With One Voice

We are pleased to announce that on December 3 at 7 PM, Gordon Goldsborough will be reading from his new book "With One Voice: A History of Municipal Governance in Manitoba" at Pennywise Books.

Local governments provide the facilities and services that each of us use on a daily basis. They are responsible for ensuring that our faucets deliver clean water, the sewers take away our wastes, and garbage and recyclables are collected. They build and maintain our roads, operate our libraries, protect us from fire and crime, and in bygone days, they equipped our schools and hospitals. No wonder that villages, towns, cities and rural municipalities have been described as “the most important level of government.”

With One Voice describes over 100 years in the history of Manitoba from a municipal perspective, covering such topics as daylight saving time, income and property taxes, rural electrification, the war waged on gophers and other animal pests in farm fields, the colour of margarine (it was not always yellow!), and video lottery terminals. Woven through the story are sidebar articles on the history of parking meters, pioneering women in politics, Manitoba ghost towns, Sunday shopping, and much more. With One Voice is, quite literally, a history of everyday life in Manitoba.

Gordon Goldsborough is a member of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Manitoba, and Director of the University’s Delta Marsh Field Station on Lake Manitoba. He is a water quality specialist concerned with the impacts of humans on lakes and wetlands. He is the Chair of the Lake Manitoba Stewardship Board, a member of the Manitoba Water Council, and a representative for Canada on the International Joint Commission’s International Red River Board.

Besides his scientific interests, Goldsborough is involved in the Manitoba heritage community, being the Webmaster and a Past President of the Manitoba Historical Society, an editor of Manitoba History magazine, and a member of the Management Committee for Dalnavert Museum.

On December 3, be sure to come down to Pennywise Books for this free event and learn more about some of our province's history that you never knew you never knew.

King of Obsolete

In the mid-1990's Joey Barnes of Alexander, Manitoba moved to Lynn Lake and established himself as the "King of Obsolete" in his Kingdom on the outskirts of town. Lynn Lake has two restaurants, no shopping malls, no fast food delivery and no banks. Most supplies are brought in 300 km from Thompson or by bus from southern communities.

The King of Obsolete, among other things, spends much of his winter running cat trains. Most of the equipment he uses for his winter freighting activities, and just about everything else he does, is from the 1950s and have been brought back to life by remodeling them and using whatever parts were available.

On November 27 at 7 PM, the King of Obsolete (aka Joey Barnes) will be at Pennywise Books to talk about his first book "King of Obsolete: Cat Train Newsletters" and relate some of his stories about making a living with old equipment and loving every minute of it.

If you enjoy storytellers, would like to learn about real life in the North, or are a hobbyist that likes to tinker with old machinery, be sure to come down and meet the King in person. To read more about the King's adventures, visit his website at www.kingofobsolete.ca.

I hope to see you here!

On the Same Page - In Search of April Raintree

Pennywise Books is pleased to announce that they will be participating as a host venue for the 2008 On The Same Page reading series. On The Same Page (OTSP) has a goal of to strengthening the bond in a community by encouraging people to read the same book at the same time. Although there have been similar program in cities across Canada and around the world, OTSP is the first project of its kind to involve the entire province.

Organizers unanimously chose In Search of April Raintree, because in its 25th anniversary year, this novel has become a classic of Canadian literature. Its content touches on themes and issues relevant to every generation and every Manitoban, perhaps pointing to why this renowned book is one of the most high in demand from provincial libraries.

In Search of April Raintree, first published in 1983, tells the profoundly powerful (and semi-autobiographical) story of two young sisters taken from their home and family. Powerless to change their fortunes, they are separated, and each put into foster homes. Yet over the years, the bond between them grows. As they each make their way in a society that is, at times, indifferent, hostile, and violent, one embraces her Métis identity, while the other tries to leave it behind. In the end, out of tragedy, comes an unexpected legacy of triumph and reclamation.

The author, Beatrice Mosionier, was born in St. Boniface, Manitoba. The youngest of four children, she grew up in foster homes. After a short time living in Toronto, where she attended college, she returned to Winnipeg.

