Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Home Biography Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Literary Awards – five categories: poetry, fiction, non-fiction, children’s books and for work as editor
  • HONOURABLE MENTION, Exculpatory Lilies, 1st Annual Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Awards for BC Authors 2023
  • Longlisted Griffin Poetry Prize, March, 2023, for Exculpatory Lilies.
  • George Woodcock Lifetime Achievement Award, 2023
  • Exculpatory Lilies Globe and Mail 100 Best Books of the Year, 2022
  • Longlisted Frontier OPEN, top 3% of submissions: “The Spinning Want the Still to Spin,” 2021
  • Short-listed, Fish Poetry Prize (Ireland) May 2021 “The Colour of Water”
  • First Prize, Arc’s Award of Awesomeness, September 2020
  • Third Prize, Fish Poetry Prize (Ireland) Judge Billy Collins, May 2020 for poem “Wild and Alone”
  • Gold winner, Taste Canada Awards for A Taste of Haida Gwaii November 14, 2016:
  • Bill Duthie Bookseller’s Choice Award (BC Book Awards) for A Taste of Haida Gwaii April 30, 2016
  • Matt Cohen Award: In Celebration of a Writing Life (presented by the Writer’s Trust) 2014
  • Toronto Public Library 2012 First & Best Booklist in Canadian books for children from birth to age five: Kiss, Tickle, Cuddle, Hug
  • Second Annual CBC Bookie Awards Finalist, 2012
  • Accenti Writing Contest, April 14, 2012 “Silent in its Shout” (personal essay) first prize ($1000)
  • Spirit Bear Award, 2012:  The tribute recognizes the significance of a vital and enduring contribution to the poetry of the Pacific Northwest, and is presented every two years. The award was founded in   2010 by B.C. authors Patrick Lane and Lorna Crozier. Lane calls Musgrave one of Canada’s most remarkable and enduring writers. “Her presence as a writer and teacher has changed this land of ours.  Her books have named and placed us spiritually,” Lane said in a news release. “Her artistic presence over the past 40 years has helped create who we are. She is as important to us as Emily Carr. Her continuing legacy will long endure.”
  • B.C. Civil Liberties Association 50th Anniversary Award for contributions in the area of the arts, for writing, 2012
  • University of Victoria 50th-Anniversary Prize: The Malahat Review Second Prize, 2012: “Personal Effects”
  • Lush Triumphant Literary Awards Competition (SubTerran Magazine) First Prize, 2012,  “The Goodness of  this World”
  • Origami Dove Globe and Mail 100 Best Books of the Year, 2011
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Pandora Collective, Vancouver, B.C. 2010
  • Short-listed: ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award for children’s/YA non-fiction, US, for Nerves Out Loud: Critical Moments in the Lives of Seven Teen Girls (Annick Press, series editor) 2002
  • Short-listed for the Norman Fleck Award or Nerves Out Loud: Critical Moments in the Lives of Seven Teen Girls (Annick Press, series editor) 2002
  • Honourable Mention Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, 2000, for Things That Keep and Do Not Change
  • National Magazine Award for Personal Journalism, “Visitor’s Rites,” in Saturday Night, 2000
  • Winner, B.C. Book Award for Breaking the Surface (Sono Nis). Editor. 2000
  • Panty Lines Anthology: First Prize for “Ice-Age Lingerie,” 1999
  • Dreams are More Real than Bathtubs (Orca) selected by The Canadian Children’s Book Centre, Our Choice 1999-2000
  • Vicky Metcalf Short Story Editor’s Award, 1996
  • CBC/Saturday Night/Tilden Award for Poetry, 1996 (First Prize)
  • Short-listed for the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour, for Musgrave Landing: Musings on the Writing Life,
  • Readers’ Choice Award for poems published in the Winter 1993 edition of Prairie Schooner
  • First Prize b.p. nichol Poetry Chapbook Award for In the Small Hours of the Rain: Reference West, 1991
  • Short-listed for the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour, for Great Musgrave, 1990
  • P. Adams Short Fiction Award (Third Prize) for “The Remains Of Edward’s”, published in Negative Capability, Mobile, Alabama,1989
  • A Man to Marry, A Man to Bury, short-listed for Governor General’s Award
  • DuMaurier Magazine Award (silver), 1992
  • Finalist In Seal First Novel Competition, McClelland & Stewart, for The Charcoal Burners, 1980
  • The Charcoal Burners short-listed for Governor General’s Award, 1981
  • Grave-Dirt and Selected Strawberries short-listed for Governor General’s Award, 1974

(a) Fiction 

  • Given: Thistledown, 2012
  • Cargo of Orchids: Knopf, Fall 2000; Trade Paper edition, Vintage, Fall 2001; Harper and Collins, Australia, 2002; MeridianZero, Italy, 2005
  • The Dancing Chicken: Methuen, 1987
  • The Charcoal Burners: McClelland & Stewart, paperback edition, Totem, 1981

 

 (b) Poetry

  • Exculpatory Lilies: McClelland & Stewart, 2022
  • Giochi d’amore e di sangue: Edizioni ETS (Italy) 2012
  • Origami Dove: McClelland & Stewart, 2011
  • When The World is Not Our Home: Selected Poems 1985-2000: Thistledown, 2009
  • Obituary of Light: the Sangan River Meditations: Leaf Press, 2009
  • What the Small Day Cannot Hold: Collected Poems 1970-1985: BeachHolme, 2000
  • Things That Keep and Do Not Change: McClelland & Stewart, 1999
  • Forcing the Narcissus: McClelland & Stewart, 1994
  • The Embalmer’s Art: Poems New and Selected: Exile Editions, 1991
  • Cocktails at the Mausoleum: McClelland & Stewart,1985; Beach Holme, revised edition, 1992
  • Tarts and Muggers: Poems New and Selected: McClelland & Stewart, 1982
  • A Man to Marry, a Man to Bury: McClelland & Stewart,1979
  • Becky Swan’s Book: Porcupine’s Quill, 1978
  • Selected Strawberries and Other Poems: Sono Nis Press, 1977
  • Kiskatinaw Songs: Pharos Press, 1977. With Sean Virgo, Illustrated by Douglas Tait
  • The Impstone: McClelland & Stewart, 1976; Omphalos Press, London, 1978
  • Grave-Dirt and Selected Strawberries: Macmillan, 1973
  • Entrance of the Celebrant: Macmillan, 1972; Fuller d’Arch Smith, London
  • Songs of the Sea-Witch: Sono Nis Press, 1970

