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The Nipawin Journal reports on my reading there last week…
...and I have to say it's one of the best articles of this sort I've seen anywhere. Thanks to the reporter, Joel Cherry! (Oh, sure, there's one instance of the dreaded "one-T Willett" misspelling of my last name, but if I worried over much about that very common typo I'd go crazy.) The story begins: The term freelance was first used by Sir Walter Scott to describe a medieval mercenary warrior, (a "free-lance") in his novel Ivanhoe. The freelance would fight for whoever needed him. Science journalist, biographer, critic, singer, actor, and Aurora-award winning author of science fiction and fantasy Edward Willett is a freelance if ever there was one. Oct. 20 the Regina-based writer paid Nipawin a visit, ...Festival of Words wrap-up
So, on Saturday I returned to Moose Jaw, this time with my lovely wife and daughter, for the final two days of the Festival of Words. My big event was at 4 p.m. in the Mae Wilson Theatre of the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, a beautifully restored 430-s eatVaudeville-era theatre. There I conducted an on-stage interview with one of the headliners of the festival this year, best-selling author Jack Whyte (that's me and him and a representative of the sponsor at left). Whyte proved to be a natural raconteur and therefore easy to interview. I had a chance before hand to go over my line of questioning, and he ...Festival of Words: the first day
Yesterday at the Festival of Words went well, though I was late to the party, which, after all, began on Thursday. In fact, I showed up for my reading without passing by whatever registration desk there must have been somewhere and so proceeded without a name tag. Fortunately, no one threw me out for not belonging. I actually began my time in Moose Jaw eating at one of my favorite places, the Hopkins Dining Parlor, located in a heritage home--that's it in the first photo--where I was a bit startled to be recognized by another diner as a science columnist and asked a question about the space shuttle (which I ...See me at the Saskatchewan Festival of Words!
I'll be a presenter for the first time at this year's Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw July 16 to 19. You'll find a complete list of presenters here; by virtue of having a name that starts with "W", I'm right at the bottom. Don't go looking for me on the schedule just yet, though; the only schedule posted is from last year's festival. Presumably there'll be one for this year soon. I'm thrilled to be a part of this great writers' event at last. Hope to see you there!Three Saskatchewan signings for Terra Insegura
I've confirmed three signing events for Terra Insegura so far, if you'd like to come out and get a signed copy and meet me in person. (Which might be interesting to some people, although I spend all day with me and sometimes I get pretty tired of myself.) The first signing will be at the Regina Chapters on Saturday, May 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. The following Saturday, May 30, I'll be at Book & Brier Patch from 2 to 4 p.m.; this is the official book launch, and if there are enough people I'll do a reading there as well. Plus there'll be refreshments! Then, on June 3 at 7 p.m., I'll be up ...World Book Day Saskatchewan a success!
I attended a terrific event today at Regina's St. Gabriel and Jack MacKenzie schools. Called World Book Day Saskatchewan, it was a celebration of Saskatchewan authors. Besides myself, Alison Lohans, Anne Patton, Dave Glaze, Deana Driver, Glenda Goertzen, Jean Freeman, Judith Silverthorne, Linda Aksomitis, Lori Punshon, Mary Harelkin Bishop, Maureen Ulrich, Mercedes Montgomery, Myrna Guymer, Sharon Plumb Hamilton, Warren James and ...First two chapters of Terra Insegura now online in text and audio!
Along with this new website comes the first two chapters of Terra Insegura, which I've not only posted as text, but also as audio! You can read the chapters and download MP3 files here, or just click the players below to listen now. Chapter 1: [podcast]http://edwardwillett.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/terra-insegura-chapter-1.mp3[/podcast] Chapter 2: [podcast]http://edwardwillett.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/terra-insegura-chapter-2.mp3[/podcast] Once I have my own copies of the book, I'll be launching a giveaway similiar to the one I ran when Marseguro launched. So keep checking back--you'll be able to enter a weekly draw for a free copy sometime soon!Photo of the Day that was Actually Taken Tuesday: Me in Rouleau
I had a school reading in Rouleau (Corner Gas-watching readers may know it better as Dog River) on Tuesday. Here I am in "action" (I use the term loosely) reading a few pages from my new YA SF proposal. I also read from Jimi Hendrix: Kiss the Sky, talked about myself (I'm very good at that), showed book covers, and answered questions.I make the news in Meadow Lake!
