30 October 2011

Happy Halloween

carved last night while watching a movie

09 October 2011

Double book launch: 27 Oct @ Westminster Books

27 October, Thursday, 7 pm.
@ Westminster Books,
445 King Street,
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Tel 1-800-561-READ to order autographed books.

Tristis Ward launching Bones of the Magus: All that Remains (Broken Jaw Press)
Bones of the Magus is a fascinating synthesis of the comic book genre and literary prose. It is a graphic(less) novel in which vivid pictures are created literally and metaphorically through words. The story of a great prince, reincarnated as a skeleton into a foreign time and space, is a compelling and unusual read. Its breathless energy is sustained panel to panel throughout the book. Tristis Ward is the most creative writer I know and Bones of the Magus is her masterpiece. It is science fiction fantasy at its best.”
—Carolyn Gammon

Tristis Ward lives and writes in Fredericton, New Brunswick. After a degree in English at Dalhousie University, she worked for years in community radio as a producer, station manager, and national lobbyist. She has written comic book scripts, short stories and plays as well as producing both stage and radio plays. She has published online in the SFF World Forum and is a multiple winner in their flash fiction contests. Bones of the Magus is her first graphic novel.

& Joe Blades launching Casemate Poems (Collected) (Chaudiere Books)
“To read Canadian poet and artist Joe Blades’ book of poetry casemate poems means to get knowledge about one very specific way of understanding poetry today. [...] Blades’ poetry is written by activating different layers of human knowledge and by articulation of this knowledge, for example, in narrations of history and geography. He moves in time (historical perspective) and in space (for example, actual events in the world at the time, such as the attack on the World Trade Center) […] Poetry is not a separate sacred sphere, but a sphere where it is possible to articulate a critical approach to the past and contemporaneity.”
—Dubravka Ðurić

Joe Blades is a Fredericton, NB writer and artist on the editorial board of revue ellipse mag. He is founding publisher of Broken Jaw Press, and the current Past President of the League of Canadian Poets. Blades has given readings, lectures, and workshops in Canada, the USA, Scotland, and Central Europe. Since 1995 he has been the community radio producer–host of Ashes, Paper & Beans: Fredericton’s Writing & Arts Show (CHSR FM). Blades is the editor of ten anthologies, curator of a videopoem screening, and author of seven poetry books, including River Suite, and the sequel to Casemate Poems (Collected) titled Prison Songs and Storefront Poetry.

Joe Blades photo by Sophie Lavoie.

04 October 2011

Nela Rio in Trois-Rivières

Festival International de la Poésie, Trois-Rivières (Québec)

[Note: selected events featuring Fredericton, NB poet–artist Nela Rio]




OCTOBER 6, 2011

17 h–18 h 30 : Apéro‑poésie. Café Bar Zénob, 171, rue Bonaventure, 819 378-9925. Poètes : Nouréini Tidjani-Serpos (Bénin), Nela Rio, Dyane Léger (Nouveau-Brunswick), Alice Major (Alberta), Anna Swanson (Colombie-Britannique), Catherine Harton, Jean-François Poupart, Pierre Demers (Québec).

18 h : Souper‑poésie. Restaurant Le Saint-Germain Bistro, 401, rue Saint-Roch, 819 372-0607. Début des lectures : 18 h 30. Poètes : Maria Bautista Vazquez, Luis Francisco Vasquez, Ernesto Lumbreras (Mexique), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), J.-Roger Léveillé (Manitoba).

23 h : Poèmes de nuit. Café Bar Zénob, 171, rue Bonaventure, 819 378-9925. Poètes : Maria Bautista Vazquez, Luis Francisco Vasquez, Ernesto Lumbreras (Mexique), Tania Espitia Becerra (Colombie), Alice Major (Alberta), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), Anna Swanson (Colombie-Britannique), Julie Tremblay, Mireille Gagné, Jean-Philippe Bergeron (Québec).

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OCTOBER 7

12 h : Dîner-poésie. Café Le Bucafin, 920, boul. du Saint-Maurice, 819 376-2122. Poètes : Christine De Luca (Îles Shetland), Christophe Pairoux (Wallonie-Belgique), Nela Rio, Dyane Léger (Nouveau-Brunswick), Jean-François Poupart (Québec).

