Gaelic poet invited to read at StAnza

Gaelic poet Lodaidh MacFhionghain / Lewis MacKinnon has been invited to read at StAnza 2010 ( 17-21 March, 2010) in St Andrews, Scotland.

The only regular festival dedicated to poetry in Scotland, StAnza is international in outlook. Founded in 1998, it is held each March in St Andrews, Scotland’s oldest university town. The festival is an opportunity to engage with a wide variety of poetry, to hear world class poets reading in exciting and atmospheric venues, to experience a range of performances where music, film, dance and poetry work in harmony, to view exhibitions linking poetry with visual art and to discover the part poetry has played in the lives of a diverse range of writers, musicians and media personalities. The simple intention of StAnza is to celebrate poetry in all its many forms.

Have a look: http://www.stanzapoetry.org/index.php

Boston University prof. says Reading the Qur'an in English "Recommended"

Recommended.

“…useful insights … for all whose access is limited to the Qur’an in translation but who wish to acquire a fuller understanding….”

Merlin Swartz
Professor Emeritus of Religion (Islamic Studies), Boston University

Reviewer says book “of immense benefit"

2009. Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations 20(4): 478-80.

“…innovative and stimulating […] well-written and pleasingly presented…”

Campbell provides “an admirable pedagogical structure that will be of great benefit to the serious student—and a useful refresher to scholars.”

Reading the Qur’an in English is “of immense benefit to all teachers of Islam to English-speaking students […] always clear and succinct and so readily comprehensible [,] a unique resource.”

Douglas Pratt, University of Waikato, New Zealand

Check out the latest review of Basement Suite

Check out the latest review of Susan Farrell's Basement Suite in the Nova Scotian November 15. http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/Books/1152896.html

CFUW chapter invites Dr. Campbell to speak

The Oakville chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women, will have as its guest speaker Dr. Robert Campbell, who will be speaking about his book Reading the Qur'an in English, on MONDAY, November 16 at 7 p.m. at the Operating Engineers Hall, 2245 Speers Road in Oakville, ON.

Eastlink to broadcast lecture

Eastlink television's Podium TV (weekly onThursdays at 9 p.m.) will broadcast Dr. Campbell's recent lecture on November 19 and 26.

Public presentation on reading the Qur'an

In a two-part talk, Dr. Campbell will give an overview of the Qur'an, its history and relevance to Islam - one of the great Abrahamic religions. Then he will provide guidance to experiencing the Qur'an on its own terms.

This public presentation is Wednesday, October 28, 7-9 p.m. and McConnell Memorial Library in Downtown Sydney.

Basement Suite Launch Party October 7

Join author Susan Farrell to celebrate the release of her first novel: Basement Suite.

Wednesday, October 7, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Governor's Pub, 233 Esplanade, Sydney.

Garry Leech keynote speaker to Council of Canadians

Garry Leech, co-author of The Failure of Global Capitalism from Cape Breton to Colombia and Beyond, will be a keynote speaker at the Council of Canadians annual general meeting October 23 in Saint John New Brunswick. The theme for this year's convention is "Turning the tide: A just economy for people and the planet.

Garry joins CoC nationa chair Maude Barlow and John Cavanagh, Director of the Institute for Public Policy Studies in Washington, DC.

Introduction to the Qur'an, Public talk Oct. 28 in Sydney

Robert Campbell, author of Reading the Qur'an inEnglish is scheduled to give a public talk at the McConnell Memorial Library on October 28, 7-9 p.m. Prof. Campbell's talk will be an introduction to the Qur'an, Islam's most important text, as well as some tips on how to get the most out of an English translation.

Sponsored by Cape Breton Regional Library. Admission is free.

"Sobering stuff" writes reviewer

A reviewer for the Halifax Chronicle Herald notes that Gibbs & Leech's book is filled with "sobering stuff." "...this isn’t another bestselling thriller but you should read it anyway. It might just knock you off your complacent 'everything is OK' butt." Read the whole review at: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Books/1123664.html

Weather subject of monthly CBC phone-in

CB Weather Watching author Bill Danielson is in the CBC Cape Breton studios on the third Monday of every month for an hour-long phone-in. Be listening to Information Morning as host Steve Sutherland and Bill take your calls and questions about the weather.

Human rights in Colombia subject of talk at OPSEU

Author and journalist Garry Leech will make a presentation to the Ontario Public Service union May 7, on the subject of the current human rights situation inColombia. The talk takes place at OPSEU offices on Wellsley Street in Toronto. Garry talk is sponsired by: Canadian Council for International Cooperation, Inter Pares, Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CERLAC), KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, Latin American Human Rights Education and Research Network (RedLEIDH), and Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

CBU profs focus on the failure of capitalism

CBU profs focus on the failure of capitalism
McConnell library hosting presentation

Thursday March 27, Sydney - The financial crisis that emerged in the United States last year has not only escalated into a full-fledged economic crisis for that country.

While Cape Breton's industrial past may not seem connected to the global meltdown of financial markets, for more than a century, the Island’s economy has been intrinsically linked to a global economy that is a product of the process of industrial capitalism and globalization.

Cape Breton University political science professors Terry Gibbs and Garry Leech, have been studying how the global capitalist system has indeed had an impact here. The authors of The Failure of Global Capitalism: From Cape Breton to Colombia and Beyond (new from CBU Press), professors Gibbs and Leech are giving a talk on the subject at the McConnell library on Thursday, April 2.

"Neoliberal globalization, centred around North American and European influences on global economic systems, exploits the natural resources and labour of societies at the periphery," says Garry Leech, "and then moves on."

The reality is that under the dominant free trade ideology, people throughout the world suffer, particularly with regard to socio-economic and environmental issues, he said.

Terry Gibbs and Garry Leech's book, The Failure of Global Capitalism, as the title suggests, examines how that exploitation has affected the industrial economies of Cape Breton and Colombia.

Their talk on Thursday will look at how the instability and insecurity inherent in the global capitalist system has impacted Cape Breton and how we can learn from alternative models challenging dominant free trade ideologies by focusing on democratic participation, economic self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability.

The talk begins at 7 p.m. at the McConnell Library, 50 Falmouth Street, Sydney. For more in formation, call 902.562.3279.

Terry Gibbs is an assistant professor of Political Science and director of the Centre for International Studies at Cape Breton University. She specializes in issues related to democracy and globalization. Gibbs is a contributor to the book New Perspectives on Globalization and Antiglobalization: Prospects for a New World Order (Ashgate Publishing, 2008) and her articles have been published in various journals.

Garry Leech is a lecturer in Political Science at CBUand an independent journalist. He is the author of several books, including Beyond Bogotá: Diary of a Drug War Journalist in Colombia and Crude Interventions: The United States, Oil and the New World (Dis)Order. He is also the co-author of The People Behind Colombian Coal: Mining, Multinationals and Human Rights.

CB author to tour NS, NB

Cape Breton writer Susan Young de Biagi, whose novel Cibou is shortlisted for two Atlantic Book Awards is scheduled to take part in several literary events in connection with the awards next week.

The awards, to be presented in Dartmouth next Wednesday evening (April 15th), will recognize the best books published in Atlantic Canada last year.

Cibou, published by Cape Breton University Press, is shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award for fiction, as well as the Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing.

Ms. Biagi will appear along with a few other well-known award nominees, at venues and times listed below.

Cibou (pronounced see-boo) is the story of a young Mi’kmaw woman, the interactions between her community and the ways in which early Europeans influenced their lives.

Cibou is the name of a fictitious Mi’kmaw community on Cape Breton. The novel has been adopted as part of the Nova Scotia Dept. of Education’s Learning Resource for Literary Success program in provincial schools, selected for the Aboriginal Books for schools catalogue and is currently under review as a possible learning resource in BC classrooms.

April 15 - noon: Halifax Public Library Spring Garden Road - Readings and Q&A with Susan Young de Biagi, Douglas Arthur Brown and Anne Simpson
April 15 - 7 pm: Alderney Landing Theatre - Atlantic Book Awards Celebration
April 16 - 7 pm: Halifax Public Library Alderney Gate - An evening of Readings, with Susan Young de Biagi, Catherine Banks and Douglas Arthur Brown
April 17 - 7 pm: Mount Allison University, hosted by Tidewater Books - An evening of Readings, Q&A, signings, with Susan Young de Biagi, Mark Blagrave, Ian Colford and Donna Morrissey.
April 18 - 2 pm: Moncton Chapters - Closing retail celebration of the 2009 Atlantic Book Awards, with Susan Young de Biagi, Ian Colford, Donna Morrissey, William Naftel and Susan Tooke.

Cibou author to tour Maritimes

Susan Young de Biagi will be in the region during Atlantic Book Awards week, giving readings at a number of venues to be announced. Her first novel Cibou is shortlisted for both the Dartmouth Book Award for fiction and the Atlantic Book award for Historical Writing.

Garry Leech interviews

Garry Leech, co-author with Terry Gibbs of The Failure of Global Capitalism: From Cape Breton to Colombia and Beyond, will give a talk on his other new book Beyond Bogota: Diary of a Drug War Journalist in Colombia (Beacon Press) at CBU on March 12 (CE-265, 12 noon).

Segments of Garry's interview with CBC Cape Breton Information Morning host Steve Sutherland, will air March 9-11.

