Tag: readings

Categories
Writing Life

Poetry in the library

Public Art in Clayton Library Taryn Hubbard poetry

A few years ago, two of my poems were selected for an ongoing Public Art project by the City of Surrey. One of those poems, “This Place,” has been installed at the beautiful Clayton Library.

I had the chance to check it out and did a quiet reading of the poem. Check it out.

Video performance

Close up of the text

This Place

A streetlight to see

a road to travel

a bike lane to ride

a crosswalk to stroll

a plot to plant

a hand to hold

a friend to meet

a bird to hear

a dog to walk

this place to call home.

– Taryn Hubbard

About the poem

This Place, conjures a connection to place through its description of pathways, growth, and creaturely encounters. Installed within a small study nook at Clayton Library, it offers an invitation to sit and contemplate what makes a place a home. 

Learn more about Clayton Library.

Categories
Events Writing Life

Fraser Valley Writers Festival

Fraser Valley Writers Festival

The Fraser Valley Writers Festival is an annual two-day literary festival featuring keynote addresses, readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, live podcast recordings, and more, hosted at the Abbotsford campus of the University of the Fraser Valley. It’s free and open to all.

I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been invited to participate this year! I have been commissioned to produce a new piece on the theme “Sound” in the afternoon, and I’ll be chairing a panel on the theme “Silence” in the morning.

Here’s my schedule:

Saturday, November 8 at the University of the Fraser Valley’s Abbotsford campus:

11:15 AM – Panel 1 – “Silence”
Joseph Dandurand
Daniela Elza
Jen Sookfong Lee
Christina Myers
Chair: Taryn Hubbard

2:45 PM – Panel 2 – “Sound”
Kayla Czaga
Taryn Hubbard
Heather Ramsay
Nick Thran
Chair: Jen Sookfong Lee

There’s more

There’s a lot of great things happening at the festival this year, with a keynote speech by Charles Demers and Evelyn Lau scheduled for Friday, November 7. There are also workshops and a live podcast recording! There will also be books and conversation. It’s definitely my kind of event, and I’m looking forward to it.

Now to write my piece on “sound”…

Register for the free festival now!

Categories
The Very Good Best Friend

Dispatch from the middle of a book launch

A stack of books with a black spine that has letters in white that read The Very Good Best Friend by Taryn HUbbard

This spring my debut novel, The Very Good Best Friend, launched into the world and I’ve been busy reading the book, promoting it, and writing content about some of its themes.

Essays

Essays related to the book have been published online, with more slated for later in the year. It’s wonderful to have this space to step back and think about my inspirations and interests in this way:

Author visits

I had my first author visit ever at Black Bond Books in Maple Ridge earlier in May. I was set up right outside the entrance and it was fun to chat with locals, friends, and family in the mall on a rainy day. We sold books! This was really cool.

Next month I’ll be at The Owl & The Cat Bookery in Garrison Village in Chilliwack for another author signing event. I’m looking forward to it, and hope to continue the conversation.

Book readings

A book launch wouldn’t be complete without readings. It’s been fantastic to get out and read from the book. I read at Words in the Burbs at the charming Western Sky Books in Port Coquitlam in April, as well as Sidekick Brewing in Chilliwack in mid-May.

Next steps

As I’ve noted in posts before, an author’s work is never finished! I’ve been on my social media with updates, graphics, media coverage, and recaps, and will continue that into the summer.

I’m also interested in connecting with book clubs, so if you run one and would like to read The Very Good Best Friend, I invite you to connect with me.

If you’re read the book, consider dropping a review on Goodreads or another book sharing website.

Categories
Events

Reading at Words in the Burbs

Photo collage of three books by readers at the Words in the Burbs series.

I’ll be breaking the ice on my first public reading of The Very Good Best Friend at one of my favourite reading series, Words in the Burbs.

Words in the Burbs takes place at the charming independent bookstore, Western Sky Books in Port Coquitlam. The series is curated and hosted by writers Lynn Easton and Christina Myers, and co-hosted by Western Sky Books owner, Tamara Gorin. It’s free to attend and open to all.

This series has been around for a number of years, and I had the chance to read at a session before Desire Path was published. It will be wonderful to be a part of the positive energy these hosts create yet again!

I’ll be reading alongside a roster of fantastic local writers. Take a look:

Event details:

Date
Thursday, April 24

Location
Western Sky Books

Time
7 p.m.