The Persnickety Reader

Fitzhenry & Whiteside, owners of Red Deer Press, have finally forked over my $75 permission fee. It was unacceptable that it took so long (see previous post where I vented) and I will never even consider sending a manuscript to any press owned by F&W. I didn’t even get a “sorry, it took so long” or anything even resembling an apology. Even though they have the invoice date of January 5! Six months: any business that pays their invoices that late is not operating with good business sense. Actually, forget about business sense and replace it with common sense.

Should I expect an apology? I guess not, but if these guys, as publishers, are in the business of building relationships with writers, then they’re going to end up single and lonely, to stretch the metaphor. But what this all boils down to–at least from my perception–is the value attributed to the contributors of Alberta Anthology. I hope they are all as outraged as me. At least now I can buy that bottle of Scotch and sooth the literary snub I have endured for six long months.

An article about the publication of her unfinished drafts and the allure of her poetry. At Slate.

Her subject, as John Ashbery once memorably put it, is the way we are “part-thing and part-thought.” Seeing becomes a form of feeling.

Brilliant! I saw this book months ago on the FSG catalogue and wanted it. But, alas, my book fund ran out and it wasn’t meant to be. It’s still high on my wish list, if anyone out there cares.

(image from FSG)

Impac Award Announced. The winner is Colm Toibin’s The Master, a book I read quite a while ago now and thought was pretty good.

Announced. The Libris Awards are given out by the Canadian Booksellers Association.

Small publisher of the year goes to my publisher (can’t believe I can actually say that!), Gaspereau Press. Second year in a row, I believe.

I’m toying with the idea of a podcast here. I downloaded a free trial of some podcasting software and was playing around with it on the weekend. Mostly, I tried to record a cool intro. I have limited resources and technical skill, so be patient. Plus I need to really think of a concept, etc., for the potential show. Stayed tuned, though.

Song currently being played into the ground on my iTunes: The Golden Dogs, “Yeah!” I came across them on the latest CBC Radio 3 podcast. I’d love to get their album–hint, hint, hint.

Over the weekend I predicted that whoever won game 3 would win the Cup. Edmonton won it–they needed to. Tonight is the true test. I would like to see the parade when they bring the cup through the streets. Go Oilers go!

Today, in Friday’s spotlight, a defense of the boxer briefs, from Slate.com.

I’m confident there’s really nothing the boxer brief can’t do better. But just to make sure, I recently revisited the other underwear alternatives, to see if I was missing something.

I didn’t think anyone could write a few thousand words on their underwear choice but here’s proof. Slate is a very good on-line magazine, for those of you who don’t know of it. They really do a great job covering politics, arts and culture, and, it seems, men’s underwear…

Had my interview for Managing Editor of Fiddlehead / SCL today. It went really well, I think. I’ll find out on Monday or Tuesday if I was successful.

In other news, I received my galley proofs from Gaspereau today. All I have to do is go through the proofreader’s suggestions, which amount mostly to my use of compound words. I didn’t realize I used so many. It’s pretty exciting to see the proofs; they give me a pretty good idea of what the finished book is going to look like.

Lastly, we picked up the copy of this week’s local paper and there is a little story in there about Sherry winning the Richards’ Prize. They used my photo from the reception.

I grew up watching the Edmonton Oilers play and always thought I’d like to grow up and move to Edmonton someday. Well, I’m pretty close. Go Oilers Go!

A new feature here at ianletourneau.ca: a Friday Spotlight of a weird or spectacular story. Or a story that doesn’t fit anywhere else. This week: Batwoman. Or should I say Batwomyn? Yes, that’s right. DC Comics is bringing Batwoman back and she’s a lesbian. Here’s a snippet from CBC’s profile:

The move is part of the comic giant’s attempt to incorporate more ethnically and sexually diverse characters into its superhero world.

“This is not just about having a gay character,” DiDio said. “We’re trying for overall diversity in the DC universe.”

I’m not even sure what to think about this. Here’s an exchange at Bookninja.

In related news, Stephen Harper is going to ask parliament to reopen the same-sex marriage debate. No comic books for his kids, I guess.