WGA Podcast

Freedom to read can never be taken for granted. Even in Canada, a free country by world standards, books and magazines are banned at the border. Schools and libraries are regularly asked to remove books and magazines from their shelves. Few of these stories make headlines, but they affect the right of Canadians to decide for themselves what they choose to read. Our neighbours to the south seem to be banning another batch of books or covering up more library shelves and display cases every week. What effect does this have on artists, activists, and the librarians whose job it is to challenge us with new ideas and concepts, as well as put books containing those ideas into the hands of readers everyday? We'll talk to people in the Alberta literary community about the importance of intellectual freedom and what the lasting legacy of banning books really is.

Farzana Doctor and Kelly Kaur talk about what goes into writing that first novel, and what comes next.

Bertrand Bickersteth and Makda Mulatu talk about being racialized writers in Alberta.

Carissa Halton and Michael Hingston talk about the important role that research plays in a writer's work.

A conversation between WGA's Virtual Writer-in-Residence Gail Anderson-Dargatz and Lisa Murphy Lamb recorded in May of this year. Gail also gives a brief reading of her work.

En Francais.

Micheline Maylor reads from her new book, The Bad Wife, followed by a conversation with Anne Sorbie. Sponsored by The University of Alberta Press. *Original recording date: October 20, 2021*

Beth Sanders reads from her book, Nest City, followed by a Q&A with host Kelly Shepherd. Sponsored by Read Alberta *Original recording date: Oct 20, 2022*

Ali Bryan reads from her new novel, The Hill, followed by a conversation with host Heidi Klaassen. Sponsored by Read Alberta. *Original recording date: Oct 13, 2021*

Barb Howard reads from her new book, Happy Sands, followed by a conversation with Anne Logan. *Original recording date: October 6, 2021*

Jennifer Bowering Delisle reads from her book, Deriving, followed by a conversation with host Katherine Abbass. *Original recording date: September 29, 2021*

Robert Proudfoot reads from his new book, Come by Here, My Lord, followed by a conversation with host Leif Gregersen. *Original recording date: September 22, 2021*

Pamela Medland reads from her book, Echo of Ash, followed by a conversation with David Martin. *Original recording date: September 15, 2021*

Dan Martin reads from his new YA novel, An Orphan's Journey, followed by a Q&A from author Steven Sandor. *Original recording date: September 8, 2021*

Sharon Butala reads from her new book, This Strange Visible Air: Essays on Aging and the Writing Life. The reading is followed by a conversation with host Alice Major. This episode of the WGA Online Reading Series is sponsored by Read Alberta. *Original recording date: September 1, 2021*

Onyinye Odih reads from her book, A Mother's Love, followed by a conversation with host Sue Farrell Holler. *Originally recorded on August 30, 2021*

Neil Surkan reads from his new book, Unbecoming, followed by a Q&A with host Berend McKenzie. *Originally recorded on August 18, 2021*

Karen Spafford-Fitz reads from her new book, Pickpocket, followed by a conversation with host Charlotte Cameron. *Original recording date: Aug 11, 2021*

Charlotte Cameron reads from her book, Love and Courage in Troubled Times, and talks to host Nancy Bell. *Original recording date: Aug 4, 2021*

Sophie reads from her new book, Walking Leonard, followed by questions and a conversation with host Lori Hahnel.

N.L. Blandford reads from her book, followed by questions and a conversation with host Susan Calder.

Leif reads from his book, followed by questions and a conversation with host Alexis Kienlen. *Original air date: July 7, 2021*

Adriana reads from her book, followed by a conversation with host Marco Melfi.

Joanne Morcom presenting her new book of haikus, with host Josephine LoRe.

Glenn Dixon talks about his novel Bootleg Stardust with fellow author Greg Rhyno. Glenn also plays music written and recorded for the book.

Catch Jael Richardson and Téa Mutonji in conversation on Episode 8 of the CLC Brown Bag Lunch Podcast! Jael Richardson is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter's Lesson, a Father's Life, a memoir based on her relationship with her father, CFL quarterback Chuck Ealey. The Stone Thrower was adapted into a children's book in 2016 and was shortlisted for a Canadian picture book award. Richardson is a book columnist and guest host on CBC's q. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph and lives in Brampton, Ontario where she founded and serves as the Executive Director for the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD). Her debut novel, Gutter Child is a dystopian story of courage and resilience and arrives January 2021 with HarperCollins Canada. Born in Congo-Kinshasa, Téa Mutonji is a poet and fiction writer. Her debut collection, Shut Up You're Pretty, is the first title from Vivek Shraya's imprint, VS. Books. It was shortlisted for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize (2019), and won the Edmund White Debut Fiction Award (2020) and the Trillium Book Award (2020). Mutonji is the recipient of the Jill Davis Fellowship at NYU.

