It was night in Kyoto. In a grove on a mountain, in July 1995, as I was preparing to leave Japan, I received one of the great gifts of my life. It began with the Kyoto Connection, an international arts gathering. Over several months, I’d taken the stage at the Connection in various guises: as…
Category: writing life
Humane: Announcement and Trailer
This is it! I could not be more excited! Novel writing is both solo and entirely inter-dependent work. I could not have done this without: D and T, Edmonton Arts Council, MacEwan University, my extended family especially my sis, my Beta Readers over the past few years, and those friends and colleagues, human and…
Who Wears the Pants?
Victoria Day just passed, thinking about Queens, Empresses, fashion. Those dresses and notions that decent women’s legs could not be seen. Ripples of that time, that empire, still eddy around the world. Researching my next novel. Watching fashion historian Karolina Zebrowska’s videos, and found a comment that led me to this article. Who knew? French…
Saint Behind the Glass
Here’s a lyrical meditation from NYC author Elizabeth Frank, whose latest novel arrives from Stonehouse Press in November. Elizabeth Frank
Day 23: Briefcase of Sedation
1. When I emerge from this brief case of sedation, drawled the poet in his Montréalais growl, I’ll be arrayed in robes of starlight. Then we’ll dance. 2. It’s just too easy to imagine spies in Sixties’ palettes, knife-crease pants far more alcohol than today’s meek livers and doctors would chance; the case swung well,…
Day 14: Danger Café
lightness, darkness, and their shadow clan of degrees* hold down the tables this one reeks jet fuel, african dust notebooks of coordinates that one sleeks wild hair, bespoke pockets memorized fragilities another cuts the gloom angled shoulders, sharpened words particulars recorded some are cool as lebanese cedar groves watching from internal heights some smoulder kamchatka…
Frog’s Eye Blues – Spoken Word Duet
As 30/30 2020 draws near, here’s a fun piece from last year’s 30/30 games. While playing 30/30 with Stroll of Poets pals, Ivan Sundal smacked me with the image of a frog’s eye. One thing led to another:
By Heart: A Celebration in 10 Languages, speaking and singing words we hold dear
My tenure at MacEwan University as Writer-in-Residence has offered opportunities to connect with a vibrant, multi-faceted community. Most wonderfully, the very day I introduced myself to the English department faculty, I was approached by Dr. Svitlana Krys, the Kule Chair in Ukrainian Studies, who offered to make at least one of my dreams come true….
Tell Me a Story, with Metropolitan Orchestra!
One of my professional goals is to work with orchestras. Friday, I get my first chance. tellmeastory_poster_v2_final_10-17-19 I’m guesting with Metropolitan Orchestra, performing a poetic piece composed to weave along with Legend #1. What’s my text about? A certain time traveling lapine makes use of the moon in order to visit a composer in Bohemia,…
On Land Acknowledgment in the Time of Climate Worries
Recently, I was privileged to address a gathering of the Society of Friends (aka Quakers), to offer perspectives on Land Acknowledgments. I was moved by their desire to ‘get it right,’ to engage with this new ritual protocol in a meaningful and authentic way; moved, but not surprised, given that the person who invited me…
In Residence
Well, I’m In-Residence now. Following in footsteps of many respected colleagues, peers and mentors, I’m the Writer-in-Residence at MacEwan University. A residency is so much more than a sponsored time and space for pursuing one’s own artistic goals, although that, in itself, makes a residency a wonderful thing. I’m being paid to obey my muse,…
