If you are literary at all (whatever that means), you have probably already discovered The Millions, which is an online literary magazine of great interest. If you haven't discovered it yet, check it out.


I should mention, also, that Westjet's poet of the skies, Wendy Morton is reading this Friday and Saturday at Springworks in Stratford. Her latest book, which she will have with her and may, possibly, (remember I said possibly) give some of them away to lucky people, was commissioned by the Torngat Mountains National Park people. Torngat is in Labrador.  It's wild, remote and beautiful.
Wendy is at St John's United Church at 10 am on Friday and at The Gallery Stratford at 2pm on Saturday. Go Wendy!


On Sunday, local prize winning poet Gay Allison will be reading at 2pm at The Gallery Stratford, also as part of the SpringWorks Festival.



Also, for all of you who are or want to be poets, there is an Open Mike at the Stratford Public Library on May 22 at 7:30 pm. More on this later.

The Montreal International Poetry Prize people are holding what looks like an exciting event in Montreal on April 30 this year. Here's what they say about it. The Montreal Prize is a great addition to the prizes available to all you poets. Worthwhile checking it out, I think.

Montreal International Poetry Prize shared a link.

April 12

The Montreal International Poetry Prize has joined forces with the Blue Metropolis Literary Festival to bring you the Montreal Poetry Celebration. Here's an open invitation to anyone who will be in Montreal on April 30, 2014: it promises to be an evening to remember. For more information, take a look at the event brochure following this link: http://montrealprize.com/news/downloads/

Montreal International Poetry Prize

montrealprize.com

The Montreal Prize is a first-of-its-kind global...

I read Jonathan Goldstein's 2012 book "I'll Seize The Day Tomorrow" last night. It's really good. It's not easy to write so simply and transparently and still maintain depth and humour at several different levels. I think it's his best book so far. Well worth a read. There seems to be a trend lately for first person, humorous and self-deprecating narratives lately although maybe the trend is me discovering them. Also check out David Sedaris if you like this kind of writing and haven't discovered him yet.

I was just at the imagiNation writers' festival in Quebec City. It's held every year in the beautiful Morrin Centre and it's a really good festival. Reading their work and interacting with the audience were Miriam Toews, Terry Fallis, Annabel Lyon, Wayne Grady, Jacob Richler, Jonathan Goldstein, Sheila Fischman, Catherine Bush, Mia Anderson, Anne Fortier, Elizabeth Ruth, Rae Marie Taylor, Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith. A week well spent. I recommend this event to everyone.

It's hard to beat a week in Quebec City plus an all star cast of writers.

DAVID STONES IN PERFORMANCE


Don't forget that the poet, David Stones, will be performing his poetry in the auditorium of the Stratford Public Library tomorrow. We saw him do his show at The Church Restaurant in Stratford last Fall and he does a good job. Well worth seeing.

This is a Poetry Stratford Event in collaboration with the Stratford Public Library.


Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014

Time: 3pm

Place: Stratford Public Library Auditorium

Free.   Everybody is welcome.

WHO/WHAT IS CHARLIE?  April 4, 2014

Welcome to my first blog for Charlie, The Humorist. Charlie is a humorist who writes and performs his stuff. His books and performances are a combination of memoir, poetry and short prose pieces. Humour, as you all know, is comedy in slow motion. It doesn't demand that you spit up in your beer, although you can if you want to. A small grin and a feeling that, hey, I could have done something dumb like that would be enough.His pieces see the magic in the everyday and, as someone once wrote of him, contain "a sweet irreverence".

So far this year, he is performing at the SpringWorks Festival in Stratford on Saturday, May 17 at 2pm at the Gallery Stratford. He is also performing in the Hamilton area in September and in London in October.

Performances in the Hamilton area:   1. Westdale public library, Hamilton, Tuesday, September 16, 7pm
                                                        2.  Sherwood public library, Hamilton, Wednesday, September 17,
                                                              7pm
                                                        3. Ancaster public library, Ancaster, Thursday, September 18, 7pm

Performances in London:       1. London public library, Landon Branch, Saturday, October 4, 7:30  pm

It would be great to see you there. Remember: A bit of a chuckle is good for the soul.

STUFF KEEPS HAPPENING

Lots of stuff happening poetically. Keep checking for updates.

Don't miss the workshop/lecture on Ekphrastic Poetry. If you are not already an ekphrasticist this just means poetry that has been inspired by another art form such as painting, for example. This workshop promises to fill you in as to how you can add this approach to poetry to what you do. The speaker/workshop leader is Robert Phillips who lives in Stratford. Phillips has been a sessional professor in the Art and Art History program at the University of Toronto at Mississauga and Sheridan College. He was chair of the Arts Education Council of Ontario and has been a board member of the Ontario Art Education Association since 1987. He was President of this association (1991-95).

He is currently employed part-time by the Art Gallery of Ontario as Education Officer for Teacher Programs.

This promises to be an excellent and entertaining evening with a chance to create your own ekphrastic work.

Date:Thursday, February 7, 7pm, Stratford Public Library auditorium

Be there or be square (or some such thing, whatever).


Poetry Stratford Spring Program Updates For Your Poetry Fix

FOUR WOMEN: A Celebration of Women In Poetry: Poetry Month Event, Sunday, April 21, 2:30 pm Stratford Public Library Auditorium. Admission Free  All are Welcome.

2013 SPRINGWORKS FESTIVAL:   stayed tuned for further info about charles mountford and liz zetlin who will be performing at this event. There may also be an open mike maybe. More details later.

TEA AND POETRY: Charles Mountford having at you readingwise. Thursday, May30, 7:30pm, at TEA LEAVES TEA TASTING BAR on Erie Street. Find out more about tea than you thought possible and grok some poems. Seating is limited so let Karen know that you want to come. 519-273-1201.

Next Blog will begin our examination of LATE BLOOMERS in poetry. Noli desperandum. There is hope for us all