Broadcast excerpts of Cibou now on-line

Cape Breton born Susan Young de Biagi came home to Sydney to launch her novel in early October. Cibou has been enthusiastically received by audiences coast to coast. In her (now) home town of Powell River, BC, a launch is planned for November 14.

You can listen to excerpts from Cibou that were broadcast by CBC Sydney the week of the launch. Read by Stephanie Johnson, of Chapel Island, the excerpts can be found at: http://www.cbc.ca/mainstreetcb/ by scrolling down to Oct. 6, 2008. There you will find four readings and an interview with Susan.

Pictured to the right are Susan and Stephanie at the book launch.

Gaelic poet in final days of Scotand tour

Famhair author Lewis MacKinnon and publisher Mike Hunter are in the final days of their book tour in Scotland. The book was launched at the Royal National Mod in Falkirk, then entertained audiences in Aberdeen, Stornoway, Sleat (Isle of Skye) and Fort William. Oct. 27 they are in Edinburgh, the 28th in Glasgow and then Lewis continues on to Ireland for a few days.

Above is a picture from the reading in Skye. We were very pleased to meet Mabou Ridge student Tara Rankin, who is studying at Sabhal Mor Ostaig.

The tour, entitled (in English) "The way we say it in Nova Scotia" is sponsored in part by the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, as well as the Centre for Cape Breton Studies at CBU.

New picture book features art by Marie Moore

Join us November 6 (4-6 p.m. at the Royal Cape Breton Yacht Club) as we launch our latest book: Cape Breton Wonders: Featuring Art by Marie Moore.

Did you ever wonder why...
your mother re-washed the wash?

Did you ever wonder why...
the lighthouse lights, or
why the miners risked their lives?

Educators Shirley Everett and Chris Augusta Scott have wondered why and the result is this charming little piece of Cape Breton for young and old alike. Marie Moore’s paintings, including two new ones, are the perfect way to illustrate, and to answer, the question:

"Did you ever wonder why?"

Gaelic poetry launched in Scotland

Falkirk - Following a launch at lomall a' Mhòid today in Falkirk, Lodaidh MacFhionghain, Lewis MacKinnon, embarks on visits and readings at Aberdeen, Stornoway, Sleat, Fort William, Glasgow and Edinburgh (see details below).

Famhair agus dàin Ghàidhlig eile (Giant and other Gaelic poems), is the first book of its kind in Nova Scotia: the first collection of contemporary poems by a single author in the local Gaelic. MacKinnon's poems address a variety of contemporary perspectives—language, culture, politics and matters of the heart.

The book is central to a number of titles being promoted by Cape Breton University Press in Scotland during the next few weeks. The promotion is called "The way we say it in Nova Scotia," a reference to language and music traditions once of Scots origins, but with Nova Scotia's unique flavour.

The tour is sponsored in part by the Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage, through its industry development program, the Centre for Cape Breton Studies at Cape Breton University and by publisher Cape Breton University Press.


Aberdeen, Monday, Oct. 20, 6 p.m., New King's Hall, Room 10
Sponsored by the University of Aberdeen

Stornoway, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 7 p.m., An Lanntair, Kenneth St., Stornoway
and Wednesday, Oct. 22, Comunn Eachdraidh Nis - Ness Historical Society
Sponsored by Lews Castle College UHI

Sleat, Isle of Skye, Thursday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m., Seòmar Cruinneachaidh, Arainn Ostaig
Sponsored by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig UHI

Fort William, Saturday, Oct. 25, 11 a.m., Fort William Library
With the assistance of Highland Council

Edinburgh, Monday, Oct. 27, 8 p.m., Canon's Gait, 232 Canongate, Old Town
Sponsored by University of Edinburgh

Glasgow, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 5:30 p.m., 16 University Gardens, Room 5.
Sponsored by University of Glasgow

John Johnston to speak Oct. 9 in Wolfville

John Johnston will be giving a public lecture in Wolfville at Acadia University on Oct. 9th, at 7:00 PM, in the Beveridge Arts Centre, BAC Room 236.

TOPIC OF THE LECTURE: "Louisbourg: The Last Decade."

This will be an illustrated hour-long talk on the dramatic and far-reachingevents at Louisbourg during its final decade, focussing on the siege of1758. The emphasis will be on how the collision of two European empires inAtlantic Canada played out during the Seven Years War and what long-lasting impacts that struggle was to have.