Luanne Armstrong and Ellen Burt will be reading at Oxygen Art Centre on Saturday February 23, 2019 at 7pm
Oxygen Art Centre, #3 320 Vernon Street (Alley Entrance)
Saturday February 23rd at 7:00pm
Suggested donation $5
Join Kootenay writers Luanne Armstrong and Ellen Burt at Oxygen Art Centre to celebrate the launch of two books, A Bright and Steady Flame: The Story of an Enduring Friendship, by Luanne Armstrong, and What Forever Feels Like: A Memoir of Johnson’s Landing by Ellen Burt.
Ellen Burt has lived most of her life in the remote communities of Argenta and Johnsons Landing, at the North end of Kootenay Lake. She has written one previous book, When the Path is Not a Straight Line (Maa Press 2013). She currently lives in Nelson, B.C.where she writes memoir, poems, and performs spoken word. Acclaimed Kootenay poet Fred Wah writes about Ellen’s new book: “This back-to-the-land coming of age narrative…is a captivating account of the idealistic but earthbound aspirations of a smallholder; the farming, the firewood, the frozen pipes, and, above all, the community…a sweet story.”
Luanne Armstrong has written twenty-one books. She writes young adult books, fiction, nonfiction and poetry. She has contributed to many anthologies and edited a Canadian non-fiction anthology called Slice Me Some Truth. Luanne presently lives on her hundred-year-old family farm on Kootenay Lake. She mentors many emerging writers all over the world and in the last three years, has edited eight books through to publication. Her new book, A Bright and Steady Flame: The Story of an Enduring Friendship, was published by Caitlin Press in October, 2018. She is deeply interested in researching the history of Kootenay Lake people and places.
Both of these memoirs offer deep insights into the nature of small communities and the history and development of such communities on Kootenay Lake. Ellen’s book offers colorful and nostalgic stories about Johnson’s Landing. Luanne’s book weaves together many stories set in the Kootenays over the seventies and eighties; while the core of her book is about the strength and endurance of women’s friendships.
Luanne taught writing classes for many years at Oxygen Art Centre, and over the years, mentored many writers from all over the Kootenays. Ellen is a very committed member of Spoken Word in Nelson. Both writers will be in attendance and look forward to seeing you there.
