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Montréal, where plates are stacked with smoked meat
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| Montréal, where plates are stacked with smoked meat |
| 06.06.04 (9:23 pm) [edit] |
This weekend, the League of Canadian Poets met for its annual general meeting in Montréal. I went with my friend Adam, whose book won the League's award for best first book.
My publisher suggested that I bring my manuscript to Anne Carson, who gave the guest lecture this year. Consistent with my work habits, I interspersed working on the manuscript with yabbering with Adam on the train, eating carnivorously, and buying bagels at the finest bagélériés the city has to offér.
The Cast:
matt (he publishes his name in small caps because he's such a humble guy) is the president of the league. he is a tall, guy-next-door kind of fellow, has blond spiky hair and wears a jacket that makes him look like a security guard.
Triny, like Chris and Adam and I, published her book this year with Nightwood Editions. She and Adam tell jokes like siblings who are just about to hit each other.
Chris, who was shortlisted for the award that Adam won, is a tall lanky guy with glasses and hands for storytelling. If he's quiet and something really strange happens (like poets dancing to oldies during the gala dinner, let's say), he becomes very quiet and says, "Wow," very emphatically, every now and then.
The Gala:
I recorded Adam's Lampert reading and acceptance to mp3 using my fancy little mp3 player. I burned him a copy on CD. You can hear him threaten to read one of Chris Banks's juvenalia poems and, if you listen carefully, you can hear Chris freak out in the background.
Unlike Adam, who accepted his award with aplomb, I shat myself approaching Anne Carson for a blurb. I had written out my introduction several times on hotel stationery. I think I remember saying something stupid about Virginia Woolf, which, in retrospect, was probably lethal. In the moment, however, Anne just looked at me blankly and said, "I don't do blurbs." I hadn't figured out what to say next so I just went back to my table with my manuscript. I only worked up the courage to give her the manuscript once I reasoned with myself that, if she turned down even taking it, then at least she wouldn't see how much my style rips hers off. But, well, gee, I printed out the copy for you and don't feel obligated to read it if you're too busy, but she took it and said, "Thanks," with the same blank look.
Now I'm scared she'll read it. It's meeting your childhood superhero and trying to flex.
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posted by: sa (reply)
post date: 06.08.04 (10:18 am)
that anne carson detail slipped through the cracks of our conversation. what does this mean in terms of blurbs for you then?
Trini was published by nightwood? I missed that. Is her stuff good?
I think I'd like to see Adam squabbling.
posted by: evilturtlenecks (reply)
post date: 06.09.04 (7:26 pm)
It'll mean that I'll have to track down a few others. I'll ask Carleton when I see him tomorrow.
posted by: newbiedt (reply)
post date: 06.12.04 (10:59 pm)
the cast eh? what a neat idea... how very original.. yes... mhm
posted by: Jimmy (reply)
post date: 03.27.06 (3:46 am)
You Gotcha one of the nicest blogs I have seen.
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