The Meadow Lake Progress has posted an article about my visit to that community the weekend before last for a library reading. It's a good article, although I wouldn't take the quotation marks around what I supposedly said very literally...You can read the whole thing here, but here's how it starts:Regina-based science fiction author Edward Willett isn’t your average writer. Actually he’s not average at all.The literary dynamo and actor stopped by the Meadow Lake Library during the evening of November 15. He did a reading from one of his books, but also interacted with the crowd and answered questions.Willett has ...Live from Meadow Lake!
I know intellectually Saskatchewan is a big province (it's only slightly smaller than Texas, and you know the old rhyme about that: "The sun done riz, the sun done set, and we ain't outta Texas yet!") (OK, maybe you didn't know that old rhyme, but now you do.) Still, you get a really good feel for it driving north, because the province is much taller than it is wise. So, I drove roughly northwest from Regina about 580 kilometres today to get to Meadow Lake, and I know darn well that about half the province ...
Edward Willett is a The Shards of Excalibur, Book 1: Song of the Sword
My new YA fantasy novel, coming in October from Lobster Press
Before the Lady called her, Ariane’s life was a mess. Two years ago, her mother disappeared. She bounced around different foster homes until her aunt finally took her in. The meanest clique at her new high school has decided to make Ariane their prime target. And to top it all off, she is having frightening premonitions, and they are becoming more intense. The moment water touches her skin, she sees visions of a lake, a lady, and a sword. When a staircase opens up in the middle of Wascana Lake and the water begins singing to her, she has no choice but to answer the call….
Marseguro
Winner of the 2009 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English
Water world Marseguro is home to the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from human DNA. When an unmodified human seeks revenge on a Selkie by activating a distress beacon taken from the remains of the original colony ship, a strikeforce is sent from Earth to eradicate the genetic abomination. Yet Marseguro will not prove as easy to conquer as the Earth force anticipates…
Terra Insegura
Finalist for the 2010 Prix Aurora Award for Best Novel in English
Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this “abomination.” But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth’s Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro’s location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
Lost in Translation
Kathryn was a human empath whose world and life had been destroyed when the alien S’sinn slaughtered her parents before her very eyes. Jarrikk was a young S’sinn, an unproven warrior who’d seen his flight mates slaughtered by the humans who’d sought to colonize his world.
As humans and S’sinn found themselves on the brink of war, these two Translators had to work together to find a common ground and avert catastrophe. But whether their Translators’ oath and training could overcome the enemies leagued against them was very much in doubt…
Archives
Historic Walks of Regina and Moose Jaw
Ten walks to points of historic and architectural interest in the cities of Regina and Moose Jaw (eight walks for Regina, two for Moose Jaw).
Disease-Hunting Scientist
The true stories of six real disease hunters. Epidemiologists travel the world trying to keep us safe from deadly diseases—from high-tech labs in Canada to remote villages in Africa. Learn how these “disease detectives” are coming up with new ways to fight disease, and find out if you have what it takes to become an epidemiologist, too!
The Bounty Mutiny
The Bounty was a British ship visiting Tahiti in 1789 when some of the crew overthrew the captain, William Bligh, and set him adrift in a tiny boat with sailors loyal to him. The mutiny resulted in a number of trials–both of the men who mutinied and of Bligh for losing command of his ship. These fascinating events have been the source for numerous Hollywood movies, most recently The Bounty. The Bounty Mutiny: From the Court Case to the Movie explores the famous case and the movies it inspired.
