RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROFESSORS LAUNCH BOOKS

       
BRANDON, MB — Two new tomes have been added this fall to the Rural
Development Institute’s publishing arm. Dr. Doug Ramsey was one of the
editors of Geographical Perspectives on Sustainable Rural Change, while
Dr. Kenneth Beesley edited The Rural-Urban Fringe in Canada: Conflict &
Controversy. 
        
"As publisher of these two publications, the Rural Development
Institute helps to illustrate the important role of research in
deepening our understanding of rural place and rural development.  By
examining examples, practices and challenges not just across Canada, but
also in North America, United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia,
practitioners, decision-makers, politicians, policy analysts, along with
seasoned and new scholars, all gain new (insights) and confirmation of
existing initiatives,” said Dr. William Ashton, the director of RDI.
“These two volumes are examples of the Institute's on-going
commitment to transfer timely and essential knowledge in Manitoba,
across Canada, and around the world.”

Farms and farming, the remaking of rural communities and rural spaces,
and policy and action in rural development in North America, the United
Kingdom and Ireland, and Australia were examined in Geographical
Perspectives on Sustainable Rural Change. Also on the editorial team
with Dr. Ramsey were Dr. Dick Winchell of Eastern Washington University,
Dr. Rhonda Koster of Lakehead University, and Dr. Guy Robinson of the
University of South Australia.  
       
“I was very pleased to be a part of this project. Since 1991, and based

upon invitation, rural geographers from Canada, the United States, and
the United Kingdom have met every four years. The purpose is to share
research on the latest theory and practice in the field of rural
studies. Brandon University was asked to take over the publication of
this volume due to cutbacks at Eastern Washington University that
included the closure of their press,” said Dr. Ramsey. “The book
includes preeminent rural geographers from each region as well as
emerging scholars and graduate students. Our sharing of ideas has been
central to the new paradigms adopted in our field.”
                                        
With a focus on Canada, The Rural-Urban Fringe in Canada: Conflict &
Controversy brings together the findings and ideas of established and
young scholars from across the country. There are contributions from
various disciplines — sociology, geography, planning, recreation,
tourism and rural development — each offering a different perspective on
the rural-urban fringe zones in Canada. 
        

“I am thrilled to see this collection of research papers in print. Over
many years I have had extraordinary opportunities to work with, and
become friends with, some of the finest scholars in Canada. Most of
these people have a special interest in rural spaces and places, and
many have contributed to this volume on the rural-urban fringe,” said
Dr. Beesley. “I am very grateful for the support I have received from
the Rural Development Institute, the Department of Rural Development and
Brandon University generally for helping me see this project through to
fruition.”
        
The two books will be officially launched at 7 p.m., on December 9, at
Pennywise Books, a shop owned and operated by a former student of both
professors. Admission is free and refreshments will be served following
the presentation. Pennywise Books is located at 1031 Rosser Avenue. 
        

Two Author Events for the end of November

The holiday season is closing in on us, and with it the need to buy gifts for all those hard-to-buy-for family members. Why not consider getting them a book? Even better, why not get them a book inscribed to them from the author? Why not get one for yourself?

Here's your chance! Over the next week, Pennywise is pleased to be hosting two fantastic Winnipeg authors.

On Wednesday, November 24 at 7 PM, David Annandale will be reading from and signing copies of his newest book "The Valedictorians."

Russian arms company Kornukopia is in flames, and the one-woman war machine, Jen Blaylock, is having second thoughts about letting CIA Deputy Director of Operations, Joe Chapel, live. From his hospital bed in northern Europe, Chapel, self-proclaimed saviour of the USA, plots to kill Blaylock and his former ally, Sam Reed, the President of the United States. To do his all-American duty, he enlists the help of South American dictator General Jorge Quintero. To stop him, Blaylock will have to raise her own army and wage war right to the steps of the Capitol building. The third episode in the Jen Blaylock series, this novel finds Blaylock torn between her need for retribution and her responsibility to Flanagan, her lover, and the men following her into the breach.

Will Blaylock drown in her unquenchable thirst for revenge, or find redemption with all debts paid? As the body count rises and the action explodes off the page, David Annandale’s epic action-thriller will have you glued to your seat until the dust finally settles.

A few days later, on Saturday, November 27 at 2 PM, local favorite Michael Van Rooy will be reading from the third book in his "Criminal" series.

Michael Van Rooy’s writing is fast-paced and highly entertaining with a mix of quirky humour and dry wit. Spine-tingling moments alternate with edge-of-your-seat action in his Monty Haaviko crime thriller series.

