branta

Remember the 48Hr Magazine challenge a little while ago? The theme was “Hustle” and after it was revealed we all had one day to send in our submissions, they had one day to produce the magazine. Well the folks at Longshot are at it again… and the theme will be revealed today at noon Pacific time (I’ll let you do the math). More details, plus a reminder of issue zero, are available within.

One of the topics from last week’s Slate Culture Gabfest was a discussion on provocative literary agent Andrew Wylie’s recent shift into the world of electronic text on behalf of his blue chip stable of clients (Updike, Mailer, Nabokov, Bellow, etc.) Will this signal a quantum shift from paper to lcd?

August Readings, Book Signings and other events… including Joan Thomas at the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, Sechelt, BC. Canada’s longest running summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers.

Sometime during the middle part of June the Netfirms e-mail account I had been using for Branta business first swallowed all but a handful of letters then followed that trick up by kicking me out completely. So I apologize if you sent in queries or submissions or anything over that last couple of months, but that stuff appears to be in the world wide dead letter office of the web.

This is an open call for all individuals, groups and municipalities to join the movement and offer a free interactive arts or cultural activity during Culture Days in your region. Everyone is encouraged to get involved – whether you are a professional or amateur cultural creator (i.e. artist, artisan, educator, animateur, historian, curator, architect, designer, etc), group or organization, including culturally diverse, Aboriginal, urban, and rural communities.

There are two appearances by Roger Burrows who will be discussing his new book Birding in New Brunswick, including a headline spot at the 10th annual Sandpiper Festival in Dorchester, NB.

Seattle writer takes Bulwer-Lytton prize for sentence that compares rodent’s drinking habits to a romantic kiss
Associated Press

Matt Greenwood leaves disposable cameras in public areas around Toronto (and now via friends in more farflung places) with instructions “Take picture, don’t steal.” Then he goes back to check on the results. He has a website, a Tumblr page and a Twitter feed so you can see the results too.