 

(c) Children’s

  • My Love is For You: Orca, Board Book, 2019
  • More Blueberries: Orca, Board Book, 2015
  • Love You More: Orca, Board Book, 2014
  • Kiss Tickle, Cuddle Hug: Orca, Board Book, 2012
  • Dreams are More Real than Bathtubs: Orca, 1998. Fiction. Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay. Korean and Swiss rights sold.
  • Kestrel and Leonardo: Studio 123, 1990. Poetry. Illustrated by Linda Rogers.
  • Hag Head: Clarke, Irwin & Co,1980. Fiction. Illustrated by Carol Evans.
  • Gullband: J.J. Douglas, 1974. Poetry. Illustrated by Rikki Ducornet.

 

(d) Non-Fiction

  • Together at SoBo by Lisa Ahier with Susan Musgrave, Random House, 2023
  • A Taste of Haida Gwaii: Food Gathering and Feasting at the Edge of the World: Whitecap, 2015
  • You’re in Canada Now…A Memoir of Sorts: Thistledown, 2005
  • Musgrave Landing: Musings on the Writing Life: Stoddart, 1994
  • Great Musgrave: Prentice-Hall, 1989

 

 (e) Anthologies (editor) 

  • “Poetry in Voice” 2022
  • Force Field: 77 Women Poets of British Columbia: MotherTongue Press, 2013
  • Breaking the Surface: Sono Nis, 2000
  • Because You Loved Being a Stranger: 55 Poets Celebrate Patrick Lane: Harbour Publishing, 1994
  • Clear Cut Words: Writers for Clayoquot: Hawthorne Society for Reference West, 1993
  • Perfectly Secret: The Hidden Lives of Seven Teen Girls: Annick, 2004
  • Certain Things About My Mother: Daughters Speak: Annick, 2003
  • You Be Me: Friendship in the Lives of Teen Girls: Annick, 2002
  • Nerves Out Loud: Critical Moments in the Lives of Seven Teen Girls: Annick Press, 2001; 
  • The Fed Anthology: Brand New Fiction and Poetry from the Federation of BC Writers: Anvil Press, 2003
 

 (f) Anthologies (contributor) (selected)

  • Worth More Standing: Poets and Activists Pay Homage to Trees edited by Christine Lowther, Caitlin Press, 2022
  • The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy, edited by James Crews, Storey Publishing, 2022
  • Best Canadian Poetry 2021, edited by Souvankham Thammavongsa
  • 25 Years of Poetry in Transit, edited by Evelyn Lau (Association of Book Publishers of BC, 2021
  • Fish Anthology (Ireland) November 2020
  • Love Me True edited by Edited by Fiona Tinwei Lam  & Jane Silcott published by Caitlin Press, 2018
  • Sustenance: Writers from B.C. and Beyond on the Subject of Food, edited by Rachel Rose, published by Anvil Press, 2017
  • “Arctic Poppies” by Susan Musgrave. The poem will appear in Writing for the Academic Disciplines by Sally Hayward, Oxford University Press, 2015
  • Speak to the Wild edited by Trevor Goward, University of Regina Press, 2015
  • Where the Nights are Twice as Long, edited by David Eso & Jeanette Lynes, published by Goose Lane Editions, 2015
  • Best Canadian Poetry 2014, edited by Sonnet Abbé
  • Conspicuous Accents: Accenti Magazine’s Finest Stories of the First Ten Years (non-fiction) Guernica Editions, 2014
  • 50+ Poems for Gordon Lightfoot, published by The Old Brewery Bay Press, 2014
  • LOVE! Famous Canadians and the Pets They Love, edited by Nancy Silcox, published by Ontario Veterinary College, 2014
  • Kwe: Standing with Our Sisters, edited by Joseph Boyden, Penguin books, 2014
  • 70 Canadian Poets, edited by Gary Geddes, Oxford University Press, 2014
  • Desperately Seeking Susans, edited by Sarah-Yi-Mei Tsiang, Oolichan Books 2013
  • Alive at the Center; the Pacific Poetry Project: Ooligan Press, Portland, 2013
  • ­­­­­Exposed: 100 Literary Portraits photographs by Barry Peterson and Blaise Enright; text by Susan Musgrave: MotherTongue Publishing, 2012
  • The Salmon Recipes: Stories of Our Endangered North Coast Cuisine edited by Luanne Roth, published by the Prince Rupert Environmental Society (poems) 2012
  • Living Artfully: Reflections from the Far West Coast, collected and edited by Anita Sinner & Christine Lowther: The Key Publishing House Inc, 2012
  • Walk Myself Home: An Anthology to End Violence Against Women, edited by Andrea Routley: Caitlin Press, 2010
  • I Feel Great About My Hands… and other essays on the joys of aging, edited by Shari Graydon: Douglas and McIntyre, 2010
  • The Echoing Years: An Anthology of Poetry from Canada and Ireland. Randall Maggs (Editor), Stephanie McKenzie (Editor), and John Ennis (Editor) WIT School of Humanities Press, 2009
  • Rocksalt: An Anthology of Contemporary B.C. Poetry by 108 BC poets: Mona Fertig and Harold Rhenisch editors; MotherTongue Press, 2008
  • Writing Life: Celebrated Canadian and International Authors on Writing and Life, edited by Constance Rooke: (PEN fundraising anthology) McClelland & Stewart, 2006
  • The Vice Guide To Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll: Warner Books, 2003
  • Dominion of Love: An Anthology of Canadian Love Poems, edited by Tom Wayman: Harbour Publishing, 2001
  • Introductions: Poets Present Poets, edited by Evan Jones: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2001
  • DESIRE in Seven Voices, edited by Lorna Crozier: Douglas & McIntyre, 1999
  • Uncommon Wealth: Oxford, 1997
  • Best American Poetry, 1995, edited by David Lehman: Scribner/ Simon & Schuster
  • Bedford Introduction to Literature: Bedford Books, 1995
  • Best American Erotica, 1995 edited by Susie Bright: Simon & Schuster
  • Fever: Sensual Stories by Women Writers, edited by Michelle Slung: Harcourt Brace, 1994
  • Without a Guide: Contemporary Women’s Travel Adventure, edited by Katherine Govier: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 1994
  • Horizons edited by Ken Roy: Harcourt Brace, 1994
  • Far and Wide edited by Sean Armstrong:(Nelson, 1994
  • Poetry: An Introduction: Bedford Books of St Martin’s Press, 1994
  • Portrait included in Barbara Woodley’s Portraits: Canadian Women in Focus: Doubleday, 1992
  • The Great Big Book of Canadian Humour edited by Allan Gould: Macmillan, 1992
  • The Norton Introduction to Literature, Regular, 6th Edition, 1994 and Shorter, 6th Edition, 1994
  • The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, 1988, 1989
  • The Norton Introduction to Poetry, 3rd Edition, 1986, and 6th Edition, 1994
  • The New Canadian Poets 1970-1985: McClelland & Stewart, 1985
  • Antologia de la Poesia anglocanadiense contemporanos: Los Libros de la Frontera, Barcelona, Spain, 1985
  • New Oxford Book of Canadian Verse: Oxford, 1982
  • Canadian Literature in the Seventies: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1980
  • Mindscapes: Poems by Dale Zieroth, Paulette Jiles, Susan Musgrave, Tom Wayman: Anansi, 1971

