Manitoba Book Week Events

Manitoba Book Week is an annual, week-long series of events which recognize our province's flourishing book industry and inform Manitobans about the rich variety of books published here. In partnership with the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, Pennywise Books is proud to host a number of events for local authors and writers.

On Wednesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m., writer Barbara Huck will read from her latest book The Land Where the Sky Begins: North America's Endangered Tall Grass Prairie and Aspen Parkland.

Today, the northern tall grass prairie is among the most endangered landscapes on Earth; less that one per cent of that magnificent sea of grass remains. In many places and many ways however, efforts are being made to preserve those last remnants and restore what has been lost.

Stunningly photographed, beautifully designed and lyrically written, The Land Where the Sky Begins opens with the evolution of grasses - without question the most important plants on the planet - and traces the history of North America's tall grass prairies and aspen parkland. The second half of the book flows through the seasons, highlighting, with detailed information and magnificent photography, the birds, mammals and plants - including some that are gravely endangered.

The next evening on April 24, at 7:00 p.m., a multiple-author event will take place illustrating the differences and similarities in writing plays, poems and stories. Featuring poet Laurie Block, playwrights Dale Lakevold and Darrell Racine (Stretching Hide), and Winnipeg crime fiction writer Michael Van Rooy (An Ordinary Decent Criminal), this event will treat attendees to readings from each of the authors' works as well as a discussion about the differences in the writing process for each genre.

With the opportunity to simultaneously meet with writers of such a diverse range of styles, this event is sure to be of interest to both readers and writers.

Finally, at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25 Charles and Dale Brawn will be launching their new book Every Stone a Story: Manitoba's Buried History, 1900 - 2000.

Every Stone A Story is a collection of stories gleaned from Manitoba's buried history. Each is illustrated with a photograph of a headstone and each describes the life, death and/or experiences of someone buried in a particular cemetery.

The stories are often about the famous or infamous, but equally often they are about people little known outside their communities, but who have done something extraordinary. The stories are grouped according to their topics: politicians, artists, sportsmen and women, crimes and scandals, special people now largely forgotten, accidents and disasters, people who have been executed, and pioneers.

The public is invited to attend all three events, which will take place at Pennywise Books. Admission is free.

Book Signing - Apr 12

Come and meet Manitoba authors Rae Jackson and Debbie Penner on April 12 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM as they sign copies of their mystery novel Coincidence of Death.

About the book:

Fallon Harper returned to Fernandina Beach after twenty years to uncover the truth about her stepbrother's untimely death. Not wanting to attract the attention of the local law enforcement office she keeps her identity a secret and uses her abilities as an investigative reporter to root out any information and evidence that might help solve the case and link it to the twenty year old death of her father. But someone out there doesn't want the old case file opened and will do anything to keep Fallon from discovering the truth. When the local Sheriff, Marcus Moretti, discovers her identity, they team up to try and force the murderer out in the open. As they race to uncover the evidence, the killer becomes more determined to keep his secret even if it means taking another life. When political red tape slows Marcus down, Fallon's life is suddenly put on the line. Will they solve the case in time, or will Fallon's death become the third coincidence?

Signing - Trudy Andrew

With the improvement of the weather and the arrival of spring, Pennywise Books has begun planning the upcoming season of author events.

The first guest, Manitoba novelist Trudy Andrew will be in the store on Thursday, March 27, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. She will sign copies of her most recently released book entitled Faeriedust Dreams. This is the second novel featuring heroine Aynslie McCallum and it continues the romantic adventures begun in Irish Rain.

More authors and events will be posted very soon... Keep your eyes open!

US Pricing Still in Effect

Well, we're far enough into 2008 that I'd feel a bit awkward wishing everyone a "Happy New Year," or making some comment along the lines of hoping that you had a good holiday season. The holidays are rapidly dimming in our memories and we're looking down the barrel of a long (and, right now, extremely cold) winter. So, instead of referring to the past, I'll wish you "Good Day!" and quickly move along.

We don't have any immediate events to tell you about, but we're working on some that are quite exciting. As these guests are confirmed and the details ironed out, you'll be amoung the first to know.

I do want to let you know that the US pricing promotion we had on before Christmas is still in effect. The dollar continues to bounce around, so Pennywise is pleased to offer you the opportunity to cash in on its instability. All new books with US prices printed on them will continue to sell at that lower price until we decide otherwise.

If we haven't seen you recently, be sure to stop in at the store to see what's new. And, as always, if you have an author you would like us to try and bring in, let us know and we'll see what we can do.

Book Signing - November 24

A Bit of a Legend in These Parts:  The Life of Betty Berger Lessard by Neil
McQuarrie

When: Saturday, November 24, 2007, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Pennywise Books
 

Pilot, trapper, hunting guide, sled-dog racer - Betty Berger Lessard carved an
extraordinary life for herself out of the rugged wilderness of the Canadian Shield.

Born in Fort Frances in July 1915, Lessard spent almost all of her 82 years living
in a remote log cabin on the pristine shores of Namakan Lake.  She survived
encounters with bears, wolves and a charging moose while navigating thousands
of miles of backwoods and waters. She is credited with having saved at least one
man'slife.

Lessard charmed many a young man but tragically lost her husband in a boating
accident.

Lessard, who died in 1997, was a strong-minded woman of independent spirit
for whomthe convention of male and female roles held little importance. One of
herneighbours said of her, "She didn't just survive in the wilderness, she lived in
it." 

Her improbable story - "A Bit of a Legend in These Parts: The Life of Betty Berger
Lessard" is told by Neil McQuarrie, a long-time resident of Brandon who grew up
in Fort Frances, Ontario.

"I have long known about Betty and the life she had lived and wanted to write
about it," said McQuarrie, who will be signing copies of the book at Pennywise
Books from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 24. 

McQuarrie was able to capture Lessard's story through published articles in
newspapers and magazines as well as interviews with Lessard's relatives. He was
given access to old family photographs and used many of them to illustrate his
account.

Since his retirement from Brandon University, McQuarrie has written two other
books. The first was "On the Allan Cup Trail: The Story of the Fort Frances
Canadians" andthe second was "Fort Frances: The Story of a Town and Its People",
the town's centennial history. For three years he also wrote "Recollections", a
monthly column for the Fort Frances Times.