After One Year of COVID: Interview with Margaret Lindsay Holton

It's always so interesting to look back at various point in Time ...

In this instance, I was invited, in early April 2021, to discuss where I'm at - as an artist and author - one year after the onset of COVID. 

I remember the start of the pandemic rather vividly. It was mid March of 2020 and suddenly it seemed that everyone was going into lock-down mode. I just instinctively knew, as did so many others, that this was SERIOUS. We had to hunker down. I did not do a run out to stock-up on toilet paper, but I was struck by the disappearance of all fresh eggs from the local grocer. For two days, I literally hunted for fresh eggs - finally finding a dozen in a small convenience store. And the 'new reality' sunk in. 

Interestingly enough, James Strecker and I go back a lot further than one year ... Many years ago, when he was running a small and vibrant publishing house in Hamilton, I submitted a poem for an local anthology about 'what Life meant'. (A typical kind of artist Q&A!)  It was also one of the first poems of mine ever published. Here's the blurb for that #poetry book, This I Believe ...

 Well, time goes on ... as do writing projects ... 

Now, some 30+ years later, with three novels under my belt, numerous photo-books, two books of poetry and a social history about religion in Toronto, James and I have circled around again to each other. In the following interview, James asks, again, about 'what does Life mean' ... 

 

 

JAMES STRECKER: If, before the COVID crisis, you were asked for 50 words to summarize what you do, or have done, in the arts, what would you have said about your purpose and creations?

MARGARET LINDSAY HOLTON: I’ve been active in the local, national and international arts community for over 40 years now through a variety of disciplines: Canadian fine furniture design & making, painting, writing, experimental photography and short film works. Essentially, I am offering my vision of ‘how I see the world’ from this exact point – in Time and Space – on this, our amazing home planet. This has been my job … 

Read the rest of the free-ranging interview here.

Follow up with an MLH Book : https://linktr.ee/MargaretLindsayHolton

Or just follow MLH on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrillLINDSAY

Or just drift off with some MLH Music: https://canadada.bandcamp.com 

The Zeitgeist of TRILLIUM by MLHolton

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada - circa 1800s

Very excited to share two recent events that capture the 'zeitgeist' of my latest #canlit novel, TRILLIUM ---

TRILLIUM on TRIP FICTION

First, TRILLIUM has recently been listed on tripfiction.com - a thoroughly engaging website that links books-to-place.

TRILLIUM scores 5 stars for LOCATION and CONTENT. It is a wonderful acknowledgement that my words are deeply rooted to the landscape on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. The tripfiction website is an ideal site to send to anyone coming to the wine-making peninsula of Niagara.

Shoot visitors this link to TRILLIUM as a preparatory read!

Filled with distinct characters over a span of 250 years starting in the mid 1750s, TRILLIUM explores the rural roots of three principal & distinct families - the Italian Di Angelos, the Irish O'Sullivans and the Anglo-Canadian WASPs, the Hartfords. As their lives intertwine over the decades of centuries, their children inter-marry. - But there are secrets: deep, dark family secrets ...

Pick-up the novel - TRILLIUM by MLHolton.

Second, one of my ambitions vis a vis this book project over the past year was to create a 'playlist' that captures the zeitgeist of the novel. After a few false starts, I think I've finally got it! With a mixed medley of nearly 300 tunes, (or 16.5 hours of listening pleasure), I am very happy to share this zeitgeist mix on SPOTIFY.

TRILLIUM on SPOTIFY

I have just recently learned that SPOTIFY also has a computer and TV streaming app option. The TV streaming option is fabulous way to listen if you've got a good sound system hooked up. A very popular music site, listening-in is free on Spotify, with ads. I'd say it is well worth the small membership fee for uninterrupted listening pleasure! - If you love music, it will be hard to leave!

For those who have read TRILLIUM, tune into the TRILLIUM PLAYLIST on SPOTIFY.
 
For those who haven't read it yet, TUNE IN and see if you might like to ...  (One character, Kieran O'Sullivan, has an extensive record collection from the 1930s, 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s ... Fun!)

Let me know what you think! Is there a good representation of music that wafted over southern Ontario from the mid 1750s to 2001?! When compiling it, I believed that contrary to current trends and influences, music that arrived south of the lake in the past two centuries would have come in by ships first, and then by radio stations from the States, principally Buffalo and Detroit. Thus, many of the East Coast sea shanties and popular American tunes in the playlist. -- Am I missing anything that you think is absolutely essential to reflect the decades from 1750 to 2001? -- Let me know!

Putting this list together has been a real labour of love: I had to listen to hundreds of fantastic, memorable - and dance-inducing - musical tracks. Hurled back in time, I stumbled on old favourites & all-time classics . Oh my - 'House of the Rising Sun' - CLASSIC!!! - Tune in to the TRILLIUM playlist!

If a regular on Shopify, be sure to follow the playlist.
I'll be adding more tunes as time allows.

My one regret is that I didn't set up the playlist chronologically. But after listening for awhile, I rather like how Spotify's algorithms 'shuffles'. Tunes lead naturally into each other. (Does it really matter that they may be decades apart?)

