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 …
There are varied ways and means to 'get-the-word-out' for #indie #authors. There are the traditional legacy media outlets that provide authenticity in one's local community. It can be a long process though that can take months, even years, to get good coverage. There are also local radio and news programs, augmented with Public Service Announcements (PSAs). These are fun to do, but fleeting in both the public imagination and as a 'record'. By far, the best reviews, interviews and community engagement comes from enterprising and focused bloggers who, not only know their audiences, but provide interesting and tasteful platforms for authors to just 'be themselves' ...
I recently hiredIndie Book Butler to do an interview with me. The have a very active presence on social media and are well plugged into the Twitter #writing and #reading communities. To my mind, two weeks of 'promo' from them, (includes daily promotion by them across social media platforms), is well worth the very reasonable $15 fee. It's effective, efficient and does reach the intended audience -YOU.
... Here's a sample of how the interview started ...
Indie Book Butler: Let’s start things off with an
introduction. Tell us a little about yourself for those not already
aware of you and your work.
ML Holton: 'Hello all. – By profession, I’m an
award-winning Canadian artist from southern Ontario, Canada. I live and
work beside the magnificent great lake of Ontario and have been very
active along its southern shore for over 40 years.
Few locals know that aside from my long-standing art practice is a
dedication to the written word that has also spanned 40+ years. I
studied English Lit and Philosophy at University of Toronto, with an
independent study year to pursue the ‘History of the English Language’
at the University of Edinburgh. After several years of other work, I
returned to university to understudy with 2-time Giller Prize winner,
M.G.Vassanji, in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at Humber
College. In other words, I’ve played with words – their sounds and
meaning – for as long as I can remember.
Today, aside from my visual art practice, I have completed two poetry
books as well as a spoken-word/garageband album – ‘CANADADA: TAKE TWO’.
I’ve been published in several anthologies (here and abroad), edited a
social-religious history about Toronto, compiled eight small-press
picture books that highlight my pinhole photography and paintings,
written and directed a short narrative film – ‘The Frozen Goose’,
written freelance art articles for local news outlets, and finally, I’ve
completed three full-length novels, to date. In sum, I like to have serious fun!'
READ the REST of this fun & engaging interviewon their site.
Wholeheartedly recommend their service. Timely, efficient and 'on point'.
Oh dear. Must share a few more thoughts about 'video-conferencing' from an artist's perspective ... I know that it is increasingly common-place for everyone and their mother to engage in 'voice chats' over Zoom, Facetime and Skype, etc. It's so commonplace now, it's consider kind of ODD not too.
And yet, for me, this super-controlled, literal 'in-your-face' video interaction is wholly unsatisfactory as 'human communication'. It's not just the invasion of private space - as has so readily occurred over the COVID Lockdown - it is the screen's innate inability to really engage with the person you're chatting with. There is, quite literally, two screens between you.
Sure, you can see and hear each other through the screens, but what about all the other manifold physical senses and tangential happenings that naturally erupt when actually with another person?
As example, over the past year, I have attempted at various times to 'chat' with my dear old mum in this way. Yes, it certainly does allow us a chance to catch-up and SEE each other. But we both soon discovered a mutually understanding of the incredible VOID we were experiencing through the screen. Both of us sorely miss the spontaneity of the ever-capricious 'just-being-with-each-other-in-Time-and-Space' experience. Nothing can replace the actual synergy of REAL LIFE -- and humanity would be sorely mistaken to believe that 'screen chats' suffice - or that, "it will do".
To be clear, it does not. It cannot. -- And it never will.
Jens Hansen, Voice Artist
For those who have no qualms about interacting through video chats with others, whether for private or public use, I do get it. It's easy, it's convenient. It gives you sense you are 'connecting'. You can 'zoom' in or out over vast distances. You can seemingly control the volume, lighting, backdrop and you can exit at Will, (unless you are a 'guest' on an interview!)
But, to be EXTRA clear, this is not what real-life surround-sound 'conversation' between living-and-breathing human beings is like, or about. So many of the delightful nuances of engagement are lost through this pervasive and invasive technology. So much is NOT seen, heard or felt through our screens. It's really just not Half as Good as the real thing! -- Really!
... Anyway, enough about why I loathe this controlled form of engagement ... Now, the juicy stuff!!
On Monday, I and #Dutch-#Danish-#Canadian, Jens Hansen, the talented #narrator of the #audiobook version of TRILLIUM, were interviewed on a UK-based Youtube station, 'Boomers on Books'. It was a huge opportunity to 'spread-the-word' about our combined effort on the TRILLIUMaudiobook project, so, yes, I had to do it.
During the pre-live, prep period - when we were testing connections, lights, background and extraneous visuals - the loathing I hold for this kind of 'screen communication' began to manifest ... Every fiber in my being was resisting the necessity of the 'performance art' that had to ensue. (I am also very aware that I prefer being behind the camera, not in front of it.) Fundamentally, as I writer, I 'observe' while others 'perform'. Writers epitomize spectators. We are the All-Seeing Watchers. All this was swirling around in my mind as we got ready for the one-hour 'live' #interview ...
