Check out the CBC Entertainment page this weekend for video footage from the CBC Literary Awards.

Posted by Tom Howell at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This from the office of James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage:

On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I congratulate all this year's participants and finalists. You are a source of pride and inspiration for all Canadians. Many thanks to all the CBC Literary Awards / Prix litteraires Radio-Canada partners, who help give our writers an opportunity to reach a larger audience.

Posted by Tom Howell at 08:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

The Next Chapter is a great program. I stumbled onto it after it was mentioned in a posting on Hockey Book Reviews. The author of that blog mentioned that Don Cherry and Randall Maggs have been interviewed. I listened to the blogs--fantastic!
Craig This
Dayton, Ohio, USA

I really enjoy your show and it's great to hear your voice on CBC again. I love reading Canadian authors so find your show very informative - plus I enjoy hearing some of my favorite authors on your show. Your program reminds me of how the CBC radio programming used to be - interesting and informative. Thank you. I remain a loyal CBC listener.
Sandy Bourlet

Posted by Tom Howell at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Shelagh's heading to Montreal this week to host the presentation of the CBC Literary Awards. Or, rather, co-host with Lorraine Pintal, because it's a bicultural event rewarding creative writers in English and French. We'll meet all the winners on this week's episode of The Next Chapter.

The actual announcement of the winners happens on-air. Shelagh will visit Jian Ghomeshi on Q at 10:30 a.m. (11 a.m. NT) on Thursday to reveal their names.

All we know so far is that Saturday's show will include a poet, a short-story writer, and a creative nonfiction writer.

(Note how poetry has a proper, concise title for practitioners of the genre: "poet". Short-storyists and creative-nonfictioners really ought to find themselves a less cumbersome label.)

Posted by Tom Howell at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This Saturday on The Next Chapter, Don Cherry reveals his addiction to books about Bette Davis, a Montreal rapper reminds us that even the thuggiest of thugs can enjoy a nice chocolate croissant with a latte, our Fictional Therapist provides literary advice for those suffering from the winter blues, and Shelagh interviews one writer driven to poetry by the life of hockey goalie Terry Sawchuk, and another who has unleashed the Biblical prophet Jeremiah upon today's United States.

We're calling this one "The Poetic License Edition" because it contains more than the usual quotient of poets.

Posted by Tom Howell at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Lynn Crosbie talks about the dark side of relationships in Liar a poem .

Jully Black presents the other woman's point of view in her song “Double Life” from the album This is Me .

Lemon Hound blogger and poet Sina Queyras looks at literary heartbreak in By Grand Central Station I Sat Down And Wept.

Rejection slips waft around when author Lynn Coady and Neil Naft offer examples of how their work was declined.

Tara Quinn from Brick magazine and literary agent Dean Cooke get a chance to explain the agonies on the other side of rejection.

And lest all the passion be dark, writer and editor Aritha van Herk arrives with a column on three real Can-Lit bodice-rippers: Bear by Marion Engel, The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje and What Casanova Told Me by Susan Swan.

Posted by The Next Chapter at 03:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Mysteries are the biggest selling segment of the fiction market, everyone loves a mystery.

Setting is particularly important in a mystery, often acting as another character in the story, and setting the mood and tone of the work. It has been said if you truly want to know a place, read the mysteries that are set there. They offer an unique point of view.

I would like to suggest a program that explores the settings of Canadian mysteries in conjunction with the Arthur Ellis Awards for the best mysteries of 2008 which takes place in June. It would be wonderful to hear different writers read from their works - and the very best part is - the Crime Writers of Canada have done the hard work and come up with a list of the very best for the past year.
Hope this idea is of interest to you.
Yours,
Phyllis Smallman

Reply: Thank you for this recommendation. You'll be pleased to know that March is 'Mystery Month' on The Next Chapter, and we will hear from such writers as Peter Robinson, Gail Bowen, Pat Capponi, Jose Latour, and Linwood Barclay.

Posted by Tom Howell at 07:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Could you please tell me the name of the book and author of the epic book on Newfoundland that was discussed. Heard interview but title wasn't repeated at the end
I don't have hi speed so I can't download podcast

Thanks
Joanne

Reply: That was Blackstrap Hawco, by Kenneth J. Harvey. We've received a few reminders from listeners to repeat the book titles at the end of each item, for those who missed the beginning. We'll do this more consistently, and in addition, you can always check our 'Who and What' entries on this site, which provide details of this nature.

