What inspires CBC's Canada Reads 2021 longlist author Morgan Murray? Let’s find out… Hi! My name is crystal fletcher and welcome to a special episode of all about books. To celebrate the Dirty Birds Canada Reads World Tour, I’m delighted to have Morgan Murray as a guest. Did you know...Morgan grew up on a farm near the same backwoods central Alberta village as figure-skating legend Kurt Browning? (I didn't!) He now lives in the backwoods of Cape Breton. His debut novel Dirty Birds was longlisted for CBC Canada Reads (a VERY BIG deal!) It was published by Breakwater Books. Dirty Birds is a coming-of-age story, set during the 2008 recession. It follows a young man Milton Ontario who decides to leave his hometown Bellybutton, Saskatchewan and move to Montreal to pursue fame & fortune as a poet and to find his beloved idol Leonard Cohen. Oh my goodness! what a ride...I giggled and tee-heed my way through this novel. To learn more about Morgan Watch! Morgan read an excerpt from Dirty Birds.
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How does the feisty Jean Harlow inspire author Heather Babcock? Let’s find out... Hi! My name is crystal fletcher and welcome to this week’s episode of all about books. This week, I’m delighted to have Heather Babcock as a guest. Heather is a poet, short fiction writer and we’ll be discussing her debut novel Filthy Sugar which was published by Inanna Publications. Picture this...Filthy Sugar is set in the mid-1930’s and follows the story of a voluptuous nineteen-year-old red-head named Wanda Whittle. A chance encounter with the mysterious proprietor of the Apple Bottom burlesque theatre thrusts Wanda into a world of glitter and grit. She soon morphs into the Wanda Wiggles—who is “sweeter than a strawberry Sunday and taster than a deep-dish apple pie.” And I can assure you, Filthy Sugar is just as delicious as it sounds... If you are interested in 1920's and 30's pop culture, Heather's blog Meet Me at the Soda Fountain is "The Bees Knees." To learn more about Heather For a taste of Filthy Sugar, don't miss Heather's reading... What’s beloved Canadian author Donna Morrissey been up to? Let’s find out… Hi! My name is crystal fletcher and welcome to this week’s episode of all about books. I’m SO excited this week’s guest is Donna Morrissey (you may notice... I can hardly contain myself. But what a great way to end the year)! Donna has written six best-selling novels--soon to be 7! She has received numerous awards in Canada and internationally. And, she teaches creative writing through Humber College, in Toronto and Dalhousie University, in Nova Scotia. You won't want to miss this interview because Donna gives us a sneak peak at her upcoming memoir Pluck which is scheduled for release by Penguin Canada, Fall of 2021. To learn more about this lovely Newfoundlander or to purchase one of Donna's books
What inspires Carol Rose Goldeneagle? Let's find out... I'm honoured to have Carol Rose Goldeneagle as a guest on this week's episode of crystal's all about books. Carol Rose is Cree and Dene with roots in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan. She is an award-winning poet, short story writer, playwright, visual artist, musician and, was a journalist for over 30 years. We'll be discussing the inspiration behind her novel The Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik) which was published by Inanna Publications. The Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik) weaves the stories of a group of Aboriginal women--elder Nina, Sandy, Charlene who are committed to helping one another and to heal traumatized Mary Ann. It's a whole lot of Girl Power in action... A BIG meegwetch to Carol Rose. I enjoyed speaking with her and learning more about what inspires her. To learn more about Carol Rose Listen to Carol Rose read from The Narrows of Fear (Wapawikoscikanik) It gave me goose bumps! How did obsession inspire Dr. Nora Gold? Let’s find out… Hi! My name is crystal fletcher and welcome to this week’s episode of crystal’s all about books. I’m pleased to have writer, editor and activist Dr. Nora Gold with me today. She is the prize-winning author of three books. We’ll be discussing Dr. Gold's most recent novel The Dead Man which was published by Inanna Publications. "She's never been obsessed before"...that's the opening line of Dr. Gold's novel. What a fantastic way to kick off a sensible, intelligent music therapist and composer Eve's haunting tale of loss and love. To learn more about Dr. Nora Gold Listen to Dr. Gold read an excerpt from The Dead Man. What inspires Governor General Award winner Kevin Major? Let's find out... On this weeks episode of crystal's all about books I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Major. Kevin is a Governor General Award winner and the best-selling author of 20 books. We discussed his latest book Two For The Tablelands, which was published by Breakwater Books. It's the second book in the Sebastian Synard series, it follows the crowd pleaser One For the Rock. In the off-season, Newfoundland tour guide Sebastian Synard is hiking at Gros Morne National Park with his spirited teenage son when they discover the half-buried body of a murder victim. This puts Sebastian on a dangerous landscape that will leave him face-to-face with a killer. Watch! our interview to find out the inspiration behind the series. To learn more about Kevin If you'd like to go on a murder mystery hike with Sebastian and his son
What inspires an author who writes about a virus that robs people of their memories? Today's guest on all about books is Anne Stone. Anne teaches creative writing and literature at Capilano University. She has written four books and we’ll be discussing her latest Girl Minus X. The world is collapsing around fifteen-year-old Danny and her five-year-old sister due to a memory eroding virus. The sisters are on the edge of their own personal apocalypse--separation at the hands of child services. To survive Dany faces a series of devastating choices: Can she make the dangerous attempt to break her aunt out of the prison-hospice? And, just how much is Dany willing to sacrifice to ensure her sister and her friends survive? You'll have to read it to find out what happens! But in the interim, be sure to watch our interview. So fun to chat with Anne. To learn more about her, Girl Minus X was published by Wolsak and Wynn.
What inspires a retired oil guy turned poet? Let's find out... On all about books today's guest is a ‘retired oil guy,’ poet, photographer, documentary film maker, and energy and climate change columnist Ross Belot. We discussed his latest poetry collection Moving to Climate Change Hours which was published by Wolsak and Wynn. As the title suggests, his collection contemplates the end of the oil industry and the urgency for change. Ross' working man poems knocked me into a stunned silence. You won't want to miss his powerful reading of First Day. It's is a work poem from Gulf Oil Refinery, Clarkson, ON, 1979. It was a pleasure speaking with Ross. If you'd like to learn more about Ross, I highly recommend visiting his website where you'll find fantastic video poetry readings and the stories behind the poems.
What inspires an author who has his PhD in American Gothic studies? Watch! our interview to find out. I was delighted to interview Gerard Collins on all about books. Gerard is an award-winning author, an educator, he’s led writing workshops and retreats in Canada, the US and Europe. We chatted about his 3rd book, The Hush Sisters which I couldn't read fast enough because I was dying to know how it ended! Here's what it's about... Sissy and Ava Hush are estranged. With both parents dead, they have to decide what to do about the house they've inherited. This proves to be difficult because they can't agree AND. they're dealing with a house full of dark secrets and sinister forces. Do the sisters face these forces together or are they ripped apart forever? To learn more about Gerard The Hush Sisters was published by Breakwater Books
How does the fiddle inspire Prairie Métis author Michelle Porter? Let's find out... On today's episode of all about books I had the pleasure of speaking with Michelle Porter. Michelle is a poet, a journalist and a writer. In her debut novel, Approaching Fire, Michelle embarks on quest to find her great-grandfather, the Métis fiddler and performer, Léon Robert Goulet. It was published by Breakwater Books. To learn more about Michelle and to purchase a copy of her novel
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January 2021
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