Icelandic writer Sjòn to stop in Winnipeg

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This article was published 18/10/2014 (4355 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An Icelandic poet, playwright and novelist — who’s probably best-known as a lyricist for Bjork — will meet Winnipeg readers and sign books Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers.

Sjòn‘s novels The Blue Fox, From the Mouth of the Whale and The Whispering Muse have been translated into 25 languages. In addition to writing lyrics for Bjork’s Biophilia album, he was nominated for an Academy Award for lyrics he wrote with Lars von Trier for the film Dancer in the Dark.

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The Manitoba Writers’ Guild’s monthly series In Dialogue, which pairs visiting and local writers for readings and discussion, kicks off Monday with Canada’s young adult bestseller, Kenneth Oppel, author of the Silverwing and Airborn books, and Manitoba’s Colleen Nelson (The Fall).

Each month’s offering focuses on a specific genre, with novelists Marina Endicott (The Little Shadows) and Joan Thomas (The Opening Sky) on tap for Nov. 24, and memoirists Iain Reid (One Bird’s Choice) and Maurice Mierau (Detachment: An Adoption Memoir) scheduled for Dec. 15. The series continues until April.

This year’s series takes place at Bailey’s Restaurant, 7-9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available from the Manitoba Writers’ Guild (info@mbwriter.mb.ca).

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One of the writers responsible for Newfoundland’s oversized literary shadow will visit McNally Robinson Oct. 20 to launch his latest novel.

Michael Crummey, who burst on the scene in 2001 with the Giller-shortlisted The River Thieves, will read from Sweetland, his new novel about the continuing movement to shut down the province’s small outport towns. The event begins at 7 p.m.

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The author of a memoir of trauma, healing and leadership that was named recently to the shortlist for the Governor General’s Award for non-fiction will meet Manitoba readers at McNally Robinson Oct. 21 at 7 p.m.

Edmund Metatawabin, a survivor of the infamous St. Anne’s Indian Residential School in northern Ontario, recounts his experience in Up Ghost River: a Chief’s Journey Through the Turbulent Waters of Native History, written with Alexandra Shimo.

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Winnipeg literary magazine Contemporary Verse 2 is giving literary aficionados the opportunity to “Carpe Cerebellum” at the second annual Undead Poets Society Social.

The fundraising party promises “readings from the re-animated corpses of Winnipeg’s finest poets” plus a costume contest for attendees who dress as their favourite living or undead literary icon or literary character. The fun starts at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Park Theatre.

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Do-it-yourself literary culture takes centre stage Oct. 25 at the University of Winnipeg at Canzine 2014.

The celebration of ‘zine culture, presented by Broken Pencil magazine in partnership with the Winnipeg Anarchist Book Fair, includes an independent press fair, pitch sessions for writers, and readings from politically charged writers and artists including Roewan Crowe (Quivering Land), performance artist Shawna Dempsey, montage artist Rob Kovitz, and poet Andrew Vaissius. The event runs from noon to 7 p.m. at Riddell Hall.

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The Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library are hosting their annual Big Fall Book Sale Oct. 25-26 to support the library.

Sixty tables of books, CDs, DVDs and even LPs will be on sale at Grant Park High School from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 25 and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26. Remaining items are reduced to half price on the second day.

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