BC Book Prizes On Tour
April 18, 2008
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
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April 17, 2008
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.
Posted by Jaimie Tait | Filed under: Greater Vancouver Leg 2008 |
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April 17, 2008
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!
Posted by Jaimie Tait | Filed under: Greater Vancouver Leg 2008 |
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April 17, 2008
After a delicious dinner of Penang curry at Mai Tai in Prince George, we took a cab back to our hotel (we walked there, though!) and the cab driver said that it’s supposed to snow tonight. This reminds me that we are far from home. You can still see big chunks of ice on the Nechako and the wind is very cold. But the schools we visited today—Kelly Road Secondary and Heather Park Middle School—were warmly welcoming. 100 kids at the former and 200 at the latter. Mary and I have learned to anticipate the important questions: “How old are you?” and “How much do you make from writing?” But seriously, they also ask the thoughtful questions: “When did you begin to write?” and “How long does it take to write a book?” And the teachers are so enthusiastic, even giving us little gifts as we leave.
Tomorrow we head back to Terrace with stops in Vanderhoof and Smithers. It’s hard to believe that our week is nearly over. I feel as though I’m part of a secret travelling society, complete with jokes and songs.
Posted by Theresa Kishkan | Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 |
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April 17, 2008
It’s alway nice to stop in beautiful Smithers. We even managed a sunny blue sky.
Posted by Bryan Pike | Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 |
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April 17, 2008
Posted by Bryan Pike | Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 |
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April 17, 2008
Liesl Jauk, Executive Director of West Coast Book Prize Society, did a lot of posing on Monday night. First, with Byron Sheardown of Quills Poetry Magazine presenting a cheque to Margaret O’Brien of Vancouver Technical Secondary School. Then, with the folks from Grandview Secondary School, whose library is being sponsored by CCEC Credit Union.
Rogers’ Chocolates is sponsoring two Vancouver area schools this year: Gladstone Secondary and Charles Dickens Elementary schools.
Adopted school libraries will receive their choice of 2008 BC Book Prize books up to a value of $500 for their libraries.
With one exception: Here’s Christine Bourassa of Hewitt Associates presenting Hastings Elementary with a cheque. The staff of Hewitt Associates actually managed to raise $580 for this school!
Posted by Liesl Jauk | Filed under: Greater Vancouver Leg 2008 |
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April 16, 2008
How to describe the changing beauty of the Yellowhead Highway? The dense forests from Terrace to Smithers, river below rimed with snow? And Smithers itself, a gem of a community…We had lunch at Java’s—delicious wild grain pies, bright salad, casual and funky ambience. Our presentations in Smithers went very well. The class I met with, a History 11 class, was a delight. An eager and erudite teacher, good kids who asked interesting questions, a librarian who was keenly interested in books and writing. The eastward journey—now, doesn’t that sound like a travel book by Basho?—was long and a few of us slept but Bryan kept the tunes playing, the gas tank filled (courtesy of one of our sponsors, PetroCanada), and brought us safely into Prince George, through the chilly grassy fields fringed with birch near Vanderhoof, with an hour to spare! This evening’s reading was a highlight. Books and Company is a lovely store and the audience was enthusiastic.
I want to say that this is a nifty group of women—Nan, Kari-Lynn and Mary. There is such camaraderie among us. We laugh, tell stories, jokes, share apples, sandwiches, oranges, chocolate, licorice toffee. And Bryan is a perfect Honourary Boyfriend, opening doors for us, keeping us on time, on schedule in a gentle thoughtful way.
And the more I encounter teachers, librarians, and book-sellers on this Northern Tour, the more I am grateful that such people exist. They make us welcome, make us at home in their classrooms, libraries, bookstores, feed us, celebrate us, share their students and friends with us.
Posted by Theresa Kishkan | Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 |
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April 16, 2008
This tour is amazing. What makes it this way? The extras of course. Let me name a few:
Bottles of water in the van.
Welcome mats. Story chats.
Performing with Sloth, controlled by Nan.
Chocolates before each presentation.
Loads of smiles. Driven for miles.
Sometimes getting a standing ovation.
Cakes and cookies, gifts galore.
Friendly walks. Engaging talks.
Audiences wanting more.
But best of all I must say,
is the kinds of people we meet each day.
As my grandma used to say,
Smallest towns—nicest people.
Smiles from Snowy Smithers.
Posted by Kari-Lynn Winters | Filed under: Northern Leg 2008 |
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April 16, 2008
Today we started out at Argyle Secondary and Boundary Elementary in North Vancouver. Then we headed over to Richmond for readings at Richmond Secondary and Samuel Brighouse Elementary.
Librarian Kelly Berry introduces Gillian and Shaena at Argyle Secondary
Robert and Librarian Felicity Eadon and Lisa at Boundary Elementary
Robert reads at Boundary Elementary
A quick lunch in Minaru park, Richmond
Lisa at Samuel Brighouse Elementary
Gillian and Shaena chatting with students at Richmond Secondary
Posted by Jaimie Tait | Filed under: Greater Vancouver Leg 2008 |
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