ELIJAH OF BUXTON by Christopher Paul Curtis Addresses Slavery through Fiction for Young Adults

www.movingstories.tv -- A tall and jocular gent, author Christopher Paul Curtis uses brings his charm and magnanimity to ELIJAH OF BUXTON, an young adult novel that sees the very first child born of runaway slaves in Buxton Canada, 1850-ish, take on an arduous and wrenching journey back into the milieu of America's south. It is a mark of his sensitivity and humour that he has you laughing in the first chapter, then crying just as easily a chapter later as he weaves the fictional tale through the harsh reality of the times. Curtis is a master storyteller, and like those of his ilk, leaves one with hope as well as insight into the world he crafts. For more about this book and others by Newbery Award Winner Christopher Paul Curtis, visit http://www.Teachingbooks.net.

(c) 2007 BookShorts Literacy Program; Produced in association with Book Expo Canada and TeachingBooks.net with special thanks to Nicholas Glass for his wise direction.

Lesley Choyce on surfing, writing, and finding your own insanity

http://www.movingstories.tv/ - Book Expo Canada is a great place to run into authors you've admired from afar, right up close and personal. I'd read about Lesley, for instance, and amongst the thronging passages of the trade show floor I ran into him, almost literally. Not one to lose his feet (and if you know his particular form of insanity, you'll understand exactly why), he is an amazing, refreshing and completely open multi-talented artist. Books, music, television, teaching, publishing - you name it, he's pretty much done it, and very well too. Pick up "Republic of Nothing" and be newly inspired to believe in fables; read "Driving Minnie's Piano" and have faith that humanity is alive and well in some parts of the world; give "Wave Warrior" to a young person you love, and give them the gift of compassion.

For more of Lesley's considerable oeuvre visit him on MySpace or http://www.lesleychoyce.com/

(c) 2007 BookShorts Literacy Program; in association with Book Expo Canada Script to Screen Program.

3-Year Old Amanda inspires Chris Lin to teach Chinese to Kids

http://www.movingstories.tv/ -- They say "write from what you know," especially as a new author. CHRIS LIN is taking that literally, but in more ways than one. First, he has created his series of children's books, MANDY AND PANDY, from the first-hand experience of fathering his adopted Chinese daughter, Amanda. Second, he is writing in his adopted language, Chinese, because he loves the language, and sincerely wants his daughter to know her heritage in a way that can only come from speaking its tongue. And last, he has so much fun with Mandy, the character and the real thing, that he can't help but infuse the page with the same spirit of adventure his child shows him every day. It's a lovely back story, and we wish Chris and Mandy, and Mandy and Pandy, all the very best!

10% of all the Internet book sales of the Mandy and Pandy series will be donated to the orphanage where Chris first met and adopted his daughter. For more information (and some adorable pictures of the live Mandy!) please visit http://www.mandyandpandy.com/.

(c) 2007 BookShorts Literacy Program. Shot live at Book Expo America, with thanks to Lance Festerman and his team. For more BookShorts, visit http://www.bookshorts.com/blog

Bedtime Stories for Adults, Under the Covers a first for Open Book Toronto

http://www.movingstories.tv/ -- Amy Logan Holmes, the Executive Director for OpenBook:Toronto has been very thorough in her programming for the this new awareness campaign, dedicated to bring "fresh and local" authors to the trendy-set. UNDER THE COVERS: BEDTIME STORIES FOR ADULTS was a sexy event co-produced with Jen McNeely of SheDoesTheCity.com, pretty much the polar opposite of the Mini-Indoor Picnic for real little kids at the Drake this weekend. But that's the "clever" of her strategy, in my opinion. In bite-sized hits, she's helping to bring a vitality and presence to the incredible array of great authors and books our Ontario-based publishers put on the shelves every year. For more on what's happening 'round town, visit OpenBookToronto.com; for more on nightlife for grown-up fun loving young ladies, visit shedoesthecity.com.

(c) 2007 BookShorts.com. With thanks to Michael McGarry, Rock-It Promotions and The Gladstone Hotel.

Does a book win an a award, or does an author win a jury? Scotiabank Giller Prize Shortlist

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http://www.bookshorts.com/ The press release reads "Today, in a morning press conference that drew over 100 media and members of the publishing industry, the Scotiabank Giller Prize announced its 2007 shortlist. Selected by an esteemed jury panel comprised of author and 2005 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner David Bergen, author Camilla Gibb and author, poet and artist Lorna Goodison, the five finalists were chosen from a record 108 books submitted for consideration by 46 publishing houses from every region of the country." We thought the subject of the jury process itself was pretty interesting, especially considering David Gilmours comment on winning awards a few nights prior (see posting on this blog). He stated, "one does not win an award, one wins a jury." Giller founder Jack Rabinovitch, juror Camilla Gibb, and journalist Martin Levin weigh in.

Oh, and heres the actual shortlist:

Elizabeth Hay for her novel Late Nights on Air, McClelland & Stewart

Michael Ondaatje for his novel Divisadero, McClelland & Stewart

Daniel Poliquin for his novel A Secret Between Us, trans. Donald Winkler, Douglas & McIntyre

M.G. Vassanji for his novel The Assassins Song, Doubleday Canada

Alissa York for her novel Effigy, Random House Canada

(c) 2007 BookShorts.com

The Writers Union of Canada Up Close and Personal at Word on the Street

www.movingstories.tv -- You don't *have* to be at The Word on The Street to talk to Deborah Windsor, but its one way to navigate your way to a solid publishing contract!  She and her team at The Writer's Union of Canada are ready, willing and able to advise emerging and established artists through the intricacies of living and working as an author in this country, from crazy stuff like taxes and estate planning to agent and publishing deals.  More at http://www.thewritersunion.ca.