 

(g) Chapbooks

  • The Goodness of this World: Pooka Press, 2014
  • Mother’s Day Behind the West Hotel published by Poetgoat Press, in a limited edition, 2004.
    The poems in this sequence were inspired by the stories of six women, all heroin addicted prostitutes, from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Director Stan Feingold (The Eyes Multimedia Productions) commissioned me to write a “script” for a one-hour documentary art film – not a conventional “objective” script but a series of original poems. Segments of these poems were used as a voice-over in Heroines, which premiered on Bravo! on Father’s Day, 2001, and launched the fall 2002 season on the CBC’s Rough Cuts.Heroines has won many awards, both at home and internationally. In 2002 it won four Golden Sheaf Awards at the Yorkton Short Film & Video Festival, the longest running film festival in North America. In addition, it was nominated for Best Editing, Best Script and Best Director. As well, Heroines was awarded the National Film Board’s Kathleen Shannon Award, which is presented to an independent filmmaker whose production “provides an opportunity for people outside the dominant culture to speak for themselves.”
  • Twenty-eight Uses for Al Purdy’s Ashes, poetry, published by Reference West, for the Hawthorne Society, 1999
  • In the Small Hours of the Rain, poetry, published by Reference West for the Hawthorne Society,1991

 

(h) Portfolio

  • “The Spiritualization of Cruelty,” six poems with drawings by Pavel Skalnik, limited, lettered and numbered edition: Lake Galleries, Toronto, 1992. Stunning six color prints on Arches paper, loose in a cloth clamshell box by Felton Binding. Title leaf with an original linocut printed at Columbus Street Press.
 

 

(i) Pamphlets and Broadsides

  • Arc Magazine broadside, of “Water,”  Limited edition 50 signed copies, 2021
  • Something Has to Give in a Life: Pooka Press, 2005. Broadside, unusual in that the paper stock is a US Army Official 50 ft Small Bore Rifle Target, 10 1/4″ x 12″, printed letterpress in red and silver.
  • Canadian Roulette: Pooka Press, 2004
  • Stopping by the Mailbox on a Snowy Evening: Pooka Press, 2004
  • Nothing: Pooka Press 2004
  • The Situation in Which We Are both Amateurs: Lazara Press, 1998
  • Desireless: Tom York (1947-1988): Slug Press, 1988
  • The Plane Put Down in Sacramento (1982) and “I do not know if things that happen can be said to come to pass or only happen”: William Hoffer, 1986
  • Taboo Man was published by Celia Duthie, 1981, in a limited edition of 50 signed copies.
  • When My Boots Drive Off in a Cadillac. Toronto: League of Canadian Poets, 1980
  • Between Friends: Dreadnaught 52-Pickup, #9, 1976
  • Many pamphlets (limited editions) from the Sceptre Press in England, including Skuld, 1971; Birthstone, 1971; Equinox, 1972; Kung, 1973; Against, 1974; Two Poems, 1975; For Charlie Beaulieu in Yellowknife Who Told Me To Go Back to the South and Write Another Poem About Indians, 1977; Two Poems for the Blue Moon, 1977; Conversation During the Omelette aux Fines Herbes, 1979
 
 

(j) Selected Journalism, Personal Essays and Columns: magazine and newspaper publications (Bibliography pending, at which time I will fill in issues, dates, page numbers, etc.)

The Imperial Oil Review; Saturday Night; Vice; Monday Magazine; The Toronto Star (columnist); Vancouver Sun (columnist); STEP Magazine; Cut To: Magazine; Sidney Review, (1988-1991); Ottawa Citizen (Op-Ed page) September 2001- March 2003; Focus 2004-2008; The Windsor Review

 
(k) Selected Periodical Publications (poetry) 


CANADA: Arc Magazine, Audeamus,  Cascadia Review, Freefall Magazine, Fiddlehead, Riddle Fence, The Walrus, Toronto Life, Exile, The Malahat Review, Queen’s Quarterly, Event, The Prison Journal, Brick, Poetry Canada Review (cover and feature); Writers’ Quarterly (cover and feature), Border Crossings, Anthos, Canadian Literature, Room, New Quarterly; Feature Writer in Branch Magazine (April 2012) Montreal Gazette (October 22, 2011).