Author Alison Clarke (she/her) has been creating magical worlds as soon as she could put pen (or brush) to paper. She was awarded 2016 Writer of the Year by Diversity Magazine for The Sisterhood, Book One of her middle grade fantasy trilogy; has been featured in the Edmonton Journal; her latest book, Phillis, was featured on a CBC Book List; and she is the 2021 Writer in Residence for the Alexandra Writers' Centre Society. Alison takes Gio and Renée through her beginnings as a writer; how the themes in her work emerge organically from her interest in diverse mythology, cultures, and the power of the collective; how crucial it is for people of colour to see themselves represented in media; and why it's so important to listen to your own voice when it comes to your creative work. You can find Alison online on Twitter and Instagram, and more of her work at RealmofWyrniverdon.com. Like the show? Check out patreon.com/listen2mepod to learn more about how you can support the show, and connect with Gio at giografik.com and Renée at reneewrought.com.

F.K. Aldon : Question the Status Quo Author and YouTuber F.K. Aldon is a Jill of All Trades: she writes ✍

Episode Title: Emily Campbell : Write For Writing's Sake

Writers assemble! Liselle Sambury (she/her) is a young adult author writing stories about "messy Black girls in fantasy situations" and is dropping her debut book, Blood Like Magic, in June 2021. She joins Renée and Gio to talk about how she got started in writing, how she established herself on AuthorTube, and how she got her very first book deal. This episode also includes Liselle's tips on writing craft and busting through writer's block; favourite tropes in YA novels; and her process for bringing Blood Like Magic from draft to published manuscript. Find more of Liselle's work at lisellesambury.ca and follow her on social media @lisellesambury. Follow & Support Listen 2 Me: Patreon | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Find Gio at giografik.com and @giografik Find Renée at reneewrought.com and @reneewrought Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

Get ready to level up! Have you ever wondered what it takes to write your own video game? Let Davis G. See (he/him) tell you, as he walks Gio and Renée through the path that led him to freelance writing, creating interactive fiction, and becoming one of Edmonton Public Library's featured writers. Topics include how to build your client base as a freelancer, gay poetry binders, why queer representation in everything is important, and what to do when writer's block gets you down. CW: Mention of cock (not the animal), erotic Kingdom Hearts fan fiction, and Davis' game Post-Apocalyptic Gay Sex Simulator v0.1. You can find Davis' games at davisgsee.itch.io, more of his writing on Patreon @davisgsee and follow him on Twitter @davisgsee for updates!

How magical! This week Renée and Gio sit down with the kind and talented Jessica Renwick (she/her), award-winning author of the fantasy middle-grade Starfell series. The first two books, The Book of Chaos and The Guitar of Mayhem, are out now. Her short story “The Witch’s Staff” will appear in the forthcoming anthology book Magical Girls from Celticpress Publishing. We talk writing characters we can see ourselves in, the adventures of self-publishing, and the importance of writing with diversity. Bonus topics include branching into editing, how to harness ideas and turn them into something substantial, and Gio's horse girl history. You can find more of Jessica's work at jessicarenwickauthor.com and across social media @jessicarenwickauthor.

The WGA is proud to partner with the Listen 2 Me podcast. Listen 2 Me is a podcast for creatives, by creatives. Your hosts, Gio and Renée, two lifelong friends and queer creatives, talk about the very real highs and lows of making art while staying grounded. Episode 14 - Kelly Small:Have you ever wondered how to keep your sanity as a career creative in today’s cutthroat capitalist economy? This episode is all about how to consciously elevate your pursuit of creative success and sustainability. Gio and Renee have the incomparable pleasure of speaking to Kelly Small (they/them), the author of The Conscious Creative. Kelly left their marketing management position at a big Toronto agency and embarked on a years-long journey that led them through the ups and downs of an existential career crisis, returning to school, stress and illness, culminating in their creation of the incredible resource that is The Conscious Creative.

