Literature

The winners of the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize and Children’s Book Prize will be announced online Oct. 3. (Thorsten Frenzel/Pixabay)

Victoria Book Prize Society announces award finalists

Two local authors will win $5,000 for their work, winners announced online Oct. 3

 

Kamal Parmar is Nanaimo’s new poet laureate. (Photo courtesy HA Photography)

City of Nanaimo appoints new poet laureate

Kamal Parmar will serve in the role for a two-year term

 

The poet and publisher Clare Winstanley. (Contributed – AMGray Studios)

Sooke poet publishes narrative poems – an investment in life’s third chapter

‘It’s time to go back now and complete the things you started when you were younger’

 

Writers gather June 30 at the 5th Street Bar and Grill in Victoria to launch Shifting Landscapes: Wandering Words, Vol. II. (Photo by Laura Foubister)

Greater Victoria writers come together while working apart

15 local authors launch Shifting Landscapes: Wandering Words, Vol. II

Writers gather June 30 at the 5th Street Bar and Grill in Victoria to launch Shifting Landscapes: Wandering Words, Vol. II. (Photo by Laura Foubister)
Former education minister Rob Fleming and Premier John Horgan read to children at the James Bay Library during a previous summer visit. This year’s BC Summer Reading Club, staged by the Greater Vuctoria Public Library, is open to children under 13 and will feature artwork from Vancouver cartoonist and illustrator Zoe Si. (Black Press Media file photo)

Greater Victoria Public Library gives kids incentive to read this summer

Summer Reading Club rewards participants for seven weeks of reading

Former education minister Rob Fleming and Premier John Horgan read to children at the James Bay Library during a previous summer visit. This year’s BC Summer Reading Club, staged by the Greater Vuctoria Public Library, is open to children under 13 and will feature artwork from Vancouver cartoonist and illustrator Zoe Si. (Black Press Media file photo)
Pencil ninja is just one of the many stories from the minds of local youth on display in Victoria shop windows now through July 2. (Drawing courtesy Story Studio)

Young storytellers lead readers on a hunt through Victoria

Story Path featuring Pencil Ninja and more promotes literacy and outdoor physical activity

Pencil ninja is just one of the many stories from the minds of local youth on display in Victoria shop windows now through July 2. (Drawing courtesy Story Studio)
The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network has launched Little Free Library Bingo – a pandemic-friendly game is complete with bingo cards encouraging players to check out the mini-libraries in the region, read and win prizes. (Photo submitted by Teale Phelps Bondaroff)

Greater Victoria book bingo game launched by Little Free Library operators

Placemaking group encourages players to explore region, fall in love with reading

The Greater Victoria Placemaking Network has launched Little Free Library Bingo – a pandemic-friendly game is complete with bingo cards encouraging players to check out the mini-libraries in the region, read and win prizes. (Photo submitted by Teale Phelps Bondaroff)
VIU’s ‘Portal’ magazine is turning 30 years old. (Image courtesy Chantelle Calitz)

Vancouver Island University’s literary magazine ‘Portal’ celebrates 30 years

Virtual launch featuring contributor readings took place April 30

VIU’s ‘Portal’ magazine is turning 30 years old. (Image courtesy Chantelle Calitz)
Nanaimo Harbourfront Library librarian April Ripley led the effort to create a Vancouver Island poetry booklet in recognition of National Poetry Month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library publishes booklet for National Poetry Month

Collection features winners of ‘Poem in your Pocket’ contest

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library librarian April Ripley led the effort to create a Vancouver Island poetry booklet in recognition of National Poetry Month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
Gabriola Island poet Naomi Beth Wakan’s latest book is ‘Wind on the Heath.’ (Photo courtesy Elias Wakan)

Former Nanaimo poet laureate revisits past poems in latest collection

Gabriola Island’s Naomi Beth Wakan presents career-spanning ‘Wind on the Heath’

Gabriola Island poet Naomi Beth Wakan’s latest book is ‘Wind on the Heath.’ (Photo courtesy Elias Wakan)
WILDLIFE TREE: Tofino Poet Laureate Christine Lowther stands next to a giant cedar tree on District Lot 114, the site of Tofino’s controversial affordable housing project. The tree was pinned with an official Ministry of Forests yellow wildlife tree sign to educate fallers that the tree needs to be left standing for food, shelter and nesting. (Nora O’Malley photo)

Tofino author Christine Lowther calling for poetry about trees

“I’m thrilled to be of service to trees through poetry.”

