Susan Musgrave: Notes for Hosts of Literary Readings
Susan has published 25 books: she is a poet, novelist, children's writer, essayist, columnist and frequent guest on the
C.B.C. She has been described as everything from a standup comedian to an eco-feminist. She lives on Vancouver
Island and on Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands).
Susan has been nominated, and has received awards, in six different categories of writing: poetry, fiction, non-fiction,
personal essay, children's writing and for her work as an editor.
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. 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.
Her most recent novel is Cargo of Orchids; latest poetry collections When the World is Not Our Home: Selected Poems
1985-2000 (Thistledown, 2009) and Obituary of Light: the Sangan River Meditations (Leaf Press, 2009)
March 13, 2008-January 11, 2009: Royal BC Museum Free Spirit Project: Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC (see http://www.freespiritbc.ca/ for more details), a 10,000 sq. ft. feature exhibition at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the establishment of British Columbia as a Crown Colony.
"At the heart of the exhibition is a 3-D collage of notable British Columbians. The Party displays 134 people, famous and infamous, that have contributed to the British Columbian identity. Over the course of the year, visitors have an opportunity to contribute to the collage by voting on who they think should be added to the Party in order to bring the number of guests to 150."
(Susan Musgrave notes: Someone with a good sense of humour decided to include a 3-D version of yours truly (who is not exactly know in literary circles as a die-hard party-hardy animal) in The Party. )
For details go to:
http://www.freespiritbc.ca/virtualexhibition/theparty.aspx
FORTHCOMING:
Origami Dove (poetry) M&S 2011
ABOUT HER PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:
.....a fearless woman on the page and on the stage, quite probably Canada's greatest living poet.....” Roselawn Centre,
Port Colborne, Ontario
“It didn't matter if you hadn't heard of Susan Musgrave. Or if you hadn't read her books. By the end of the evening
everyone knew everything about her and were moved by the poignancy of her words.”
-Toronto Star review of Harbourfront performance
“Susan Musgrave has made me hate poetry a little less.” - Spectrum High School student, Victoria, B.C
"The reading you gave tonight was a near perfect human incantation of poetry. You are everything I love about Canadian poetry. I wouldn't hesitate to put you up there with Al and Irving. Thanks so much! - Kyle Carney, Atwater Library, 2009
COMMENTS ON HER POETRY:
“I've discovered the ultimate combination of books for Anarchist Grade Nine (to 12) girls: Story of O and Things That
Keep and Do Not Change by Musgrave. If someone offered those two books as a package deal to angry young femmes
I think Susan would become rich off poetry royalties.”
Bookseller at Coles, Toronto