The SWG is pleased to announce Bev Brenna as our Winter 2024 Virtual Writer-in-Residence for February 1 to April 30, 2024.
Bev Brenna is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of 14 books for young people (including picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, poetry and short story collections), earning a Printz Honor, a Dolly Gray Award, and a Stuchner Award for humour; her work has also been shortlisted for a Governor General’s Literary Award and listed on CBC’s Young Adult Books That Make You Proud To Be Canadian. Bev has also published 2 non-fiction titles on children’s literature, and her adult poetry, prose, and academic writing has been published in a variety of anthologies, journals, magazines, and newspapers. For more info, please see http://www.beverleybrenna.com
The Virtual Writer-in-Residence (VWiR) program provides opportunities for SWG members writing at all levels of development and in all genres to receive guidance and advice on a specific writing project from an established writer. Eligible members must live in Saskatchewan outside of Regina and Saskatoon – members in those cities can access their Public Library’s Writer-in-Residence programs. Members can submit up to 15 pages to the VWIR and meet one-on-one through Zoom up to three times to talk about the individual’s writing.
This service will open February 1, 2024. For more information and to register, visit https://skwriter.com/programs-and-services/virtual-writer-in-residence.
Hello I’m Bev Brenna and I’m delighted to be the new virtual writer in residence for the Saskatchewan Writers Guild this term I live in Saskatoon now but I spent 18 years living in rural Saskatchewan and I know the difference distance makes to access to writing programs and events and I’m really glad
That technology will help us get together this semester as part of this welcome I’m going to share three passages from some of my published work it’s writing for quite different audiences and purposes but each of these pieces connects I think to some of my thoughts about writing and the
Writing process first I’m going to share some excerpts from my poem survival which is in the Anthology Life of Pie p i e Prairie poems and prose edited by Ivan Sundal and Myrna Garanis this
Was published in 2020 by Rolling Pins Press and the poem I’m about to read from is related to meeting an elderly relative with dementia and how she recalls being in a prairie blizzard survival part one remembering how Auntie Joan liked Goodland apples I fill a bowl and put it on her dresser
Then a door is open and she’s there the time it snowed 45 below she ties a rope from house to barn and gropes along it toward the animals its days past feeding time part five from this same
Poem when it finally happens it’s not the the way they tell it when you’re there it’s not the cold at all but something in your soul just steps aside a letter in an envelope unanswered rushing in
The ears like water rising softness takes you by surprise the warmth arms reaching as a child would reach you bend then straighten thinking of the cream white flesh the pies that simmer in the oven and you lift your head trying to remember where you left that rope and rolling out the pastry and
Its velvet scent hunger driving you toward the house and just where you suspected it would be the cook stove melts a bright warm path so what does this have to do with the writing process well I think as writers we all need something to hang on to a clothesline stretched from host to
Barn and back something to grip until we see the lights melting their bright warm path for some of us this might be encouragement or feedback for others deadlines or it might be suggestions of
Something to read to read like a writer to lead us back onto the path of where we want to go with our work so next a few pages from my picture book the girl with the cat Illustrated beautifully by Brooke Kerrigan this was published in 2020 by Red Deer
Press and it’s based on the true story of a young girl who fell in love with a piece of art a piece of art that didn’t plan to remain in Saskatoon but was headed back to Ottawa a nine-year-old Caroline didn’t want that to happen and here is what she
Did suddenly I think of some words that might help I print the words on a sheet of paper Dear Mr Climber I am sending this money that my brother and I saved for the sculpture I hope very much
That we can keep it here in Saskatoon where it belongs sincerely yours Caroline Markham age nine when I’m done I get my piggy bank and my brother digs out some coins from the bottom of his drawer
It’s all the money we have I get a white envelope the kind my parents use for business and then I put everything into my school bag all day long I think about the letter will I be brave enough to
Deliver it I walk to the gallery after school and the wooden door seems heavier than ever I finally go inside Mr Climber’s office door is shut I knock on it and at first no one answers then I hear
A voice come in it says I open the door and see a big man behind a big desk I hand him the envelope when Mr Climber opens my letter he looks at it for a long time I can feel sweat trickling down
The back of my neck then he shakes his head I’m sorry little girl he says and shakes his head again I run outside and when I look back I can see Mr Climber through his office window he
Still has my letter in one hand but he’s picking up the phone we’re going to be late for supper yells my brother I run down the hill faster and faster until it feels as if I’m flying but I’m not
Flying I’m falling in the gravel where the snow has blown away Caroline says my brother catching up to me you tore your pant leg mom will be mad I don’t care I say rubbing my knee where there’s a
Hole in my pants and blood I don’t care if we’re late either but after a few minutes I follow him up the hill it takes a lot longer going up than down and Caroline was successful in
Her campaign to save that statue and keep it in Saskatoon it is here today in the Remai Art Gallery and so what does this passage help us think about related to writing I think it tells us some things about the power of art the power of art to create change Carolyn’s writing in
This story certainly created change in her world and I think also it it helps us think about bravery and the courage it takes to put our work out there putting pen to paper does take bravery
What if it’s not good what if no one likes it I want you to know that I still have these same same qualms every time I sit at the computer so let’s be brave together and the third and last
Selection I’ll read from today is from my young adult novel The White Bicycle our narrator here is Taylor Jane Simon a 19-year-old on the autism spectrum this book and the trilogy it comes from relates to Taylor’s search for independence so here she’s meeting
With a a visual artist an elderly artist named Adelaide and they are in France in Lourmarin France nature is like a dictionary for artists says Adelaide not only in art but in life nature is a good teacher it teaches us patience to wait everything has to grow in heart heart and mind I
Do not like waiting I say waiting has its purpose answers Adelaide she goes over and turns on a record player and soon there is music Franz Liszt list a good choice for clouds don’t you think
I always draw or paint to music you draw and paint to music I repeat my last exhibition was Mozart she says I chose the music and Illustrated passages is in watercolor I always work with music
Classical it opens the mind and it opens the heart I draw for a while and when I turn around Adelaide is sitting on the couch with her eyes shut are you tired I ask she waves her arms keep
Working I am just listening to the Liszt she pulls a patchwork quilt onto herself from the back of the couch heels again on the stairs and Francine comes in mother should have dinner soon she snaps stop interrupting my lessons says Adelaide go and find something else to do feed the fish Francine
Francine wants to be the boss of you I say it’s a pleasant idea in which a daughter bosses a mother I think about this for a while I take a quick look out the window and then I shade a few more of the
Clouds being the boss of my mother would take some practice but I think I could get used to it I know someone who hears only jazz I could never work with jazz says Adelaide I sketch a
Little longer art is liberty she says when I turn around her eyes are shut and after a moment I hear a snuffling sound Adelaide is sleeping with her mouth open the patchwork quilt is pulled right
Up to her chin so connections to writing there’s some lines in here nature is a studio for artists I think nature is a studio for all types of artists look at the world listen be patient be patient with your work be patient with yourself these are good lessons I think and they’re lessons
I’m still trying I’m still trying to learn we will work on them together thanks again for being interested in the virtual writer in residence program I look forward to working with you