In Nova Scotia, decades old leases negotiated between forestry companies
and the provincial government led to clear-cutting on crown land. The end of those leases - and the election of an NDP government - led
many environmentalists to see a golden opportunity, a chance to move... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, January 2, 2013,
In :
best books
[Click on the book cover image to learn more about the book from Goodreads.com.]
Fiction
The Way the Crow Flies by Anne-Marie MacDonald - based on the
Stephen Truscott story, set in early cold war in Ontario at a military
base. A murder mystery, abuse of power, divided loyalties, and great
writing.
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen by Tadeusz Borowski -
horrifying and unforgettable stories based on Borowski's time as a
prisoner in two concentration camps during WWII.
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, November 28, 2012,
In :
Eco-Innovators
I'm pleased to introduce the second Eco-Innovators video, Green Island Getaway, by Halifax filmmaker Kevin Moynihan, featuring Travis and Alan Burland.
There are great ways to vacation within our own region, and this is one
of them. The project also shows that small, low energy living is a
beautiful thing. Please share this, my friends.
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, November 26, 2012,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Hi folks,
I'm happy to announce that Drive-by Savious is now available as an e-book on Kobo ($12.39) and NOOK Book ($11.37).
So, for all those who have been waiting patiently overseas, or those who wanted to save paper and space, or those who simply prefer this format, have at it!
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, November 23, 2012,
In :
New Books
So I was tagged in a meme just for authors, and it gives me a good chance to talk about my new novel, which is seeking a good home. Here goes:
What is your working title of your book?
'Burban Boys
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Before Drive-by Saviours came out Lesley Choyce read it, liked it, but suggested writing something with more local content. I thought about that and figured maybe it was time for the great contemporary Halifax novel. But everything I know about Halifax takes m...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, August 20, 2012,
In :
Eco-Innovators
Hi folks,
Halifax filmmaker Kevin Moynihan and I are teaming up to make a series of videos based on my book, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada (which won the 2012 best Atlantic-published book and is a finalist for the 2012 Richardson non-fiction prize).
Our first video featured Off the Hook, an innovative community-supported
fishery co-op. The video was featured by David Suzuki on Facebook and
can be seen here.
We're now teaming up again to complete the
series on sustainabl... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Tuesday, January 17, 2012,
In :
New Books
It's time for my annual "Best
Books I Read Last Year" list, this time featuring 13 works of poetry,
novels, nonfiction and anthology. As usual, these books didn't
necessarily come out in 2010; that's just when I read them. This year,
you should too. [Click on the picture to find out more about the book.]
Happy reading!
Poetry
Goyette’s imagery is evocative, precise, tangible yet layered with meaning:
I'm
beyond biased here because I've got two poems in this anthology of
Halifax guer... Continue reading ...
It's fabulous company to be in, with legends like Sue Goyette, Wayne Johnston, Ami McKay, Marq de Villiers, Harry Thurston, David Adams Richards, well...the whole list. Check it out:
Top Ten Atlantic Canadian Books of 2011!
1. Facing the Hunter – David Adams Richards
2. A World Elsewhere – Wayne Jo... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, December 2, 2011,
In :
Eco-Innovators
Hi folks,
I'm launching Eco-Innovators on PEI on Monday, December 5 at 7 p.m. Come join us at the Main Building faculty lounge at UPEI, 550 University Avenue. Bookmark Charlottetown will be on hand selling the book.
PEI eco-innovators will also be on hand to say a few words before I read, including:
David Ling, organic farmer; Marion Copleston of the Environmental Health Co-op; Harry Smith, innovator of a wind-powered car; David Taylor, the man responsible for UPEI campus' incredible sustainabi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Thursday, November 3, 2011,
In :
New Books
Hi folks,
Some events and new material:
1) On Saturday
(Nov. 5) at noon I'll be signing copies of Eco-Innovators at the Coles
bookstore in County Fair Mall, New Minas. So Nova Scotia people, please
let your Valley friends know - these things get very lonely.
2) On Sat Nov 12 at noon I'll be signing Eco-Innovators at Chapters
in Mic Mac Mall, so proud Dartmouth people please pop by and say hello.
