Just leave the dishes and write, or, Manitoba Writers Inspiring Writers
I was visiting the website of local author Armin Wiebe yesterday and found his “An Explorer’s Guide to Manitoba Books”. Looks like I missed more than a few Manitoba writers of note on my list the other day, so, check out Wiebe’s wonderfully catagorized list, which also includes some of our fine Manitoba poets.
Some writers I missed from my earlier post include: Gabrielle Roy (famous for The Tin Flute), Beatrice Culleton (In Search of April Raintree) Sandra Birdsell (Agassiz Stories, The Russlander), and W.D. Valgardson (God is not a Fish Inspector, Gentle Sinners, Bloodflowers, The Girl with the Botticelli Face). I read all of the novels or collections of short stories indicated in brackets either in high school, as part of my classes when I took journalism at Red River College, or, more recently as books added to my library shelves by my predecessors.
Another one of my favourite books listed is Kabloona in a Yellow Kayak: One Woman’s Journey Through the Northwest Passage by the late Victoria Jason. Victoria was the first woman to paddle solo through the Northest Passage. She actually visited our tiny burg of Brunkild just after her book came out to address an annual information day for rural women that used to be held in our municipality.
The book is an excellent companion novel to another Manitoba writer’s book, Paddle to the Arctic by Don Starkell. Victoria travelled with Starkell for part of her trip until health and personality issues ultimately resulted in the two travellers taking separate routes at different times. Starkell’s earlier journey to the Amazon is chronicled in Paddle to the Amazon.
In Search of April Raintree by Beatrice Culleton is still taught at my old high school where I now work as the librarian. I re-read the book about two Metis sisters caught up in the social services system this year and it’s still as powerful of a novel as I remember. I remember later meeting Beatrice somewhere and being thrilled to talk to a writer I had actually read.
I also remember meeting Sandra Birdsell during my high school years. A few of us who had either shown an interest or talent for writing were allowed to participate in a workshop she held at the school.
My son had a similar inspiring opportunity when another talented Manitoba writer, David Elias visited his school last year.
In Elias’ biography on the Manitoba Author Publication Index created by the Manitoba Writers’ Guild, the author continues the tradition of established Manitoba writers inspiring new writers with the following:
ADVICE TO NEW WRITERS
Write your pain—it will subside.
Write your pleasure—it will grow.
Write your name on every page.
Write when it hurts.
Write when it is the last thing you should be doing.
Now, I don’t feel so guilty about the dishes still soaking in the sink…
I was busy shopping yesterday for grade five to eight novels for the upcoming school year at McNally Robinson. I noticed that they have a really nice Canadian section for middle years readers, but they don’t really have a Manitoba section. I have been trying to use more Canadian books, and never really thought about going even more local. Can you think of any good novels you would recommend that come from Manitoba for grades five through eight?
Thanks,
Andrew
Check out the link below for a pdf listing of the nominees for the Manitoba Young Readers Choice Award from 1992-2005. The books are chosen by Manitoba readers in Grades 5-8. They aren’t always Manitoba books, but, they are Canadian books. The best part is kids are more likely to read and like these books, because they have been recommened by their peers.
http://myrca.ca/pdf/1992-2005_MYRCA.pdf
Writers on the list whose books have recently been recommened by Grade 7 & 8 students in my school include Manitoba writer Margaret Buffie for Who is Frances Rain? and Kit Pearson for Awake and Dreaming. Kenneth Oppel, who will have a prequel out to his bat series of books this October, is another favourite, particularly for his books Airborn and Stormbreaker. Lesia’s Dream by Laura Langston, another Manitoba writer, comes highly recommended by students as well.
Another good resource is the Juvenille/Young adult listing on the Manitoba Author Publication Index created by the Manitoba Writers’ Guild
http://www.mbwriter.mb.ca/mapindex/genre_indexes/genre_juv_ya.html
There is more information about Manitoba juvenille/young adult writers Anita Daher and Eva Wiseman, a MYRCA winner, in this post. I would recommend both of these writers for your age group.