On Tour Blog
April 23, 2008
Rita and Heather are at Prince Charles Secondary in Creston and Bryan had a bite to eat with David and me at A Break In Time Cafe. It’s funny how on the road we choose where we want to eat, not by by the delicious smells that pour out of the doors, but by whether or not the place has free-wireless Internet. Luckily we’ve been pretty fortunate and many of the coffee places that are forward thinking enough to install free-wireless are usually geared towards a younger more hip, multi-piercing, flowing skirts and have home baked foods with thick multi-grain bread.
Okay, actually, that’s not true at all. The free-wireless the day before yesterday, dealt out huge stacks of homemade french fries and thick chocolate shakes. Delicious, but not exactly healthy.
Hmm…I just realized I am blogging about food again. I do not have a one track mind. I am in control of my fingers. On to another subject.
I am very thankful that I was thrown into a van with this particular group of authors and Bryan. It’s like our stories and poems and life perspectives, have woven this diverse multi-colored huge hammock that is stretched out under a vast canopy of trees. And then there we are taking risk, learning to fly, sometimes falling, but not far or fatally because the rest of us are there, arms, hearts outstretched, holding, gently cradling the others to the ground.
David. I really appreciated our talk in the van when Byran walked Rita and Heather into the school. Heather, I admire your generosity, and the fact that you decided a couple years ago to learn how to swim. That says so much about how you live your life. Rita, thank you for the quiet comfort it brings me by just being in your company. And Bryan…I don’t know how you do it, but I am grateful.
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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April 22, 2008
Nelson is a great town. Having feasted on organic goodies from one of the many fine Baker Street eateries, and window shopped for a while, I set off on my run (which morphed into a run/walk ... should have window shopped and digested a while longer!). I followed a beautiful waterfront trail, with Kootenay Lake and snowcapped mountains to one side, parkland and more mountains to the other.
A few highlights ...
1) Spotting a group of young people sitting in a circle on the grass, playing guitars together (one guy stood with an upright bass).
2) Possibly spotting the charming young novelist with whom I chatted at L.V. Rogers Secondary this morning. I’m not sure if it was him, but I think sitting on a bench with a friend, watching the water, is a fine thing for an aspiring writer to be doing. (Rita and I had an excellent time at the school, by the way, and very much appreciated the hospitality and interest of staff and students!)
3) Experiencing first-hand Rita’s poem “Recognition/Identification Test.” This needs some explanation. The poem pairs up names of plants and names of corporations and implicitly asks the reader/audience to think about which are more familiar and why. Rita and I read it together this morning: she read the plants; I read the corporations; we said “blackberry” together at the end (“Blackberry” in my case). Anyway, at one point during my walk/run, I paused to read an information board titled “Know Your Ducks,” from which I learned that the bird swimming down below me was a wigeon — a local duck with reddish-brown and grey plumage. Never heard of it, I said to myself ... then I glanced across the park at the all-too-familiar Wal-Mart and thought Hmmm.
A lively and fun reading at the Nelson Library this evening. Thanks to all those who came out! Away to Creston tomorrow ....
Cheerio,
Heather
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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April 22, 2008
I know that many of the readers of this blog are already published authors and people in the book world. But I imagine that there are quite a few followers of this blog, who perhaps hope to be published and what-not, and perhaps there is a reader or two. So, I thought, in the spirit of building community and breaking down the gap between the mysterious world of the author and the rest of the world, that I would let you see how a right, proper writer’s desk should look.
On the off-chance that someone might think that is too much candy for one person to have managed to accumulate in the only two and a half days on tour. I shall not sign my name. I shall be…the mystery blogger!
Hmm…I wonder if they put our names at the bottom of these things. I should have looked before I wrote this.
Oh well.
