Wow, double Wow! What a night!

Last night was the NOWW's 18th Annual Awards Party and what a party it was. A full house at the Prince Arthur heard Michael Christie, the keynote speaker talk about growing up in Thunder Bay and feeling isolated and far away from the action. A visit to Alistair MacLeod's writing cabin in Cape Breton changed his mind. He realized isolated and far from the centres of culture had no meaning to a writer. Great art can happen anywhere. Christie ended with a call to join Jane Urquhart (and her book, The Underpainter) and write about where we are, right here.

 The room was bursting with talent. I talked to dozens of people: readers, writers, playwrights, poets and just general literature lovers. Here are just a few. More later.

Amy Jones whose new novel, "We're All in This Together," will be available a Chapters June 11. Amy will be there too, to meet, greet and sign. 

Sue Blott won first prize in the non-fiction category for a memorable  story about her father who, she learned late in life, was not really her biological father at all.

Dave Belrose told me about his upcoming memoir "Answering a Different Call: My (Queer) Thunder Bay Life." Dave has lived an eventful life which will result in a superb memoir.

John Pringle, whose play "No More Jokes," took first place in the recent 10X10 competition. The play was presented to a appreciative audience as part of the after dinner entertainment. 

Linda Golpy Anderson discussed her YA novel and the many pitfalls on the road to publication.