Our other guests in this second of three segments on The Word on The Street include Shelley Ambrose, Publisher of The Walrus Magazine and Executive Director of The Walrus Foundation - http://www.warlusmagazine.com - and Ben McNally, recent re-convert to the Fest and most excellent bookseller - visit him online at http://www.benmcnallybooks.com - where every compliment nets you a 10% discount (you just tell him Judith sent ya! :)

(c) 2007 BookShorts.com. 

Canada Council's 50th a cause for celebration all year

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www.bookshorts.com -- It only happens once, a 50 year anniversary, and this year is the one for our supporters at the Canada Council. As these VIPs at the just-past Book Expo Canada so eloquently state -- Patrick Crean (Thomas Allen), Anne Green (WordFest), and Anna Porter (Author) -- where would we be as a nation without the far-ranging and consistent advocacy the Council has maintained throughout its existence. You might take issue with the process on occaision, you might even have been passed over in a grant application a time or two, but taken from the perspective of cultural nation-building and making real an international presence, you really can't take issue with the cumulative beneficial impact the Canada Council has had for us all.

With a gracious word from the Canada Council Head of Writing & Publishing, Melanie Rutledge.

Shot on location at MTCC during BookExpo (c) 2007 BookShorts.com

Callaghan, Quarrington, Carmody, Cohen - Word on the Street is more than a Book Bazaar

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http://www.movingstories.tv/ -- Perhaps its his self-effacing charm that has made Ben McNally a bookselling hero to publishers and customers alike. He certainly is a good-looking chap, don't you think? Visit his new store at Bay and Richmond and you'll see exactly what we mean, on both counts!

In the meantime, we've captured just a wee bit of the other activities that happen in Queen's Park Circle during The Word on The Street. It hosts all kinds of readings from luminaries such as Barry Callaghan (Between Trains); Tish Cohen (Town House); How to's seminars from the likes of Paul Quarrington on Writing Across Genres for Humber School for Writers; and Storyteller Bruce Carmody at the Children's Activity Tent. It even brings folks like Jon Pressick, Lars-Peter Bjornson (BookTelevision) and Anne Mroczkowski (CityTV) off the screen and onto the stage, hosting musical artists of the caliber of Earl La Pierre Jr, who definately got folks moving to the beat.

With thanks to all the interviewees in this third of three installments, and a special thanks to Tony Tobias for his fantastic still photographs included in the montage. (c) 2007 BookShorts.com

The Word On The Street: What it has done for Sue lately?

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http://www.movingstories.tv/ -- Sue Kenney has a great deal of faith in the goodness of people, a rare quality, and one she shares easily with the majority of those who man booths, speak in tents, give away tomes, and generally make the The Word On the Street one of the most inspiring outdoor events of Toronto's fall season. Watch this first of three vignettes we could not resist compiling, featuring the authors, publishers, booksellers and the 175,000 (or so!) bibliophiles that make this event sing.

With thanks to Joanne Smale, the organizers of the Fest, and our gracious interviewees: Sue Kenney, Author now of two memoirs with White Knight Books; Kitty Lewis of Brick Books; and Conan Tobias of Taddle Creek Press. (c) 2007 BookShorts.

SUE KENNEY, Author & Film Director, Live from CFRB Word on the Street

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www.bookshorts.com/blog -- The Word on the Street is far more than bargain books and beautiful weather, though we were lucky enough to have both. Author Sue Kenney is a wonderful case study in just how enterprising authors can become PUBLISHED authors through the rare access that the street festival provides. From the idea of a book, to actual published author, CFRB radio host Christina Chernesky knew her then and interviews her now, live from the CFRB radio booth on the Street.

Thanks to Christina, Sue and teh good folks at The Word on the Street. For more information about Sue Kenney and the upcoming screenings of her feature film, Las Peregrinas, log on to http://www.suekenney.ca/

BARRY CALLAGHAN Man of Letters, and then some

www.movingstories.tv ... There is an amazing quality around those who had the fortune to be creative in a certain period of Canadas history. Consider BARRY CALLAGHAN. He has done work in journalism, television, and filmmaking in addition to his writing of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. He began his career as a part-time reporter for CBC television news and gave weekly book reviews on the CBC radio program Audio. During the late 60s he was literary editor of the Toronto Telegram, for which he wrote essays and books reviews that were amazing for their insight and controversial candour. He was also host and documentary producer for the public affairs show Weekend, in which capacity he made over 20 short films on political trouble spots and taped interviews with international figures such as Golda Meir and King Hussein. In 1972 Callaghan founded the international literary quarterly Exile, which extended to publishing house Exile Editions. He taught at York University and mentored far too many illustrious grads to list here. Perhaps our artists of today, empowered with the access that media technology and digital everything lends, are returning to the renaissance cross-discipline talents of champions like Mr. Callaghan. We were very happy to be able to lend our small part when McArthur and Co. asked us to contribute a short five video minute tribute to this Man of Letters. Many thanks to interviewer Ray Robertson, whose BookShort Author Profile featuring his recent novel What Happened Later, can be viewed on BookShorts BiblioBlog -- http:/www.bookshorts.com/blog .

McArthur & Co. is re-issuing an entire collection of Barrys books, as well as his excellent collection of short stories, BETWEEN TRAINS, all of which you can peruse at their website www.mcarthur-co.com.