I flew in to Saskatoon on November 24th for a book event for Kobzar’s Children that evening at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. This was an amazing visit for so many reasons. The Ukrainian Museum of Canada is a phenomenal place. There are so many unique Canadian and Ukrainian artifacts that I could spend days there.

The museum also owns a large collection of William Kurelek original paintings and the Kobzar book event was held in the William Kurelek room. I had never seen a Kurelek up close and I was mesmerized by the minute detail. One could see the texture of every blade of grass and each wrinkle on every face. I could spend days in that room alone! William Kurelek grew up just miles from my father’s childhood home and many of his paintings remind me of my father’s stories about his childhood.

Added to this excitement was the fact that several of the anthology contributors were able to participate in the book event. Danny Evanishen came in from BC because the museum was holding a Christmas Yarmarok the same weekend. Danny has a number of Ukrainian folk tale collections through his own Ethnic Enterprises company. And his wife Jean makes beautiful Trypillian style pottery.

I had the opportunity to meet Larry Warwaruk for the first time at this event and was able to catch up with Linda Mikolayenko, who braved through a snow storm to get to Saskatoon.

Each contributor did a brief reading and gave some anecdotes about writing. Larry told a hilarious story about his first book launch. Linda was in her expressive storytelling mode and Danny was, well, Danny!

 The room was packed to capacity. There were even people listening in from the hallway. The museum sold out of all the hardcovers of Kobzar’s Children and most of the softcovers.

Here’s a photo of the contributors who participated. From left to right, Danny, Linda, Larry and me:

I got a pile of writing done while we were in Las Vegas last week. My husband had a conference there so I had the hotel room to myself for four days running. I’m up to 7000+ words and the whole chapter book can be no more than 10,000. I haven’t had a chance to work on it since we got back but am chomping to get back to it.

Why do people like Las Vegas? I don’t gamble and don’t understand the allure of gambling. I don’t smoke either, and in fact I’m allergic to tobacco. Las Vegas is so smoky and loud and overwhelming in commercial crassness. We wanted to take in some shows, so we saw Zumanity and the Blue Man Group. Zumanity is a Cirque du Soliel show and we were looking forward to breathtaking acrobatics. There was very little of that. Mostly, it was muscular guys in sequinned jock straps or merry widows and black net stockings and nearly naked women simulating sex. I don’t have a problem with nudity or sex but I do have a problem with lack of creativity and pandering to the lowest common denominator and a lack of acrobatics in a show that’s supposed to be acrobatics. If I want to see simulated sex, I’ll read my spam.

The Blue Man Group was better. Very funny and odd and smarter.

News Release: 

Ukrainian Museum of Canada

910 Spadina Crescent East,  Saskatoon SK

5 November 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING . . .

 

We are pleased to announce that a Yarmarok (Christmas Bazaar) will be held in the Main Galleries of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada Friday, November 24 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. FREE ADMISSION

 

In Ukraine, the Yarmarok was the cultural hub of the community. People would travel from far and wide to peddler their wares, to visit with others and to share in the joy of the centuries old tradition of the artisan and farmers market. Join us for a Ukrainian Canadian market atmosphere with 25 different artisans and vendors, musicians, two book launches and Christmas carols.

 

Join us for a wine and cheese reception Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. when author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch will launch a new anthology of Ukrainian Canadian literature Kobzar’s Children. Several of the books contributors will also be present as will local musician Matthew Gruza.  On Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. local author and choir director Stanislaw Hawryliw along with the Dibrova Seniors Choir and Mandolin ensemble will launch his new book Christmas Carols and Shchedrivky. At 2:30 p.m. the Children’s Choir from the Ukrainian bilingual program at Bishop Filevich School will perform and Danny Evanishen will story tell from his anthology of folk tales.

 

As an added feature, Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch will give a one-hour writer’s workshop on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. The public is invited to pre-register for this workshop.

 

The new exhibition From Dust to Dust: the Life and Work of Peter Rupchan, a prairie potter’s story will be showing in the first gallery, and Ukrainian Pioneer Women by William Kurelek will show in the Special Collections Gallery.

 

We look forward to sharing this special season with you.

 

 

For further information, please call:

Janet Prebushewsky Danyliuk, Director

1-306-244-3800

directorumc@sasktel.net

 

 

 

My son Neil was recently a team member representing Brock U at the ACM Programming Competition, in which teams from eastern North America compete. Congratulations, son! Here’s the Brock press release:

 

Brock Excels in ACM Programming Competition: 19th out of 116

Kobzar’s Children also got a lovely review by Sarah Meador in Curled Up With a Good Kid’s Book.

Check it out.

Aram got a lovely five star review from Lillian Brummet in Curled Up with a Good Kid’s Book. Check it out.

I was checking around on Alibris for some other things and popped in my own name to see what would come up. Someone is selling Aram’s Choice for $93!! I know it’s sold out, but the second printing will be available within days. Sheesh.

I have been using my Urban Poles for several months now and figured I should report in about how I’m finding them.

At first, they were a bit embarrassing. The first time I went out on my own, I felt like people were staring. For quite awhile, I would only use them when I was with a walking friend but lately it doesn’t bother me at all.

If you do get your own urban poles, be prepared for smiling patiently as people passing you think they’re original as they call out “Did you lose your skis?” or “Are you waiting for a big snow storm?” Haha.

What I love about these things is that they burn so much more energy than plain walking yet they’re easy to use and it doesn’t feel like work. They exercise the arms and the torso and they take some of the impact off the feet. I used to find that my hands would get swollen during a 10k walk because my hands would hang at my side. With these poles, they don’t get swollen. I broke a toe a couple of years ago, and ever since, that whole foot and ankle got injured or inflamed easily with long walks and runs, but since I’ve been using these poles, my stride is different and my foot is the best it’s been in a long time.

Also, if a mean dog comes up to me I have a weapon!

And when cars pass too closely, I have a weapon!

I love my urban poles!

After writing that last journal entry, I hunkered down and started to write. This is an early chapter book I’m writing, so I’ve got to get the whole thing done in 10,000 words or less. Easier said than done, especially when it’s historical. After deleting much, I’m at 1300 words, which is fantabulous!! I’m off and running! The first few scenes are always the hardest.

How do you know when it’s time to stop researching and hunker down to the writing?

For me, the research part is fun. It’s lazing around, immersing myself in tidbits and interesting anecdotes and imagining what it was like. When I really start going, I write and only research on a “need to” basis, but the trick is to get going.

Some people think that writing fiction is easy, but I sure don’t find it easy. It takes all my gumption to stop with the research and plunge into the story.

So today I have told myself — JUST DO IT! And I will. For me, that means opening my manuscript file and leaving it open on my laptop so whenever I have a moment to spare, I can add an sentence or two. Or more.