| Last updated at 12:49 AM on 06/08/09 |
Strength in numbers 
Members of the Montague Library Writers Guild write Island-inspired book
BY SALLY COLE
The Guardian
For the past year, an enthusiastic group has been meeting regularly at the Montague Public Library.
The members have two things in common.
They are passionate about living on P.E.I. And they’re excited about writing.
They have combined these passions in a new book, Prince Edward Island Tales.
Seeing the final product gives group member Wendy Jones a sense of satisfaction.
“I’ve been published in newspapers and magazines before, but it’s nothing like seeing your words in a book. I feel like a real author,” says Jones, a member of the Montague Library Writers Guild who, with Joanne Collicott McGuigan, Gary Gray, Laura-Jane Koers, Hugh MacDonald, Marie MacIntyre, Tom Rath, Leslie Stewart and Tom Schultz, is happy with the final product. “The book looks great,” she says.
The 117-page soft-cover volume contains 50 selections (poetry and prose), each inspired by the author’s abiding love for P.E.I.
Whether it’s McGuigan’s piece about Prince Edward Island hospitality, Gray’s story about the day they moved his parents’ house from Coleman to a plot of land on the Western Road or Jones’ story about trying to erect a mail box in the middle of a P.E.I. winter, there’s something for residents and visitors.
“The beauty of the book is that you get a variety of perspectives about life on P.E.I. and a variety of writing styles,” says Rath, who co-ordinated and edited the project.
“As someone who is (originally) from Ontario I’m used to seeing a trailer, not a fishing boat, in the driveway. So my writing focuses on these differences — some very startling and some very pleasant,” says Rath, who has written a poem about watching the lobster boats come into Graham’s Pond and an incident at Cape Bear.
This contrasts with MacIntyre’s poetry about the P.E.I. landscape and The Old Grey Net, a poignant poem about the fishing industry.
Then there’s Stewart’s story about the trials and tribulations of moving to an older home in Sturgeon on which he painted a huge sunflower, Koers’ tale about a lobster’s journey from the water to the cooking pot and McGuigan’s experience with potcheen (Island moonshine.). There’s even an entry from MacDonald, who met with the group during World Poetry Day and submitted Gretzky and Me for publication.
“He’s an award-winning poet and his support is appreciated,” says Rath.
The book is the latest activity of the group, which started last fall on the invitation of librarian Swarna Chandrasekera.
“She approached Marie and I and a few others with the idea. We held our first meeting in September,” says Jones.
Although the turnout was small, everyone was encouraged.
“Our goal was to meet, share and critique pieces that we had written with the idea of getting feedback that would sharpen the quality of the writing,” says Schultz.
Within a couple of meetings, it was evident that the group’s goal was loftier.
The members wanted to see their work published.
“I took a book that I had written — P.E.I. Seen From Away — and pointed out how inexpensive it could be to have a book printed. This gave us a focus and a goal,” says Schultz.
Besides publishing their first book, members also shared their work with the community. Their first poetry reading was at Perrin Villa in Montague, upon the request of activity director Norma Butler.
“We were quite excited as everyone seemed to enjoy the poems. As the sadder ones were recited, tears could be detected in the eyes of some of the residents,” says McGuigan, secretary for the group.
They also took part in readings during World Poetry Day, Wood Islands Ferry Festival and Montague Summerfest.
A year later, she’s amazed with the growth she’s seen.
“Being part of this group has really helped us to improve our writing,” she says.
At a glance
Fast facts
What: Prince Edward Island Tales.
Where: Available at retail outlets and book stores across P.E.I. The anthology may also be purchased from members of the Montague Library Writers Guild.
Information: Anyone interested in learning more about the Montague Library Writers Guild may call the Montague Public Library at 838-2928.
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