Book Launch - December 14

We here at Pennywise Books are pleased to be hosting the launch of "Dancing Winds" by James C. McCrae. On December 14 at 7:00 PM, Mr. McCrae will be reading from and signing copies of his first published novel.

Dancing Winds is the story of the forbidden love between a Jewish boy and the daughter of an SS officer in Hitler's Germany. A story of love, war, murder and forgiveness, this is a book that spans the years and the range of human emotions.

For more information about this book or the event on Dec. 14, please feel free to contact us here at Pennywise at (204) 728-2665.

Events - November 27 & 29

As we close in on the holidays, we begin to wind down our events at Pennywise Books for the year (with one more in December - stay tuned). We will be closing out November with two different authors and two very different books...

November 27

Laurie Block, local poet and storyteller, will be reading and signing copies of his book "Time Out of Mind."

In the foreword to this moving, honest and luminous collection of poems, Laurie Block inscribes the last coherent words his mother said to him: I used to be quite fond of you. Shortly after that, she lost what remained of her senses and sank into the vegetative state in which she spent her last years. Lights Out, the first section of Time Out of Mind, is the poet’s journey into a darkness that is only in part his mother’s. He writes to touch the borders of consciousness and emerges with a map of the mind and body in extremis. Many of these poems are rooted in disorientation, displacement and loss of equilibrium, the friction between what happens outside the skin and what may be taking place on the inside. The poet believes that we value consciousness as somehow more concrete, enduring and linked to assumptions about identity than our bodies. He therefore asks the question: Is the self first a face or a soul?

For more information about Laurie and his work, please visit www.laurieblock.ca.


November 29

Get to know Manitoba with the stories of over 500 names, ranging from the humorous to the historic. Communities included are particularly rich with an array of whimsical, descriptive, historical and aboriginal names. Perhaps because of our frontier heritage, towns and cities in North America come named after all manner of unlikely people, places and things, and they come in dozens of languages, all of which add interest and color to the stories behind the names.

Manitoba's names stand with the best. From a town named after a baking powder can to the village of Dropmore, whose town fathers couldn't decide on a name until they'd had "a drop more" from a shared bottle; towns in Manitoba have been named after everything from bacon to ducks. One village was named after a local species of tree by local residents who only discovered later that they had been mistaken about just what kind of tree they had growing in the town. Other Manitoba communities have been named after early residents, prominent people, local incidents, former homes in other places and Indian legends. No matter if you're from Manitoba or someplace far away the stories behind the names on Manitoba's map make for stories that seem hilariously unbelievable, but that really are true. They also help illuminate the history and culture of Western Canada.

Ted Stone, author of The Story Behind Manitoba Names, will be on hand to sign copies of this book on November 29 at 1:30 PM.


For more information on either of these events, please call Keith at Pennywise at (204) 728-2665.

November 9 - Book Launch

On Thursday, November 9 at 7:00 PM, please join us at Pennywise Books for the launch of TO THE GRAVE: INSIDE A SPECTACULAR RCMP STING by Mike McIntyre. Come meet Winnipeg Free Press justice reporter, host of the nationally broadcast Crime and Punishment radio show, and bestselling author Mike McIntyre as he releases the latest in his series of true crime books.

TO THE GRAVE: INSIDE A SPECTACULAR RCMP STING is the story of the case of Erin Chorney, the 18-year-old Brandon girl who went missing in April 2002 and was found buried in an elderly woman's grave in February 2004. The grisly discovery came following an elaborate RCMP undercover "sting" operation, the likes of which has never been used in Canada. Using a Hollywood-style scenario and some psychological trickery, police were able to bust open the two-year-old missing person mystery in dramatic fashion.

At the November 9 launch, a representative from Child Find Manitoba will be on hand to speak about the impact of Erin's disappearance on her family and the community. Donations for Child Find will be gratefully accepted.

For more information about this event, please contact Keith at Pennywise Books at (204) 728-2665.

Coffee House/Open Mic

Whew! Things have been crazy busy down here lately, what with Chester Brown one day ("Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography") and Reena Nerbas ("Household Solutions & Substitutions") the next.

Our next event is not an author, but another of what have turned out to be very popular events -- a Pennywise Coffee House (and Open Mic). This time, however, we have a headliner!

On Tuesday, October 24 beginning at 7:30 PM local group Milliken McGuire will be performing. Following their set, anyone interested in performing is invited to get on stage. To book your slot, just drop us a line at the store (728-2665).

