literary

Juno nominee Lenka Lichtenberg at her home in Toronto, Monday, Feb. 21, 2023. A series of poems, written in concentration camp, about romantic love and relationships, hopeful dreams of faraway places, and betrayal is brought to life in album form, sung in Czech by the author’s granddaughter. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Lenka Lichtenberg’s Juno-nominated album brings Holocaust survivor’s poetry to life

Poetry was written by Lichtenberg’s grandmother in a concentration camp

 

The week of Feb. 19 to 24 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada. (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: How much do you know about your freedom to read?

Feb. 19 to 24 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada

 

Jim Jennings’s 1932 Roadster is a main feature in the book and will be seen at Northwest Deuce Days next week. (Garry Foster photo)

Author launches classic car coffee table book as Deuce Days descends on Victoria

Garry Foster weaves stories of people and their historic vehicles

 

Long-time CBC host Grant Lawrence joins musicians Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball on stage in Sidney on May 4 to celebrate the release of Return To Solitude, the long-awaited follow-up book to Lawrence’s bestselling debut. (Courtesy of Mary Winspear Centre)

Grant Lawrence to regale Sidney audience with colourful tales of Desolation Sound

Musical guests Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball join longtime CBC host

Long-time CBC host Grant Lawrence joins musicians Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball on stage in Sidney on May 4 to celebrate the release of Return To Solitude, the long-awaited follow-up book to Lawrence’s bestselling debut. (Courtesy of Mary Winspear Centre)
Out of the Fire features the stunning artistry of photographers Dale Roth and Michele Ramberg and features Oak Bay artist Gregory Kozak. (Photo by Roth and Ramberg)

Oak Bay author pulls artists Out of the Fire, highlights south Island metalworkers

Pirjo Raits’ second Salish Sea-focused artist spotlight launches in April

Out of the Fire features the stunning artistry of photographers Dale Roth and Michele Ramberg and features Oak Bay artist Gregory Kozak. (Photo by Roth and Ramberg)
Carmen Aguirre’s memoir titled Mexican Hooker #1: Art Love and Forgiveness After Trauma is a sequel to her award-winning memoir, Something Fierce. She gives a free writing seminar at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre on Feb. 17. (carmenaguirre.ca)

Award-winning playwright hosts free memoir, satire writing lecture at UVic

Carmen Aguirre will present in person and remotely from Phoenix Theatre on Feb. 17

Carmen Aguirre’s memoir titled Mexican Hooker #1: Art Love and Forgiveness After Trauma is a sequel to her award-winning memoir, Something Fierce. She gives a free writing seminar at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre on Feb. 17. (carmenaguirre.ca)
Eli Mushumanski is the City of Victoria’s 2022 youth poet laureate. (Courtesy of Eli Mushumanski)

Victoria’s new youth poet laureate taking aim at climate change

Poetry can create moments of clarity and understanding, Eli Mushumanski says

Eli Mushumanski is the City of Victoria’s 2022 youth poet laureate. (Courtesy of Eli Mushumanski)
Margot Wehrle, 14, first found her voice with music, now she’s embarked on slam poetry. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Oak Bay student defines Identity with new passion for slam poetry

Musician Margo Wehrle, 14, branches out to the spoken word

Margot Wehrle, 14, first found her voice with music, now she’s embarked on slam poetry. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer topped the list for most borrowed eaudiobooks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in 2021. (Photo courtesy VIRL)

Vancouver Island Regional Library presents its most popular books of 2021

Nomadland, The Gruffalo’s Child, Indigenous Wisdom reach top spot on various lists

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer topped the list for most borrowed eaudiobooks at the Vancouver Island Regional Library in 2021. (Photo courtesy VIRL)
A statue of famed Victoria artist Emily Carr, and her pet monkey, adorns the corner of Belleville and Government streets. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Oak Bay poet pens award-winning words regarding ‘rebel’ Emily Carr

Two poets recognized among 60 entries in Victoria’s Emily Carr 150 Poetry Contest

A statue of famed Victoria artist Emily Carr, and her pet monkey, adorns the corner of Belleville and Government streets. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
Greater Victoria entrepreneur turned author, Earl Large, grabs one of the many personal journal books he filled up during his decades in business. His new book, Living Large, contains poems he wrote in the books to start every month. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Large life lessons abound in first-time Victoria author’s new book

Not a self-help book, art book or poetry book, says Earl Large, but it incorporates all three

Greater Victoria entrepreneur turned author, Earl Large, grabs one of the many personal journal books he filled up during his decades in business. His new book, Living Large, contains poems he wrote in the books to start every month. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Darrel J. McLeod is nominated for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction for his book Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity, A Memoir. (Contributed - Douglas & McIntyre)

