Words At Large

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For a first-time novelist, Patrick Lane is making a big splash with Red Dog, Red Dog (McClelland & Stewart). This fall’s reviews have been glowing and the book was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Its author is being lauded as a major novelist.

The B.C. writer is already used to accolades for his poems and non-fiction writing. He has received numerous prizes for poetry, including the Governor General’s Award. His acclaimed memoir, There Is a Season (McClelland & Stewart), won the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Literary Excellence and the inaugural British Columbia Award for Canadian non-fiction.

In this feature interview from The Next Chapter, host Shelagh Rogers visits Patrick Lane in his Victoria garden, and they talk about the meeting of beautiful language and brutal memory in his novel.

There’s more in the podcast of the show, including a panel of scientists who think reading fiction makes you a better person, as well as a new columnist who gives his take on why a great Canadian novel had to change its name to be published in the U.S. market.

First aired October 18, 2008 on The Next Chapter.

Catch The Next Chapter on Saturdays at 3 p.m. EST (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio One, or listen online.

Coming up
It's that time of the year for literary festivals across the nation. On Friday, October 24 visit the Words at Large site for our special feature from the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival, where noted Canadian novelists Austin Clarke, Rawi Hage, Joseph Boyden and David Bergen will be making appearances.

Calling all writers: The 2008 CBC Literary Awards competition is open for submissions in poetry, short fiction and creative non-fiction. Entries must be received by November 1, 2008. Go to the official site for details.