Hump day update...
February 28, 2007
I ’m reading Randy Boyagoda’s “Governor of the Northern Province” right now, and will file a review to the Journal (Edmonton Journal) by the weekend. A review of Mayra Montero’s “Dancing to Almendra” will follow. I also have a copy of CS Richardson’s “The End of the Alphabet” on my desk, and I’m anxious to get into it. It sounds amazing. It’s a small book – very narrow on the page – likely not more than a novella in length (it’s 152 pages but….not many words/page). With a main character named Ambrose Zephyr and his wife, Zipper, I’m intrigued. (Apparently, Zipper kept her maiden name….Zipper Zephyr would be too ridiculous for words...funny and stupid at the same time).
In other news, I just sent off a manuscript of poetry, tentatively titled: “failure in 5/4 time,” to Goose Lane Editions. Well, there are some short fiction pieces in there too but it’s mostly poetry. It’s out of my hands. In two days, they’ll have it…and it will likely go into a slush pile of poetry manuscripts…and in a few months…news. Publishing poetry must be a complete loss-leader for publishing houses. And at the same time, I think it’s so important. Anyway, blessings on you, my little manuscript. Good luck out there in the world. Remember to look both ways before crossing the street and then point. Don't talk to strangers....I'll miss you.
And now, work begins on the new novel.
Doubting Yourself to the Bone is now in competition for the Canadian Authors’ Association—Alberta Branch, Exporting Alberta prize. It’s a $1,000 prize for an Alberta Author to tour outside of the province. I wonder if that includes a book tour in Cuba, or Paris, or San Francisco? Hmmmm....
Here’s a sample from the poetry manuscript: a section of the Floe Lake Suite, (hinged on a trip my friend Dean and I took into YoHo National Park, just two days after 9-11:
Two.
Four days past Attack on America
Five hours of sweaty work
climbing with heavy packs
up a trail fit for mules
Four days of peace here.
Two days of worry about
whether or not
the world is still there
Because it is so quiet
and there is no radio, cell phone, TV
newspaper cacophony
And then,
six a.m. silence
of gentle mountain sanctuary
slashed in two by vapour trail
hissing jet far above and away
across the pristine blue morning
delivers the song of commerce
and life goes on, terror or no terror
things must be bigger and better always.
But really, a future of crossing oceans
by ship, and of travel across countries
by train, and seven days a week
of no more airplanes
suites me fine.
5 Comments
1. Mike had this to say: Feb 28, 2007 ~ 16:03 ~ #
Good luck with the manuscript, Thomas. I hope it becomes something.
The poem above is great.
2. Rosemary had this to say: Mar 01, 2007 ~ 08:13 ~ #
Thomas,
I was supposed to be in NY when 911 happened. Thank goodness my friend and I cancelled our trip. I can’t imagine going through that hell on earth.
Your piece is inspiring.
3. Thomas had this to say: Mar 01, 2007 ~ 11:33 ~ #
Rosemary,
I hope, hope, hope it all goes well today. I’m thinking about you….
namaste
t
4. Thomas had this to say: Mar 01, 2007 ~ 11:41 ~ #
Mike,
I included the Floe Lake Suite in the Goose Lane submission—re-worked the whole thing….removed the reference to “Vagina Mountain” which now, years removed, just seemed incredibly juvenile. The front end of the piece, I left…but reworked the back…and it’s much better now.
5. Michael had this to say: Mar 02, 2007 ~ 04:29 ~ #
I have one chapter. One chapter. One chapter left of Doubting Yourself To The Bone and it is an amazing book, Mr. Trofimuk. The writing is exquisitely poetic and you’ve done a fine job of documenting the road to recovery that many people have to take at least once in their lives.
Needless to say, I’m excited to hear that you are now beginning work on your next novel.