15 h 30–16 h 30 : Poèmes en langue anglaise. Église Saint-James, 811, rue des Ursulines, 819 374-6010. Poètes: David Musgrave (Australie), James Norcliffe (Nouvelle-Zélande), Christine De Luca (Îles Shetland), Alice Major (Alberta), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), Anna Swanson (Colombie-Britannique).

17 h : Apéro-poésie. Foyer de la Maison de la culture, 1425, place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 819 379-9813. Musique : Daniel Lessard. Poètes : Dmitry Legeza (Russie), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), Anna Swanson (Colombie-Britannique), Anthony Phelps (Haïti/Québec), Pierre Labrie, Prix Rina-Lasnier 2011, Patrick Lafontaine, Julie Tremblay (Québec).

20 h : Souper-poésie. (2e service) Restaurant Au Four à bois, 329, rue Laviolette, 819 373-3686. Poètes : Christine De Luca (Îles Shetland), Alice Major (Alberta), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), Jean-Philippe Bergeron, Paul Bélanger, Prix Alain-Grandbois-2010 (Québec).

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8 DE OCTUBRE

12 h : Dîner-poésie. Restaurant Le Manoir, 1147, rue Hart, 819 373-0204. Poètes : Olga Khokhlova (Russie), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), Alice Major (Alberta), Anthony Phelps (Haïti/Québec).

15 h-16 h : Scotch et poésie. L’Embuscade Café Galerie, 1571, rue Badeaux, 819 374-0652. Poètes : Daniel Dugas, Nela Rio, Dyane Léger (Nouveau-Brunswick) Andrée Lacelle (Ontario).

17 h : Apéro‑poésie. Café Bar Zénob, 171, rue Bonaventure, 819 378-9925. Poètes : Olga Khokhlova (Russie), Nela Rio (Nouveau-Brunswick), Rodney Saint-Éloi, Anthony Phelps (Haïti/Québec), Aimée Verret, Patrick Boulanger (Québec).

26 August 2011

... but is it a comic book?

Bones of the Magus is a fascinating synthesis of the comic book genre and literary prose. It is a graphic(less) novel in which vivid pictures are created literally and metaphorically through words. The story of a great prince, reincarnated as a skeleton into a foreign time and space, is a compelling and unusual read. Its breathless energy is sustained panel to panel throughout the book. Tristis Ward is the most creative writer I know and Bones of the Magus is her masterpiece. It is science fiction fantasy at its best. —Carolyn Gammon
BONES OF THE MAGUS

All that Remains: A magician prince wakes up inside a church’s reliquary without his army, empire, weapons, or even flesh on his bones. What is left of his memory barely holds intact long enough to help him escape. But where on Earth can a skeleton hide?

Where There’s a Will…: Prince Magus Sical, on the run from both the law and the church, has taken refuge in the home of two hostages. He uses all he has left, his magic infused bones, to search for clues to how he died and how he might return.

Culture Clash: Where does a dead prince with a penchant for the arcane fit in? The Goths will never be the same once they’re drawn into the war between the undead and the self righteous.

Blood, Fire & Brimstone: In a battle between enemies of conviction there can be no walls left standing, no followers left free, no pawns left alive. Sical comes full circle in his quest to destroy everything that stands between him and his throne. But is he leading, or being led? Is he freeing himself from death, or being bound yet again to his mortal doom?




Destinations



10 May 2011

14 de mayo: V Festival Internacional Palabra en el Mundo


El sábado, 14 de mayo, 2011 a las dos de la tarde, el Capítulo de Fredericton de la Academia Iberoamericana de Poesía (con la colaboración de la Asociación Latina de New Brunswick —Proyecto PRESENCIA—, y Broken Jaw Press) invita al público a participar en el quinto Festival Internacional Palabra en el Mundo, que se celebra entre el 19 y el 24 de mayo en el mundo entero: más de 30 países y más de 500 ciudades celebrarán este Festival. Este año, los poetas han contribuido poemas sobre el tema de la PAZ. El evento tendrá lugar en la sala de lectura del Rio de la Biblioteca Pública de Fredericton y luego en el Puente del río San Juan (si no llueve). Están invitados a participar con un poema sobre el tema de la PAZ o solo escuchar a los poetas locales leyendo poemas suyos. Habrá café y galletas. ¡Nos vemos allí!