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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April 22, 2008
My tour mates are mighty impressive folks. Yesterday and today I had the pleasure of watching large groups of high school students groove to the poetry and inspiring commentary of Rita Wong. I think my sense that thoughtful, thought-provoking poetry might be difficult to pitch in a contemporary high school setting reveals my underestimating of both teenagers and poetry. At the same time, I think it took Rita’s passion and warmth to make the connection between her poems and her audience happen. And happen it did! I was too gripped by Rita’s words to be studying the audience very carefully, but even my brief glances found many sparks of excitement and recognition in their eyes. That was tough-act-to-follow number one. The next was Meg Tilly’s reading from her novel Porcupine. I’d been getting to know Meg as my very kind, funny tour mate (funny as in good sense of humour!) and had sort of forgotten that she’s also a stunning actor — that is until she launched into her reading last night at the Cornerstone Café in Trail. Holy captivating performance, Batman! She read an extremely tense scene with a lot of dialogue, and she so completely inhabited each of the different characters, through voice and gesture and a certain je ne said quoi I can only imagine, that there seemed to be five completely different people battling it out on the little stage. Wonderful imagery in the prose as well — I remember in particular the vivid image of a character’s eyebrows coming together in a storm cloud over her face. Ooh. And, last but not least, I’ve spent some of my most enjoyable free time over the past couple of days devouring the novel of my third tour mate, David Jones. Baboon is terrific — totally compelling. This novel achieves something that never fails to amaze and impress me: it tackles important philosophical/existential questions in a page-turning narrative. A boy turns into a baboon! It’s such a weird and wonderful idea, and David has tapped into all the practical and philosophical implications in striking and often hilarious prose. I could go on ... but it’s a sunny, warm(ish) day here in Nelson, I’ve got a few hours off, and I need to justify the space being taken up in my backpack by my running gear. But first ... lunch.
We’re reading at the Nelson Municipal Library this evening, 7:00, and if you happen to be in the vicinity, we’d love to see you!
Cheers,
Heather
P.S. Happy Earth Day!
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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April 22, 2008
It has only been a few days since I left the Northern Tour, and already I am missing our tour and times together.
After the soiree—an incredible event with silent auctions, friendly faces, kind hearts, and a celebratory atmosphere, I flew off to Ontario for a book tour. I miss having a van full of friends to discuss the events with while listening to Johnnie Cash, a driver that would drop us off at a local coffee shop while he found the schools, libraries, etc., always ensuring that we were on time, and the fantastic scenery of the mountains, lakes, and forests. The only thing that I don’t miss is the weather. It’s warm here in Waterloo (about 24 degrees). Also, the people are incredible here too (just as they were in the north). I am reminded how lucky I am to live in this incredible nation.
I wrote a wee poem about the soiree….
If the soiree were a colour, it would be salmon pink (my favourite colour).
As vibrant as the reefs outside Australia.
If the soiree were a taste, it would be dark chocolate,
Smooth and melting in our mouths with just the right amount of sweetness.
If the soiree a sound it would be the alarm clock music on my ipod,
Something I love to savour and be in the moment with, but also something that moves me into another great day.
Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 |
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April 22, 2008
Well, it only took us two nights to figure it out: There are four of us on the Kootenay Leg of these tours and when we hold a reading, someone has to go first and someone has to go last.
The good thing about going first is this: Everyone’s always a little nervous at these things, and if you go first you get your reading out of the way quickly and then you can just relax and listen to the other authors. The good thing about going last, on the other hand, is that your reading is freshest in the minds of the audience when it’s all done, and so people often ask better questions about your book. Also, you get some time to gauge the audience and decide what material to present.
But what you don’t want to do is follow some Oscar-nominated, Golden-Globe winning actress strung out on Gobstoppers reading from her book because . . . well, let’s face it, you’re bound to sound kind of lame by comparison. This isn’t just a reading I’m talking about, it’s a performance. And by the way, if you think for one second that I’m implying Meg’s reading is some kind of compensation for weak material, think again. Porcupine is beautifully written and superbly plotted. I know because I started it before I even embarked on this tour and it’s a terrific read—even when read using only the voices available in my head. Well, come to think of it, that’s a disturbing number of voices but maybe that subject is best left for another blog entry.
The point is, I think I’ve heard her read from Porcupine maybe four times, now, and each time I find myself tearing up a little more. It’s especially hard not to look like a crybaby when people in the audience start bawling.
Nonetheless, something had to be done, and so tonight we put Ms. Tilly in her place: We made her read last for our appearance at the Nelson Public Library, because nobody wants to be the anticlimax.
Not that touring with her hasn’t been fun, as she does everything she can to deflect attention from herself in the most generous way, but if I am ever fortunate enough to go on this tour again, do you know who I want be booked with?
