David Day was born and raised in Victoria, British Columbia. He is a poet and author who has published over 40 books of poetry, ecology, history, fantasy, mythology and fiction. David Day’s books – for both adults and children – have sold over 4 million copies worldwide and were translated into twenty languages. In 1978, he published A Tolkien Bestiary, the first of his six best-selling books on the works of J R R Tolkien. In 1981, his Doomsday Book of Animals was a ‘Book of the Year’ selection for Time Magazine, New Scientist, Los Angeles Times and The Observer. And in 1984, Day wrote Castles, the first of five books in collaboration with the Academy Award winning artist,
Alan Lee.

In 1986, The Emperor’s Panda was runner-up for the Governor General’s Award and the National Library Award, and was adapted for stage by the Toronto Young People’s Theatre. That year, his poems were prize winners in the CBC National Poetry Competition. David Day has also written for theatre and television. His 100-part Lost Animals TV series (narrated by Greta Scacchi) was commissioned by the Knowledge Network in the US, Channel 4 in the UK and NHK in Japan. It was later translated into 18 other languages.

Day is currently contracted to Hall Train Studios, Toronto as Creative Director of ‘The Dodo Chronicles: A Voyage of Discovery, Extinction and Survival’ – a high tech travelling museum show which incorporates animatronics and holograms. ‘The Dodo Chronicles’ will also be published as an illustrated book. Also forthcoming is a new book of poems, ‘Lost Animals: A Book of Hours’.

Bill Howell has four poetry collections: The Red Fox (1971), In a White Shirt (1982), Moonlight Saving Time (1990) and Porcupine Archery(2009), released by Insomniac Press. Ghost Test Flights (Rubicon Press, 2008) was a winner in the inaugural WCDR Chapbook Challenge. His writing has appeared in literary journals and magazines across the country, in the United Kingdom, and in the United States. Recent readings: Art Bar, Best of Canadian Poetry Launch, Hot-Sauced Words, Insomniac Launch, LiT LiVe, Pivot, Rower’s Pub, and Tree: http://www.treereadingseries.ca/12janbillhowell.html.  Upcoming: “The Poetry of Radio”, WCDR/Whitby, Jan. 13th: WCDR.  Bill was a network producer-director with CBC Radio Drama for three decades. He lives in Toronto.

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Click Here: for details on the Open Mic Sonnet Smackdown

A big congratulations to Jim Johnstone on another great issue. A grateful thanks to Shwan McLeod for co-hosting the evening. And a special thanks to Carri Edwards for catering services and duties involved.

Join us at the Black Swan, 154 Danforth Avenue, just east of Broadview (map).

Open Mic Sign-up at 7:30

Readings commence at 8 p.m.

Yes we did just write: The Open Mic Sonnet Smackdown - yes damn it - a sonnet fight-to-the death, well not death surely. No a contest for cash and bragging rights.

Choose your weapon:

• 1 Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet
• 2 Occitan sonnet
• 3 English (Shakespearean) sonnet
• 4 Spenserian sonnet
• 5 Modern sonnet

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For bios of our featured readers.

Readings commence at 8:00 p.m.

Open Mic Sign-up at 7:30 p.m.

Issue 13 contributors reading:

• Michael Lista
• Liz Howard
• Nyla Matuk
• Robin Richardson
• Matt Leslie
• Andrew McEwan

+ Blair Trewartha launching his Cactus Press chapbook Break In

+ OPEN MIC with prizes material and spiritual: e.g. subscriptions to Misunderstandings Magazine

Hosted by Jim Johnstone and Shwan McLeod

Complimentary snacks but you’ll have to buy the beer.

Misunderstandings Web Page

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Please follow the links below for more information on our January readers:

a. rawlings: http://cwip.artmob.ca/contributors/arawlings

Sandy Pool: http://www.guernicaeditions.com/author.php?id=317

Heather Cadsby: http://www.poets.ca/Linktext/direct/cadsby.htm

The winner of our Cento contest was Mick Burrs with his adaptation from Emily Dickinson.

Thanks to our judges Jim Johnstone and Sue Chenette.

+ The Open Mic Sonnet Smackdown - yes damn it - a sonnet fight-to-the death, well not death surely. No a contest for cash and bragging rights.

Choose your weapon:

• 1 Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet
• 2 Occitan sonnet
• 3 English (Shakespearean) sonnet
• 4 Spenserian sonnet
• 5 Modern sonnet

We are please to note that musician Joe Sorbara will be performing with Angela Rawlings:

Joe Sorbara has developed a reputation as a diverse and musical presence on Toronto’s growing creative improvised music scene as a drummer and percussionist, composer, improviser, organizer and educator. Joe’s own projects include the seven-or-more-tet, Other Foot First, and the Pickle Juice Orchestra. He co-leads a number of ensembles including the Remnants Trio (with Evan Shaw and Ken Aldcroft) and a duo with corporeal mime Julie Lassonde. Joe performs on a regular basis with the AIMToronto Orchestra, Ronda Rindone’s Quorum, Ken Aldcroft’s Convergence Ensemble.

Click here for full details and reader bios