THE LITERARY LIFE
The Journal's new column by Justin Bell will explore the art of the written word
People have been busy reading, writing and receiving accolades through the pandemic. To keep up with this love of literature, we're introducing Book Marks, a regular column dedicated to covering the art of the written word.
It will be a space to interview authors, highlight upcoming events and talk about books with local connections. There's an amazing diversity of voices in the province, from well-established writers to breakout talents and everyone in between.
Glass Bookshop and Audreys Books are a couple of local retailers that keep us connected to the literary scene, with Variant Edition and The Wonderharbour! suppling the city with graphic novels and comics.
Book Marks will be covering it all and more. If you have any book-related news to share, send it along to yegarts@postmedia. com.
DEALING WITH LOSS BOTH PERSONALLY AND ACADEMICALLY
It made sense for Reinekke Lengelle to turn to writing when she lost her partner, Frans Meijers, to cancer in late 2018.
To deal with her grief she began researching and writing, and the result is Writing the Self in Bereavement: a Story of Love, Spousal Loss, and Resilience, published at the end of 2020.
An assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies at Athabasca University, Lengelle teaches writing for personal development and transformation. Her book combines her research on loss as an academic examination at the same time as an outlet for her own personal journey.
Lengelle met Meijers in 1993. They fell in love but wouldn't get together as a couple until a few years later.
Her writing melded perfectly with his work as a sociologist and they worked together in career identity, helping people develop the narrative of their vocational stories.
“He was both my personal and my research partner,” says Lengelle. “It was a double loss in that sense. He was really my love and the person I taught with and worked with.”
Meijers died Nov. 16, 2018, and by Dec. 1, Lengelle was writing the book. She saw it as an opportunity to continue her dialogue with Meijers; she found herself talking to him throughout the process.
“There's an actual term for it: continuing bonds. Whether you're an atheist or agnostic or a very religious person, people still speak to their beloved. It's a source of inspiration and connection.”
For her ability to combine the personal and academic aspects, she was recognized with the H.L. (Bud) Goodall, Jr./nick Trujillo “It's a Way of Life” Award in June. It recognizes narrative ethnography that, in the words of Goodall, “exemplifies excellence in storytelling informed by scholarship and intended for both scholarly and public audiences.”
“Being a writer, you feel compelled to share your work. That's just part of the calling. I was motivated to share it,” says Lengelle of sharing her deeply personal story alongside her research.
Lengelle has a long career in writing. She's also a published poet and playwright, and even ran a small publishing house called Black Tulip Press.
Find out more about Lengelle and her writing at writingtheself. ca.
ROCKY EXPEDITIONS
Beautiful scenery, amazing routes, interesting facts — the three combine in a fascinating new book about our province's natural landscapes called The Scenic Geology of Alberta: a Roadside Touring and Hiking Guide.
Geologist Dale Leckie offers explorations of Alberta's landscape, from Waterton Lakes National Park in the south to Peace River in the north. Each region features numerous hikes, and includes information about fascinating geological formations to look out for en route. In Edmonton, Leckie talks about erosion in the river valley, beds of dinosaur bones and collapsing coal mines. Driving and viewing instructions guide hikers to the exact spot to get the most out of their geological experience.
Along the way, beautiful paintings by L.C. Cariou and Brent Laycock enliven the pages. Published by brokenpoplars.ca, there's a list of bookstores selling this title, including Audreys Books in Edmonton.
DEATH IN A BOOKSTORE
A murder at an Edmonton bookstore is at the centre of What's the Matter with Mary Jane? coming to readers this fall.
The newest book from Edmonton author Candas Jane Dorsey, and second instalment of the Epitome Apartments Mystery Series, it features a queer, nameless amateur sleuth as the protagonist. In this most recent release, Nameless is recovering from her first amateur sleuthing adventure when an old friend comes looking for help. What's the Matter with Mary Jane? will be released by ECW Press on Oct. 19 with more details and a list of stores available at ecwpress.com.
TODD BABIAK ANNOUNCES NEW NOVEL
Former Edmontonian and Journal columnist Todd Babiak has a new book arriving in time for Halloween.
Titled The Spirits Up, it follows the lives of an inventor, Benedict, his wife Karen and their two teenage daughters, Charlotte and Poppy. Like any other, Benedict and his family struggle with their own problems, but an accident on Halloween kicks off a series of hauntings. For fans of Babiak's other novels, he's returned to Edmonton as a setting — this time it's Belgravia. The Spirits Up, being released by Penguin Random House Canada, is Babiak's eighth novel. Look for it in late October, just before Halloween, and find more information at penguinrandomhouse.ca.
REFUGEE BOOK GETS GRAPHIC NOVEL T R E AT M E N T
Homes, the celebrated book by Edmontonian Abu Bakr Rabeeah telling of his journey from Iraq to Canada, will be made into a graphic novel.
Renegade Arts Entertainment, a small graphic novel publisher based out of Canmore, has acquired the rights, while Winnie Yeung and illustrator Nicole Wolf have been tapped to adapt the book into a graphic novel.
“'I am so excited that more people will be able to read about my experiences living in Iraq, Syria and Canada,” Rabeeah explains in a news release. “I think the art will bring people even closer to my story and help them better understand what our world was like.”
Homes: A Refugee Story was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Nonfiction in 2018 and was a finalist for CBC'S Canada Reads in 2019.
The graphic novel is expected to be published in 2023.
ALBERTA AWARDS SHORTLIST
Edmonton publisher Newest Press has been shortlisted for seven awards in the 2021 Alberta Book Publishers Awards.
The full shortlist was announced earlier this month with nominations across a dozen categories. The winners will be announced at a virtual presentation on the Book Publishers Association of Alberta Youtube channel on Sept. 17.
WRITERS GUILD MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
The Writers Guild of Alberta is looking for both mentors and mentees to take part in the Horizons Writers Circle, a program for writers from under-represented communities.
Writers from the BIPOC community, as well as writers with English as a second language will participate in seven months of activities, such as workshops, networking and public reading opportunities.
Formerly known as the Writer in Exile program and Borderlines Writers Circle, the program will pair established writers with those coming up in the industry. The deadline for both mentors and mentees is July 31 at midnight. Information at writersguild.ca.