• David Carpenter on fishing and writing the stories in Welcome to Canada.
• Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo talks about writing the character-driven song, "Candice". [Broadcast version only.]
• Frank Gehry, famous Canadian-born architect, explains why he's reading Music Quickens Time by Daniel Barenbaum. [Saturday broadcast only.]
• Ian Brown recounts the story of raising Walker, a boy with a highly unusual genetic condition.
• Vincent Lam opens up about how Bloodletting & Miraculous Cures has been adapted for TV.

Music used in the broadcast version:

• "Bees" - Caribou, The Milk of Human Kindness


• "Candice" - Blue Rodeo, The Things We Left Behind


• "Dinah" - The Next Chapter Piano Orchestra


• "Suite 2: Gigue" - J.S. Bach, Sergei Istomin, Six Suites a Violincello


• "If It Be Your Will" - Leonard Cohen, Live in London

Posted by Tom Howell at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Polar Extremes edition: Norman Hallendy straightens out misunderstandings of inukshuks and other stone figures in Tukiliit: The Stone People Who Live in the Wind. Yann Martel has a new novel coming out this spring; in the meantime, he's published his collection of book suggestions for the prime minister, What is Stephen Harper Reading?. Soraya Peerbaye came back from Antarctica with a series of Poems for the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names. Yukon artist Ted Harrison speaks with Shelagh about being the subject of Katherine Gibson's Ted Harrison: Painting Paradise.

Music used in the broadcast episode:

• "Bees" - Caribou, The Milk of Human Kindness
• "Icicles" - Bell Orchestre, As Seen Through Windows
• (Plus miscellaneous piano music.)

Posted by Tom Howell at 05:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Canada lost two great artists this week: The singer Kate McGarrigle died on Monday. And on Thursday, news came in that Paul Quarrington, novelist and musician, had died early in the morning. He had been diagnosed with lung cancer earlier in the year.

At the end of the show this Saturday, we play clips from a party celebrating Paul's life. The event was held during last October's International Festival of Authors in Toronto. The audio includes the voices of Paul Gross, Nino Ricci, Dave Bidini, and Paul Quarrington with his siblings. Shelagh also tells a colourful anecdote of Paul in action as a fisherman. And she even whistles a tune in Paul's honour.

Posted by Tom Howell at 03:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

John Bemrose talks love triangles and emotional balance in his novel, The Last Woman. Two journalists debate the balance between reporting scientific fact and advocating for a cause; they are Alanna Mitchell, author of Sea Sick, and Andrew Nikiforuk, author of Tar Sands. And Shelagh remembers the poet P.K. Page.

Music used in the broadcast version:

"Bees" - Caribou, The Milk of Human Kindness
"Roll Credits" - Kid Koala, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
"Lonely With You" - Tracy Bone, No Lies
"Flight" - Wendy McNeill, A Dreamer's Guide to Hardcore Living

Posted by Tom Howell at 08:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Robert Rotenberg talks about his crime novel Old City Hall, inspired by his dayjob as a defence lawyer.
Billeh Nickerson used to be Employee of the Month at a hamburger joint; now, he's the author of McPoems.
Kate Braid worked in the construction industry. Her book is called Turning Left To The Ladies.
Anthony Stewart riffs on his book about liberal universities and race, You Must Be A Basketball Player.

Music used in the broadcast version:

"Bees" - Caribou, The Milk of Human Kindness
"Hammer and Nail" - Indigo Girls, 4.5
"Talkin' Veterinarian Blues" - Corb Lund, Losin' Lately Gambler
"Concerto Op 8 No 1" - Gilles Apap & The Colors of Invention, Vivaldi's Four Seasons
"Air Lines..." - Bell Orchestre, As Seen Through Windows

Posted by Tom Howell at 07:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)