On the day of, I thought I was going to throw-up. I was overcome by a completely irrational fear that almost prevented me from joining 'in' to Vince's channel room. -- What would others thinks? What would I think? Who would be judging? How would I judge myself? -- This reached a crescendo just a few seconds before 'air-time' ...
How could I cope? -- How would I cope?
.... well, watch for yourself ....
... As one long interested in the impact of screen culture on humanity, yes, I crossed the Rubicon ...
And, of course, it was 'performance art'. -- Later remarks that I looked "so natural", "at ease", and "comfortable" (while very kind and supportive) attest to that. -- Believe me folks, the whole thing was, from start to finish, 'performance art'. Some have said, "it's no big deal. You did it!" -"It's excellent & necessary promotion." "You're just selling your book!" Yes, yes, and yes, BUT ... I still loathe every single second of having to do it. And that, my dear friends, is why you will see little more of this #writer 'live', on big or little screens.
Now, let me add this link for the real #performer, the real #actor, in our midst. It goes without saying that I chose wonderful Jens for all the #acting abilities he so easily manifests during the interview: charm, wit, timing and an all-round good sense of fun. As mentioned in the interview, it was during the taping of his STELLAR rendition of 'The Cremation of Sam McGee' that I first saw and heard the fantastic potential he had as a #storyteller. - Jens is a natural. Jens IS gifted. - And, you really should listen to the bravo 14.5 hour #performance he gives to TRILLIUM. It is outstanding!
Settle in for a thrilling, engaging and timely tale that spans 250 years of life on the Niagara peninsula. The #Ebook,#paperback and audiobook are now available in the States & Canada via Amazon, or iTunes. -- Plus, here are the United Kingdomlinks.
The summer winds down and sun-loving grapes mature through #veraison ... I was delighted by a recent4**** STARreview of TRILLIUM by Canadian novelist Marian Thorpe that appeared on Goodreads and the American Amazon book site - all the more because Marian is currently roaming around the backwaters of Asia Minor in search of snow leopards. She managed to post the review before she disappeared into the hinterland without WIFI access. We pray for her safe return! I am always intrigued by what an author 'takes away' from reading TRILLIUM - especially when aware of the critic's background. - "Marian Thorpe is a writer currently living and working in Guelph, [Ontario, Canada.] Originally from Southern Ontario in Essex County, Marian was born to British-immigrant parents and grew up thinking of the United Kingdom as a second home. Her father instilled an early love of British history and Roman-British history informed much of the fictional work of Marian's series." So, Marian is second-gen Canadian. This fact does seem to shape her interest and interpretation of TRILLIUM. Excerpts from her critique follow:
‘A sweeping, multi-generational, multi-family saga, TRILLIUM tells the story of the European settlement and development of the Canadian lands bordering #LakeOntario, the Niagara peninsula in particular. ...
For readers interested in the details of this area, from the names of personalities behind towns such as #Beamsville, or the vagaries of technological advances that left #Ancaster and #Dundas as sleepy towns compared to #Hamilton’s industrial bustle ..., Trillium is a wealth of detail and research framing the fortunes of three fictional families. ... Characters are to some extent place-holders establishing the foci and purpose of the three families. .... the same could be said of other sweeping tales, such as London and Sarum by Edward Rutherford. .. As TRILLIUM approaches the modern day ... the three families entwine ... and focus shifts to personalities. The tone of the narrative changes ...The themes become more adult ... with the author reflecting .. on the increasing freedom and changing behavior of the post WWII years.
It is obvious that the author knows the #geography and #history of the #Niagara peninsula well. ... Her deeply appreciative eye shines through. Recommend for anyone wishing to better understand the long European settlement history of this area ... 4****STAR - Marian Thorpe
---
John Howard's Vineyard of Distinction
As a counter-balance to her somewhat distanced review, I am adding a slightly different tangent to this post of a recently released 'author interview' conducted by Vincent Lowry.
In it, I explain how the idea of TRILLIUM came to be and what, generally, I hoped to accomplish through this new literary work.
Yes, I did intend to focus on local history and farming life. But more importantly, I wanted to get at some inalienable facts about Family.
I hoped to demonstrate, through fiction, how blood, genes, and general familial temperament are passed on through basic biology. I wanted to convincingly show how certain familial - and biological - characteristics manifest through generations ...
When people say, "oh, you are just like your distant Aunt Marge and/or Uncle Bob", there's very good scientific reason for those pronouncements. It is basic science. We are a composite of what came before us. We all carry the genetic DNA of our ancestors. Farmers who breed livestock and graft vineyards understand these fundamentals very well. The author interview can be found here : - > https://eauthorresource.wordpress.com/2019/09/11/interview-with-ml-holton-author-of-trillium/
