Ghost Music, Nominations, and the Blinding Echo/Ego

I suppose it might be considered bragging, if I thought anyone read this blog, to say that Ghost Music (BuschekBooks) has been longlisted for the fabulous ReLit Award. If you, who probably aren't reading this post, haven't heard, the ReLit is given out to three books -- one novel, one collection of poetry, one short story collection -- published by small Canadian presses. True to its motto (Ideas, Not Money), The Relit Awards awards the winners with a beautiful and coveted ring ("My Precious!") with four articulated alphabetic bands for spelling out four-letter words (or short sentences: "Iwin," for example). I've only seen the ring in pictures, and in my dreams, so I can't say for sure what it's like, but I can think of a whole lot of four letter words that need spelling.

I am honoured to have Ghost Music listed alongside all those great titles. That's reward enough, isn't it? "We wants it, we needs it" -- oh, cut that out!

The Auld Kirk, Thessalon, Ontario, & a parade

An afternoon in Thessalon, Ontario, birthplace of both my father and grandfather. Played in a great-sounding room in The Auld Kirk, a cafe, concert hall, gallery, and cultural space run by Mr Tom Carnahan. It was the first time that a parade ran through one of my sets. Today was Thessalon's community celebration. So, after a couple of tunes, we all took a break to watch the parade. It was a blast. I'll be back on October 1 and again later that the month, or in mid-September. A nice sounding room.
Here's a snippet from the set. A tune called "Every Time We Begin," bootlegged by the ever-lovely mapi.

A New Short Film

Hold on to your popcorn, folks, and turn the lights low. This time out we have a psychological thriller. Are you ready to face _Loo's Mirror_?

Ghost Music reviewed by Greatest Lakes Review

A review of GM from Michigan-based Greatest Lakes Review:

ghost music by mark d. dunn

BuschekBooks, $17.50

 

Canadian poet and musician Mark D. Dunn has a serious eye for the things all around us, as well as a serious ear for music, and he puts them to use in this book of poems. Filled with beautiful, rusty words about rivers and mountains, bird and people, the poems flow with all the qualities of a good song. Strong images and concrete, sincere narrations are the backbone of this collection, and they are sturdy. This is a gem of a book by a brand new author, and it's not one to miss.
Rating: 4/5

 

http://greatestlakesreview.weebly.com/book-reviews.html

 

 

 

Twenty Feet and a Seagull

A new short film from the producer of the short films _Birthday Wishes_ and _Dog's View From A Moving Car_: TWENTY FEET & a SEAGULL

Poetry Month Reading

Way back in April, 2011, the League of Canadian Poets sponsored a reading at the Sault Public Library. I was honoured to share the event with poet Jena Schmitt whose Catchment Area (Signature Editions) is just marvelous. I've worked some of Jena's poems in the poetry class and found that students loved them. Jena also graciously agreed to visit the class last fall.
The April event was much fun, although short. Only an hour was allotted for the evening. Yet, it was fun and we got to hear Jena Schmitt read -- what more can you ask?


The pictures here were provided by the founder of the Sault Library writers series, poet Mark Peltonen.

RIP Robert Kroetsch (1927-2011)

Just days before his 84th birthday, Alberta poet, novelist, teacher Robert Kroetsch died on the highway while returning from a writer's festival. Kroetsch's work as writer and teacher is fundamental to Canadian literature. I never felt he received the recognition he deserved. He is what some might call a "writer's writer." And what a writer. I knew him only through his poetry, novels and essays, but count Mr Kroetsch has one of my great teachers. Here is a video that opens with a passage from his novel _What the Crow Saw_: