Cutting Costs by Cutting Tense

I can only imagine this will make writing a novel that much easier.

Underfunded Schools Forced To Cut Past Tense From Language Programs

WASHINGTON—Teaching students how to conjugate verbs so that they can describe events that have already occurred is a luxury many schools cannot afford.

The Canadian Book Challenge

John Mutford, bibliophile and all-around tough guy - hey, he lives in Nunavut, for Pete's sake! I thought it was cold here in Thompson? What do I know about cold? - has set up a new contest at his blog The Book Mine Set that we all should participate in.

The Canadian Book Challenge is a dare by Mutford to read thirteen Canadian novels before Canada Day, 2008. Register at the site, read the books, review them on your blogs, and viola! Instant fame for deserving novels.

John has a few hints, if there are those out there who need more guidance. I like the idea of reading one book from each Province and Territory. He's got a nice list of possible titles (and there's a certain novel I'm quite fond of in the Manitoba list).

And of course, Canadian prizes for those who complete the challenge. I believe there's a copy of David Bergen's The Time In-Between, as well as a puck, a box of KD, and other Canuck temptations. Sweet!

I'll be promoting this more when I become the WIR at Open Book: Toronto in January.

So get reading! The Canada Reads choices were just announced, if you need a starting point.

The Words Alive festival

Well, my first offical authors festival as a participant has come and gone. It was a terrific time - good conversation, new friends (Robert J., Sawyer!), and, hopefully, a fan base who'll flock to bookstores to purchase my latest opus, Writer's Block: Uh, Oh Man, I Had a Good Idea Lying Around Here Someplace.

My talk was extensive and far-reaching, travelling the gamut from Shelf Monkey itself, to how I wrote it, to religious fundamentalism, to the cartoon supervillany of Bill O'Reilly et al as an obvious influence on the character of Munroe, to Chuck Norris. Yes, Chuck Norris. We actually ended on that note: I was pointing to his latest novel as an example of how a writer saddled with an absolute dearth of imagination and talent can still, somehow, get a book published. I mean, he has three people helping to write his story, and yet, with four writers, there is not one single interesting thing about the entire endeavour. Not one interesting character. Not one interesting sentence. A simple adventure novel that has not entertaining scene or remotely believable event. The novel in its entirety should stand as the official definition of, "Meh." And the fact that people find entertainment in such poorly-written tripe depresses me as much as the late-night 'reality' dating shows that CTV broadcasts on Saturday past midnight. Seriously ugly shows.

That aside (and I think I stand on good footing that I did not offend anyone in the audience with my Norris-bashing), everything was wonderful.

And now, pics!

I argue for M.G. Vassanji's The Assassin's Song as the rightful winner of the 2007 Giller Prize at the McNally Robinson Giller Light Bash. Unfortunately, I was not successful in my attempt, but I claim a moral victory in that I was undoubtedly the best-dressed debater of the evening. Although I must admit, the accusing stares of fellow Mennonite authors David Bergen and Miriam Toews (hidden) behind me gave me a serious case of the flop sweats. ALRIGHT, I'M NOT AS GOOD AS YOU! I KNOW! GET OUT OF MY MIND!

Words Alive organizer and professional Corey Redekop lookalike Tiberius Keith Edmunds.

Robert Sawyer patiently waits for his introduction to end.

Robert J. Sawyer thrills the audience by shifting his corporeal body through time.

Robert J. Sawyer explains that the 'J' stands for "Jeez, I've published a lot of books!"


Sandra Birdsell couldn't make the event (get well, Sandra!), so famed children's author Anita Daher heroically steps in to give her best 'ethereal elf queen' impersonation.

I greet my rabid fanbase.

Myself with the creators and organizers of the Words Alive festival.

As per my instructions, the board lifted me aloft for the entirety of my reading.

The topper to any succesful reading - alcohol.

Shelf Monkey - a work of art?

The neato slideshow you're currently no doubt enraptured by is a selection of seven Canadian book covers of 2007, selected on behalf of Quill & Quire by prominent book designers as some of the best of the year.

