News and a wee LinK Fest
Another nutso day, but I can't let it slip by without doing a little link-fest here.
Had a GREAT chat with members of the North Shore Writers' Association. Thanks to event coordinator Joyce Goodwin for inviting me, and all the members of the NSWA for the warm welcome. I am a past president, and was in that position when my first book was published and the support I garnered from this group was wonderful. Nice to see you all again! Shout outs and good publishing karma sent back to Penny and Elaine and Dorothy and Gerhard and to all the new members.
and now...a few items of interest, to allow for some tab-closing on my machine!
First -- a write up in the New Westminster Record of the Rock solid plays that have come out of my writer-in-residence experience at NDub Secondary. Traci Cave and MJ Hunt were the teacher-brains behind the operation, but the writing and acting all came from the kids. It was so much fun to work with this group!
Next, a nice little review of MS. ZEPHYR'S NOTEBOOK, on the blog of Sarah Wethered, the Amazing Knitting Librarian. Thanks Sarah!
And to finish, a few choice words from Ill Doctrine on the situation in Haiti. And please remember, if you are Canadian, the federal government is matching all donations that are going through registered charities until February 12th. My money went to Medecins Sans Frontieres. [I've supported this group for years -- Darrell's mother in my very first Eagle Glen series is a doctor who donates her time to MSF...]
More soon, of course...
~kc
2 comments:
A most excellent post on Haiti.
I listened to a remarkable interview on the CBC this morning. The guest was Rebecca Solnit who wrote A PARADISE BUILT IN HELL. This book examines five natural disasters - Katrina, 911, the Halifax explosion, and the earthquakes in San Francisco and Mexico - and the reactions of the people involved. It was fascinating to hear her speak of something called "elite panic" of those formally in charge, and how ordinary people revert not to savagery like the media would have us believe, but to improvised communities who are selfless, kind and cooperative. She suggests that our everyday lives, with its emphasis on consumerism, is the real disaster.
However, Haiti presents a special problem in that "getting back to normal" doesn't apply. Hunger, poverty, oppression, corruption is their normal. They need a new model. Perhaps they will get it now that the world is focused on their country. Or maybe I'm just hopeful.
Here's a review of Solnit's book (ignore the part where they refer to the "little remembered explosion in Halifax"):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082101111.html
See if you can catch the interview on CBC.
I heard her -- she was a fascinating interview!
~kc
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