The main IDEA is to capture the zeitgeist of several evolving eras in southern Ontario ... I think it does do just that.

--- ENJOY!

Read more - TRILLIUM - by MLHolton
 
LISTEN IN to the TRILLIUM playlist on SPOTIFY!

Wonderful Read of TRILLIUM by actor Jens Hansen

It's proving very tough to find a good reader to do an audio version of my latest novel, TRILLIUM.
It needs someone with a 'good ear' as well as an expressive & dexterous acting 'voice'.

I thought I'd found the right person after hearing a 5-minute sample by local actor Jens Hansen. But, as so often happens, he's not available to do the entire work. So, back to the audio-drawing board!

In the meantime, enjoy this short clip from the start of the novel. I did the intro and he took it from there ... What do YOU think? - Like it? Loathe it? - Want to hear more? - Thoughts welcome! 

https://soundcloud.com/canadada/trillium-by-mlholton-5-minute-read-by-jens-hansen/s-3ipOQ

Soundcloud - 5 minute read of TRILLIUM - by Jens Hansen 

Consider reading it aloud yourself: TRILLIUM by MLHolton

TRILLIUM by MLHolton tells tale set in Niagara region

A great shout-out by Luke Edwards, in Niagara This Week, covering points Grimsby to Fort Erie ... 

Yes, my latest novel started over a decade ago ... I just couldn't find the 'key' to get into it. 

The moment came when I was thinking about the various media innovations that have changed our lives .. 

Consider how news in Canada was initially sent by courier, then available via printed broadsheets, 

then newspapers, then radio, then black & white television, then colour television - 

and now, today, the internet. All this happened within a span of 250 years. A spit in the bucket.  

That's how I got into my new story ... HOW NEWS TRAVELS ... 

Dive into the on-line version of this profile  HERE. 

 

TRILLIUM - now in Ebook or trade Paperback 

Third page in Fort Erie Edition

Three-quarter page  in Grimsby edition

The Act & Art of Writing - SPEECH - M.L.Holton, March, 2019

'THE ACT & ART OF WRITING' by M.L.Holton  
Pre-Recorded on Soundcloud
 WAAH 'Speaker's Series', Art Gallery of Hamilton, March, 2019 

New novel, TRILLIUM, e-book or paperback, on AMAZON.CA 
 ('The Frozen Goose', written, produced & directed, by MLHolton)

 Now available too, on Speakola, 
an eclectic collection of speeches throughout the ages.
One of my favourites, under the Arts/Culture banner, 
is a timely speech by UrsulaLeGuin ... 

CD Launch & 'Brunch on the Beach' with Canadian Artist & Poet - Margaret Lindsay Holton

Opps! - ERRORS all MINE. Caesar DRINKS, not SALADS, are $5!- Includes an EGG!

It's a happenin'!

CD Launch of CANADADA: TAKE TWO 

- Come for 'Brunch on the Beach' - with me :)

SUNDAY - June 11th, at 11am 

At HARRY'S PUB on the Hamilton Beach Strip

721 Beach Blvd - with easy access to Lake Ontario beach front & boardwalk... 

Full SUNDAY BRUNCH MENU Available!

BLTs, Eggs & Bacon, Home Fries & Toast, etc. Fully Licensed. - Parking on Side Streets.

Conveniently located SMACK in the MIDDLE of the Beach Strip, Harry's Pub.

CANADADA:TAKE TWO - Spoken Word & Garageband Antics CD, by MLHolton

ODE TO MY POSTAL CODE: L8H 6Y5 by M.L.Holton

Hamilton’s self-declared dubpoet laureate, Klyde Broox, has invited local poets - of all shapes and sizes - to declare their love of place with an innovative poetry smash - ODE TO MY POSTAL CODE.

I've contributed - insisting that Klyde 'stand and deliver'.  Here's a sample of Klyde's work, and my own submitted piece, about my studio place on Hamilton's beach strip:  L8H 6Y5. 

c. L8H 6Y5 Poem by M.L.Holton, (2017)

Spoken Word Dub Fest 
ODE TO MY POSTAL CODE
Hamilton Public Library 
- CENTRAL BRANCH -
55 York Blvd, downtown Hamilton
Happening: Friday, APRIL 28th, 2-4pm 

By the way, if swinging by, give a listen too, to my sesquicentennial tribute, CANADADA: TAKE TWO
Double the trouble - spoken word AND music! ;)

Plus, check out other MLH published poetry via the great Canpoetry website, hosted by the University of Toronto.

Poster by Klyde Broox - Poets in the Hammer  - (Guess who's got a finger in her eye? ... )

Post event: Klyde - in full force - at the Hamilton Public Library, video by Ute Schmid Jones.