I hope to see you all soon!

Chester Brown

Author and artist Chester Brown will be signing copies of the recently released paperback edition of "Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography" at Pennywise Books on October 12 between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. He will be speaking about his work later that evening at the AGSM (Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba) beginning at 7:00 PM.

Chester Brown reinvents the comic book medium to create the critically acclaimed historical biography Louis Riel, winning the Harvey Awards for best writing and best graphic novel for his compelling, meticulous, and dispassionate retelling of the charismatic, and perhaps insane, nineteenth-century Métis leader. Brown cooly documents with dramatic subtlety the violent rebellion on the Canadian prairie led by Riel, who some regard a martyr who died in the name freedom, while others consider him a treacherous murderer.

Copies of Louis Riel as well as some of his earlier works will be available at the store for fans to have autographed.

For more information about Chester Brown and his work, please visit the publisher's website: Drawn & Quarterly.

Gail Bowen - reading & signing

Gail Bowen, author of the Joanne Kilbourn murder mysteries, will be at Pennywise Books on September 21 at 8 PM. She will be reading excerpts from the tenth book in the Joanne Kilbourn series - "The Endless Knot."

Following is a brief description of this novel:

The tenth novel in the highly acclaimed Joanne Kilbourn series features the murderous fallout of a tell-all book on the troubled adult children of Canadian celebrities.

When journalist Kathryn Morrissey’s sensational book on the lives of thirteen adult children of prominent Canadians is published, one of the parents, Sam Parker, is furious enough to take a pot shot at the author, grazing her shoulder. Charges are laid, and Joanne’s new beau, Zack Shreve, is hired by Parker as his defence counsel. At the trial, which Joanne is covering for NationTV, Shreve focuses the jury’s attention not on who shot whom, but on why — on the ethics governing the relationship between a journalist and her subject.

Morrissey’s betrayal of her subjects opens up questions about an even more serious betrayal — the betrayal of children by their parents. While everyone condemns Parker for taking a gun to Morrissey, no one can fault his defence of his only child, Glen, a transsexual. The mutual love and commitment between this father and child stands in stark contrast to the alienation between Howard Dowhaniuk, Saskatchewan’s former premier, and his son, Charlie.

On the day of the verdict, Morrissey is brutally murdered, and Joanne’s investigation quickly has her trying to unravel the endless knot of the relationship between parent and child.

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Gail Bowen's appearance is part of the Winnipeg International Writers Festival. For more information about this event, please visit WinnipegWords.com.

To learn more about Gail Bowen, you can visit her website at www.gailbowen.com.

Folk Fest Kick-off Party

The Brandon Folk Music and Arts Festival kicks off this Thursday, July 27 with a party at Pennywise Books. Beginning at 8 PM, there will be live music and good conversation to start off the Festival weekend.

The schedule for the weekend can be found HERE.

Coffee House/Open Mic

On Wednesday, July 12 Pennywise Books will be hosting a coffee house/open mic night from 8 to 11 PM. Admission is free and everyone is invited.

Tentative performers include: Holdfast Hope (Brandon's latest and greatest band), Andrea (acoustic guitar and singing), Matt (spoken word). Anyone interested in performing is invited to bring their instruments and play or to bring their words and speak.

Fair Trade and Organic coffee and tea will be available by donation.

This event is being held in support of Kevin McCarty's Canadian Crossroads International Internship to Bolivia. Donations for this purpose will be accepted.

For more information about this event, please contact us here at Pennywise.

Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) is a non-profit international development organization focused on creating a sustainable and equitable world. For close to 40 years, CCI has fostered cross-cultural learning and understanding in Canada and abroad. Today we are doing much more. Persistent poverty, the AIDS pandemic and political and economic instability threaten the well being of millions of people. To meet these challenges, CCI has reinvented its work so that it is now on the vanguard of volunteer cooperation and development agencies in Canada.

CCI facilitates long-term partnerships between Southern and Canadian community groups working on similar issues. We aim to increase the capacity of grassroots organizations in the South to better meet the needs of their community by providing opportunities to develop skills, resources and expertise.Our projects are driven by the needs of the groups we work with in the South. These groups focus on the following sectors: HIV/AIDS; human rights; and poverty alleviation through community economic development.

CCI has partnerships with organizations in West Africa, Southern Africa and the Andean region of South America. The relationships are consolidated through the exchange of skilled volunteers who bring the knowledge and expertise our partners require to carry out their work as effectively as possible. CCI works in many countries, including: Suriname, Bolivia, Mali, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger, Ghana, and Swaziland.