USA: The Courtland Review, Poetry Studies, Mundus Artium, Three Rivers Poetry Journal, Boundary 2, Negative Capability Nimbus, Iris, Pivot, Ladybug (for children), Prairie Schooner, Southern Review, Manao: A Pacific Journal of International Writing issue excerpt from Given in on “On Freedom, Spirit, Art and State, April 2012

BRITAIN: Blowing Raspberries (Belfast, U.K.), Ambit, Poetry Review, The Little Word Machine, New Poetry, New Departures, Bananas, Aquarius, Gutter, and others

AUSTRALIA: Helix, Poetry Australia

DENMARK: Anglofiles

(l) Selected *Online publications, panels and interviews

 

*SM Note April 19, 2014: I have learned something about online publications. They disappear. Five of the online poetry magazines I submitted to, and had work accepted by, since 2007, are no longer to be found on the internet.

(m) Introductions and Prefaces 

  • Introduction to revised edition of Alden Nowlan Selected Poems, House of Anansi Press, 2013
  • Introduction to James Tuohy’s, Spirit Catching 2007
  • Introduction to Silver Mercies by Justice James Clarke, 2001

DEPARTMENT/SCHOOL: University of British Columbia School of Creative Writing

FACULTY: Arts

PRESENT RANK: Lecturer                         SINCE: 2005

EMPLOYMENT RECORD

(a)       Prior to coming to UBC

  • University of Victoria, Writing 302 – Summer School Instructor, 2006-2008
  • Island Mountain Arts – Workshop Instructor; poetry and fiction, 2001-present
  • C. Festival of the Arts – Mentor, 2001
  • University of Northern B.C., Quesnel, B.C. – Five-day summer (credit) courses in fiction and poetry, 2001-present
  • Camosun College, Victoria, B.C. – Creative Writing Instructor, 1988-2008
  • Kootenay School of Writing – Creative Writing Workshop Instructor, 1986
  • University of Waterloo – English Instructor, 1983-85
  • Arvon Foundation, Sheepwash, Devon – Instructor, 1975
  • Arvon Foundation, Lumb Bank, Yorkshire – Instructor, 1980

(b)       At UBC

  • Lecturer, 2005-present

In my classes students will:

  1. Overcome their fear of poetry:
    “Susan Musgrave has made me hate poetry a little less.” — Student who wishes to remain anonymous (2007)
    “Thank you for helping me to overcome my fear of poetry. I feel lucky to have had you as my teacher.” – Sue Fast (Fall 2008)
  2. Feel they are getting their money’s worth:
    “Susan Musgrave, you are sooo worth the tuition!!” – Rhonda Douglas (2007)
  3. Have fun:
    “This class has been one of the highlights of my year. I’ve never had so much fun getting my ass kicked.” – Binh Truong (Spring 2009)
  4. Fall in love:
    “I loved the crap out of this class more than I could have ever expected to.” – Step Taylor (Spring 2009)
  5. Have their lives changed:
    “This course has changed my life. I’ve never laughed so much in a class before and never felt closer to people who were so far away.” – Robert Corbett (Spring 2009)
  6. And, on a purely academic level, my students will refine aspects of literary craft and technique through the process of writing and revising their own poetry learning more than they ever knew there was to know about a) line breaks b) voice or “presence” c) the stanza d) punctuation e) rhyme and repetition f) the use of abstractions (for and against) and concrete language g) metaphor, imagery and symbolism h) the title i) prose poetry j) traditional forms k) Found Poetry. Notes on Craft posted every week accompanied by related writing starts or exercises.
  7. Improve their critical ability in evaluating their own poems and those of other students via the slashing and burning (a.k.a critiquing) process.
  8. Develop a sharp(er) critical eye and become astute readers and editors of poetry.
(a)      Areas of special interest and accomplishments Poet, novelist, children’s writer, columnist, reviewer, editor and essayist. She lives on Haida Gwaii/Queen Charlotte Islands, off Canada’s west coast, and travels widely, both at home and abroad, to give speeches, writing workshops and poetry readings. She has been Writer-in-Residences at four Canadian universities. Since 1991 she has worked online with thousands of high school students across Canada through the Writers in Electronic Residence Programme. In 1997-98 she was Chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada. (b)      Invited Presentations

(i) International

    • 2020: 8th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival, 26th-29th November, 2020, Cork Ireland. Via Zoom and live-streamed via YouTube.
    • 2014: Ó Bhéal Cork, Ireland, Featured Reader, October 6
    • 2005: Noir in Festival, Courmayeur, Italy
    • 1995: Danish Association of Teachers of English; Odense, Denmark
    • 1995: Best American Poetry, 1995, New York
    • 1993: Stockholm Book Festival, Sweden, with Aritha van Herk
    • 1993: Budapest Spring Festival, Hungary, with Roch Carrier
    • 1984: Rotterdam Poetry Festival, Holland, with Gregory Corso and Yvetesheno
    • Poetry Olympics, London, UK
    • 1983: Irish Tour: a three-week reading tour of southern Ireland; 21 venues. With Robin Skelton
    • 1980: Anglo-Canadian Poetry Exchange: a two-week reading tour of England, Scotland, Wales and Paris, sponsored by the League of Canadian Poets, Dept. of External Affairs, The British Council and the National Poetry Secretariat, London. With bill bissett and George Johnston.
    • 1971: Struga Poetry Festival, Yugoslavia. With W.H. Auden, Louis Simpson, W.S. Merwin, Carolyn Kizer, Louis Simpson and George MacBeth
 

(ii) National (readings, festivals and tours)

I have given numerous poetry readings, lectures and speeches in bookstores, libraries, art galleries, museums, prisons, psychiatric wards, and high schools across Canada, the US and in Britain and Ireland, since 1975. I did not keep track of these — in 1979, for instance, I gave 79 readings across the country (one tour of the Maritimes, one Prairie tour, and many others); the following year the Canada Council imposed a ceiling on the number of CC sponsored readings writers would receive funding for in a given period.

