BlueBeary cover

Last night I updated the Open Eyes website: posted BlueBeary illustrations, set up the online store (PayPal). You can now pre-order BlueBeary as a single book or buy a subscription for the entire series. The subscription cost includes a total of 11 books plus shipping for the price of 10: you get BlueBeary free.

If subscription is too much of a commitment for you, we'll add the the other books for individual purchase as they come out. And ... if the series is a big hit, we'll see about putting the collection in a single volume later on.

We've got postcards. If you'd like to help promote the book(s), drop us a line and we'll send you a stack of cards. We'll be releasing stickers, posters, and stuffed bears in the near future, and we'll even have a birthday party option, complete with BlueBeary mascot,* for young readers in BC's Lower Mainland! If you want to sign up for updates, there's a mailing list icon on every page of the website.

book tour, BlueBeary and baskets

I have just come off a magical weekend with a dear friend and am launching full force into a busy week of touring with Martha Morgan and finishing the BlueBeary book. Thank God for cell phones and laptops and wireless internet. Last night I read (aloud to a friend), Wendell Berry’s essay “Why I’m not going to buy a computer” (summary here). Thought provoking and sobering, to be sure, but I am going to remain grateful for my computer and the internet, all the while mindful that the power grid and the information superhighway will fail sooner or later (going the way of the Roman roads). Meantime, I will use them to their fullest advantage.

It’s interesting to think of the significance of one’s work, especially for the artisan. The friend I was with on the weekend is a construction manager by trade and has a natural fascination with building structures. It was delightful to watch him assess the foundation of the United old church that’s across our back yard: posts, beams, joists, and other things that are new vocabulary for me but clearly important to understand if one wants a secure building. Apparently this little church is missing a main supporting post. Someone had better fix it before we host many more arts gatherings! Anyhow, my point is that Kevin’s work is obviously useful. What about work that simply adds beauty and has no apparent “usefulness”?

Three times in the past year we hosted my friend Andria (pictured in this post) for creative retreats. She wanted to try carving clay, so Jeffrey prepared some extrusions for her (square, hollow lengths of clay). They come out looking elemental, like wind, fire, water … and Spirit. The pieces from the first retreat turned out beautifully through drying, bisque firing, glazing and final firing. The second round of carvings were even more beautiful than the first … but there was something wrong inside the clay and they literally blew up inside the kiln during bisque firing. Andria tried to take a philosophical approach to the disappointment, but really needed the emotional approach of grieving.

Tentative about trivializing her loss, I shared a story with her from the first chapter of Acedia and Me by Kathleen Norris. Fortunately, the story resonated with Andria and helped her to understand her work as an act of worship, whether or not the "product" of that worship is preserved. Interestingly, Abba Pauls work was practical--basket weaving--yet his treatment of it was decidedly not. Here's the story:

One of the best stories I know is found in The Institutes by John Cassian, a monk who was born in the fourth century. Cassian speaks of Abba Paul, who, like many desert monks, wove baskets as he prayed, and subsisted on food from his garden and a few date palms. Unlike monks who lived closer to cities and could sell their baskets there, Paul

could not do any other work to support himself because his dwelling was separated from towns and from habitable land by a seven days’ journey through the desert … and transportation coast more than he could get for the work that he did. He used to collect palm fronds and always exact a day’s labor from himself just as if this were his means of support. And when his cave was filled with a whole year’s work, he would burn up what he had so carefully toiled over each year.

Does Abba Paul epitomize the dutiful monk who recognizes that the prayers he recites during his labors are of more value than anything he can make? Or is he the patron saint of performance art, methodically destroying the baskets he has woven to demonstrate that the process of making them is more important than the product? Paul’s daily labors may have been designed to foster humility, but the annual burning had another, greater purpose. Cassian notes that it aided the monk in “purging his heart, firming his thoughts, persevering in his cell, and conquering and driving out acedia.”

So I continue to use my computer and drive my car and publish books, believing that these things contribute to a greater purpose, mindful that the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

introducing ...

the children’s book series: Open Eyes

the author: Kathleen McMillan

the illustrator: Rebekah Joy Plett

the project story: Rebekah’s blog

 

legally blind can read new font

My recently published book project, Notes from Over the Hill, involved hiring a designer to develop a new font that was both readable and aesthetically pleasing. My author and publisher and a few other people were skeptical: "Why do we need to pay for a new font? Can't we just use something like Helvetica? Who buys fonts anyway?" My designer, Travis, and I had lots of rationale, but the bottom line was instinctual and unexplainable: this font was necessary and important.

In the process of designing, Travis researched design elements that influence readability and we tested the font with several people, including some with poor eyesight. However, nothing could have prepared me for this feedback from the author, who lives in a large seniors' residence in Saskatoon:

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Everybody who buys it and who stops to chat about it comments on the font. People are interested in the font.

In fact--this is hard to believe but it's true. Two ladies here who are legally blind and have to have things read to them, bought the book because they find they can read it with the aid of their magnifying glass! One of them even started to read that back page about the font when she bought it, but that was too hard for her without the glass, so I read it to her. Everybody says it is even better than the usual large print because of the spaces between the lines and the extra space between paragraphs.

