Awards: Shortlist for EJ Pratt Poetry Prize

Good news for Whiteout: it’s been shortlisted for the EJ Pratt Poetry Prize through the Atlantic Book Awards. This is my third nomination in row for this prize, with both Glimpse and The Rush to Here being previously nominated in 2011 and 2009 respectively. Whiteout is up against some stiff competition, however, in the form of Mark Callanan’s excellent book Gift Horse, and Don McKay’s star power with Paradoxides.

You should buy all three and compare. Wish me luck. Third time’s either a charm or bridesmaid for life!

Reading: Word on the Street Vancouver

I’ll be reading on Sunday as part of Word on the Street in Vancouver with a great list of local and national poets.

What: Word on the Street
Where: Poetry Tent, Library Square, Hamilton and Robson, Vancouver (map)
When: 1:15 pm, Sunday, September 30

Hope to see you there!

Event: Pivot Reading Series in Toronto

I’m reading tonight at the Pivot Series in Toronto. It’s a very special Pivot, as long time host Elisabeth de Mariaffi will be stepping down from her post to move to Newfoundland to… well, be with me. (I don’t post a lot of personal information here, but you should probably know: I’m in love.) So she’s having a few friends read as her goodbye party. It will be poet me, novelist Meaghan Strimas, poet Gillian Wigmore, and blogger Julie Wilson. Come out, come out! Here’s the Facebook event, and here’s the Pivot listing.

Launch: Whiteout in Toronto

We’re finally here, launching Whiteout in my old hometown. Everyone and their friends welcome. Come help me (and the other ECW spring authors) celebrate!

What: ECW Spring Launch Party
Where: The Sister (1554 Queen Street West, Toronto)
When: Monday, May 14, 7pm
Who: Readings by:

• David Balzer, author of Contrivances
• Heather A. Clark, author of Chai Tea Sunday
• Joey Comeau, author of The Complete Lockpick Pornography
• Sky Gilbert, author of Come Back
• George Murray, author of Whiteout

Event: Plan 99 Reading in Ottawa

I’ll be reading with Roo Borson at the Plan 99 series at The Manx pub in Ottawa this coming Saturday. Hope you can be there. It’s sort of the Ottawa launch of Whiteout, and I’ll have some books on hand for sale. It’s an early reading, so we’ll probably all have dinner and drinks afterwards. Stick around!

What: Roo Borson and George Murray at Plan 99
Where: The Manx, 370 Elgin Street, Ottawa (map)
When: Saturday, April 14, 5pm

 

Events: Spring readings from Whiteout

Whiteout and I have a bunch of appearances coming up in the next few months. Hope you can make it out to one or two.

• Weekend Arts Magazine, CBC Radio 1, Sunday, April 1, 8:30am
• St. John’s Launch, The Ship, Tuesday, April 3, 7:30pm
• Plan 99 Reading Series, Ottawa at The Manx, April 14, 5:00pm
• Toronto Launch, TBA, Monday, May 14, 8:00pm
• Waterloo Ontario, Starlight Social Club, Tuesday, May 15, 7:00pm
• Pivot Readings Series, Toronto at the Press Club, Wednesday, June 27, 8:00pm

Would love to see you there. If you can’t make it, but can send your friends in the city where the event is, I’d much appreciate it!

Teaching: New York Times Knowledge Network

Starting April 16, I’m once again teaching Introduction to Poetry for the New York Times Knowledge Network, in conjunction with the University of Toronto’s SCS. We cover everything from the basics (what actually IS poetry? what are the basic poetic elements? etc.) to in depth study and practice in forms (breath pulse/prose poetry, free verse, haiku, ghazal, sonnet, villanelle, glosa, and sestina), to talk of editing and nurturing “voice”, and finally a sections on “next steps and how to get published”. If you’re interested, you can take this course for your own enjoyment or for credit at UofT’s SCS towards the Creative Writing Certificate. Sign up at the link above, or get the course as a gift for a loved one who might be harbouring secret dreams of writing and publishing poetry!

Event: St. John’s Launch for Whiteout

I’ve finally scheduled a St. John’s launch for my new book, Whiteout. Info all below. Hope to see you there, and to find you brought some friends with you.

• What: George Murray launches Whiteout
• When: Tuesday, April 3, 7:30pm
• Where: The Ship Pub, 265 Duckworth Street, St. John’s
• How: Muchies on hand, beer available at the bar, and books for sale… perhaps a poem will be heard

Here’s the Facebook event for the page. Feel free to invite your St. John’s people or visiting folk to it.

Event: Reading in Vancouver

I am reading and speaking and moderating as part of the Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference starting next week. It’s my first time in Vancouver (really!) and I’m in some very good company. Check it out!

Book: Whiteout, Spring 2012

Here’s the cover for my upcoming book, Whiteout, due spring of next year from ECW. I hope you like it! I love it.