Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Paragraphe Books, October 29th

We expected the attendance for this reading to be sparse, since it was a Monday night and the Green Room reading had pulled such a crowd the night before. We were correct in this assumption. However, the crowd that we got (featuring Cara Hedley, Jani Krulc, Mari Maimets, Andrew Hood, Alan Reed, and a couple of creative writing students form Concordia) was excellent.

Paragraphe Bookstore was quite good to us. They had free food! and wine! the pitas were particularly pillowy. Then an old man came and ate it all, complaining that there wasn't any red wine for him to punk.

Jani did a great job as our impromptu MC. I read sections from "six degrees of e-volition," which I don't read often, so it was fun to play around with it a bit in a no-pressure environment. ryan read "Sparrow-Song," one of the longer pieces in Fake Math, in honour of Dave McGimpsey's classically inspired pieces the night before. the more time I spend around ryan and Fake Math, the more certain I become that the longer pieces in that book are the best pieces. The shorter, snappier pieces are the most immediately memorable, the most characteristic of the book perhaps, while the longer pieces tend to be gentler and more devastating as a result -- I don't armour up against the glib. Neil read most of the chapter "Radio Drama," I piece I have heard 3 times before. Something happens to Neil about halfway through this piece, where the audience disappears, and it's just him and the text. He's carried along by it and his voice and face change. This time, it really got the better of him. great fun to watch.

Afterwards, I had a good chat with a Concordia CW student, Tara, who really dug the poetry. It incredibly rewarding to have someone who had no idea who you were a moment ago approach and initiate a conversation about your writing. I think i could really get behind this rockstar thing.

We wound up at a shockingly good szechuan/thai place that had lovely spicy pad thai, very good soup with the tenderest of beefs and the largest chicken wings in all the land. I also found a new Argentinian white that I love. Soon, none of my pants will fit and my liver will divorce me.

On the train now, heading to Quebec City for a reading tonight that I really hope someone attends. Either way, the old city is going to be beautiful.

Day 2: Monday, October 29, 2007

Montreal is a city filled with terrible magicks. Brother Andre's beatified heart sits in St. Joseph's oratory waiting for its final miracle. Stairways wrap around buildings like vines. Architecture sharply moves from the old to the new, where train platforms are somewhere between cathedrals and factories.

*

It takes most of the day to find each other as we are staying at different billets: Neil at Jani's, Natalie at Amelie's, and myself at Colin and Ashleigh's. Natalie and I meet at the Guy-Concordia station with hopes of picking up the remaining books from Jon Paul. We make our way to the Concordia Library building to visit the Matrix office, where, since no one is home, I leave a note next to the covers of our books:

THESE BOOKS ARE THE ROCKINGEST
BOOKS EVER!

LOVE,

THE AUTHORS

We retrace our steps back to Jani's where we meet Neil, who, upon getting our message bout meeting at Concordia, has promptly taken a cab ride to and from downtown. We stumble down the street Santropol, where we enjoy sandwiches.

Day 1: Sunday, October 28, 2007

We arrive to an overhead view of neatly arranged boxes. Montreal is an erector set cut sharply by river, the sun rising over the city as we descend. Natalie and I are on one plane, and Neil, departing an hour earlier and arriving one hour later, is on another. Exhausted, Natalie and I meet Neil at the baggage claim after a round of tasty orange juice. After Neil's cigarette, we find a cab to take us to Jani's. The driver avoids hitting the brake at red lights to run up our fare, something Neil and I both notice.

Jani's apartment is a cave. The window faces a brick wall, letting in very little natural light. Outside one door is a charming balcony. The walls of the main room are accented with moulding and hotel-like fixtures. Natalie sets up the inflata-bed and quickly goes to sleep in an attempt to be, as Natalie says, "the most boring houseguests ever." Neil and Jani smoke on the balcony, while Natalie and I trade incoherencies in an attempt to get some sleep before the first reading.

Monday, October 29, 2007

Auspicious Beginning

Just before I left on tour, someone (god I was drunk at the time -- was it Paul or ryan?) told me that Calgary audience's were the best audiences in Canada. They were right.

Montreal came pretty damn close, though.

We read at the Green Room to a packed house -- early in the night Jon counted 87 guests, but there were a lot more by the time the readings got started. The vibe in the room was positive and rowdy and properly irreverent. It was an auspicious beginning.

Also, all the readers were fucking amazing. Every last one.

Highlights: Andrew Hood tender suckerpunch of a piece about ghosts; Jessica Whitehead's *stellar* performance from Pulpy & Midge that featured duelling bone piles; ryan starting all glib and clever, playful jabs that ended with an uppercut that split more than one tongue in half; Cara Hedley bringing together newfies and Hooters; and Dave McGimpsey's piece about an old cop sitcom that snuck up on me and broke into a soft squishy part of me I will continue to deny exists.