Posted by Tom Howell at 04:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I love this podcast.I am reading all the " canada reads books" because of your podcast.You are encouraging us to get out of our comfort zone and try something different.Your interviews are interesting and make me want to find out more.I also like the variety in format.I really like book panels commenting on various genres.I also like the visits to the book stores.Keep up the excellent work!!!
Donna Denham

I was wondering if there is a podcast of your interview with Russ Wangersky available. As a firefighter myself, I recognize how valuable his perspective and story would be to others in our profession, and i have been handing out copies of his book like candy to the volunteers in my firehall. However, most firefighters are not "readers" by nature, being instead action-oriented adrenalin junkies. I was hoping to be able to refer those of my colleagues who are NOT book enthusiasts to the podcast of Russ' interview as a hook to get them to read the book, but so far can't find the interview. Am I suffering from a technical deficit, or is this interview not available for some reason? Your assistance in finding the podcast would be sincerely appreciated!

Cheers,
Marci Weston

Reply: Yes, head to our podcasts page and download the January 10th episode, entitled 'Stubborn Memories'.

Dear Shelagh;
Enjoy your program, Next Chapter: Your Saturday show , a discussion on
local history of a Canadian Saskatchewan Community , a non-fiction book
was particularly interesting. May I suggest "ZHORNA-Material Culture of
the Ukrainian Pioneers", a non-fiction local history on the pioneer
settlement in central Alberta for your review. A University of Calgary
Press book published in 2007. An excellent review by Professor Lisa
Grekul was published in the Alberta Views June 2008. Enjoy
Roman Fodchuk
Cochrane, AB

Posted by Tom Howell at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Some call it Winter-peg, but it's also the hottest Can-Lit City of 2008, according to Quill & Quire. We celebrate some local authors.

David Bergen drops by for a chat about his latest novel The Retreat.

Winnipeg band The Weakerthans offers an homage to home with "One Great City" from the CD Reconstruction Site.

And speaking of homage, we'll hear a tribute to author Carol Shields on the fifteenth anniversary of her novel The Stone Diaries.

Winnipeg singer/songwriter Christine Fellows explains her connection to literature. We play "Not Wanted on the Voyage" from her CD, Nevertheless.

And finally, author Andrew Davidson discusses the extraordinary cash advance for his debut novel The Gargoyle.

Posted by The Next Chapter at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following letters arrived at the Next Chapter's headquarters last month. Thank you to everyone who wrote with comments on the show, and also to all those who suggested books and authors we might cover.

Lions in Winter | January 3rd

As I sit here looking out across the strait listening to our Canadian lions this afternoon, I feel all is well with the world. Farley Mowat's moral compass reminds me of why I chose to become a Canadian way back in the 70's. Alistair McLeod's humility and Gordon Pinsent's humanity remind me that, even those with extraordinary talent and ability, still sound pretty much like the people I know and want to know (as opposed to, say, that huge celebrity machine in other parts of the world that seem to turn gifted people into monsters). Then to top it off as Colm and his son were singing their duet, a ferry from Nanaimo appeared to float towards Tsawassen in time to the music.
Thank you.
Janet Vickers

Just discovered & so enjoyed your show today!
What a marvellous after Christmas gift..
Thank you Shelagh!
Veronica Erdelac

Hi Shelagh: Happy New Year. I see you had hydro problems over the Holidays. We had a simialr experience at my cottage in Parry Sound. Our pipes froze and burst and as I drove into town to get help I caught your terrific show on Literary Lions. I concluded we can live without electricity but not without books, authors and great interviews like the ones on this show. Terrific stuff. All the best for 2009.
Tom Scanlan

It's the first time I hear your show! What a treat: Farley Mowat, Gordon Pinsent! Can't wait to download this podcast! So good to hear your voice Shelagh! Bien amicalement,
Caroline Lafleur

Hi Shelagh and crew--I like the way that all the different authors relate to the main theme of each program. Keep up the good work. Please and thanks.
Shirley

Dear Shelagh:
Congratulations! on the The Lions in Winter, Farley Mowat, Alistair Macloud, and Gordon Pinsent. Farley seems to be in fine form -- he's roaring more loudly than ever before. I wonder, you didn't mention whether he has any current love interest!
Dierdre Mackenzie

Hi, Shelagh!
Thank you for your delightful interview with Farley Mowatt. I, as he, early in life developed an enduring bond with
wilderness, largely as a counterpoint to the human species which seems far too presumptious in presenting itself as a respectable embodiment of this phenomenon we know as "life".
Peter Jonker

I enjoy this series -- and the Mystery in Midwinter episode especially. And, Margaret Cannon provides some of the best, most astute reviews.
Caryl Brandt