Hamilton Film Expo, Festival & Canadian Film Market in the Hammer, Nov, 2016

Friendly welcome from local filmmakers & volunteers, Christine Whitlock & Craig Watkins

The 11th Annual Hamilton Film Festival opened this weekend with an open house at Digital Canaries Studio, with the launch of the 72 Hour Film Challenge: where teams get 72 hours to make a 7 min film. They have the run of the studio, (2pm until mid-night), will receive novel props, and have the option of SFX make-up, if they want it. Next weekend, on Saturday, at the Zoetic Cinema, (on the Hamilton mountain), the results will be shown. Awards will be presented by Academy Award winner, Colin Chivers.

Teams assessing the mock two-storey house ..

Simon WInterson, (owner), gave a quick tour of the 'sets\ available, including a 'mock' two-storey house, an operating room, a mock morgue, judging chambers, period & contemporary office space, elevator shafts and a set of the Oval Office. 

Come NEXT WEEKEND to the Zoetic Cinema Theatre, (on the mountain), to see how the teams did under intense time, set and prop restraints. Saturday, 7pm  - WILL BE A HOOT!

Operating Room jitters ...

And, COME ON OUT to the Hamilton Film Festival, running all this week. Nathan Fleet & his team have pulled out all the stops to make this a memorable, exciting, thought-provoking & funny - (gore galore!) - event. 

Simon, ever the obliging ham!

Schedule, listing & prices can be found on the Hamilton Film Festival WEBSITE.

Team players taking stock of the sets

Writers hard at work ... To be or not to be ... Empty or Dressed Sets!!!

Centre - Fearless HFF leader - Nathan Fleet, 2016

Oh, and yes, my newly released short film, The FROZEN GOOSE, a classic Canadian short story post WW1, will be screened to 'Market Badge' holders (only) at the Canadian Film Market on, fittingly, Remembrance Day, Friday, November 11th, at 2:30pm in the Sheraton Hotel, in downtown Hamilton  (in the ADELAIDE Room, 2nd Floor). During that weekend, I will be actively pitching this short Canadian film about World War 1, my next narrative film & my last award-winning novel to prospective producers & buyers. - Serious Fun Stuff! 

10th Annual Hamilton Film Festival - m.l.holton

Thrilled to announce that my short documentary about David Lambert: The Fastest Knot Tyer in Canada has been officially selected for the Documentary Short program for the 10th Annual Hamilton Film Festival. Running for one week during the early part of November this festival is WIDE-RANGING with over 200 films, a film expo, and entertainment throughout.

More info here: http://www.hamiltonfilmfestival.com/ 

My effort will be showing with a few other short great films - 
WEDNESDAY November 4th, 7pm - $10
STAIRCASE THEATRE, 27 Dundurn Street N. 
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 

Originally produced as an embed for a published article on Raise the Hammer in 2014, it's going to be a thrill to see it on the BIG SCREEN - Don't Miss It!

 

 

Director, Margaret LIndsay Holton, 

photo by A. Hornby, from Snapd Hamilton

Greater Hamilton Music Directory LAUNCH - March 11th, 2015

Glad to be one of 97 funding-supporters behind the

Greater Hamilton Music Directory, 

brain child of music teacher & musician, Glen Brown.

I've got a little advert in the directory
for my last summer CD release, Summer Haze

( MLH plays a century-old Canadian-made Bell Upright. 

Originally recorded 30 years ago ... transferred to CD last year: Lotsa Fun!)

Glen has worked tirelessly to get this directory out in time for the JUNOS, 

hosted this year, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. - Look for it. 

It's chock-a-block full of local talent, musical gear, editorials & jammin' activities. 

LAUNCH of 'Greater Hamilton Music Directory'
happening at HOMEGROWN HAMILTON (map link)

Wednesday night, March 11th, 5:30pm onwards .... 

27 King William Street, downtown, in the Hammer.
Get yer printed copy there! 
 

Excerpt from on-line edition - Summer Haze advert.

Sugaring Off at Westfield Heritage Village

I just love this time of year ... the sun is slowly warming up everything ...

 

 There's nothing more indicative of spring then the rising of tree sap ...

This hardy trio is tapping 160 maple trees at Westfield Heritage Village over the next few weeks. 

The syrup fest runs on March 15, 22, & 29, Good Friday April 3 and Easter Sunday, April 5, as well as Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday, March 19 during March Break.  All are welcome.

WATCH - Sugaring OFF! - via VIDEO LINK

One maple tree produces about 1 litre of pure maple syrup after the sap is boiled down.

'Tapping' is a native tradition, adopted by the French, then the English. Examples of that evolution are re-enacted all around the village by enthusiastic volunteers who play-out our colonial history. The wafting smells of wood smoke and boiling sap are a intoxicating combination when walking from display to display.

 Log cabin mistress tends a cooking fire at Westfield Heritage Village, March 2015. 

The19th century schoolhouse. No computers or cellphones needed for education back then ...

Main means of transportation before rail or auto

If going, be sure to wear good water-tight boots. The snow is melting fast, and it gets muddy. 

 Westfield Heritage Village is near Rockton, Ontario, about 40 minutes from downtown Hamilton, by car.  

For more information, including maps & entrance fees, link to Westfield Heritage Village.

Now published on Raise the Hammer