This is audio recorded from the live reading with finalists for the Alberta Literary Awards. Readers, in order of appearance: Omar Mouallem Natalie Meisner Bertrand Bickersteth Gabe Calderon Kat Cameron Ellen Chorley Jannie Edwards Will Ferguson Alexandra Latos Amy Leblanc Harnarayan Singh Kim Smith Stephanie Tamagi 1:49:53​ - Debby Waldman

This is audio recorded during the live reading with finalists from the Alberta Literary Awards. Readers, in order of appearance: Katie Bickell Timothy Caulfield Tyler Enfield Lee Kvern Annette Lapointe Clem Martini Peter Midgley Beth Sanders Barbara Scott Gina Starblanket & Dallas Hunt

Joan Marie Galat shares three of her books for children, followed by a conversation with Onyinye Odih, and audience Q&A via YouTube chat. *Original air date, Oct. 29, 2020*

Lori Hahnel reads from her new book of stories, Vermin, followed by a conversation with fellow short story writer Lee Kvern, and audience Q&A via YouTube chat. *Original air date Oct. 27, 2020*

Alison Clarke will read from her new poetry book, Phillis, followed by a conversation with Brandon Wint, and an audience Q&A via YouTube chat. *NOTE* There is a brief technical interruption at the 5:56 minute mark. Our apologies for the disruption. **Original air date: Oct. 15**

Katrina Rosen reads from her memoir, With You by Bike, followed by a conversation with Helen Rolfe, and audience Q&A via YouTube chat. *Original air date: Sept 28*

Carleen Marie reads from her new memoir, Orchid of Fate.

Author reading and Q&A with Nancy Bell. Author of Dead Dogs Talk.

Dianne Palovcik reads from her new novel, In Trouble, and speaks with Joan Marie Galat about the book and her writing life. This is a pre-recorded interview and no Q&A is included.

Alexis Kienlen talks to Anne Logan about her new novel, Mad Cow. *Original air date September 10, 2020*

Dolly Dennis reads from her new novel, The Complex Arms, and chats with author Jennifer Quist about her publishing journey, with an audience Q&A afterwards. *Original air date September 3, 2020*

Author Annette Lapointe reads from her latest book, And This is The Cure, followed by a Q&A led by Sue Farrell Holler. Annette Lapointe has lived in rural Saskatchewan, Quebec City, St John’s, Saskatoon, Winnipeg (where she earned her PhD), and South Korea. She now lives in Treaty 8 territory, on the traditional lands of the Beaver people, and teaches at Grande Prairie Regional College. In her copious free time, she edits The Waggle magazine. She has previously published two acclaimed novels (Stolen and Whitetail Shooting Gallery), and a short story collection (You Are Not Needed Now). Her latest novel is And This is the Cure. *Original air date August 20*

Cathie Bartlett reads from her new novel, Destination Prairie, and chats with her friend and fellow writer Jane Ross.

Le 17 mars 2021, écoutez un nouvel épisode des midis littéraires du CLC avec l'écrivaine renommée, Virginia Pésémapéo Bordeleau ! Née en Jamésie, au nord-ouest du Québec, Bordeleau est une artiste multidisciplinaire eeyou qui œuvre depuis 40 ans. En 2006, elle obtient le prix d’excellence en région remis par le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec en plus de la mention de Télé-Québec du prix littéraire de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue pour son recueil de poésie, De rouge et de blanc, et en 2012, elle est lauréate pour le Prix littéraire de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue. Depuis 2007, elle a publié 3 romans, 3 recueils de poésie, un livre de contes, un essai et un livre d’art. Elle obtient le prix de l’artiste de l’année en Abitibi-Témiscamingue remis par le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec en 2020. Son dernier livre, Ourse bleue – Piciskanâw mask iskwew (2020), est une rétrospective poétique de sa carrière artistique qui inclut des histoires, réflexions et anecdotes. D’après le Musée d’art de Rouyn-Noranda, le recueil, accompagné d’une exposition au MA, Musée d’art en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, « trace le parcours artistique et personnel d’une artiste importante en Abitibi-Témiscamingue et au Canada, et la force considérable qu’elle a su déployer en s’imposant comme femme artiste eeyou dans le milieu culturel. Il est possible de mieux cerner la réalité autochtone telle qu’elle a été vécue au siècle dernier, période de grands bouleversements pour les premiers habitants du territoire ». Dans cet épisode, Virginia Pésémapéo Bordeleau nous engage du début avec une lecture passionnée de son recueil percutant paru en 2018, Poésie en marche pour Sindy. Cette collection fait référence à Sindy Ruperhouse, une femme de la Première Nation Abitibiwinni de Pikogan, qui est disparue depuis avril 2014, et [je cite] « exprime [l’indignation de l’auteure] et nous fait part de ses questionnements sur le mépris et la haine dont les femmes autochtones sont l’objet, en particulier, mais également toutes les femmes ». Elle nous emporte par après sur un parcours personnel du deuil jusqu’à l’espoir avec une lecture de son texte, Je te veux vivant, aussi paru en 2018.

