You heard it here first. (After all, In Other Words, what else is news that stays news?)
Ta da! One of the few independent celebrations of literature with no strings attached remaining on the planet, BookFest Windsor (BFW), in honour of its fiercely tenacious longevity, features one fabulously fresh brand-spangly new website — itself a TKO worthy of a Standing O. Not only does it understand the importance of ease of navigation, it also keeps in mind the fact this is a visual medium.
Then, of course, the stellar attendees on the menu promise a feast of something-special delivery from stars and comets comme Cathy Marie Buchanan, Stuart Ross, Beryl Baigent, Nino Ricci, Frank Davey, Stan Bevington and Karl Jirgens.
A few BookFest Windsor Highlight / Delights? On Thurs. Nov. 4, The Moss Boss, Marty Gervais (poet, journalist, hockey dad / grand-dad, co-owner and publisher / editor, Black Moss Press), moderates a discussion with Friends surrounding the fact Canada's longest-running small press just turned 40 with a bang; the following evening, Nino Ricci interviews Judith Keenan, the producer of Paul Quarrington: Life in Music for BFW's series entitled The Last Note; and, come the closing day of the festivities, Sat. Nov. 6, Genevieve Lefebvre, Jean Lemieux and Michel Thérien engage in an on-stage discussion moderated by Judith Sinanga-Ohlman (Mon livre) while Percy Hatfield moderates "Growing Pains," a round-table with Susan Juby, Richard Scarsbrook and Tim Wynne-Jones.
Judith Fitzgerald, Nino Ricci and Cathy Marie Buchanan
And, finally, in the interests of full-disclosure, the good Lard and bum Leg willing, come hell or high howling, yours truly will unveil the first set of chapbooks (upon which I am now working), published by a new imprint under the umbrella of Cranberry Tree Press, "Judith Fitzgerald Presents." The first Series, we report with understandable enthusiasm and gratitude, will feature cover art-work by Leonard Cohen, including the one you see at the top of this page, "Burning Bush." Oh, I think I shall also read some of my own poetry alongside the poets featured in Series One. (Nope. Not telling . . . yet; but, it ain't me, Babes.) This event's name? "Fitz and Starts." Har :)!
Natch, I plan to send regular Tweets — with the help of someone who actually owns a Twitter account — to Boss Peter Scowen's Globe Books Twitter page . . . mebbe . . . if I can find someone willing to allow me to co-opt their account. (Neat new Tweet pic, Boss.) Stay toned . . .
B-b-but, Fitz and Starts? Pfft! What about Fitz and Stars (which my poets most certainly are)?
/whine :)
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Guess what? Winnipeg's Contemporary Verse 2: The Canadian Journal of Poetry and Critical Writing, recently extended the deadline for its 35th Anniversary Contest to Nov. 1, 2010. The rule for your entry? The poem must contain "35" somewhere in its body. (Try this [since Eliot did opine, "For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business."]: "We wear it so well, / you'll see we clearly thrive, turn- / ing the BIG three-five.")