To these two ladies--and there are other like them--faces are a blur. They recognize people only by their voice or their walk, yet they can read Travis's font. Everybody admires the cover too--they love that old typewriter--but I've told you that before. Congratulations! You have done a splendid job.

Martha

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The Word Guild Awards

The Word Guild Awards will be presented at the Gala June 18, 2009 in Mississauga, Ontario.
Tickets for the event are still available!

Here is the short list of finalists.

It's an honour to be listed, under "general readership" with Angelina Fast-Vlaar and NJ Lindquist, exciting to have "Child of My Heart" listed under "song lyrics," and delightful to be a finalist alongside people like Carolyn Arends, John Stackhouse, Marcia Laycock, Bonnie Grove and, obviously, so many other wonderful people!

I had submitted several articles from my Last Mountain Times portfolio and am glad that the articles shortlisted feature one of my favourite people (my brother Jeffrey) and one of my favourite places (Arlington Beach Camp). I can't imagine that I'll win over Angelina or NJ, but it's just great to be there.

SHORTLIST OF FINALISTS

THE WORD GUILD 2009 CANADIAN CHRISTIAN WRITING AWARDS

Books

Book—Biblical Studies

Allan Descheneau of Ottawa, Ont. for Letters from Jesus (independently published)

Andrew T. Hawkins of Chatham, Ont. for Whispers that Delight: Building a Listening-Centered Prayer Life (Word Alive Press)

Eric E. Wright of Colborne, Ont. for Down a Country Road: Fifty-two seasonal readings from out where the sky springs free (DayOne Publications)

Book—Children

Connie Brummel Crook of Peterborough, Ont. for Mary’s Way: Finding a Home in Upper Canada (Scholastic Canada Ltd.)

M. D. Meyer of Norway House, Man. for Pilot Error (Goldrock Press)

Book—Christian Living

Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for Wrestling with Angels: Adventures in Faith and Doubt

(Harvest House Publishers)

Sharon L. Fawcett of Petitcodiac, N.B. for Hope for Wholeness: The Spiritual Path to Freedom from Depression (NavPress)

Tim Huff of Toronto, Ont. for Bent Hope: a street journal (Castle Quay Books)

Greg Paul of Toronto, Ont. for The Twenty Piece Shuffle: why the poor and rich need each other (David C. Cook)

Book—Culture

Tim Huff of Toronto, Ont. for Bent Hope: a street journal (Castle Quay Books)

Colin McCartney of Scarborough, Ont. for The Beautiful Disappointment: Discovering Who You Are Through the Trials of Life (Castle Quay Books)

Greg Paul of Toronto, Ont. for The Twenty Piece Shuffle: Why the poor and rich need each other (David C. Cook)

Book—General Readership

Tim Huff of Toronto, Ont. for Bent Hope: a street journal (Castle Quay Books)

Susan Young de Biagi of Powell River, B.C. for Cibou (Cape Breton University Press)

Book—Independently Published Non-fiction

Dudley Coles of Burlington, Ont. for Leap of Faith (Coles Publishing)

Alvin G. Ens of Abbotsford, B.C. for A Kingdom Kite (Ensa Publishing)

Karen Henein of King City, Ont. for Bent Out of Shape: Reshaping Our Emotional Lives (Word Alive Press)

Peter Slofstra of Courtice, Ont. for In Tandem: a sea to sea cycling odyssey (Essence Publishing)

Book—Leadership/Theoretical

John G. Stackhouse, Jr. of North Vancouver, B.C. for Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real World (Oxford University Press)

Robert E. VanderVennen of Toronto, Ont. for A University for the People: A History of the Institute for Christian Studies (Dordt College Press)

Book—Life Stories

Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for Wrestling with Angels: Adventures in Faith and Doubt (Harvest House Publishers)

Tricia Kell of Winnipeg, Man. for Chain of Miracles (Word Alive Press)

Colin McCartney of Scarborough, Ont. for The Beautiful Disappointment: Discovering Who You Are Through the Trials of Life (Castle Quay Books)

Mary Anne K. Moran of Barrie, Ont. for Before I Knew You Loved Me (Word Alive Press)

Book—Special

Barbara Colebrook Peace of Victoria, B.C. for Duet for Wings and Earth (Sono Nis Press)

Alvin G. Ens of Abbotsford, B.C. for A Kingdom Kite (Ensa Publishing)

D. S. Martin of Brampton, Ont. for Poiema (Wipf and Stock Publishers)

Book—Young Adult

Shelley Adina of Los Gatos, California for It’s All About Us (FaithWords)

Beverley Boissery of Vancouver, B.C. for Sophie's Exile (Dundurn Press Ltd.)