Sidewalk Sale - July 6

What with Cruise Night taking place on Rosser Avenue between 6th and 10th Streets, I thought I would try and stretch the activities on towards 11th by having a sidewalk sale in front of the store. The prices and selection will be the same as at the sale: all genres and formats for $2.50/book or 5 for $10.

The last of our authors has been through the store. With summer upon us, we do not have any readings or signings scheduled until the fall. However, if the planets aligned correctly, we should have an excellent array of notable individuals for you to meet.

As always, suggestions are welcomed.

Two More Authors in June

June is turning out to be an incredibly busy month! Two more authors have been confirmed for talks and signings at Pennywise.

June 20 at 7:00 PM

Bill Stilwell, author of Manitoba, Naturally will be in the store to talk about and sign copies of his book.

FROM THE BACK COVER:

Manitoba, Naturally: Scenic Secrets of Manitoba is a treasure trove of information about sixty special places that help make Manitoba one of the most exciting and inspiring places on earth. Some are not well known, while others lie right under our noses. Either way, all it takes is your sense of adventure and the useful tips and trips in this book to get you going in the right direction.

Scenic Secrets of Manitoba, a best-seller by author Bill Stilwell, shared first-hand experience and knowledge of Manitoba. Now Manitoba, Naturally invites you to explore and enjoy more of Manitoba's best scenic secrets.

Let this book be your guide to an exciting nature experience. This is Manitoba at its best; and Manitoba, Naturally!


June 22 at 7:00 PM

Bartly Kives, Winnipeg Free Press reporter, will be at Pennywise Books to discuss and sign copies of his first book -- A Daytripper's Guide to Manitoba.

FROM THE BACK COVER:

Sandwiched between North Dakota and Nunavut, Manitoba has never been the busiest chunk of tourism real estate in North America. To independent travellers, this is a good thing: Canada's undiscovered province offers uncrowded beaches, innumerable lakes and forests and unlikely cultural attractions, especially in the gritty/cool capital, Winnipeg.

A Daytripper's Guide to Manitoba is the first comprehensive travel handbook to the province -- and an indispensible tool for visitors from abroad, Canadians passing through and Manitobans who simply want to get to know their own backyard.

Get the straight goods on cities, towns and natural attractions in every corner of the province, compiled by one of Manitoba's most tenacious independent travellers, Winnipeg Free Press columnist Bartley Kives.

Plunder a small-town gift shop.

Eyeball turn-of-the-last-century architecture.

Commune with nature in wild areas that still feel wild.

And forget what you think you know about the Canadian Prairies -- the only thing flat about Manitoba is the Trans-Canada Highway.




For more information about either of these events, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Pennywise. Hope to see you soon!

Sheldon Kennedy

June 13th 7:00 PM

Sheldon Kennedy, author of Why I Didn't Say Anything: The Sheldon Kennedy Story, will be at Pennywise Books to read from, discuss and sign copies of his book. Admission is free and everyone is invited to attend.

The following is information about Kennedy's book from the publisher's website (www.insomniacpress.com):

In 1996, Sheldon Kennedy rocked the insular world of Canadian hockey by announcing that his former minor-league coach, Graham James — the Hockey News 1989 Man of the Year — had sexually abused him more than 300 times.

The media portrayed Kennedy as a hero for breaking the code of silence in professional hockey and bringing James to justice. The heroic myth intensified in 1998 when Kennedy announced that he was going to in-line skate from Newfoundland to British Columbia to raise awareness of sexual abuse. The skate raised over $1 million for Canadian Red Cross sexual abuse programs, and Kennedy settled in Calgary with his wife and young daughter.

Anyone who has followed hockey in the last ten years is familiar with the story of ex-NHL player Sheldon Kennedy. As one of the most promising hockey talents to emerge from the Canadian minor leagues in the last two decades, Kennedy was destined for hockey greatness. But after he was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1988, he was attracted more attention for his off-ice antics than for his contributions to the score sheet. Plagued by rumours of drug and alcohol abuse and a string of injuries, Kennedy drifted from team to team.

The happy ending promised by the headlines never materialized. Still haunted by the demons of sexual abuse, Kennedy's life spiralled out of control. Now he has finally come forward to tell his story, and the story of coach Graham James, who is out of prison and currently coaching hockey in Europe.

