We are thrilled to have the Alberta Magazine Publishers coming down to take part in the Festival again this year! They will be bringing along samples of many of the diverse magazines available in Alberta and talking to people here about the work they do.

They provide information and resources to magazine publishers and the people who are involved in those industries in a variety of ways; everything from advocacy to training events, internships and a job board. Find out more at http://www.albertamagazines.com/what_we_do/services.php and make sure to stop by their table at The Word On The Street Lethbridge September 23rd.Alberta, Alberta Magazines, Alberta Magazine Publishers Association, Word On The Street, Word On The Street Lethbridge, Word On The Street Festival, The Word On The Street, Lethbridge, City Of Lethbridge, Alberta Festivals, literary Festival, Lethbridge Public Library

Author Murray Pura will be featured at the 2012 The Word On The Street Festival in Lethbridge September 23rd

Just working my way through the stack of confirmed authors for the 2012 Festival… it is going to be an amazing day!

Here’s an excerpt from Murray Pura’s 2006 novel ZO: “Thick walls. Cool shadows. Sunsets fringed by blue hills and tall cornfields. A daily routine of walking dairy cattle to pasture, hoeing an herb garden, preparing meals of vegetables and cheese and bread. The smell of hot candle wax. The quiet eyes of those who cannot speak.

Andrew Chornavka has found refuge from the demons of a long and tumultuous life in a stone monastery and a vow of silence. But the 21st century breaks into his idyllic existence. An archbishop descends upon the monastery and demands to know details about the life of Andrew’s sister, Zoya. Rome is anxious that she be canonized as a saint. Astonished, confused, hostile, Andrew is forced to speak of his life, his family, and Zoya, the friend he always called Zo. He makes his way through the cities and forests of Russia and Canada, of Europe, Ukraine and America, through a world war, famine, revolution, great love and great loss, afraid of what the breaking of his silence may do, afraid of what others might see or fail to see, afraid of what kind of people, what kind of sister, may stand before him again in the clear light of day and demand to be heard.“

Definitely want to hear more!

Murray Pura was born and raised in Winnipeg. Since that time he has lived in Nova Scotia, BC, Alberta, Scotland, Israel, and California with extended stays in Ireland and Italy. His first novel, MIZZLY FITCH, was published by Simon & Pierre of Toronto in 1988. His works have been shortlisted for the Dartmouth Book Award, the John Spencer Hill Literary Award, and the Kobzar Literary Award. Current publications include the novels ZO, THE WHITE BIRDS OF MORNING, THE FACE OF HEAVEN, and THE WINGS OF MORNING, as well as the nonfiction works ROOTED and STREAMS.