Terry Gibbs and Garry Leech will give a talk at the McConnell library on Thursday, April 2, entitled, "Cape Breton and the Global Economic Crisis."

"The financial crisis that emerged in the United States last year has not only escalated into a full-fledged economic crisis for that country, but also for Canada and every other nation in the world. Over the past 25 years, Cape Breton’s economy has become intrinsically linked to a global economy that is a product of the process of globalization. This talk will look at how the instability and insecurity inherent in the global capitalist system has impacted Cape Breton and how we can learn from alternative models that are emerging to challenge the dominant free trade ideology by focusing on greater democratic participation, economic self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability."

Shortlisted authors appearing in Sydney

A literary evening, part of the Atlantic Book Awards week, is scheduled for Sydney on Tuesday, April 14 at McConnell Library, and hosted by CBC journalist Wendy Martin.

An exciting lineup is headlined by award-winning, Newfoundland-born, Donna Morrisey. Her latest book What They Wanted (Penguin) is shortlisted for the Atlantic Independent Booksellers' Choice Award.

Cape Breton's Douglas Arthur Brown, whose 2008 novel Quintet (Key Porter) is shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award for Fiction, will also appear alongside Robert Morgan, Susan M. Farrell and Dave Wilson.

Morgan's book Rise Again! (Breton Books) is shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award for Non-fiction and the Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing. Dave Wilson's book about his years as host of Talkback is coming soon from Breton Books.

Susan Farrell's first novel Basement Suite (working title) will be published in the fall of 2009 by CBU Press.

The ABA Sydney event is co-sponsored by CBU Press, Breton Books, Cape Breton Regional Library and the Atlantic Book Awards Society.

Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m.
McConnell Memorial Library
50 Falmouth Street, Sydney

Congratulations Susan Young de Biagi!

Cape Breton novelists shortlisted for literary awards Sydney, NS – Two of three novelists shortlisted for this year’s Dartmouth Book Award for fiction are Cape Bretoners - again. And CBU Press continues to make the award’s shortlist.

Cibou, a historical novel by Susan Young de Biagi, a native of South Bar now living in British Columbia, is published by Cape Breton University Press. Quintet by Douglas Arthur Brown, Kempt Head, is published by Key Porter Books.

Cibou is set in 17th-century Cape Breton and is a fictional account of a young Mi’kmaw woman and her experiences with two of Cape Breton’s most colourful historical figures: Jesuit missionary Antoine Daniel (St. Anthony Daniel) and his brother Charles Daniel.

The novel is also shortlisted for an Atlantic Book Award for Historical Writing.

Readers and reviewers have called Cibou “a rich treasure,” says CBU Press Editor-in-Chief, Mike Hunter.

"It’s a marvelous tale about an earlier and seldom considered time in our history. It's fiction, but as good as fiction should be, it's completely believable, and told in a strong, lyrical and sensitive voice,” he said, quoting reviews.

Douglas Arthur Brown’s Quintet, an innovative novel released in February 2008, has also been met with critical acclaim. Mr. Brown’s previous books included a collection of short fiction published by CBU Press.

Last year, all three books shortlisted for the Dartmouth book award were by Cape Breton authors, including North of Smokey by David Doucette (CBU Press). It was won by Beatrice MacNeil for her novel Where White Horses Gallop. Frank Macdonald’s beloved novel A Forest for Calum (also CBU Press) was shortlisted for the same prize in 2007.

The Atlantic Book Awards ceremony will take place on April 15th at the Alderney Landing Theatre, Dartmouth.

Feature interview with Frank Macdonald

Frank Macdonald, author of the acclaimed novel A Forest for Calum, will appear on CBC Halifax's Nunn on One, at midnight, January 22-23 on CBC TV in Nova Scotia http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/nunn_on_one

Readers continue to share their thoughts

In an email to author Stewart Donovan, a reader of The Forgotten World of R.J. MacSween: a life recently commented:

"...The conclusionary writings you so skillfully linked with this man's poetic words left tears in [my] eyes and a deeply disturbed soul...."

Your last words "there was no sign of the man we'd known"... and [MacSween's] at the conclusion of "Learning," ("in the primary school of our last days"), hit this 73-year old as a spear to my heart and soul! You, Stewart Donovan, have made far more contribution to your readers than you could realize ... much in the manner of the man you wrote about."

"...feelings of joy that finally the Good Father was receiving his long over due---due!!"

D.C.

Check out a recent review of Susan Young de Biagi's Cibou.

John Johnston to speak at SUNY

Historian John Johnston will give a talk on Endgame 1758, at State University of New York, Plattsburgh on Feb. 3. During that visit to SUNY, John will also give a talk on Mathieu Da Costa (Feb. 2).