Mission Public Library on Wednesday night, where we received a very warm welcome!

Filed under: Greater Vancouver Leg 2008 | 0 Comments | Permalink