We endeed up at the Copacabana, or course. Neil and Andrew Hood struck up a bromance, ryan sparred with Mike Spry, I caught up with a dear old friend, and JPF looked terribly proud of himself, as rightly he should be. Beer was spilled. Arms were wrestled. My poutine virginity was lost.

I fell into bed a little after 3am. I awoke to the buzz and froth of a cappuccino machine (bliss!)

In the early afternoon, over epic sandwiches, the Three of us agreed that we couldn't have conjured a better beginning, notn with all the dark power of Montreal's strange majicks at our disposal.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

At last! FAKE LAUNCH! November 30!

To celebrate the end of the ambitious "Snaring the New West" book tour and the release of ryan fitzpatrick's first trade collection of poetry, you are invited to bask in the glowing, warming, warming glow of FAKE MATH, a book that attempts to interrogate the profit motive and the ways in which it affects and controls our lives. FAKE MATH has been hailed (by ryan's good friend Chris Blais in a private email) as "F-ing Genius": a claim that may or may not be true. Only you can attend the launch to validate or disprove these claims!

When: Friday, November 30, 2007 7:30pm

Where: Birds and Stone Performance Theatre
204 16th Ave NW, (in the basement of the Unitarian Church of Calgary)

Cost: Free!

This event is open to the public and is all-ages.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The (Mostly) FINAL Tour Schedule

Sun. October 14th – Calgary Launch of Wonderfull

The Auburn Saloon, 7pm

William Neil Scott


Fri. October 26th – Calgary Launch of Thumbscrews

Pages Books, 1135 Kensington Road NW, Calgary, AB, 7:30pm

Natalie Zina Walschots


Sun. October 28th – Calgary to Montreal depart 1:10am arrive 4:10am (7:10 local)

(travel time: 4 hours)

1st Montreal Reading

Coach House Books Montreal Fall Launch

The Green Room, The Green Room, 5386 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC, 7:30 p.m.

Snare Books: Natalie Zina Walschots, ryan fitzpatrick, and Jay MillAr

Coach House: Jessica Westhead, Cara Hedley, David McGimpsey, Sarah Lang and Greg MacArthur

Vehicule Press: Andrew Hood


Mon. October 29th -- 2nd Montreal Reading

Paragraphe Bookstore, 2220 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, QC 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Tues. October 30th – Montreal to Quebec City depart 12:30pm arrive 3:30pm (travel time: 3 hours)

Quebec City Reading

La Maison Anglaise/The Morrin Centre, 44 chaussée des Écossais, 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Wed. October 31st – Quebec City to Montreal depart 1pm arrive 4pm

(travel time: 3 hours)

Thurs. November 1st – Montreal to Ottawa depart 10am arrive 12 noon

(travel time: 2 hours)

Ottawa reading

Max Middle's A B reading series

Art Gallery of the Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa ON 7:30pm - 9:30pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, and William Neil Scott


Fri. November 2nd – Ottawa to Toronto depart 12:30pm arrive 5pm

(travel time: 4 ½ hours)


Mon. November 5th – Indiepolitik: Strong Words reading series

The Gladstone Art Bar (1214 Queen Street West, Toronto ON) 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, Jay MillAr and William Neil Scott


Tues. November 6th -- 2nd Toronto Reading

York University, 2pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, Jay MillAr and William Neil Scott ?


Wednesday, November 7th Toronto to Windsor depart 12 noon arrive 4pm

(travel time: 4 hours)

Thursday, November 8th ---- 1st Windsor reading

The Oak Room, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON 3pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Friday November 9th -- 2nd Windsor reading

Milk Bar, 68 University Ave. West, Windsor, ON 7:00 pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Sun. November 11th -- Windsor to London depart 10am arrive 11:40am

(travel time 1 hr 40 mins)

London to Winnipeg depart 1:30pm arrive 4pm (local)

(travel time 2/12 hours)


Tues. November 13th -- Winnipeg Reading

Aqua Books 89 Princess Street Winnipeg MB 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, William Neil Scott


Wed. November 14th -- Winnipeg to Saskatoon departs 5pm arrives 2am (Nov. 15th) (travel time 9 hours)


Thurs. November 15th -- Saskatoon reading

McNally Robinson 3130 8th Street East Saskatoon, SK 8:30pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Sat. November 17th -- Saskatoon to Edmonton departs 2:30am arrives 8am

(travel time 6 ½ hours)

Edmonton Reading

Remedy Cafe, 8631 109 Street NW, Edmonton, AB 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Mon. November 19th -- Edmonton to Vancouver depart 9am arrive 8am (Nov. 20th) (travel time 23 hours)


