Tonight’s the Night…

(If you close your eyes and listen really well, you will hear me singing! I finally decided I would read an expert from my WIP. Yes, unedited, raw, material. But, the connection is there, can’t deny it, right. lol. It should be fun.)

The Yellow Door

POETRY AND PROSE READING

http://www.yellowdoor.org

3625 Aylmer, Montreal (between Pine & Prince Arthur) Tel: 514-845-2600

Founder, producer/host Ilona Martonfi 514-939-4173

ilona.martonfi@sympatico.ca

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Doors open 7:00 pm Reading 7:30 pm At the door $5

Poets, Prose Writers & Musicians featured:

Michael Mirolla recently published the novel Berlin. Another novel, and a brace of short fiction/poetry collections complete the picture.

Rana Bose Montreal poet, writer and engineer. His second novel, The Fourth Canvas has been published by TSAR, 2008.

Talleen Hacikyan Author and illustrator of the artist’s book, Postcards. Stories published in Ararat Quarterly and Room Magazine. http://www.talleen.net

Denise Desautels GG Award (1992) winner will read from The night will be insistent (Guernica). English translation read by Antonio D’Alfonso.

Louise Dupré A major voice from Montreal reads from The blueness of light (Guernica) English translation read by Antonio D’Alfonso.

David Cavanagh A second book of poetry, Falling Body, (Salmon Poetry of Ireland, 2009.) Even the cross on Mount Royal gets into the act.

Jennifer Neri The Mistake won second place award for 2008 QWF/CBC. Published in In Other Words. Broadcast on CBC radio. http://jenniferneri.com

Louise Dessertine began singing in Chœur Maha, joined cappella Ensemble Rubia, & discovered song-writing; performing compositions, solo.

There is a first time for everything.

I just accepted an invitation from the lovely Ilona Martonfi to read at the Yellow Door Poetry and Prose Readings in the month of August.

I have done a public reading only once, and that was last summer at the Blue Metropolis Literary Festival when I was presented a second place lit award. I sat next to Joel Yanofsky , who won a first place award, and saw how relaxed this established writer was, while my hands were slick with sweat. He engaged me in small talk to calm my nerves, and for that I am eternally grateful. On my other side was Jessica Block, whose knees rattled together being the first reader of the three of us, and whose wonderful reading settled me slightly more. But, this is the first time I have been invited to read!

I was never very good at public performances. Rather, I lay awake for nights prior dreading the moment I had to get up and speak or present. I’ve practiced in the last years. Attaining a graduate degree you have to present tons, reading at workshops, critique groups…I remember the first time I read in a writer’s circle with the Westmount branch of the Canadian Author’s Association – “Speak up! We can’t hear you! Slow down!”

I have become better, or rather I have gathered the courage to talk louder, slow down, and even look around while I read.

It should be great fun, and I thank Ilona for giving me this opportunity.

Now, I get to spend the next two months deciding what to read. A short or a novel excerpt? Something new, or old?