I recently had the opportunity to read as part of the issue five launch of Dreamland, a start-up magazine edited by Jeremy Stewart and published out of my hometown, Prince George. I was delighted to be able to participate!
Jeremy started us off by reading from his forthcoming work and a selection from his new chapbook, Normal Poems. I read my two poems from Dreamland, “Poem Featuring a 1994 Toyota Tacoma” and “Another Poem Featuring a 1994 Toyota Tacoma,” and then a few other poems, including “Lavinia.” “Lavinia” is still up on the Arc Poetry website as one of 24 poems on the 2015 Poem of the Year shortlist , and you have until March 30 to vote for the Readers’ Choice Award! Don’t forget to vote!
My performance was followed by the impressive and captivating Andrew Burton, and then followed by the wonderfully sincere and intelligent Josh Massey. Josh read, among other work, his love poem from the issue. The poem includes mushroom-picking in it, and is simply lovely. (Josh has his own post about the issue launch, with even more photos! You can you can go read it over here.)
I had a great time at the Dreamland launch and felt incredibly lucky to feel so included in the northwest literary community. I am excited to live in Vancouver and its thriving arts world, but I remain proud of my Prince George roots and very grateful to have had the support of my family and my community. I am so happy I had the opportunity to perform in my hometown! Thanks for coming out to hear me read my poems, Prince George!
Although it was only me, Jeremy Stewart, Andrew Burton, and Josh Massey who were present at Page Boy Books for the launch, the issue itself also has work by Chris Barna, John Crouse, Craig Dodman, Dusty Exner, Solomon Goudsward, Norma Kerby, Donato Mancini, Pearl Pirie, Angela Y. Rancourt, Nick Skrowaczewski, Femke Van Delft and Stanley Jason Zappa. Previous issues have featured writers like Kimmy Beech and Kevin Spenst. Click here to buy copies of Dreamland or subscribe!
And if you haven’t already done so, please click here to read the shortlist and vote for the Arc Poetry 2015 Readers’ Choice Award!
Ruth Daniell 