WILDLIFE TREE: Tofino Poet Laureate Christine Lowther stands next to a giant cedar tree on District Lot 114, the site of Tofino’s controversial affordable housing project. The tree was pinned with an official Ministry of Forests yellow wildlife tree sign to educate fallers that the tree needs to be left standing for food, shelter and nesting. (Nora O’Malley photo)
Literacy Central Vancouver Island youth literacy coordinator Delaney Gunn collected stories and art works by youths experiencing homelessness in the latest issue of LCVI’s ‘Place’ magazine. (Photo submitted)

Magazine collects stories and art by Nanaimo youths experiencing homelessness

Literacy Central Vancouver Island presents latest issue of ‘Place’ magazine

Literacy Central Vancouver Island youth literacy coordinator Delaney Gunn collected stories and art works by youths experiencing homelessness in the latest issue of LCVI’s ‘Place’ magazine. (Photo submitted)
Nanaimo poet Kim Goldberg has written a poem in memory of her fried Leonard Williams, a man experiencing homelessness who died in December. (Photo courtesy Kim Goldberg)

Nanaimo poet eulogizes friend, addresses homelessness in new poem

Kim Goldberg’s ‘Lesser Gods (for Leonard)’ memorializes friend found dead in alley

Nanaimo poet Kim Goldberg has written a poem in memory of her fried Leonard Williams, a man experiencing homelessness who died in December. (Photo courtesy Kim Goldberg)
Juno-winning Toronto dub poet Lillian Allen is VIU’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet for 2021. (Photo courtesy Karen Lee)

Juno-winning dub poet is VIU’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet this year

Lillian Allen will present online lecture, reading and Q-and-A

Juno-winning Toronto dub poet Lillian Allen is VIU’s Gustafson Distinguished Poet for 2021. (Photo courtesy Karen Lee)
Former park warden George Mercer has turned to writing fiction since his retirement and move to Vancouver Island. Photograph by Lia Crowe

Into The Wild With Writer George Mercer

A passion for parks sets the backdrop for novel series

  • Jan 6, 2021
Former park warden George Mercer has turned to writing fiction since his retirement and move to Vancouver Island. Photograph by Lia Crowe
Creativity Commons manger Jonathon Bigelow is printing copies of ‘Alone but Not Alone: Poetry in Isolation’ using the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library’s Espresso Book Machine. (Photo courtesy Corinne Shortridge)

‘Alone but Not Alone: Poetry in Isolation’ features poets from across Vancouver Island

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library releases COVID-19-themed poetry anthology

Creativity Commons manger Jonathon Bigelow is printing copies of ‘Alone but Not Alone: Poetry in Isolation’ using the Nanaimo Harbourfront Library’s Espresso Book Machine. (Photo courtesy Corinne Shortridge)
Dover Bay Secondary School student Victoria Hathfield’s poem <em>Dear Santa</em> appears in<em> Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas is in the Air</em>. (Photo courtesy Darren Lee)

Nanaimo high schooler has first poem published in ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’

Victoria Hathfield’s ‘Dear Santa’ appears in new Christmas-themed edition of anthology series

Dover Bay Secondary School student Victoria Hathfield’s poem <em>Dear Santa</em> appears in<em> Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas is in the Air</em>. (Photo courtesy Darren Lee)
Nanaimo poet Kamal Parmar’s latest book, ‘Still Waters,’ reflects on her mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease. (Photos submitted)

Nanaimo poet reflects on mother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s disease in new book

Kamal Parmar is presenting online readings from latest poetry collection, ‘Still Waters’

Nanaimo poet Kamal Parmar’s latest book, ‘Still Waters,’ reflects on her mother’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease. (Photos submitted)
Nanaimo librarian and “novice poet” April Hilland is launching a new low-barrier poetry journal called <em>Van Isle Poetry Collective</em>. (Photo courtesy Inspired Spirits Photography)

Nanaimo librarian launches new Vancouver Island poetry journal

Island-themed poems dominate inaugural issue of ‘Van Isle Poetry Collective’

Nanaimo librarian and “novice poet” April Hilland is launching a new low-barrier poetry journal called <em>Van Isle Poetry Collective</em>. (Photo courtesy Inspired Spirits Photography)
Toronto poet Robert Priest is presenting an online reading on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy Allen Booth)

Nanaimo spoken word society presents online reading by prolific Toronto poet

Robert Priest to dip into 40-year catalogue for upcoming Zoom reading

Toronto poet Robert Priest is presenting an online reading on Oct. 24. (Photo courtesy Allen Booth)