Tues. November 20th -- ferry from Vancouver to Victoria (travel time: 1 ½ hours)

either direction: 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 9pm


Victoria Reading

Solstice Cafe, 529 Pandora Street, 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Wed. November 21st -- 1st Vacouver Reading

disjunct! Performance Series

Spartacus Books, 319 West Hastings, 2nd floor, 7:30pm

ryan fitzpatrick and Natalie Zina Walschots


People's Co-Op Bookstore

1391 Commercial Driver, 7pm

William Neil Scott


Thurs. November 22nd -- 2nd Vancouver Reading

Cafe Montmartre, 4362 Main Street, 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Sun. November 25th -- Vancouver to Calgary depart 2pm arrive 4:20pm (local) (travel time 1 hour 20 minutes)

Friday, October 12, 2007

Nearly Final Tour Schedule

Tour Schedule


Sun. October 14th – Calgary Launch of Wonderfull

The Auburn Saloon, 7pm

William Neil Scott


Fri. October 26th – Calgary Launch of Thumbscrews

Pages Books, 1135 Kensington Road NW, Calgary, AB, 7:30pm

Natalie Zina Walschots


Sun. October 28th – Calgary to Montreal depart 1:10am arrive 4:10am (7:10 local)

(travel time: 4 hours)

1st Montreal Reading

Coach House Books Montreal Fall Launch

The Green Room, The Green Room, 5386 St. Laurent, Montreal, QC, 7:30 p.m.

Snare Books: Natalie Zina Walschots, ryan fitzpatrick, and Jay MillAr

Coach House: Jessica Westhead, Cara Hedley, David McGimpsey, Sarah Lang and Greg MacArthur

Vehicule Press: Andrew Hood


Mon. October 29th -- 2nd Montreal Reading

Paragraphe Bookstore, 2220 McGill College Avenue, Montreal, QC 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Tues. October 30th – Montreal to Quebec City depart 12:30pm arrive 3:30pm (travel time: 3 hours)

Quebec City Reading

La Maison Anglaise/The Morrin Centre, 44 chaussée des Écossais, 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Wed. October 31st – Quebec City to Montreal depart 1pm arrive 4pm

(travel time: 3 hours)


Thurs. November 1st – Montreal to Ottawa depart 10am arrive 12 noon

(travel time: 2 hours)

Ottawa reading

Max Middle's A B reading series

Art Gallery of the Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa ON 7:30pm - 9:30pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, and William Neil Scott


Fri. November 2nd – Ottawa to Toronto depart 12:30pm arrive 5pm

(travel time: 4 ½ hours)


Mon. November 5th – Indiepolitik: Strong Words reading series

The Gladstone Art Bar (1214 Queen Street West, Toronto ON) 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, Jay MillAr and William Neil Scott


Tues. November 6th -- 2nd Toronto Reading

York University, 2pm


Wednesday, November 7th Toronto to Windsor depart 12 noon arrive 4pm

(travel time: 4 hours)

Thursday, November 8th ---- 1st Windsor reading

The Oak Room, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave, Windsor, ON 3pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Friday November 9th -- 2nd Windsor reading

Milk Bar, 68 University Ave. West, Windsor, ON 7:00 pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Sun. November 11th -- Windsor to London depart 10am arrive 11:40am

(travel time 1 hr 40 mins)

London to Winnipeg depart 1:30pm arrive 4pm (local)

(travel time 2/12 hours)


Tues. November 13th -- Winnipeg Reading

Aqua Books 89 Princess Street Winnipeg MB 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots, William Neil Scott


Wed. November 14th -- Winnipeg to Saskatoon departs 5pm arrives 2am (Nov. 15th) (travel time 9 hours)


Thurs. November 15th -- Saskatoon reading

McNally Robinson 3130 8th Street East Saskatoon, SK 8:30pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Sat. November 17th -- Saskatoon to Edmonton departs 2:30am arrives 8am

(travel time 6 ½ hours)

Edmonton Reading

Remedy Cafe, 8631 109 Street NW, Edmonton, AB 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Mon. November 19th -- Edmonton to Vancouver depart 9am arrive 8am (Nov. 20th) (travel time 23 hours)


Wed. November 21st -- 1st Vacouver Reading

disjunct! Perfromance Series

Spartacus Books, 319 West Hastings, 2nd floor, 7:30pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Thurs. November 22nd -- 2nd Vancouver Reading

Cafe Montmartre, 4362 Main Street, 7pm

ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Zina Walschots and William Neil Scott


Sun. November 25th -- Vancouver to Calgary depart 2pm arrive 4:20pm (local) (travel time 1 hour 20 minutes)