Author: Shelley Banks

Writer, editor, photographer.

Poetry and a Pint!

Saskatchewan Poet Laureate’s Poetry & Pints

Bushwakker: Poetry and a Pint on May 21, 2016.
Bushwakker -great poetry will be on offer with great beer at Poetry and a Pint, May 21, 2016.

Join the Saskatchewan Poet Laureate, Gerald Hill, as he MCs an afternoon of poetry and pints as part of Bushwakker’s 25th Anniversary celebrations.

Hosted by Gerald Hill, this event also features readings by Shelley Banks, Courtney Bates-Hardy, Eric Greenway, Brenda Niskala and Coby Stephenson, who will take to the stage to share their electrifying work.

Admission is free, though you’ll have to buy your own beer. Join us for a pint and poetry!

When: Saturday May 21, 3:00 pm
Where: Bushwakker Brew Pub, 2206 Dewdney Ave, Regina.

Reading at the Humboldt Gallery

When I was at the writing retreat in mid-February, I had the opportunity to read at the Humboldt District Gallery with other retreating writers.

The event marked the opening of an art exhibition by students of St. Peter’s College instructors, artists Clint Hunker and Grant McConnell, and included a reading by St. Peter’s College writing instructor, Barbara Langhorst.

And what a great idea, to blend visual and literary, images and words. (And song, too, from Tara.)

My thanks to the organizers, and to all who attended. (And to Caelan for taking a close-up shot of me before the readings began… We took many to test the lighting, and still faced challenges. Flash-free galleries can be fun…)

Reading at the Humboldt District Gallery: Barbara Langhorst, Shelley Banks and Bruce Rice; introductions by St. Peter's College art instructors (l&r) Grant McConnell and Clint Hunker; welcome by gallery representative (c).
Reading at the Humboldt District Gallery: Barbara Langhorst, Shelley Banks and Bruce Rice; introductions by St. Peter’s College art instructors (l&r) Grant McConnell and Clint Hunker; welcome by gallery representative (c).
Humboldt-comp2
Writers David Carpenter and Tara Dawn Solheim (top), with Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild representative Caelan Reilly (bottom).

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Looking forward to reading tonight at Regina’s Vertigo Series!

I’m looking forward to reading tonight, Feb. 8, 2016, at the Vertigo Series in Regina, Saskatchewan! I’ll post some pix of the event on LatitudeDrifts.blogspot.ca later this week… For now, here’s the poster:

February 8, 2016: Regina, SK, reading
There are always talented writers reading and talented musicians playing at the Regina Vertigo Series. If you live in the city, watch for posting on Facebook, and drop by! It will be fun!

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Guest Blogger for Gail Anderson-Dargatz

Featured on Gail Anderson-Dargatz's blog
Shelley Banks, and the writing of Exile on a Grid Road: Featured on Gail Anderson-Dargatz’s blog

I’m delighted to share that I’m the current guest blogger featured on the website of Canadian writer and mentor Gail Anderson-Dargatz!

Drop by, and read my thoughts on the Writer’s Eye, versus the I of the Writer.

I worked with Gail when I was studying for my MFA in Creative Writing at the University of B.C., and have kept contact with her since. (I’m looking forward to reading her new novel, The Spawning Ground, which will be published by Knopf Canada this fall.)

It was fun to connect via her website, as part of the community of writers. (Thanks, Gail!)

All Lit Up with Exile on a Grid Road

I’m keeping track of references to Exile on a Grid Road, and so I’m pleased to share the link to All Lit Up, from the Literary Press Group.

Exile on a Grid Road, on All Lit Up. Click to open and read the larger screen shot about this poetry collection.

More about LPG and ALU, from the site:

On All Lit Up, readers of emerging, quirky, and unabashedly Canadian literature can find and purchase the best books this country’s independent publishers have to offer. Curious readers can also browse through our exclusive behind-the-scenes content about the books, authors, and publishers whose work is available on our site. Additionally, All Lit Up serves as a community bookstore for readers with no local option, ensuring every Canadian has access to the literature produced by Canadian independent publishers.

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Exile available through McMaster University Bookstore

I’m delighted to say that my first alma mater, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, now lists my book, Exile on a Grid Road, in the Books by Alumni section of its website — and offers it for sale through the Mac online bookstore (General Books, McMaster Authors).

Screenshot of McMaster Alumni webpage featuring my book, Exile on a Grid Road.

I have fond memories of studying at McMaster back when I was a young undergraduate in the English and Spanish departments — and, especially, of my Canadian and West Indian friends there, so this is a thrill!

You never know who checks what pages, or who finds what where, but it would be great to connect to past classmates, library pals and fellow partiers, if any should stumble over this listing!

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Exile on a Grid Road: In the Spotlight in the Regina LeaderPost and Saskatoon StarPhoenix

My book, Exile on a Grid Road, in the Spotlight in the Regina Leader Post
My book, Exile on a Grid Road, in the Spotlight in the Regina Leader Post

Saturday mornings, for me, are a time to lie in and ignore the sounds around me…

Footsteps on the stairs. Coffee beans being ground. The front door opened and closed as the morning newspapers are retrieved.

My goal is to stay asleep — or at least, pretend to be asleep and pretend that I hear nothing — for as long as I can. And that works, on some Saturday mornings.

Continue reading Exile on a Grid Road: In the Spotlight in the Regina LeaderPost and Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Exile at Chapters-Indigo in Regina, SK

This week, I found copies of my poetry collection, Exile on a Grid Road, at the Chapters-Indigo bookstore in Regina, SK.

Exile on a Grid Road on the Canadian Poetry shelf at Chapters, Regina.

Exile is shelved at the start of the Canadian Poetry section in fabulous company with Lorna Crozier’s The Wrong Cat, and others.

(And yes, I know Banks should fall between Acorn and Crozier, and moved my books there after this shot… Although perhaps someone had a very special reason for earlier placing mine right beside Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring?) 

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