* Nela Rio * Carlos Morales * Joe Blades * et al *

May 14: V International Festival of Poetry Word in the World

On Saturday, May 14, 2011, at 2 p.m., the Fredericton Chapter of the Iberoamerican Academy of Poetry (in collaboration with the New Brunswick Latino Association —PRESENCIA Project— and Fredericton’s Broken Jaw Press) invites the public to participate in the fifth annual Word in the World Poetry Festival, being celebrated between May 19th to 24th across the world in more than 30 countries and in more than 500 cities. This year poets have been contributing pieces on the theme of “Peace”. The event will take place at the Fredericton Public Library’s River Reading Area and on the Bridge over the St. John River (weather permitting). Come read your favourite poem on the theme of peace and hear local poets read their poetry as well! There will be coffee and treats. See you there!

07 May 2011

13 May: Four Broken Jaw Press poets in Sussex


WordsSpring's Friday evening schedule, which is so full it's overflowing.

May 13, Sussex Artist Co-op

6pm. Social time, meet and greet

7 pm. Book Launches and Local Authors, featuring:

Joan Hall Hovey
Joe Blades
Nela Rio
Roger Moore
Desa
Kelly Cooper
Lee Whitney
Beth Powning
Vanessa Moeller
Edward Gates
Karen Davidson
Elizabeth Stevens

The brief readings will be interspersed with music from local youth talent, and books will be for sale.

WordsSpring, May 13-15, Sussex, NB.

See http://www.umce.ca/wfnb/wordsspring2011.html

Writers' Federation of New Brunswick
Box 306
Moncton NB E1C 8L4
506-459-7228
wfnb@nb.aibn.com
http://www.wfnb.ca

27 April 2011

2 BJP authors at Odd Sundays

odd sundays at molly's, Fredericton's longest running semi-monthly poetry reading series presents

Nela Rio and Robert Hawkes
Sunday, May 1, 2:00 pm
Molly's Coffee House, 554 Queen Street, Fredericton

Their readings will be followed by an open mic.
All are welcome.

Bios
Nela Rio is an internationally-recognized Argentine-Canadian author, artist, and arts organizer living in Fredericton. Professor at St. Thomas University since 1971, retired in 2003. Nela has 12 books published, and has been widely published in literary journals and anthologies in Canada, Spain, U.S.A., Honduras, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Her work has been translated into English, French, Catalán, Portuguese, and Slovene. In May 2008, a symposium was held on her creative work, organized by Red Cultural Hispánica at the Canadian branch of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Gatineau, Québec. Several of her books are used in university courses in Canada, U.S.A. and Brazil. There are Master and Ph.D. thesis, on her work. She is the President of the Registro Creativo of the Canadian Asociation of Hispanists; the founder and organizer of the Annual Multilicultural Multilingual Poetry Recital (since 2000), and the Outspoken Art/Arte Claro exhibition, for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. She is also the Director of the Capítulo Fredericton of the Academia Iberoamericana de Poesía.

Robert E. Hawkes
Born: Coal Creek, Queens Co., NB
Professor Emeritus of Education (UNBF)
Most recent works have been imaginative recreations of three archbishops of Canterbury:
(a) Thomas Cranmer (published first as a Broken Jaw Prss chapbook;
(b) Reginald Cardinal Pole
(c) Cranmer and Pole: Archbishops (Broken Jaw Press), a combined book of the two archbishops and
(d) William Laud.
Nine collections of poetry published including those referred to above.

Fredericton reading: National Poetry Month 2011!

Celebrate National Poetry Month!!!

The Fredericton Chapter of the Iberoamerican Academy of Poetry and the League of Canadian Poets invite you to a Poetry Recital in Spanish and English by Fredericton Poets Nela Rio and Joe Blades on Saturday, April 30th at 2 pm at the River Reading Room in the Fredericton Public Library, 12 Carleton St., Fredericton. Both poets will be reading from recent publications and new materials. Nela Rio has recently been nominated for the League of Canadian Poets’ Pat Lowthers Award. She recently launched her collection of poetry, La Luna, Tango, siempre la luna /The Moon, Tango, Always the Moon (Broken Jaw Press, 2010). Blades’ most recent work published is Prison Songs and Storefront Poetry (Ekstasis Editions, 2010). He is an active member of the local BlackTop MotorCycle Gang writers’ group, coordinator of the Fredericton Small Press & Community Fair, and President of the League of Canadian Poets.