Edmonton poet Kat Cameron will read from her latest collection, Ghosts Still Linger, followed by a Q&A led by fellow Edmonton poet Paul Pearson. Kat Cameron lives in Edmonton on Treaty 6 territory. Her poetry collections include Ghosts Still Linger, published by the University of Alberta Press in 2020, and Strange Labyrinth. Her short story collection The Eater of Dreams was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Literary Award. Her short story “Dancing the Requiem” won Prairie Fire’s 2018 fiction contest. She teaches creative writing at Concordia University of Edmonton. The books Kat mentions are: Guillotine by Eduardo C. Corral. Graywolf Press, 2020 Endlings by Joanna Lilley. Turnstone Press, 2020 *Original Air Date: August 11*

Edmonton playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Katherine Koller will read from her collection of short stories, Winning Chance, followed by a Q&A led by Fort McMurray author Dorothy Bentley. Katherine Koller writes for stage, screen and page. Her first plays, Cowboy Boots and a Corsage and Magpie, were for CBC radio. Her full-length stage plays include her Alberta LandWorks Trilogy: Coal Valley, The Seed Savers and Alberta Playwriting Competition winner, Last Chance Leduc. Her opera, The Handless Maiden, received a recital reading in Vancouver and Hope Soup, for radio, was recorded at the Edmonton Fringe. Her web series, about Edmonton youth changing their world, is at sustainablemeyeg.ca. Art Lessons, her novel, was a finalist for the Edmonton Book Prize and the Alberta Readers’ Choice Award. A Finalist in the High Plains Book Awards, Winning Chance is her recent collection of short stories. Katherine co-produces Script Salon, a monthly play reading series, and Edmonton Script Salon Podcasts. She has taught at the University of Alberta and Maskwacis Cultural College, and served as Canadian Authors Association Writer-in-Residence for two years. Katherinekoller.ca

Edmonton poet Paul Pearson reads from his debut poetry book Lunatic Engine, followed by a Q&A led by Edmonton playwright and novelist Katherine Koller. Pre-order Lunatic Engine here: https://www.turnstonepress.com/books/poetry/lunatic-engine.html Paul Pearson is the co-founding editor and chapbook designer for the Olive Reading Series. His poems have appeared in Descant and Event, and the anthology Writing the Land: Alberta Through Its Poets from House of Blue Skies. Raised in a mining town in the mountainous back-country of southeastern British Columbia, Paul has since relocated to Edmonton where he lives and writes with his wife and two children. Lunatic Engine is his debut collection. https://lunaticengine.com/

Calgary poet and longtime active WGA member Bob Stallworthy will read from his poetry book Impact Statement, followed by a Q&A led by Edmonton poet, fiction writer, and journalist Alexis Kienlen. Bob Stallworthy has been active in the Alberta writing community since he began writing full-time and professionally in 1985. He is a member of the Writers’ Union of Canada and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta. As well as publishing magazine articles and book reviews, he has four books of poetry previously published: Under the Sky Speaking (Snowapple Press, 1998), From a Call Box (Frontenac House, 2001), Optics (Frontenac House, 2004), and Things that Matter Now (Frontenac House, 2009). His work has been anthologized by Copp Clark Pitman and by McGraw-Hill Ryerson. His poetry has been shortlisted for The City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize twice and the Stephan G. Stephansson Award for Poetry once. As the first Coordinator of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta’s Calgary region office, he established and ran this office (1991- 1996). While running the office he was co-organizer of the first Poet’s Stroll in Calgary, co-chair of the Freedom of Expression Committee in Calgary, and was one of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta representatives on the Steering Committee of Wordfest. Over his 35 year career he has given over 250 workshops and readings around Alberta. He is co-recipient of the Calgary Freedom of Expression Award (2002), a Lifetime member of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta (1988), and the recipient of the Golden Pen Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Writers’ Guild of Alberta (2019). He has been a Patient/Family Advisor with the Kidney Health, Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services since 2016. He is a full-time caregiver for his wife who suffered traumatic kidney failure in 2013.