Verbatim: A Novel

A post on music

Jeff Bursey — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:35:09 +0000

Over at BIG OTHER I have a post on Tommy Ardolino, the late drummer for NRBQ. You can check it out here.

An interview on BIG OTHER

Jeff Bursey — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:25:24 +0000

Not of me, but by me, of Michelle Butler Hallett, available here.

Soon off to Winnipeg

Jeff Bursey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:59:58 +0000

My publisher, Enfield & Wizenty, is in Winnipeg, and for some time it’s seemed a good idea to go there and promote my book in person. What better month to visit a prairie capital than February? On the 21st I’ll read with Michelle Butler Hallett as she launches her new book deluded your sailors in the West, and Bob Armstrong, author of Dadolescence. Our host, the book store McNally Robinson, have put up a link about it. It’ll be a diverse reading. And it’ll be neat to finally meet the people who put out my book.

A reading reviewed

Jeff Bursey — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:03 +0000

Not many readings get reviewed, as far as I know, so when they do it’s something to note. Here is what Geordie Carragher, studying journalism at a local college, thought of the 11 January reading featuring Chris Benjamin, Yvette Doucette, David Helwig, Hugh MacDonald and myself. Thanks to him for coming out, for talking with the writers after, and for this article. Maybe he’ll start a trend among his fellow students.

Out west

Jeff Bursey — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:01:40 +0000

On 21 January, at 1:30 p.m., a group of writers read in Summerside, PEI, at the Lefurgey Cultural Centre. Apart from our interest in reading in this city where none of us had read before, we also brought home-baked treats, fruit, and juice. The centre provided tea and coffee and, most important of all, publicity and a warm environment to read in. When I say warm I mean heated (it was -10 C outside) and welcoming. We had an attentive audience of readers and writers who had braved the cold, in this sport-inclined city, and they stayed around after to have excellent desserts and to talk. We all enjoyed the event.

From left to right, the authors are: Steven Mayoff (Fatted Calf Blues), Beth Janzen (The Enchanted House), Kathleen Hamilton (Sex After Baby), Orysia Dawydiak (House of Bears), and myself. Photo by Thelma Phillips.

An ant and an author

Jeff Bursey — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:06:48 +0000

For some time I’ve been reading Salty Ink, a blog written and run by Chad Pelley that emphasizes writers from atlantic canada. He mentioned opening it up to guest posts, and kindly accepted my remarks on public readings. Anyone interested can go here to read more. I don’t explain the creature in the background, it was just a cool shot.

A recommended blog

Jeff Bursey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:44:48 +0000

Over to the side you’ll see Tales from the Reading Room. It’s run by Litlove, a sensitive english professor who is perceptive, well-rounded in her reading, good at explaining complex topics, and jargon-free in her writing. I recommend her blog to anyone who wants to read well-crafted reviews of new books and older ones, and particularly to those who have a book they’d like reviewed (their own or someone else’s). Once you read a few of Litlove’s posts you’ll see what I mean about her probing intelligence (one that never descends into malice). Occasionally there are amusing discussions stemming from a family incident, and that doesn’t make for a distraction, due to her amiable nature. It merely shows she’s human.

Despite winter weather, there are readings popping up

Jeff Bursey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:13:37 +0000

A good way to start the new year is to do a reading, and in January I’ll participate in two, with excellent company. Here I’ll just mention the first one.

At 7:00 p.m. on 11 January, in the Faculty Lounge of the Main Building of the University of Prince Edward Island, I’ll give a reading from Verbatim: A Novel. Joining me are Chris Benjamin, David Helwig, Hugh MacDonald , and Yvette Doucette. Chris, from Nova Scotia, will be here to do the PEI launch of his 2010 novel Drive-By Saviours; David (past-Poet Laureate of PEI) will be launching his newest novel, Killing McGee; and it’s a safe bet Hugh (current Poet Laureate of PEI) and Yvette will be reading poetry. A diverse night with great writers, and it should be a lot of fun. With refreshments, and it’s free. What could be better in one of the rougher months of winter?

Yet another review, this time in Canada

Jeff Bursey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:57:44 +0000

Mark Sampson, novelist and poet, recently reviewed my book here. I read with him and Rebecca Rosenblum in Toronto in August, and it’s nice to see that the shine didn’t come off the novel when he got the chance to spend time with it alone. His blog is filled with interesting books and well-written reviews, so check it out.

How about a book?

Jeff Bursey — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:50:49 +0000

The fine people at Advent Book Elf were open to suggestions for reading, from writers located all over Canada, and here’s my recommendation. If you pick up this book, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.