This event is held in conjunction with the 2011 National Poetry Month. For its 2011 National Poetry Month activities, The League of Canadian Poets acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program. Other sponsors include the Public Lending Right Commission, the Government of Canada, and the Canadian Library Association.

Please join us for what promises to be an exceptional reading!

14 April 2011

Nela Rio: 16 April reading Fredericton

Fredericton poet and artist Nela Rio will launch her book, La luna, Tango, siempre la luna /The Moon, Tango, Always the Moon (Broken Jaw Press) on Saturday April 16, 2011 at 2 pm, at the Fredericton Public Library’s beautiful River Reading Area (upstairs), 12 Carleton Street, Fredericton. The Fredericton Chapter of the Ibero-American Academy of Poetry is hosting the event. The book, published by Broken Jaw Press in 2010 has been translated from the Spanish by translator Edith Jonsson-Devillers and includes a prologue by Governor General’s Literary Award winner, poet and translator, Hugh Hazelton. This collection has been short-listed for the League of Canadian Poet’s prestigious Pat Lowther Memorial Award, a prize given for a book of poetry by a Canadian woman published in the preceding year in memory of the late writer whose career was cut short by her untimely death. The judges commented: “Foreign accents, mystery, intrigue, sensuousness, all culminate in the dance that steps over, around, and through the mundane and lifts its skirts to new heights and wishes.” Please join us for a rare opportunity to discover one of Fredericton’s most talented writers. There will be a brief presentation of the book, followed by a bilingual reading of selected poems from the collection.

La poeta y artista de Fredericton, Nela Rio, lanzará su último libro, La luna, Tango, siempre la luna/The Moon, Tango, Always the Moon el sábado 16 de abril a las dos de la tarde en la Biblioteca Pública de Fredericton (en la linda sala River Reading Area), 12 calle Carleton, Fredericton. El capítulo de Fredericton de la Academia Iberoamericana de Poesía es huésped del evento. El libro, publicado en el año 2010 por la casa editorial Broken Jaw Press, fue traducido por la traductora Edith Jonsson-Devillers e incluye un prólogo por Hugh Hazelton, poeta y traductor premiado por Governor General’s Medal. El libro de poesía de Rio ha sido seleccionado en la lista corta del prestigioso premio Pat Lowther Memorial, de la Liga de Poetas Canadienses, un premio que galardona a una poeta publicada en el año anterior, en nombre de una poeta que falleció siendo joven y al principio de su carrera. Los miembros del jurado comentaron: “Acentos del extranjero, misterio, intriga, sensualidad, todo culmina en el baile que da paso, da vueltas y traspasa la rutina y levanta sus volantes hacia nuevas cumbres y deseos.” Están invitados a reunirse con nosotros para esta rara oportunidad de (re)descubrir una de las escritoras más talentosas de Fredericton. Habrá una breve introducción del libro, seguido por un recital bilingüe de poemas seleccionados del libro. ¡No se lo pierda!

06 April 2011

2011 Pat Lowther and Gerald Lampert Memorial Awards Shortlists

Congratulations to Broken Jaw Press author Nela Rio and her translator Edith Jonsson-Devilliers on their book La luna, Tango, siempre la luna / The Moon, Tango, Always the Moon being shortlisted for the 2011 Pat Lowther Memorial Award.

Congratulations to all of the shortlisted poets and their books.

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Announcing …

THE GERALD LAMPERT & PAT LOWTHER AWARDS SHORTLIST

April 4, 2011, Toronto: The League of Canadian Poets is pleased to announce the shortlist for its 2011 Pat Lowther and Gerald Lampert Memorial Awards. Congratulations to the authors for their fine work and many thanks to the jurors for their hard work on this year’s awards.

Winners of these awards will be announced during a special ceremony at the annual LCP Poetry Fest and Conference to be held at The Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto (475 Yonge Street) on June 11, 2011.

