Townships poet assembles 70 authors for water-themed book
Hatley resident Angela Leuck is preparing to host a mega garage sale and English tea at her home, hoping to raise funds to help publish a new book, Water Lines, featuring the work of 70 Townships authors.
The book, which will be published by Studio Georgeville, will be launched officially at the end of September.
Originally from B.C. Leuck developed a strong connection to water living near the Fraser River. She later lived in Montreal, and recently moved to Hatley.
During a three-month stint teaching in China earlier in the year, Leuck spent a lot of time thinking about water, pointing out that the country has a high water stress, meaning there simply isn’t enough to meet the population’s needs.
One of the first things she did when she got home was turn on the tap and pour herself a glass.
“Most of the world can’t do that,” she remarked, “It’s something we take for granted.”
Leuck, a published Haiku poet, became inspired to find a way to sensitize people to the scarcity of water and highlight its value.
“Who isn’t for water?”
In March of 2019, Leuck attended an English Language Arts Network (ELAN) activation conference, intended to bring together artists from different disciplines to collaborate.
While there, she discussed the idea with local author and filmmaker Louise Abbott, who immediately jumped on board.
“It was an activation conference, and ELAN activated us,” Leuck joked.
“Working with Louise Abbott has been incredible,” Leuck added.
Leuck then got to work soliciting submissions from local writers.
“There are 70 writers,” Leuck said, including poets, journalists, humourists, and even playwrights.
“We have established, mid-range and emerging authors,” Leuck said, explaining the importance of giving new writers a voice. “We have one emerging writer who is a recent immigrant from a drought area in China,” she said.
“They need to see their work in print,” commented Leuck, adding that the book
is building on a well-established tradition of quality writers from the area.
Leuck edited the book with the help of her husband Steve Luxton, who has substantial editing experience.
The cover of the book will feature an original work by local artist Denis Palmer.
According to Leuck, any profits generated from Water Lines will be donated to local water conservation groups.
Now in the home stretch, Leuck is holding a garage sale to help cover printing costs of the 180-page book.
“It’s a mega garage sale,” Leuck said, adding donations have been pouring in by the carload, many from authors involved with the project.
“I wanted people to feel part of this project,” she said, explaining that at every step it has been supported by the community. “I think people do care about their writers.”
The garage sale is intended as a fundraiser, Leuck said. The English tea, in conjunction with the garage sale (and of course, a bake sale as well), is an opportunity for people from the community to mingle and learn more about the book and the motivation behind it.
The two-day sale will take place at 122 rue Main in Hatley on Aug. 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. The tea will take place from 1 p.m. till 4 p.m. on both days, Leuck said. Donations are welcome.