Coming Events

Coming events:

Saturday, May 27
2:00 - 4:00 PM

Local illustrator, writer and graphic designer Nevin Arnold will be on hand to sign copies of the first issue of "Honor of the Damned", a four issue comic book series he created and wrote. Published by Boston publisher Americanime Productions this series is in release across North America. Be sure to pick up the first issue of this series from the author himself!

You can learn more about Nevin Arnold at his website: www.nevinarnold.com.

Saturday, June 3
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Our back room is too full! We simply have too much stock in our store. On June 3 (weather permitting), we will be having a massive sidewalk sale in order to get rid of as much of this excess stock as possible. Fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, and much, much more will be available for $2.50/book or 5 books for $10. Be sure to get here early!

If it is raining or simply too windy, we will postpone the sale to a later date. Please note the price quoted above only apply to the sidewalk sale items.

The Da Vinci Code

Since it first hit bookstore shelves, it has inspired controversy and made headlines. Now with a major motion picture release only days away, the debate has been refreshed and people are once again hearing about (or, perhaps more accurately, hearing MORE about) Dan Brown’s bestselling The Da Vinci Code.

The second novel featuring Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, this story begins with a murder that leads to a series of clues and through a labyrinth of history, art and religion in a race to save lives and find the ultimate prize. An ambiguous description of the book, yes, but I would rather you read it for yourself.

Over the past few years, most people have heard about this book and have formed an opinion one way or another. What is often forgotten by many people – both those who enjoy the book and those who are vehemently opposed to it (and intriguingly, the media) – is that it is a fictional novel. And, as is the fact with almost all fictional books, the author has taken some liberties with the facts. Note that word: fictional.

Much of the furor over The Da Vinci Code is centered on the fact that the story revolves around the idea that Jesus Christ fathered children with Mary Magdalene. As this concept flies in the face of many people’s deeply held personal beliefs, the entire book is condemned. Likewise, many individuals who are interested in alternative versions of history or are conspiracy theorists want to believe some of the ideas presented in this story and thus accept many of Brown’s statements as fact.

Both groups of individuals should consider The Da Vinci Code again in this light: it is a fictional novel filled with highly unlikely events and action sequences. The characters are all intelligent, rich and/or beautiful. Things go right for them when the narrative demands it and things go wrong when it furthers the plot.

It is a novel.

If we lived in a more rational world where people thought things through before simply over-reacting, both groups could even consider the book a boon to their point of view because it is exposing a large readership to their ideas.

Brown lifted a great deal of the material that constitutes the underpinnings of his novel from Holy Blood, Holy Grail. You may have seen/heard/read something about the court case. If you haven't read this "nonfiction" book, you may want to do so. It is an interesting read, but the authors make a few staggering leaps of logic that make the book less a book of history than a book of conjecture. Since the "factual" basis for The Da Vinci Code is seriously flawed, I find it difficult to understand the hubbub and furor surrounding this novel.

In any case, the movie adaptation of The Da Vinci Code will soon be in theatres. Anyone even remotely considering going to see this film should get their copy of the book and read it prior to buying their popcorn.

Introduction

Welcome to the new, if not very original Pennywise Books website. Because there is always something happening down here (1031 Rosser Ave in Brandon, MB) I thought it would be a good idea to have a place to provide notices of upcoming authors, signings, sales, changes to our hours, and my thoughts about books in general.

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of coming into the store (or, conversely, who have not allowed me the pleasure of meeting you), please allow me to explain a little bit about Pennywise Books:

Pennywise is an independant new and used bookstore. We are not a store for book collectors, we are a store for readers and book lovers. Not only do we provide a friendly environment for browsing, we also try to help you find that certain book to meet your needs, do special orders, host book-related events and try to offer intelligent conversation.

In the past few months, we have hosted events with such authors as Giller Prizer winner David Bergen, CBC Radio's Stuart McLean and Dr. David Suzuki. As soon as we have confirmed more events, we will post notice here. Sound fair?

Our hours are 9:30 to 5:30 Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 5:00 on Saturday. This might change for the summer, but for the moment that's how it stands.

Do we take used books? Sometimes. It depends on what you have to trade. We DO NOT take Harlequin romances or series westerns. If your mass market paperbacks are in good condition and we don't already have several copies, we do two-for-one trades. For other books, it depends on the books, their condition, your skills as a negotiator, and my mood at the moment. In these cases, we offer store credit. It is very rare we buy book outright -- it has to be a heck of a collection for us to do that... but feel free to ask.

That's it for the moment, but come back soon as there are some events coming up that you might be interested it...