IID: Summertime and the Livin' is Easy: IIDD, Moondance, Wednesday, October 17th

Nature never said to me: Do not be poor. Still less did she say: Be rich. Her cry to me was always: Be independent. -Nicolas de Chamfort, writer (1741-1794)

Kate Mosse

Patrick,

I really encourage you to come down to tonight’s Spoken World event at Performance Works at 9pm. There’s good ticket availability so you should be able to get in on your volunteer badge.

You won’t see an event like this again in Vancouver for quite a while. We have three of the finest spoken word artists accompanied by incredible musicians. Read more here:

http://www.writersfest.bc.ca/2012festival/event/27-spoken-world

Hope you can make it! Hal Wake, Artistic Director, Vancouver Writers Fest

C.R. Avery

C.R. Avery has recorded more than 15 albums and has written and directed six hip hop operas, which have been mounted and performed from New York’s Bowery to L.A.’s South Central. His work crosses many genres: blues, hip hop, spoken word and rock & roll. Whether performing for thousands at the Royal Albert Hall or for a lucky few at a packed speakeasy, he is a mesmerizing, raw and dynamic performer.

Ivan E. Coyote

Ivan E. Coyote is one of Canada's best-loved storytellers; her honest, wry, plain-spoken tales of growing up in the Yukon and living out loud on the West Coast have attracted readers and live audiences from around the world. For many years, Coyote has performed in high schools, where her talks have inspired and galvanized many young people to embrace their own sense of self and to be proud of who they are. One in Every Crowd, Coyote’s eighth book with Arsenal Pulp Press, is her first specifically for queer youth.

Lemn Sissay

Lemn Sissay is a poet, playwright and associate artist at Europe’s largest arts complex, Southbank Centre. He was the first poet commissioned to write for the 2012 Olympics; his poem “Spark Catchers” is etched into a transformer on the Olympic site. In 2010, he was made an MBE by the Queen of England for services to literature. His books include Rebel Without Applause, Morning Breaks in the Elevator and Listener.

Hi Giggster!

Thanks again for getting me out. Good to see Raymondo making a comeback as well. As you know, we headed out to UBC and did the Marine Drive/Crown/Camosun/Wesbrook Village/16th Loop and then headed home, back along Jericho. Too, too bad we couldn't have connected with Big Al. I saw you disappearing down the Bike Route, just crossing Alma, but I decided I'd never catch you so took Point Grey. With a bit of minor doodleage around Kits Point I clocked 55.3K over 2:44:20 for an AVG 20.2KPH, MAX 50.9KPH, (UBC Foreshore Hill), by the time I was back at HBT. Quick shower, sandwich and a cup of java and then off to the Waterfront Theatre to see Thrills and Chills, John Burnside, (Scotland), Stephen Miller, (Vancouver), and Kate Mosse, (England). Cora Lee went on ahead to put our names down but ended up buying tickets, ($8.50, from a teacher when two students didn't show!), as she was told we might not get in on our Volunteer Passes. Well, well worth it as it was another remarkable session. John Burnside's Summer of Drowning is set in Norway. (When I was chatting with him at the signing afterwards he happened to mention that he didn't have any maltage in his mini-bar and was forced to drink Canadian Club so I offered to collect him later in the afternoon for a snort here. He said he'd like to do so. I just came back from the GIH and the three panelists, along with Hal Wake were finishing a late lunch. I left a message to call but don't know if it will happen as I have to start tonight's shift at about 6:30pm.)

John Burnside

I don't think I've read any of Stephen Miller's works but was quite taken with him so picked up Field of Mars, set in St Petersburg on the brink of WWI. He has had a fairly successful acting career so that has informed his writing. Really very, very impressed with Kate Mosse and bought her trilogy: Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel. So-called time-slip books, all set in Carcassonne. First moves between July 1209/July 2005, next 1891 and 2007 and finally the Summer of 1942 and the Resistance in the Languedoc. Since there were many students in the audience quite a few questions had to do with advice for aspiring writers. Kate was absolutely emphatic about the fact that writing was very hard work, that you had to write every day, no matter how you felt, and that you had to read all the time, learning more from works you don't like than from those you embraced. She stated, and categorically so, that publishing a book didn't make you a writer, writing itself makes you a writer. John's advice was to have patience and to rework, rework, rework. Stephen used the Three Day Novel project as a tremendous way to just write, write, write without worrying about anything other than "spewing", getting things down on the page. Tremendously entertaining, informative and passionate authors.

Not sure if I'm going to be able to take in anything tonight. Would like to attend either the Spoken Word or From the Rock, both at 9:00pm but we have a former Library School classmate of Cora Lee's, Amos Lukas, in town from Oakland. He is coming over after 8:30pm when our shift is over at Studio 1298. Don't know any of the authors at our venue, (Rawi Hage, Mohammed Hanif, and Pasha Malla), talking about the idea of "city" as it shapes those who live there. Tomorrow morning I'm probably going to go for a swim and then hope to take in Long Walk to Truth at 1:00pm at the Waterfront Theatre. Let me know if you are interested. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Pat,

Sounds as though you had a decent ride. I enjoyed mine even though it was such short duration. Also got out in the afternoon for a short functional ride to 5th and west of McDonald. I seemed to have backed myself into a corner with the tutoring. Several students who I've worked with previously have just checked in - on-line courses etc. Couldn't turn them down and I'm now busier than ever but still intend to do morning rides when possible.

You've had a busy month with the 2 events. Can't say I've heard of the writers you mentioned.

I'll try and get in the gym again tomorrow for a gentle workout. Ray

Hi Raymondo!

Great to see you out, if only for a short time!

Thank you for the ride. I assumed you had gone down Point Grey just to rankle the drivers. Heard cars honking and some yelling from three blocks over so I think you succeeded.

I will pass on the event tomorrow, Long Walk to Truth, but thanks for the invite. Keep me posted on what else you might attend.

Hope to ride again Friday -- that maybe wishful thinking if the forecast holds. W

Hi Elizabeth!

Glad you liked the "candid" shot! Am really enjoying the VWF at the moment. Have heard some simply remarkable authors so far this week. My wife, Corinne, and I are running a small bar at Studio 1398, so it is a pretty good gig! Hope to see you at the "cross-over" as I'm going the second sitting. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Snap: John Burnside, from Scotland, one of the authors at the Festival. Had him over for a few snorts of malt yesterday afternoon before we started our shift. Have to take care of the bar tender as well!

Hi Patrice,

Sorry I missed you guys as well, sounds like it was a good outing! Glad to hear hear you are having fun with the film fest and thanks for the detailed reviews!. I will connect with you guys before long and hopefully the sun peaks out again soon. Take care, Al

Dear Patrick and Chloe,

I would like to express my most sincere condolences with the news of your mother's/grandmother's passing. My thoughts are with your family. My reflections are not rich in intimate memories of close friendship, or the like, but they are rich with a warm image of a happy person, always wearing a smile, and most gentle and kind to all. After a long, healthy life, in family and love, she will rest, in peace.

I love you both greatly. Look forward to a visit some time soon by a couple of little Sanders monkey-men. Adrian

Ron Simmer. Sculptor. posted in An Exultation of MOOP - Ron Simmer