Stephen Hawking. You heard me. Sure, he’s a pretty good writer, but him I think I could outperform. Not to brag, but my voice is just way more expressive than his and I believe I can even read faster than he can, if push comes to shove.
Afterwards, I could challenge him to a foot race if I really wanted to feel good about myself.
David Jones reporting from Nelson, B.C.
By the way, bonus reason for having Hawking along? I’ll bet he could explain the cosmic significance of my hotel room being a perfect cube.
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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April 21, 2008
Today we started on our journey to Kamloops very early in the morning. It was actually snowing in Vancouver this morning when we left but our drive to Kamloops was all sunny skies. We visited two schools and the Kamloops Public Library.
Librarian Nicole Gorman and Ron Smith at Kay Bingham Secondary
Authors Claire Mulligan and Arleen Paré at South Kamloops Secondary
Don Gayton at the Kamloops Public Library
Filed under: Southern Leg 2008 |
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April 21, 2008
There was a little problem with the Internet Service because of the brick walls in this old hotel. Some people have it, and some people (Byran and me) don’t. No problem, I have found a section of the corridor where the Internet signal comes through, so I snagged a passer by and had her take a picture so you could see how clever and resourceful I am.
At present David and I are hunkered down in Scoot Cafe. There is a sign on the women’s bathroom that says “Women and Cross Dressers ONLY, Men go down the hall.” I ate as much as I could of a salad that had so much garlic that my hair is still standing straight up in the air. I am breathing fire! So, anyone who is planning to come to the reading tonight, don’t stand too close to my flame-throwing breath. I don’t think tic-tacs are going to do the trick.
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April 21, 2008
Just a quick note from the Scoot Café in downtown Trail, where I’m enjoying lunch with my secondary school partner, Rita Wong. We’re looking forward to our visit to J.L. Crowe Secondary School this afternoon, and it seems we’ve managed (hopefully!) to inspire one or two of the Scoot Café patrons to attend the reading at the Cornerstone Café tonight. Twenty minutes till Bryan picks us up ... let’s see if we can drum up some more interest!
Cheers!
Heather
P.S. It’s snowing!!
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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April 21, 2008
Today, we drove to Trail for our first scheduled reading. On the way from Nelson, we encountered our second blizzard, although thankfully the snow isn’t sticking to the roads. But even after the highway drops down out of the low pass and into the Columbia River valley where the town is located, it looks pretty bleak. The olive-coloured river, the dull green of the conifers smudging the brown rock that is the reason for this mining town’s existence, the grey skeletons of larches—they’re the colours of camouflage, mountains trying to hide themselves. I’m thinking this place must be quite beautiful in summer. Or maybe in fall, when all those larches turn yellow, or even in the dead of winter when it’s blanketed in perfect white. But we have definitely arrived in the grey season.
But just as we approach our destination–Glenmerry Elementary—the sun breaks out from behind the clouds. It’s recess, and the schoolyard is filled with shouting kids in their colourful clothes—okay, a few of them are wearing camouflage. Probably here as part of some kind of witness relocation program: “Have you seen Trail in early spring, chief? No one will ever find them there.”
The bell sounds just after we pull into the parking lot, and all the children are sucked back inside the school like fry into an Egyptian mouthbreeder.
As I’m walking down the hall toward the Library, I’m thinking I ought to be more nervous, but somehow the sight of all the kids settling back into their classrooms makes it impossible to worry about anything. I haven’t been in a place so full of life and enthusiasm in a long time. I glance inside one of the rooms and several kids are huddled around a hamster or a gerbil cage. They’re so enthusiastic and absorbed in the animal and each other that the notion that whatever I say or write could affect them seems preposterous, but a moment later we’re greeted by the school’s teacher/librarian, Louise Sidley, and she reminds us that children are as passionate and enthusiastic about reading as adults are. Looking around at all of the colourful artwork covering the walls in the school’s perfect library, proclaiming the value of books and reading, you don’t doubt it for a second.
And then they’re all pouring into the room, arranging themselves in rows, sitting cross-legged on the floor and studying you with their eager eyes, like nestlings waiting for the worm, and you know why you’re here.
It’s great to be on tour.
Filed under: Kootenays Leg 2008 |
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