I really liked the variety in authors discussed in this mystery genre. I wish the website provided a short synopsis of each book so I could remember which ones I wanted to buy after hearing the reviews.
Beverlee McIntosh

Success and Politics | January 17th

Hello Shelagh,
I chanced to catch your piece on poetry and politics last Saturday. It provoked these thoughts. Poetry is the native tongue of poets, a language they are gifted both to hear and to speak. All human experience can be expressed poetically. Should a poet be inspired (or uninspired) by political events, he or she will speak most eloquently and to the point in his native language.
Respectfully,
Kate Ramsey
Courtenay, BC

Hi,
I tuned in to listen to Malcolm Gladwell on Outliers and I was pretty sure you said that you wanted to hear where people are listening from. Likely I am the only one listening from Lanzhou, Gansu, China as I am generally the only Canadian in the province. I am 3/4 of the way through 2 years with a CIDA project (Livestock Health Extension Services Project). Normally I live in Abbotsford and I am on secondment from the position of Public Health Veterinarian with the Ministry of Agriculture, BC. I am up earlier than usual this Sunday morning due to my new ultimate souvenir, a Chinese Pug puppy. I must admit that usually I am not up early enough to listen.

Crazy I know. I 'read' Outliers through audiobooks iTunes, my best access to english language published works. Interesting to hear his comments, though brief. Best to you as you head into the Spring Festival, Chinese New Year season,
Jane

Hello,

I have only begun to listen to the past episodes over the holidays by podcast, yet I am hooked already and will be a regular listener. I have not listened to all of the episodes yet, but I want to give some feedback before I forget details from what I have heard already:

-- I loved Tom Howell as the Word Nerd on "And Sometimes Y" and I love his segments on this show. Please keep doing them.

-- Although I enjoy shows like "Writers and Company" that feature an interview with an establish author, I am glad that your show is not merely a copy of that format that focuses on the most successful Canadian authors. I enjoyed standing on the Newfoundland coast with Shelagh and Donna Morrissey (I really felt like I was there). It felt like a unique experience and not just another interview taped at a literary festival.

-- I like hearing about or from new authors: they sound enthusiastic in their interview, unlike the bestselling authors who are answering the same questions for the umpteenth time. I especially enjoyed the pairing of veteran ghostwriter Bill Novak with newbie Naomi Lewis. Tom's interview with Kyle Buckley was also interesting, but I don't think that the "Laundromat Essay" will entice many people to read poetry.

Keep up the good work,
Greg Peace

I am wondering what stops you from shilling authors, rather than publishers? It seems to me that there are so many excellent writers who self-publish yet can find no response from the CBC. There was a day, under Robert Weaver, that excellent, unknown, writers could find access to the CBC, and to Canadians, er, like ALICE MUNRO!!!. Now that literature is almost all market-driven on the CBC there is no room for independents, or unknowns. With more and more digital advances writers can podcast and podpublish themselves: look at the work of the most recent Leacock winner! I would love to hear a show on writers like me, who have been writing and self-publishing for decades, yet are treated like untouchables for ignoring the mainstream publishers...
All the best,
George Keith Young
Montreal

Response: Good suggestion, George. And in fact, that winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour visited the Next Chapter studios recently to tell us about his pod-publishing success with The Best Laid Plans; Terry Fallis will be on our February 14th show, when Shelagh looks into literary rejection.

Dear Shelagh,
Love your informative program even though I maynot get to read all the books you talk about. Just a note to ask two things:

1) Could your program be repeated in the evening sometime? I'm usually busy Sat.afternoons. (I don't have an iPod.)

2) Would you mind repeating at the end of an interview the name of the book and author. On Jan 31 I wanted to know who the author was regarding the Newfoundland book, and you told us who you were interviewing, but not the name of the book. I know that you probably said it several times before, but when something just catches your interest, it is so frustrating when you don;t know who is being talked about!
Thank you.
Margaret Taylor

Hi, Im a super avid listener of CBC Radio One and of The Next Chapter. Im an English teacher in farwaway, Japan, Fukuoka Japan. Its actually boring in Japan, the media is terrible and boring and not at all like CBC. Every Sunday, at 5am, The Next Chapter is broadcast on the Internet. Since I usually wake up at 530, in preparation for work, I wake up early to listen to your program. I loved your interview with Debbie Travis, as well as all your other interviews.
Your show is rich. I feel attached to things human and written and Canadian and worldly. Im sure there are lots of Canadians living in other countries who love your show and need the CBC to keep them..alive. If you ever come to Fukuoka, let me show you around.
Thank you.
Lester Browns

Posted by Tom Howell at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)