Gerald Lampert Award Shortlist:
The Gerald Lampert Memorial Award is given in the memory of Gerald Lampert, an arts administrator who organized authors' tours and took a particular interest in the work of new writers. The award recognizes the best first book of poetry published by a Canadian in the preceding year. The award carries a $1,000 prize.

The Crow’s Vow by Susan Briscoe (Signal Edition of Vehicule Press)
That Other Beauty by Karen Enns (Brick Books)
Tiny, Frantic, Stronger by Jeff Latosik (Insomniac Press)
[sic] by Nikki Reimer (Frontenac Press)
Here Is Where We Disembark by Clea Roberts (Freehand Books)
The Nights Also by Anna Swanson (Tightrope Books)

2011 Jury: Lori Cayer, Jacob Scheier, Todd Swift


Pat Lowther Award Shortlist:
The Pat Lowther Memorial Award is given for a book of poetry by a Canadian woman published in the preceding year, and is in memory of the late Pat Lowther, whose career was cut short by her untimely death in 1975. The award carries a $1,000 prize.

Ossuaries by Dionne Brand (McClelland & Stewart)
Walking to Mojácar by Di Brandt, with French and Spanish translations by Charles Leblanc and Ari Belathar (Turnstone Press)
Living Under Plastic by Evelyn Lau (Oolichan Books)
Memory’s Daughter by Alice Major (University of Alberta Press)
Cathedral by Pamela Porter (Ronsdale Press)
La luna, Tango, siempre la luna / The Moon, Tango, Always the Moon by Nela Rio (Broken Jaw Press)

2011 Jury: Magie Dominic, Eric Folsom, Yvonne Trainer

(Complete author bios and book descriptions available: http://www.poets.ca/linktext/awards.htm)

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20 February 2011

Vadimir Tasić reading @ St Thomas University

The Department of Romance Languages at St. Thomas University is hosting Reading Without Boundaries: Serbian-Born Writer Vladimir Tasić Presents "Farewell Gift” at 7 pm, Tuesday, 22 February 2011 in 101 Brian Mulroney Hall, Fredericton. Multilingual readings of excerpts from Oproštajni dar (Farewell Gift) will be done in Serbian, English, French and Spanish, followed by a question and answer period with the author. Named one of the ten influential novels in the Serbian language since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Oproštajni dar (Svetovi, Novi Sad, 2001) has appeared in French, German, Slovakian, and Slovenian editions. It will appear in [someone’s] series “100 Slavic Novels: ten “post-wall” novels from ten Slavic countries” [but I have no information on the series, so can’t speak to it—Joe Blades].

Vadimir Tasić is a professor in the UNB-Fredericton Mathematics Department. He got there by way of grad studies at the University of Winnipeg in the late ’80s followed by postdoctoral work/studies at Oxford in England. He is originally from Novi Sad, Yugoslavia (in what is now Srbija). He has authored several collections of short fiction, novels, and the nonfiction book Mathematics and the Roots of Postmodern Thought (Oxford University Press, New York, 2001). He won the NIN award, Serbia’s premiere literary award, for Oproštajni dar.

His only fiction book to be published in English, Herbarium of Souls (Broken Jaw Press, 1998)—a translation by Ralph Bogert, Christine Pribichevich-Zorić and Vladimir Tasić—of his second book Radost Brodolomnika (Svetovi, 1997), was published in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

The book is still in print, priced at $17.95 Canadian + shipping & tax. We can mail you are copy for $21.50 prepaid (cheques, money orders, or bank drafts to Broken Jaw Press Inc., BOX 596 STN A, FREDERICTON NB E3B 5A6, CANADA; or PayPal to sales@brokenjaw.com)

18 February 2011

Hear Nela Rio poems in Slovene


Listen to several Nela Rio poems from Aquella luz, la que estremece / The Light that Makes Us Tremble (Broken Jaw Press, 2008) translated by Ana Jasmina Oseban into Slovene; and performed and produced on Radio Slovenija’s Literary Nocturne http://tvslo.si/predvajaj/nela-rio-luc/ava2.96555689/

The translated poems will be published in the literary magazine Poetikon 35-36, in March 2011.

This is something I set into motion last April at the 4th Unconventional Convention of Young Canadianists in Baia Mare, Romania when I gave a copy of Nela’s book to Michelle Gadpaille, University of Maribor.

Michelle Gadpaille