Sooke author among finalists for $60K Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust prize

Prize is the richest annual literary award for Canadian nonfiction

Darrel J. McLeod is nominated for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction for his book Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity, A Memoir. (Contributed - Douglas & McIntyre)
Elizabeth Laugharne, 98, plans to be on hand July 9 to discuss and sign copies of her newly-published book, Messages in Glass. (Courtesy Churchmouse Books)

Used book shop reopens in Oak Bay church, takes a crack at glass history

98-year-old author writes of church’s storied panes, some nearly as old as herself

Elizabeth Laugharne, 98, plans to be on hand July 9 to discuss and sign copies of her newly-published book, Messages in Glass. (Courtesy Churchmouse Books)
Kelly King with Habitat for Humanity Victoria, accepts a representative cheque for $10,000 from Isla Verhagen, a Grade 4 student at Keating Elementary, while Kathryn Parfitt with founding sponsor Sagen looks on. Verhagen earned the prize with her entry in the Meaning of Home writing contest, the only one written in French. (Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Victoria)

Central Saanich elementary student wins national writing contest

Keating Elementary’s Isla Verhagen won $10,000 for Habitat Victoria

Kelly King with Habitat for Humanity Victoria, accepts a representative cheque for $10,000 from Isla Verhagen, a Grade 4 student at Keating Elementary, while Kathryn Parfitt with founding sponsor Sagen looks on. Verhagen earned the prize with her entry in the Meaning of Home writing contest, the only one written in French. (Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Victoria)
A poignant Pandemic Postcard Project submission has led Lesley Wright and Graham Hughes of Literacy Alberni on a new path toward anti-racism education. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

‘I am not a virus’: How one postcard sparked a Vancouver Island pushback against racism

Literacy Alberni receives $50K in funding to create web-driven system for reporting racism

A poignant Pandemic Postcard Project submission has led Lesley Wright and Graham Hughes of Literacy Alberni on a new path toward anti-racism education. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The NerdYurt is the latest little free library in the CRD, soon to be painted by students from Ecole John Stubbs School. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)

Langford opens chapter on NerdYurt, Capital Region’s 450th little free library

Readers might find a new release, a literary classic or a dog-eared Harlequin.

The NerdYurt is the latest little free library in the CRD, soon to be painted by students from Ecole John Stubbs School. (Zoe Ducklow/News Staff)
Joey Scarfone, the author of Vintage Cars of Victoria and a former record store owner in Fernwood, has written a poem reflecting on the current times we’re living through. Black Press file photo

Retired Victoria record store owner pens a poem for these ‘strange times’

Joey Scarfone offers his creative commentary on the scenario wrought by a pandemic

  • Apr 12, 2020
Joey Scarfone, the author of Vintage Cars of Victoria and a former record store owner in Fernwood, has written a poem reflecting on the current times we’re living through. Black Press file photo
Authors Julie Paul, left, Susan Braley and Robin Stevenson are the category judges for this year’s Victoria Writer’s Society writing competition. The submission deadline has been extended to June 1.

Deadline extended for annual writing competition

Mail-in entry format makes Victoria Writer’s Society contest perfect for the times

Authors Julie Paul, left, Susan Braley and Robin Stevenson are the category judges for this year’s Victoria Writer’s Society writing competition. The submission deadline has been extended to June 1.
Victoria Arts Council executive director Kegan McFadden invites experienced and novice poets alike to enter the first-ever Monday Magazine Poetry Contest, presented and administered by the VAC. The deadline is Nov. 30 and entries are being accepted now in five distinct categories. Photo by Cory Aronec

Calling all poets; Monday and the Victoria Arts Council seek your finest verse

Inaugural poetry contest offers prizes and publication for winners, entry deadline Nov. 30

Victoria Arts Council executive director Kegan McFadden invites experienced and novice poets alike to enter the first-ever Monday Magazine Poetry Contest, presented and administered by the VAC. The deadline is Nov. 30 and entries are being accepted now in five distinct categories. Photo by Cory Aronec
Barbara Smith, left, and Erin Davis will read from their latest books on Persons Day Oct. 18 during the next instalment of the Sidney Literary Festival’s Fall 2019 Reading Series at the Shoal Centre. Photos contributed.

Persons Day to be marked with literary readings in Sidney

Peninsula authors to read from their new books relating to women and courageous journeys, Oct. 18

Barbara Smith, left, and Erin Davis will read from their latest books on Persons Day Oct. 18 during the next instalment of the Sidney Literary Festival’s Fall 2019 Reading Series at the Shoal Centre. Photos contributed.