And who's that in the middle?

Says designer Tania Craan:

This cover really pops off the shelf because of the strong black and orange image on a white background. The fact that there is no title or author name on the front is also very intriguing. Most publishers would not even consider a cover without type on the front, so ECW Press took a smart gamble on this one.

Whooo!

Alright, so I didn't design it myself, the multi-talented David Gee can take the credit. But I was consulted, and offered a choice of designs, so I can legitimately claim some credit in its eventual use.

So, congrats to David Gee for a strong imagination, and myself for incredible bravery in choosing an offbeat cover.

I'm in Seen Reading!

For those not in the know, Seen Reading is an intruguing and entertaining blog, wherein Julie Wilson of Toronto...well, this is how she puts it:

1. I see you reading.
2. I guesstimate where you are in the book.
3. I trip on over to the bookstore and make a note of the text.
4. I let my imagination rip.
5. Readers become celebrities.
6. People get giddy and buy more books.

And finally, FINALLY, I made it. Thank you, "White male, early 30s, with generic black and blue baseball cap pulled down low of his slick short hair," for reading my novel. And thank you, Julie. You made my day.

Read the entry here.

My Dinner with Robert

I'll have some pictures of the entire Words Alive Festival up soon, but as an enticement, take a gander at this:
Yes, that's me, third from the left, and who's that next to me? Oh, just incredibly popular Canadian sci-fi icon Robert J. Sawyer, that's who! And some other guys who, while pleasant enough, just don't have the same je ne sais quoi.

Robert and I - Oh yes, we're on a first-name basis now. Jealous? - were seperate night headliners for Brandon, Manitoba's first official writer's festival, Words Alive. We met at BookExpo a few months ago, which is how the whole festival got its start.

Now, here we are, compadres-in-words; peers, when you think about it. OK, yeah, I'm overplaying it, but seriously, if you ever get the chance to have dinner with Robert, I recommend you take it. He's a helluva nice guy, and smart. If you want to argue with him, you'd have better done your homework. Seriously, scary smart. And funny. And successful. Come to think of it, I should hate him, but he's too darn nice!

Open Book: Toronto chooses a new W-I-R.

Read this blog, but can't get enough? Thinking to yourself, "Gee, Corey is witty, even wise in his way, but only if he were contractually obligated to be more interesting on a regular basis"? Well, pray to the Gods no more, the answer is on its way!

For the month of January, 2008 (!), yours truly will be the official online writer-in-residence with Open Book: Toronto.

From the website:

Open Book: Toronto celebrates the new and wonderful books, authors and events coming out with Ontario's independent, Canadian-owned publishers. Open Book is committed to showcasing the outstanding range and quality of contemporary Canadian writing and invites Torontonians to connect with their very own vibrant and cutting-edge publishing scene.

Yes, you're right, I'm not technically in Ontario, but my publisher is. So come January, I'll be putting out fairly recent posts concerning the literary life, and answering emails from interested writers desperate for a taste of that Redekop luck.

And get a load of this lineup; September'sW-I-R was award-winning author (hereinafter 'AWA') Todd Babiuk (The Book of Stanley). October's AWA was Zoe Whitall (Bottle Rocket Hearts. November's AWA, Lynn Coady (Saints of Big Harbour). I don't know who is lined up for December, but considering the calibre so far, my bet is someone, oh, award winning.

To sum up:
Todd Babiuk
Zoe Whitall
Lynn Coady
TBA
Corey Redekop

All together now: One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong... (Hint: it's me!)

I'm a trans-hemipherical hit!

While I knew that somehow, despite the inherent weirdness of it, my novel was on the shelves at a public library in Australia, I never really believed it.

But fan mail has proved me wrong.

Cam R. recently sent me a lovely email regarding his admiration of Shelf Monkey. I, in return, admire his taste in books. This goes a long way toward proving my personal theory that Australians love Corey Redekop.

Thanks, Cam. And yes, I have read Peter Carey, and yes, The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith is a classic.