Novel—Contemporary

Donna Dawson of St. Marys, Ont. for Vengeance (Word Alive Press)

Don Ranney of Arthur, Ont. and Ray Wiseman of Fergus, Ont. for When Cobras Laugh (Capstone Publishing Group)

Novel—Historical

Rob Alloway of Toronto, Ont. for The Left Hand of God (Regent College Publishing)

Gloria V. Phillips of Collingwood, Ont. for A Pilgrim Passing Through (Rogdah Publishing)

Shawn J. Pollett of Golden Valley, Ont. for Christianus Sum (Word Alive Press)

Susan Young de Biagi of Powell River, B.C. for Cibou (Cape Breton University Press)

Novel—Futuristic

Richard Allen Wunderlich of Salmon Arm, B.C. for Tomorrow’s Paper (OakTara Publishers)

Peter Kazmaier of Mississauga, Ont. for The Halcyon Dislocation (Wolfsburg Imprints)

Novel—Mystery/Suspense

Donna Dawson of St. Marys, Ont. for Vengeance (Word Alive Press)

Shawn J. Pollett of Golden Valley, Ont. for Christianus Sum (Word Alive Press)

Article, Poetry, Song Lyric & Script Categories

Article—General Readership (articles that explain or encourage faith for mainstream readers)

Cynthia d'Entremont of Lakeview, N.S. for “An Unexpected Gift” (A Maritime Christmas: New Stories and Memories of the Season Anthology)

Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. for “It Was Then That I Carried You” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “The Diamond Ring” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Colleen Taylor of Duval, Sask. for “Arlington Beach Camp and Conference Centre: a very special place” (Last Mountain Times)

Colleen Taylor of Duval, Sask. for “Newschool Arts: so much more than pottery” (Last Mountain Times)

Article—Inspirational/Devotional

N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “My Letter to the Editor” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

N. J. Lindquist of Markham, Ont. for “The Diamond Ring” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Rose McCormick Brandon of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. for “Discouraged” (Today's Pentecostal Evangel)

Article—News

Debra Fieguth of Kingston, Ont. for “Video Tells of Missionary Abuse” (Faith Today)

Kristine Kruszelnicki of Kanata, Ont. for “Christians mourn twenty years of no abortion law” (ChristianWeek)

Article—Personal Experience

Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for “Bigger Than Both of Us” (Today's Christian Woman)

Angelina Fast-Vlaar of St. Catharines, Ont. for “It Was Then That I Carried You” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C. for “A Reflection on a Spiritual Pilgrimage, or ‘What UBC did to me and for me’” (Direction)

Article—Profile/Human Interest

Dorothy Isted of Invermere, B.C. for “Doris and Borge Langerud's missionary life” (The Columbia Valley Pioneer)

Rose McCormick Brandon of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. for “Out of Her Comfort Zone” (The Pentecostal Testimony)

Janet Seever of Calgary for “Following a Big Vision” (Centre Street Church News)

Eleanor Shepherd of Pointe Claire, Que. for “Living Outside Our Comfort Zones” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Ray Wiseman of Fergus, Ont. for “Shaken and Stirred” (SEVEN)

Article—Review

Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for “Blindness” (Christianity Today.com)

Ross W. Muir of Waterloo, Ont. for “Feasting to Excess” (Canadian Mennonite)

John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C. for “Is punishment all bad?” (Mennonite Brethren Herald)

Article—Short Feature

Paul M. Beckingham of Vancouver, B.C. for “Christian ‘Oughtism’” (Tidings)

John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C. for “Buying Two Farms” (Stillwood, The First 50 Years 1958-2008)

Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (single)

Kurt Armstrong of Winnipeg, Man. for “A sermon about bad people” (Geez)

Thomas Froese of Ancaster, Ont. for “God is not a black woman.” Or is She?” (ChristianWeek)

Patricia Paddey of Mississauga, Ont. for “An assault on Christian sensibilities, ultimately, backfires” (The Globe and Mail)

Column/Editorial/First Person Essay (series)

Carolyn Arends of Surrey, B.C. for “Theology in Aisle 7” & “Our Shalom Vocation” (Christianity Today)

Rod Barks of Nipawin, Sask. for “Sex titillates millions, yet more folk looking for love” & “Learning from diverse duos” (Saskatoon Star Phoenix)

James Beverley of Pickering, Ont. for Religion Watch: “World Watches Revival” & “The Bentley Challenge” (Faith Today)

Violet Nesdoly of Langley, B.C. for “Who'd Want to Read Your Poems” & “Accessible Poetry and Poets” (Utmost Christian Writers)

John H. Redekop of Abbotsford, B.C. for “After two years, how does Harper rate?” & “Tories deserve a B grade” (The Record)

Poetry

Marcia Lee Laycock of Blackfalds, Alta. for “Dying to Live” (Utmost Christian Writers)

Lori Wiens-MacDonald of Courtice, Ont. for “In My Father’s Field” (Canadian Adventist Messenger)

Short Story

Rob Alloway of Toronto, Ont. for “Refiner’s Ashes” (The Left Hand of God)

Bonnie Grove of Saskatoon, Sask. for “The Stuckville Café” (Hot Apple Cider Anthology)

Song Lyrics

Marianne Novoselac of Mississauga, Ont. for “God Can” (Gaither Studios)

Colleen Taylor of Duval, Sask. for “Child of my Heart” (independently recorded)