    • Vancouver Writers’ Festival, October 20-21, 2023
    • The Literary and Creative Arts Festival, London Ontario November 2-4, 2018
    • Elephant Mountain Literary Festival, Nelson B.C. July, 2018
    • Reach Gallery, Abbotsford, July, 2018
    • Semiahmoo Arts South Surrey Recreation & Arts Centre, January 2016
    • Incite, Vancouver Writers’ Festival at Vancouver Public Library, February 2016
    • Lunch at Mission (Chef Curtis Luk) Presentation on A Taste of Haida Gwaii, April, 2016
    • Barbara Jo’s (Chef Curtis Luk) Presentation on A Taste of Haida Gwaii April, 2016
    • Cook Culture, Victoria, B.C. (Chef Cosmo Meens) Presentation on A Taste of Haida Gwaii, April, 2016
    • Cook Culture, Lonsdale. (Chef Cosmo Meens) Presentation on A Taste of Haida Gwaii, April, 2016
    • Public Library, Fort Smith, NWT, April, 2016
    • High school, Hay River NWT, April, 2016
    • Public Library, Hay River NWT, April, 2016
    • Chief Sunshine School, Hay River Reserve, NWT, April, 2016
    • St. Patrick’s High School, Yellowknife, NWT, April, 2016
    • Public Library, Yellowknife, NWT, April, 2016
    • Sir John Franklin High School, Yellowknife, NWT, April, 2016
    • Banyan Books, launch, A Taste of Haida Gwaii, April, 2016
    • Masset Maritime Museum, Hosted by Literacy Haida Gwaii: Our Stories Behind the Stories, April, 2016
    • Barbara-Jo’s Cookbook Shop, Vancouver, Afternoon event (tea) at Barbara-Jo’s; Evening Supper at Barbara-Jo’s May, 2016
    • The Pen and the Palate, Haida House at Tllaal, June, 2016
    • Celebrity Chef Cooking Demonstration Stage at The Wellness Show, Vancouver Convention Centre, February 12th – 14th, 2016
    • I am in Need of Music: Celebration of Poetry (featured reader) with Victoria Symphony Orchestra, April, 2015
    • Live Words 2015, Yukon Writers’ Festival, April 19-25, 2015
    • Cascadia Poetry Festival III, Nanaimo, B.C. (2 readings) April 30-May 3, 2015
    • Envoi Poetry Festival, Winnipeg, May 30-June 1, 2015
    • Susan Musgrave reads, Sarah Kirsch sings (Kiskatinaw Songs), May 31, 2015
    • Emily Carr event, AGO Toronto, June, 2015
    • Thinklandia (with Roy Henry Vickers) September, 2015
    • Whistler Writer’s Festival, October, 2015
    • Terrace Public Library, November, 2015 Launch of A Taste of Haida Gwaii at the Imperial Pub, Toronto, November 2015
    • Book signing and reading, A Taste of Haida Gwaii, at Book Warehouse, Vancouver, November, 2015
    • Book signing of A Taste of Haida Gwaii at Munro’s Books, Victoria, November, 2015
    • Masset Public Library, 2-3 pm, December, 2015
    • Featured reader at Twisted Poets Literary Salon, Vancouver, B.C. July, 2014
    • Gabriola Island (with Stephen Reid) September. 2014
    • Kingston Writers Festival (3 events) September, 2014
    • Inaugural Vancouver International Poetry Festival (with bill bissett) April 2011
    • Pandora’s Collective. 7th annual Summer Dream’s Literary Arts Festival August 13-21, 2010
    • “Random Acts of Poetry”, literary initiative by the Victoria Read Society, October 2009
    • Victoria Children’s Literature Roundtable, Point Ellice House, June 4, 2006
    • Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival, Oct. 2006
    • Bill Bissett Spoken Word Festival, Nov. 2006
    • Shelf Life and Hill School Readings, Vancouver, May 2003
    • Great Canadian Literary Tours, Via Rail, 2000
    • Camosun College 1999 Author Reading Series: The Poet and the Bandit with Susan Musgrave and Stephen Reid, March 1999
    • Vancouver Public Library, Adult Literature Roundtable Discussion, 1998
    • Festival of the Written Arts, Sechelt, B.C., 1993
    • Festival of the Written Arts, Sechelt, B.C., 1994

