VMI Fall Newsletter 2021
Here’s our latest newsletter, full of accomplishments, new books, awards, exciting events and collaborations! Please share and support our VMI community in whatever ways suit you–reposting on social media, buying books, sending the authors a note, or attending an event.
We are the community we create.
Mentor News
VMI is delighted to welcome on board Gary Barwin as our newest mentor. Gary is a writer, composer, and multidisciplinary artist and has published 26 books of fiction, and poetry. His new novel, Nothing the Same, Everything Haunted: The Ballad of Motl the Cowboy won the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for fiction and his selected poems, For It is a Pleasure and a Surprise to Breathe, edited by Alessandro Porco didn’t win anything, though after reading the introduction, his mother said she finally understood his poems.
His national bestselling novel Yiddish for Pirates won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour and the Canadian Jewish Literary Award, was a finalist for both the Governor General’s Award for Fiction and the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and was long listed for Canada Reads. A PhD in music composition, his writing, music, media works and visuals have been presented and broadcast internationally. He has been writer-in-residence at many universities, colleges and libraries and loves to teach. He must, since he was a middle school music teacher for nearly a decade. An inveterate collaborator he has created work with many writers, musicians, and visual artists. Originally, from Northern Ireland, he’s lived in Hamilton, Ontario since 1990 with a vague but unrealizable longing for living on the West coast. We’re thrilled to have him and excited to pair him with mentees in poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and hybrid genres.
VMI Founder Betsy Warland, judge Wade Compton, and VMI directors Elee Kraljii Gardiner and Rachel Rose present the inaugural VMI Warland Between Genres Award on Oct 24 at Vancouver Writers Fest on Granville Island at 2pm following the Blending Genres event.
Elee Kraljii Gardiner, Rachel Rose, Betsy Warland, Gary Barwin, Jonina Kirton and Susan Olding take part in a VMI Mentors Omnibus reading on Zoom, Saturday, Oct 30 at 4pm PST, supported by the Writers Union of Canada. Please email info@vancouvermanuscriptintensive.com for the link.
Aren X. Tulchinsky edited an episode of Queen of the Oil Patch, the acclaimed documentary television series on Aboriginal People’s Television Network (APTN), which has just been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. You can watch the series on APTN LUMI, a web streaming service here.
Elee Kraljii Gardiner published visual poems in Streetcake Magazine and has others forthcoming in the UK’s Osmosis. She also contributed creative non-fiction audio texts to an installation in the Galloway Forest for the project “Lone Women in Flashes of Wilderness“. Her five-part Poetry Mini Interview began Sep 13.
Gary Barwin’s novel Nothing the Same, Everything Haunted: The Ballad of Motl the Cowboy (Random House Canada) has won the Canadian Jewish Literary Award. He interviews Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, essayist and screenwriter Michael Chabon (online here) Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 7:30 PM EDT–9 PM EDT.
Gary will also be reading at the Vancouver Writers Fest in two events: on Oct 22 (online) at Complex Histories with Roy Jacobsen, and Kathleen Winter
and on Oct 23 (in person) at The Literary Cabaret with Mona Awad, Marcello Di Cintio, Omar El Akkad, Christa Couture, and Darrel McLeod.
Rachel Rose’s debut fiction collection, The Octopus Has Three Hearts, has been longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Rachel will be joining Maria Reva, author of Good Citizens Need Not Fear (Knopf Canada), for discussion and readings in celebration of their latest books. Hosted by bestselling writer Renée Sarojini Saklikar and presented by Massy Books, this free event will take place on Saturday, September 19 at 7pm PST. Rachel will also hosting a live event at the Vancouver Writers Fest on Oct 25 called “Blending Genres” at which the VMI Betsy Warland Between Genres Award will be awarded.
Susan Olding has a short story forthcoming in The Fiddlehead and will present, by Zoom, at three events at the Kingston Writersfest including a workshop, a panel discussion, and an in-depth interview. She will be in conversation with novelist Leona Theis by Zoom at Wild Words North. Susan will also be reading at an in-person event during the Victoria Festival of Authors.
Alumni News
Carol M. Cram has a new book out (Love Among the Recipes, New Arcadia Publishing, 2020). Purchase here. Love Among the Recipes has received a Publishers’ Weekly starred review, a Bronze Wishing Shelf Award for Best Adult Fiction and a B.R.A.G. Medal.
Carole Harmon and ingrid rose have started a radio show by and for writers and readers. Listen here: writersradio.ca
Erika Thorkelson has a publication in an anthology called Midlife. It may be purchased through https://www.midlifebook.ca/. She will appear with Andrea Warner and Andrea Gin on Pop This! Podcast.
Jane Mortifee has self published her first novel, Out Of The Fire. Available now
on Amazon or from Good Things Collective or from her website: info@janemortifee.com
Lorraine Kiidumae has a new novel out River of Forgiveness. It may be purchased through the publisher and elsewhere.
Leanne Dunic has a new book out. One and Half of You may be purchased through the publisher, Talonbooks.
Pauline Le Bel‘s poem, The Chestnut Agreement, is now a 2-minute video, part of a series celebrating trees.
Tina Biello has a new collaboration premiere performance with composer Katerina Gimon. Poems will be performed by Vancouver Island Symphony and Dory Hayley.