In this third instalment, Monty faces a new kind of criminal like nothing he has ever encountered – and he’s seen plenty already in An Ordinary Decent Criminal (ODC) and Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal(YFNC). Monty is tangled in political intrigue, blackmail, corruption, and a long-standing feud in which he becomes a pawn. At the same time, a serial killer threatens the love of Monty’s life – his wife Claire, and soon, escape seems impossible.

After a wealthy businessman encourages Monty to run for an elected position on the city’s new Police Commission, Monty learns his backer has another agenda. A rival businessman is backing his own patsy for the Commission, and stands to gain a fortune if his man wins – with Monty’s hired assistance.

But Monty almost calls calls it quits when Claire starts getting mysterious gifts and flowers, and they discover her admirer is a wanted serial killer, who will stop at nothing to reach his victims.


These books will make great gifts for those on your Christmas list, or a wonderful present to give yourself. If you have any questions about either of these events, don't hesitate to call us at 728-BOOK (2665) or email us at pennywise@wcgwave.ca.

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

A cavalcade of authors!

The line-up for Words Alive 2010 has been announced. Head over to the Words Alive website for details.

As a teaser, however, there will be: Craig Russell, Pat Johanneson, Anita Daher, Danishka Esterhazy, Michelle Berry, Thomas Trofimuk, Kathryn Borel Jr., and Joseph Boyden. What a line-up!

Also at Pennywise, on October 16, between 12:30 and 1:30 pm, Stuart Houston will be signing copies of "Tommy's Team," a look at over 30 people who surrounded Tommy Douglas, helping make him one of the greatest Canadians of all time. From the doctor who saved Tommy's leg from amputation to the Japanese-Canadian evacuee who became Tommy's foremost economic advisor to well-known Brandonian Fred McGuinness, these are the stories of the contributions of the individuals who stayed out of the spotlight, but who were movers and shakers in their own right.

On the horizon are more authors for November. Stay tuned and I hope to see you all soon!

Attention writers! A message from CBC.

The following email was received this morning. I post it here for any writers who may be interested:


A message from the desk of the CBC LITERARY AWARDS

Only 2 months left until the deadline for this year's competition!

Greetings writers!! It's that time of the year again. Time to compose or polish off those works destined for this year's CBC Literary Awards competition. The Awards Team is anxiously awaiting your original and unpublished works (short story, poetry, and creative non-fiction) by November 1, 2010.

Submit online!

Join us on Facebook!

The CBC Literary Awards are Canada's only literary competition celebrating original, unpublished works in both official languages. There is a first prize of $6,000 and a second prize of $4,000 in all 3 categories courtesy of the Canada Council for the Arts. In addition, the winning texts are published in Air Canada's enRoute magazine and on our website, and the authors and their winning entries will get exposure on the CBC.

Visit our new website (www.cbc.ca/literaryawards) and get inspired! There you find regularly updated writing tips from the pros, as well as interviews with former winners and jurors. You can also read last year's winning entries and find resources in your province that can help you with your writing. We hope to make our website a wonderful resource and place to connect with other participants. So be sure to bookmark the page and check back often!

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

The Awards Team
Literary_Awards@cbc.ca
1-877-888-6788

Fast Fiction 2010

Fast Fiction, Brandon's 24-hour short story writing contest returns for 2010! With growing interest over the past few years, this year's contest promises to be one of the most exciting yet.

For readers unfamiliar with Fast Fiction: writers are presented with a story element that must be included in their final entry. Twenty-four hours later, entries are due. Style, length and content are left to the whim of the writer. There is no age restriction for entry, nor is there an entry fee.

The 2010 edition of Fast Fiction will kick off at 5 p.m., on September 25, at Pennywise Books. At that time, a required element will be divulged. Writers will then have 24 hours to write their submission and deliver it to Pennywise Books by 4:59 p.m. on September 26. E-copies will be accepted.

Winners will be announced at Words Alive on October 15 and 16.

Visit www.wordsalivefestival.ca for complete contest rules.

Winners of CBA Libris Awards 2010

TORONTO (29 May 2010) – It was Atlantic Canada’s year, as Newfoundland-born author Linden MacIntyre and Halifax bookstores Bookmark II and Woozles Ltd. found themselves among the big winners at Canadian Booksellers Association’s(CBA's) Libris Awards 2010 Presentation, which took place on May 29, at theDelta Toronto Airport West Hotel during CBA’s National Conference, in a gala event hosted by CBC Radio One’s Shelagh Rogers.