(iii) Workshops

    • Elephant Mountain Literary Festival, Writer-in-Residence. Holley Rubinsky Memorial Blue Pencil Sessions, July 2018
    • Nanoose Bay Writers Retreat, workshop facilitator, August 17-20, 2017
    • Salt Spring Island, workshop facilitator, October 2017
    • Blurred Boundaries, Gabriola Island, September 21, 2014
    • Kingston Writer’s Festival, September, 2014
    • Federation of BC Writers, Poetry Masterclass, 2002, 2003
    • South Shore Literary Club – South Shore Festival of Writers, Nova Scotia, 2002
    • Creativity Art Retreat, Dunedin, Ontario, July 2001, 2002
    • Haida Gwaii Writing workshop at Tlell, August 2002
    • Sunshine Coast School of Writing, October 2002
    • Street Stories Video Intensive for Youth in the Sex Trade workshops, Galiano Island, 2000
    • Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, workshop, 1999
    • Canadian Authors Association, Reading/Workshop, Port Colborne, 1999
    • BC Prison Arts Foundation workshop, 1998
    • Cowichan District Teachers’ Association workshops, 1998
    • NWT (North West Territory) Literacy Council, workshops, 1998
    • J. Willis High School Writing Workshop, 1998
    • Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, workshops, 1998
    • Victoria School of Writing, workshop, 1998
    • The Wildside Writers & Readers Series, workshops, Long Beach, Vancouver Island, 1998
    • Michael’s University School, workshop, 1997
    • Courtenay School PD Day Workshop, Vancouver Island, 1997
    • Kootenay School of the Arts, workshops, 1997
    • Sechelt Workshop, May 1994
    • School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto, workshop,1994.
    • Kaslo Summer School of the Arts, workshop, 1991
  (c)     Conference Participation (Organizer, Keynote Speaker, etc.)
  • CanWrite Conference, Edmonton, Alberta, Keynote Speaker, 2008
  • Saskatchewan Writers Guild, “Brave New Worlds,” 2007
  • Restorative Justice Conference, Edmonton Institution for Women, Nov 16, 2006
  • Sleeping Giant Writers Festival, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Aug. 2006
  • BC Book Prizes, 20 Years Gala, Director of Ceremonies, 2004
  • Surrey International Writers’ Conference, 2004, 2005 (Presenter)
  • The Association of Writers and Writing Programs — Featured reader with Michael Ondaatje, Vancouver, 2005
  • BC Teachers’ Federation Key Note speech, McBride, B.C. April 2002
  • BC Book Prizes, Director of Ceremonies, 1998, 1997
  • Comox District Teachers’ Association, 1997, Speaker
(Many others not recorded, 1980-2012. From now on I will be keeping records. I promise.) (d)     Other (Residencies)
  • The Ralph Gustafson Chair of Poetry, Malaspina College, Fall 2000
  • Victoria School of Writing, 1996, 1998
  • University of Toronto Presidential Writer-in-Residence Fellowship, Massey College, Toronto, 1995
  • Banff Centre for the Arts, November 1994
  • Writer-in-Electronic-Residence, 1991-2012 mentor and writer/moderator through York University and the Writers’ Development Trust
  • Festival of the Written Arts, Sechelt, B.C. November 11-14,1993, May 23-27, 1994
  • University of Western Ontario, 1992-1993
  • Kaslo Summer School of the Arts, Short-term-Writer-in-Residence, August 1991
  • George P. Vanier Secondary School, B.C.  Short-term Writer-in-Residency, May 1991
  • Ganges High School, Short-term-Writer-in-Residence, November 1989, February 1991
  • Sidney Public Library, Sidney, B.C. Short-term Writer-in-Residence, April, 1989
  • Ganaraska Writer’s Colony, Fiction Workshop. June 26 – July 9, 1988
  • Festival of the Written Arts, Pender Harbour, B.C. 1987
  • Vancouver Public Library, National Book Week 1986
  • University of New Brunswick, Summer Session 1985
  • Jerome’s College, University of Waterloo, 1983-1985

(a)       Memberships

 Canadian Children’s Book Centre

  • Canadian Children’s Book Centre
  • The Writers Union of Canada Chair, 1997-1998
  • League of Canadian Poets
  • PEN 

 

 (b)      Editorships (list journal and dates)

  • Editor for Thistledown Press, short fiction, poetry and Y/A titles 1994-2013
  • Editor for Justice James Clarke (Exile) poetry (1997-2001)
  • Editor for Gale Garnett’s Visible Worlds (Stoddart) fiction 1999 and Transient Dancing (MacArthur @ Co, 2003)
  • Editor for Harbour Publishing, fiction 2000
  • Editor for Radiant Press, 2019-2022

 

(c)        Reviewer (journal, agency, etc. including dates)

Reviewed for Book Panel on the CBC’s The Journal 1989-1991. Has spoken on CBC’s Sunday Morning, Morningside, Word for Word, Afternoon Show and others, on a wide variety of subjects: talking books, sonnets, erotic literature, politics, etc.

(d)     Judge and/or Jury member 

 

  • Fiddlehead Annual Poetry Contest, judge, February, 2022
  • Brebner Prize, Arc Poetry Magazine, September 2020
  • FreeFall Magazine’s Annual Prose and Poetry Contest, judge, February 2017
  • CBC Daybreak, judge of poetry contest — acrostic poem on SPRING, April, 2016
  • Latner Writers’ Trust Poetry Prize, September 2015
  • Manitoba Writers’ Guild, McNally Book of the Year – Juror, 2013
  • Arc Poetry Magazine, Archibald Lampman Award – Juror, 2012
  • Canada Council, Fiction jury – Juror, 2011
  • Ascent Magazine, Annual Writing Contest – Judge, 2007
  • CBC Canada Reads: Defended Al Purdy’s “Room for Rent in the Outer Planet.” First poetry book ever defended on Canada Reads – Panel member, 2006
  • CBC Tilden Poetry Award – Juror, 2006
  • BC Book Awards, Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize – Juror, 2003
  • Saskatchewan Writers Guild, Saskatchewan Book Awards (Poetry) – Juror, 2003
  • Relit Awards Inaugural Award – Juror, 2001
  • City of Calgary, W.O. Mitchell Book Prize – Juror, 1998
  • League of Canadian Poets, Bronwen Wallace Award – Juror, 1998
  • BC Festival of the Arts, Literary Competition (Poetry) – Juror, 1998
  • BC Arts Council, B.C. Cultural Branch Scholarship Awards – Juror , 1996
  • (m)other Tongue Press – Chapbook Contest – Judge, 1996

 

Prior to 1996, I was judge and/or jury member for a number of literary award competitions:

