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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

It's finally time for the final Wheel of Time

By: Anita Daher

Posted: 12/24/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

At 7:49 a.m. on Thursday, Utah author Brandon Sanderson tweeted, "Ladies and gentlemen, A Memory of Light -- the final book in The Wheel of Time -- has been finished." And Robert Jordan fans across the Internet cheered, then hit reply.

Robert Jordan (Real name: James Oliver Rigney, Jr.) wrote 11 books in his bestselling Wheel of Time fantasy series and was at work on the 12th and final novel, A Memory of Light, at the time of his death in 2007. A few months later, his publisher announced that Jordan's widow, Harriet McDougal, chose Sanderson to complete the book.

Just after dinnertime Sanderson tweeted again, "Ah. Good morning, all. (Yes, it's five in the afternoon here.) Checking email, and...INBOX EXPLOSION. I guess I was expecting it. :)"

Sanderson expects that the book will be published in the fall of 2012.

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The Canadian Mennonite University has paid tribute to retired professor Harry Huebner in the form of a book. The Church Made Strange for the Nations was presented to Huebner at a November event as a Festschrift, which is a celebration in writing meant to honour a respected academic.

The book is a collection of essays published by Pickwick Publications, written by 15 colleagues, seven from CMU. The title is taken from an essay Huebner wrote in 1997.

Huebner began teaching at the Canadian Mennonite Bible College -- CMU's founding college -- in 1971, and remained at CMU until his retirement in 2008.

At the book launch, Huebner acknowledged the time and effort that went into the honour, calling the book a "rare and special gift." The Church Made Strange for the Nations is available in the CMU bookstore at 500 Shaftesbury Blvd.

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Canada's new poet laureate says our schools could do a better job at teaching homegrown books.

"I think there is a great need to get some of our poetry and some of our Canadian literature into our schools," Fred Wah told the Globe and Mail in Toronto.

Earlier this week, Parliament named Saskatchewan-born writer as its next official poet. Wah will spend two years sponsoring poetry readings, advising the parliamentary library on acquisitions, and writing poetry that Parliament might use on special occasions.

He'll also work on other poetry related projects. Wah, 72, is fifth to hold this august title. He's been writing and publishing since 1965, producing 23 books and chapbooks including 1986 Governor General Award-winning poetry book Waiting for Saskatchewan.

anitadaher1@gmail.com

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition December 24, 2011 A1

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