Unique in their commitment to acknowledging the best among the talented professionals who deliver great books to Canadian readers, and nominated and voted on by members of the Canadian bookselling community, CBA Libris Awards honour outstanding achievement by authors and editors, sales reps and distributors, booksellers and publishers.

Linden MacIntyre was the night’s only double-winner. His critically acclaimed The Bishop’s Man won the Fiction Book of the Year Award, and he won Author of the Year honours for his outstanding literary work and his contribution to Canadian culture and support of the bookselling industry. Winning in this year’s revised children’s book categories—Picture Book and Young Readers’ Book of the Year—were When Stella Was Very, Very Small (Marie-Louise Gay, Groundwood Books) and Vanishing Girl: The Boy Sherlock Holmes, His Third Case (Shane Peacock, Tundra Books).

In the Non-fiction category anthropologist Wade Davis’ exploration of the wisdom of the world's indigenous cultures, The Wayfinders: Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World (House of Anansi Press), came out on top.

This year’s Sales Rep winner, covering the Prairies, was Kate Walker & Company’s Rorie Bruce, and the Editor of the Year recipient (for the second year in a row) was Cormorant Books’ Marc Côté.

In the Bookseller categories, winners include Specialty Bookseller of the Year honouree Woozles Ltd. (Halifax) and The Book Store at Western (London, ON), which took The Campus Bookseller of the Year title. The industry’s pick for Bookseller of the Year is Bookmark II (Halifax).

In the publishing arena, the reigning Small Press and Publisher of the Year are Toronto’s Coach House Books and House of Anansi Press, respectively, while Raincoast Book Distribution has earned Distributor of the Year bragging rights.

This year’s ceremony featured the presentation of a brand new award: Chase Paymentech Young Bookseller of the Year, recognizing outstanding achievement from a bookseller under 30, which was awarded to Mandy Brouse from Words Worth Books in Waterloo, ON.

Tour Downtown for a chance to win $500

During the Memorial Cup, May 14 - 23rd, while shopping, eating or just visiting downtown merchants, you can enter a ballot for a chance to win $500.

From the Renaissance Brandon website (www.renaissancebrandon.ca):

Twenty-Five downtown businesses have organized the “Tour our Historic Downtown for a Chance to Win $500″ promotion within the Renaissance District to publically show support and participation of downtown Brandon merchants and Renaissance Brandon during the Memorial Cup and Manitoba Homecoming 2010. Manitoba Homecoming is a year long experience bringing former and current Manitobans, visitors, friends and families together for events, festivals and an all around great celebration.

The newly formed group of interested and motivated downtown merchants will use this unique to Brandon and Manitoba opportunity to showcase the district’s heritage and diverse selection of services.

5,000 copies of a downtown map highlight the 25 participating businesses along with some historic buildings within the Renaissance District. The downtown map is located within the Visitor Guide distributed throughout Brandon to hotels, Memorial Cup Village and two other information centers at Westman Communications Place. Anyone visiting one or more of the 25 downtown businesses can enter their name in a free draw. At the conclusion of the Memorial Cup a name will be drawn to determine the winner of the $500 grand prize. In addition, the Town Center Merchant’s Association will be making a $500 donation to the Wheat King’s Bursary Fund. The promotional event Starts May 14, 2010.

Visit Renaissance Brandon to see the map.

The following merchants are participating in this promotion:

1. Bromley‘s Menswear
2. New System
3. The Town Centre Merchant Association
4. Remington’s
5. Union Shoe Store
6. Gypsy Jive Dance
7. Samson Engineering Ltd
8. Pennywise Books
9. Double Decker Tavern
10. Black Orchid Beauty Salon
11. Catwalk Clothing Company
12. Olivier’s Bistro & Steakhouse
13. Ginger Cat Café
14. Chilly Chutney
15. TCM Goldsmith
16. Cinnamon Tree
17. Friends Fashion Boutique
18. Brandon Sewing Centre
19. Anna’s Indulgence
20. Westoba Credit Union
21. A Buck or Two
22. Zeke’s Jewellers
23. Troika Treasures
24. Clancy’s Eatery & Drinkery
25. Sub Shop – Town Centre

"Black Bottle Man" Book Launch - April 28

Craig Russell is well known in Brandon as a lawyer, actor and director of plays, and now, he can add novelist to that that list. His first foray in young adult fiction has been successful. "Black Bottle Man" was picked up by Great Plains Publications, one of four publishers that Russell approached with his manuscript.

"He's quite an amazing talent," said Great Plains Publications editor Anita Daher. "He's got such a sense of story. I'm very excited about his book coming out."

Thanks to her support, the novel underwent very few changes and was published within months, rather than years as is usually the norm.

"It was such a clean manuscript. It only needed a few months of going back and forth, and it was ready for publication. What was fast was the decision-making. From the very first read, it absolutely blew me away," she said. "It was one of those stories that I wanted to read from
beginning right through to the end."

She describes "Black Bottle Man" as very original with a distinctive and strong main character, great pacing, balance and very clean language.

"It isn't what you usually see in a first-time author," Daher said. "We sat down at an editorial meeting and I said: 'I love this!' and the boss said: 'Well, that's good enough for me.'"

Novelist Craig Russell will give a reading of "Black Bottle Man" at Pennywise Books, 1031 Rosser Ave., at 7 p.m., on Wednesday, April 28.

Removing the Hutterite Kerchief

Rebecca Hofer's controversial book "Removing the Hutterite Kerchief" is now in stock.

Learn the rich diverse culture and social environment of a Hutterite colony in Manitoba and follow the traditions of its people.

Meet the families from Hutterite Barrickman Colony and see the story unfold when it becomes overpopulated. Observe how Samuel and Sarah Hofer's family were chosen to move to the new colony named Greenwald.

Immerse yourself in the true story of this Hutterite family at Greenwald Colony and watch the escalating and unbelievable conditions they endured for more than a decade by their Hutterite leaders.

From their dismal, secluded environment, on a cold winter day, these 40 men, women and children spanning three generations, half the members of Greenwald Colony, with only meagre belongings, did the unimaginable. They left their culture, heritage adn livelihood behind and moved into an unfamiliar and unknown world.

Daily Planet's Jay Ingram speaking in Brandon

Come meet Jay Ingram, co-host of Daily Planet, as part of the 2010 Prairie Innovation Forum. March 16, 1:30 pm, Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

Pennywise Books will be on hand, selling copies of his books: The Daily Planet Book of Cool Ideas ($28); The Science of Everyday Life ($24); and The Velocity of Honey ($22).

Listen to Jay's talk, buy a book and get it signed by the author.

To celebrate this engaging speaker's presence in Brandon, Pennywise will pay the GST on all books purchased at this event.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Writing Fiction course for Youth

WINNIPEG AUTHOR MICHAEL VAN ROOY ANNOUNCES HE WILL BE TEACHING A COURSE IN WRITING FICTION FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURAL INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Winnipeg author Michael Van Rooy will be teaching a course in Writing Fiction for youths 16 to 19 at the Winnipeg Millennium Library.

The course will run from February 2 to May 11 and is organized by the Arts and Cultural Industries Association of Manitoba. The course is free.

Selected participants will attend sessions on Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 pm every other week from February 2 to May 4 with a launch of an anthology on May 11. Youths from the ages of 16 to 19 are encouraged to apply.

Instructor

Michael Neelak Van Rooy was born in Kamloops, British Columbia and has lived most of his life in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Michael’s first novel, An Ordinary Decent Criminal, was published in 2005 and his second novel, Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal, was published in 2008. In 2009 Michael won the John Hirsch Award for Most Promising Manitoba Writer. In 2006 An Ordinary Decent Criminal won the Eileen McTavish Sykes Award for Best First Book by a Manitoba Writer.

An Ordinary Decent Criminal has been published in Germany as Ein gewohnlicher Verbrecher by Verlagsgruppe Lubbe. It has also been optioned as a film by Frantic Films and Big Mind Productions. In July of 2010 An Ordinary Decent Criminal will be published in the United States by Minotaur Books. In 2011 Minotaur will publish Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal.

The third book in the Monty series, A Criminal to Remember, will be published by Winnipeg’s Turnstone Press in the spring of 2010.

Application Process

Interested students should:

1) Discuss their application with a ‘nominator’ (adult not related to you), who is one of your

present or former teachers or other leader in an artistic discipline and have him/her fill out the

Nominator’s Form, which is part of the Application Form. Ask that it be returned to you.

2) Fill out the application form - include a teacher’s signature, if you are in high school.

3) Submit completed form along with your resume. Applicants under 18 years of age require

the signature of a parent or guardian.

Submit to: ACI Manitoba Or by fax: 204 927-2789

501 -62 Albert Street

Winnipeg, MB. R3B 1E9

Call ACI Manitoba with your questions: 204 927-2787

Visit our website: www.creativemanitoba.ca