  • Scarborough Board of Education, “Writes of Spring ’95” Creative Writing Contest 1995
  • The League of Canadian Poets Eighth National Poetry Competition, 1995
  • Hart House (University of Toronto) Short Story Competition, 1995
  • Saskatchewan Book Awards, 1994
  • Ontario Arts Council Works in Progress Jury, 1993, 1995
  • Governor General’s Award for Poetry Jury, 1992
  • Ontario Arts Council Periodicals Jury, 1992
  • Prism International Short Fiction Award, 1992
  • Okanagan College Short Story Award, 1991
  • CAA Poetry Awards, 1991
  • John’s City, Newfoundland Writing Awards, 1990
  • Stephen Leacock Limerick Award, 1990, 1991, 1992
  • The 1990 National Radio Awards: Best Actor, Male
  • Canada Council Project Grant Jury, October 1989
  • Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, 1989
  • British Columbia Criminal Justice Association in conjunction with the National Parole Board and Correctional Services Canada, Essay Contest for National Crime Prevention Week, 1988
  • Canada Council “A” Grant Jury, 1988
  • Regional Judge (Canada and Caribbean area) of British Airways Commonwealth Poetry Competition, Trinidad, 1987
  • Limerick Contest for Victoria Department of Tourism, 1987
  • POETRY ’86 National Poetry Competition, 1986
  • Dorothy Shoemaker Poetry Awards, Kitchener, Ontario, 1985
  • Canada Council Public Readings Programme Jury, 1985
  • Harbourfront’s “Discovery Night”, Toronto, 1984
  • Canada Council “B” Grant Jury, September 1984; September 1987
  • Canada Council Short term Grant Jury, September 1, 1983
  • Poetry Competition for the Saskatchewan Government’s Department of Culture and Youth, 1978

 

(e)        Other service, Interviews

(i) Interviews (print)*

 

(ii)       Broadcast (radio – selected)

    • Radio West with Sarah Penton, CBC, March, 2023
    • Proust Interview, CBC, November 2022
    • Interview with Chris Hall on CBC’s “The House.” Tourism and Covid19, May 2020
    • Interview with Andrew Kurjata, CBC’s Daybreak, May, 2020
    • Foodline Radio, April, 2016
    • Sheryl McKay, CBC North by Northwest, April, 2016
    • Roundhouse Radio, Vancouver Sense of Place with Minelle Mahtani, August, 2016
    • The Next Chapter (Shelagh Rogers) November 30, 2015
    • Dishing with Demontis, Sirius XM Canada Talks #167, December 5, 2015
    • Joseph Planta-763 East 23rd, January 21, 2015
    • Open Doors/ Closed Ranks: Locating Mental health after the Asylum project and the History of Madness in Canada website, January 16, 2014
    • Leah Harper reads “Signs of the Times” on Haliburton County Reads, 100.9FM
    • Interview with Pamela Bunting on Vancouver’s Co-Op Radio, July 16, 2014
    • Interview/readings for cfrc 101.9fm’s ‘finding a voice,” Kingston, Ontario, before the 2014
    • Kingston Writersfest, September 12, 2014
    • As it Happens, November 5, 2014
    • CFAX radio, Victoria, November 5, 2014
    • http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter/darrell-dennis-children-s-book-panel-1.2862665
    • CBC North by Northwest, Featured Guest, March 10, 2013
    • Commissioned to write a series of nine radio essays for CBC’s Morningside, 1999
    • Canada AM (March 1994)
    • Poems have been broadcast on the CBC’s Anthology, The Hornby Collection,
    • “The Wages of Love” was produced by the CBC’s State of the Arts in March 1987.
    • Poems have been broadcast on Poetry Now (Radio Three, BBC London). 

 

(iii) Television (interviews and panels – selected)

    • CBC: Mary Walsh: Open Book, panelist with Jan Wong and Jann Arden, July 2002
    • CBC Life and Times profile, with Stephen Reid: “The Poet and the Bandit” January 1999
    • Front Page Challenge, mystery guest with Stephen Reid, February 1993
    • The Shirley Show, with Stephen Reid, CTV January 1992
    • Canada in View, CTV, April 1990
    • CKVU TV, December 1989
    • TV Ontario, Imprint, 1989, 92
    • BCTV, February 1988
    • CBC News September 1987
    • CTV Lifetime, Fall 1987
    • CBC The Journal, Fall 1987
    • Profiled on BCTV, December 1985 and October 1986
    • CTV Lifetime, October 1986

 

(iv) Film

    • “Valentine’s Day in Jail,” a chapter from Cargo of Orchids was optioned by Back Alley
    • Films and produced in their series “Bliss”, Showcase, 2003
    • Heroines Poetic-script for documentary film on Lincoln Clarkes and the heroin-
    • addicted prostitutes of Vancouver’s lower east-side. Aired on Bravo! on Father’s Day, 2001, and
    • launched the fall 2002 season on the CBC’s Rough Cuts.
    • “Where Did you sleep last night” and “Truth and Betrayal” two 15-minute film scripts for the National Film Board’s “Teenagers at Risk” series, 1998

 

(v) Stage

    • “Valentine’s Day in Jail”, adapted from Cargo of Orchids, was produced by Ruby Slippers in Vancouver, B.C. in their 1995 production of “Herotica”.
    • Gullband (produced and directed by Paully Jardine) was Performed by the Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto (Christmas 1976) and by the Touchstone Theatre in Vancouver (Christmas 1977).

   

(vi) Lyrics/CD

    • In 2003 she wrote the lyrics to a song, “Missing,” dedicated to sixty-two of the missing women on Vancouver’s downtown eastside, which has recently been released on a CD. Music by Brad Prevadoras, vocals by Amber Smith. Proceeds from sales go to Haven Society, who provide a transition house for women and children who have suffered abuse, as well as a Victim Services/Women’s Assault Programme on Vancouver Island.

 

(f)     Selected Reviews and Criticisms

Sales and donations of literary archives to the William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections, McMaster University Library, Hamilton, Canada

Susan Musgrave fonds. – 1901*-2011; predominant 1970-2007. — 46.6 m of textual records, graphic material, sound recording and moving images.

