So, all the publishers and agents are in Toronto, sure, but we all know where all the talent is. The joke is that “Take a picture in St. John’s and there’ll be a writer in the background.” Jacked it up. “Take a picture in St. John’s and there’ll be four or five writers in the background.”

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Newfoundland writer Lisa Moore has been long-listed for the Man Booker Prize for her second novel, February, a fictional account of the emotional aftermath of the Ocean Ranger disaster. A short-list of nominees will be announced in September of this year.

The work of celebrated Guyanese author Wilson Harris was once again brought into focus recently when the British decided to show recognition for his contribution to English literature by honouring him with a knighthood. The relevance, importance and impact of his work once more became issues and there was reason to reassert why he is considered such an important writer. The reasons include the novelty of his approach to writing, the originality of his styles and form, the relevance of his preoccupations and the intellectual depth with which he treats them. Very prominent among these are his attitudes to Europe and the revolutionary fashion with which he engages Europe in the context of the West Indian writers’ engagements with that continent.

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French literary magazine Lire named the thriller Skipid (“The Ship”) by Icelandic author Stefán Máni the best crime novel to appear in France this year. The book is called Noir Océan in the French translation by Eric Boury.

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Reykjavík City Library is inviting foreign tourists and other non-Icelandic speakers to participate in literary walks in English around the capital every Thursday in July and August.

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Artists across Jamaica are talking – on Facebook! The Trevor Rhone, Artists’ Page on Facebook was created by his son, Trevor David Rhone, in honour of arguably Jamaica’s greatest playwright.

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Now accepting applications for October, 2010!

Our first Frith in 2009 was, by all accounts, a fabulous thing. Fifteen participants worked on fiction, poetry and non-fiction in the invigorating air at beautiful Kilmory Resort in Swift Current, Newfoundland.

This year’s Frith promises to be equally as inspirational for those who seeking mentorship, fellowship and a peaceful place in which to pursue their writing!

When: Tues., October 12 (3:30 p.m.) to Sat., October 16, 2010 (12 noon) – For those arriving by air, Kilmory is about 2 hours from St. John’s airport, and ground transportation can be arranged.

Who: Emerging and established writers are invited to join award-winning writers/experienced mentors for intense worskhops and mentoring. Our faculty this year are Mary Dalton (poetry), Kevin Major (prose) and Jessica Grant (fiction). More about our Frith Faculty here.

Cost: $615 includes all program and application fees, accommodation for four nights, meals and social events.

Apply: The application process is straightforward and elegant … you can apply online or send an email to let us know your application is in the mail! Go to Frith Guidelines and Application.

Where’s Kilmory? Getting there…

What’s a piper’s frith, anyway?

“Piper’s” comes from the Piper’s Hole River that runs through this gorgeous part of the world, and which was named for a legendary, mournful piping sound heard after the untimely death of a piper — see these links for two versions of the story. The Legend of Piper’s Hole; Legends of Newfoundland and Labrador by Donald Wilson Stanley Ryan

Frith is a geographical term — an alternative to firth — that refers to an opening of a river into the ocean, an estuary. In addition, Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (© 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.) includes an obsolete meaning from Old English that refers to peace and protection, sanctuary; a forest or wooded place.

We’ve shamelessly appropriated this grand old word and are reconstituting it to mean a peaceful, wooded santuary on or near an estuary where one can engage in good writing.

The Literary Arts Foundation of NL is grateful to the following for their support of Piper’s Frith:

* Pipers Department Stores
* The Govt. of Newfoundland Labrador, Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage’s Cultural Economic Development Program
* The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association
* Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council

St. John’s

July 20, 8-11, The Ship – BOOK LAUNCH: KATHLEEN WINTER’S ANNABEL.

July 21 at 7:45, THE BOREAL POETRY GARDEN with WANL and Marlene Creates.

July 27, 7-9 at The Ship – RIDDLE FENCE POETRY READINGS with stellar poets James Langer and Danielle Devreaux.

A special issue of St. John’s-based literary journal “Riddle Fence” is being launched Thursday in connection with the Cupids 400 celebrations.

Cupids 400 Inc. — the organizing body for events and building projects in recognition of the 400th anniversary of English settlement in Newfoundland — supplied $15,000 in funding for the edition.

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Newfoundland authors Tom Dawe and Michael Crummey have won Canadian Authors Association awards.

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