Following the loss of two of her sisters to suicide, Beatrice decided to write In Search of April Raintree. First published in 1983 it has become a Canadian classic. Beatrice is also the author of several children's books, including: Spirit of the White Bison, Christopher's Folly and Unusual Friendships: A Little Black Cat and a Little White Rat. Her second novel, In the Shadow of Evil, was published in 2000.

Please join us on November 20 at 7:00 PM for this event.

Chris Wattie

In 2006, a Canadian Army patrol traveling through Afghanistan’s Panjawayi region, came across the largest build-up of Taliban forces in the area since their fall in 2001. Up against opponents who were suicidal, experienced and knew well the lay of the land, this Canadian battalion suffered more casualties and earned more decorations for bravery than any other Canadian unit since the Korean War.

On Thursday, October 30, at 7:00 p.m., author and journalist Chris Wattie will read and share stories from his new book, Contact Charlie: The Canadian Army, The Taliban and the Battle that Saved Afghanistan.

In Contact Charlie, National Post reporter and embedded journalist Chris Wattie offers an intimate and harrowing look at the series of battles that would eventually take the lives of seven soldiers, including Captain Nichola Goddard, Canada's first female combat casualty. Based on Wattie’s own experience in Afghanistan, as well as hundreds of post-tour interviews with the men and women on the ground, Contact Charlie is a rare piece of military writing, providing readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the stories that made headlines that summer—and continue to do so today.

Authors Appearing in October

What would the fall be without more authors appearing at Pennywise Books? I don't know either, and I'm not really interested in finding out.

Pennywise is pleased to announce that we will be hosting two authors during the month of October.

Ravenstone, an imprint of Turnstone Press and Pennywise Books are proud to announce Michael Van Rooy will be reading and signing copies of his latest book, Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal. This event will take place at 7:00 PM on October 23 at Pennywise Books.

Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal is the follow-up to the Sykes Best First Book winner An Ordinary Decent Criminal (which the Winnipeg Free Press' Lindor Reynolds called "astonishingly good…"). This time out, ex-con Montgomery "Monty" Haaviko would prefer to be known as the friendly neighbourhood daycare provider, but it's his criminal expertise that brings him unwanted attention from new acquaintances and old friends. A human rights activist named Marie Blue Duck wants Monty to do good; local drug smuggler Samantha Richot wants him to do bad; and his old jailhouse crony, Hershel "Smiley" Wiebe, well, Monty has no idea what Smiley wants. Which is very bad…

And what is very good? The novel of course. Chadwick Ginther from McNallyRobinson.com claims that "Montgomery Haaviko, [is] one of the most complex and enjoyable crime protagonists [he has] ever read." Michael has also signed on to do two more Monty Haaviko books with Ravenstone, an imprint of Turnstone Press. Criminals are Forever and The Criminal Code are scheduled for release in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

If you're a fan of crime fiction, action adventure, or just like to see Winnipeg in fiction then come down to Pennywise Books, meet the author and get yourself a copy of Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal. You'll be glad you did.


Prior to this event, however, local author Joyce Slobogian will be at Pennywise to talk about her book To Die For. On Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 PM, Joyce will read from and talk about her novel.

Joyce started writing for publication after retiring from her career in clerical work. Since 1994, her writing - humour columns, profiles, and short stories - have been published in several Canadian newspapers and magazines. A member of the Manitoba Writers' Guild (MWG) and the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC), she has lately started writing longer stories in the mystery genre. To Die For is her first suspense story.

To Die For is the story of eighteen-year-old Nina, who has gone missing and Maggie, her desperate mother. Maggie begs her friend Connie to search for her daughter even though Connie has no experience in detective work. She reluctantly agrees to do waht she can, but when it becomes clear that Nina was abducted, it becomes a police investigation. Sergeant Bowering and Constable Fielding of the Brandon Police Service soon discover a number of suspects in the case, but proof is missing, and the clues are getting more confusing every day. Meanwhile, there is no sign of Nina anywhere. Should Connie stay out of it, as she is advised to do? But she made a promise to her friend; and she won't break her word, even when it becomes clear that by persisting in her quest, she puts herself in danger.