The fonds consists of eight accruals. https://library.mcmaster.ca/archives/findaids/findaids/m/musgrave.htm

The first accrual consists of Boxes 1-31 and is arranged into 6 series: personal correspondence, business correspondence, correspondence relating to poetry readings, interview and fan mail, unpublished works and published works. This accrual measures 4.03 m. The second accrual (04-1988) consists of Boxes 32 – 66 and is arranged into 10 series: manuscripts, poetry worksheets, articles, personal correspondence, business and literary correspondence, readings, workshops and festivals, published work in journals, writer-in-residence and grants, awards and applications. The accrual measures 6.5 m. The third accrual (35-1991) extends to 3.0 m and consists of boxes 67-74 and is arranged into 6 series: manuscripts; correspondence; teaching and writer-in residence; awards, competitions and readings; financial and legal and personal. The fourth accrual (44-1997), which extends to 6.93 m, consists of boxes 75 – 95 and is arranged into 6 series: manuscripts; correspondence; electronic correspondence; teaching, student work, readings and juries; business, financial and personal and published materials and videotapes. The fifth accrual (21-2001), which extends to 9.0 m, consists of boxes 96-143 and is arranged into the following 7 series: manuscripts; correspondence; the Writers’ Union of Canada; Writers’ In Electronic Residence programme; Mentorship programme and Editorial; Readings, grants, awards, juries, reviews and projects; and personal and miscellaneous. The sixth accrual (32-2004) which extends to 6.3 m, and has been arranged in seven series: teaching, correspondence, writing, writing related activities, personal documentation and memorabilia, printed material, and moving images and sound recordings. Has not been arranged, described or measured. The seventh accrual (71-2008) measures 8 m and has been arranged into six series: teaching; correspondence; writing and royalties; readings, conferences, appointment books; photographs, artwork, moving images. The eighth accrual (26-2011) measures 1.9 m and has been arranged into five series: writing; correspondence; teaching, readings, workshops and conferences; personal; printed and other materials.

Title based on contents of the fonds. The first accrual was acquired in 1975 from the firm of Philobiblion and was added to a purchase from William Hoffer in March 1982; the second accrual was acquired from William Hoffer in 1988; the third accrual was acquired from Susan Musgrave in 1992; the fourth accrual was acquired from Susan Musgrave in 1997; the fifth accrual was acquired from Susan Musgrave in 2000; the sixth accrual was acquired from Susan Musgrave in 2004; the seventh accrual was acquired from Susan Musgrave in 2007; the eighth accrual was acquired from Susan Musgrave in 2011.Access is as follows: there are no restrictions on the first accrual and fifth accruals; second accrual – diaries (1973-1984) are embargoed until the death of Susan Musgrave; third accrual – 1985 diary embargoed until the death of Susan Musgrave; fourth accrual – correspondence with Paul Nelson embargoed for the lives of Susan Musgrave and Paul Nelson. Finding aid is available electronically. Further accruals are expected.

*SM notes: I hope this is a typo, because I have not been around since 1901, as far as I know.

(g)       Archives

  • Brown, Dennis. Susan Musgrave: The Self and the Other.canlit.ca_ Canadian Literature, 2 May 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2014 Originally appeared in Canadian Literature #79, (Winter 1978): 60-73
  • Paré, Arlene. Rev. of Given in Coastal Spectator Views Reviews http://coastalspectator.ca/?s=Musgrave (March 6, 2013)
  • Farrant, MAC. Rev of Montreal Gazette, January 4, 2013; Vancouver Sun
  • Latimer, Joanne. Rev. of Desperately Seeking Susans, edited by Sarah Tsiang. Maclean’s, (March 12, 2012): 80
  • Boire, Jennifer, Rev of Obituary of Light: the Sangan River Meditations, by Susan Musgrave.Vallum Contemporary Poetry (2012)
  • Vermeersch, Paul, Rev of Origami Dove, shortlisted for G-G Award. Globe and Mail, (November 11, 2011.)
  • Gordon, Ariel. Rev of Origami Dove. Winnipeg Free Press. April 23, 2011
  • Jirgens, Karl. of Obituary of Light: the Sangan River Meditations, by Susan Musgrave. Canadian Literature
  • Cope, Karin. Rev of Obituary of Light: the Sangan River Meditations, by Susan Musgrave. The Dalhousie Review, #207 (Winter 2010): 158–159
  • Priest, Robert. Rev of Obituary of Light: the Sangan River Meditations, by Susan Musgrave. Pacific Rim Review of Books, Fall/Winter 2009
  • McLennnan, Rob. Rev of You’re in Canada Now on http://robmclennan.blogspot.com/2006/02/susan-musgrave-youre-in-canada-now.html
  • Knutson, Susan. Rev. of Things That Keep & Do Not Change, by Susan Musgrave. Canadian Literature 169 
(2001): 152-154
  • Starnino, Carmine. Rev. of What the Small Day Cannot Hold, by Susan Musgrave. ARC 47 (2001): 58-62.
  • Brown, Allan. Rev. of Things That Keep & Do Not Change, by Susan Musgrave. Antigonish Review 123 (2000): 
53-61
  • Musgrave, Susan. “Canadian Poets Talk About Poetry: Commentary.” In 2 Print (2000): 14.
  • Panofsky, Ruth. Rev. of Things That Keep & Do Not Change, by Susan Musgrave. Quill & Quire4 (1999): 28.
  • Lavoie, Chantel. Rev. of Things That Keep & Do Not Change, by Susan Musgrave. Journal of Canadian Poetry
16 (1999): 40-48.
  • “The Life and Art of Susan Musgrave.” National Post 1 (249) 14 Aug. 1999: WP4-WP5.
  • Leong, Penni. “Susan Musgrave: A Risk Worth Taking.” Canadian Author3 (1997): 16-17.
  • Joyce, Arthur R. “Susan Musgrave: The Spiritualization of Cruelty.” Canadian Author3 (1997): 18-19
  • of Forcing the Narcissus, by Susan Musgrave. Quarry 44.1 (1995): 121-132.
  • Fitzgerald, Judith. “Women in the Moon.” Rev. of Cocktails at the Mausoleum, by Susan Musgrave. Books in Canada (1985): 30.
  • Twigg, Alan. “Femina.” For Openers: Conversations with 24 Canadian Writers. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, 1981. 139.
  • Nicol, Eric. “A Vulgarian View.” Rev. of A Man to Marry, A Man to Bury, by Susan Musgrave. Canadian Literature 87 (1980): 108-10