3)
On Sunday Nov 20 I'll be doing two signing sessions, the first at noon
at Chapters in Bayer... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, October 14, 2011,
In :
New Books
Listen to me on CKDU's Habitat, with Erica Butler, aired live on Oct. 7 2011, talking about my new book, Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada:
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, September 23, 2011,
In :
New Books
Hi friends,
I'm launching my second book into the world the evening of Oct. 11 at
Dalhousie University in Halifax. There will be a roundtable discussion on Creating a Sustainable
Future featuring some of the leading environmental thinkers in Halifax, with
questions from the audience. And I hope you will be among them - consider this post your
official invitation!
All the details are below, but if you have any
questions fire them my way. And please spread the word to collea... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, September 19, 2011,
In :
New Books
OK folks, the big news is my new book,
Eco-Innovators: Sustainability in Atlantic Canada, is printed! AND will be
officially launched on Oct. 11, 7 p.m. at the McCain Building in Halifax (6135
University Avenue). More details to follow but it should be a stimulating
evening so please do book it ;-)
In other news, I'll be doing a workshop at this year's Halifax Book Camp on
Sept. 24. Details here.
The very same night I'll be a literary speed-dating participant at the NS
wr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, September 9, 2011,
In :
best books
I wrote out some reflections on the pundit and
public reaction to Jack Layton, and why I think the overwhelming view that he
is irreplaceable, is a disservice to the man's memory, not to mention what he
stood for. It's called The Power of Many and is in this week's Coast, or read it here.
For NS folks, this fall our writers' federation has a great lineup of
workshops, facilitated by many fine writers including Kathleen Winter, Christy
Ann Conlin, Shauntay Grant, Sandra Phi... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, September 7, 2011,
In :
New Books
Fun stuff this week:
1) Just found out that Drive-by Saviours will be re-launched
as an e-book in Spring 2012!
2) Quill & Quire Magazine, a national literary arts
journal, made a nice advanced mention of my new book, Eco-Innovators. I'm with
some pretty great company on this one. Read it here.
3) I did a backyard reading in north-end Halifax last week,
part of the ongoing Lilah Kemp reading series, and they made a podcast of all
the readings (includes Corey Mom...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, August 5, 2011,
In :
journalism
This recent editorial in The Coast, about the pie-in-the-sky planning process that was HRM by Design, reminded me of something I wrote for Coastlands in 2007 when the plan was being finalized. So, this is kind of an I-told-you-so post...but I wish I'd been wrong:
[community & regional leadership]
<<head>>Exclusive
by design
<<Byline>>By Chris Benjamin
<<pull-quote>> there would be buses, thousands of them, and
the cop cars would all be pink
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, August 3, 2011,
In :
best books
Hey folks,
Great news today: Drive-by Saviours has been longlisted for a ReLit Award, "The country's pre-eminent literary prize recognizing independent presses," according to the Globe and Mail. Check out the ReLit blog for the complete longlists. If past year's are any indication, there should be a shortlist by the end of the month. Wish me luck!
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Thursday, June 30, 2011,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
The Daily Review, Tue., Dec. 21
An unlikely friendship that offers a lifeline
REVIEWED BY CAROL MOREIRA
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Published
Last updated
Novels with big themes can make dull reads. In Drive-By Saviours,
first-time novelist Chris Benjamin examines the chains of culture and
politics and the barriers between established and new Canadians. There’s
an unusual plot and a character whose vitality an...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Sunday, June 19, 2011,
In :
best books
Have you
heard of guest blogging? OK, it's pure self-promotion all around. My
friend Michael Kimber, a journalist, creative writer and spoken word
artist, has a ridiculously popular blog called Colony of Losers about
being a recent university grad with mental health issues and making his
way in the world. He's asking his writer friends, including me, to write
about the crazy 20s. I'm pretty happy with the result: http://colony-of-losers.com/wordpress/2011/06/14/seeds-of-doubt-by-chris-b... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, May 30, 2011,
In :
journalism
An abbreviated version of this appeared in The Coast on May 26. Below is my full copy:
A
proposed United Gulf development at the old Halifax West High School
site on Dutch Village Road has sparked controversy. The plan includes a
mixed residential and commercial complex, featuring two seven-storey
towers of 100 multi-family condos set above a commercial/retail ground
floor, a six-storey 60,0000 square-foot commercial building with ground
floor retail, a three-storey 27,000 square-foot co... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, February 18, 2011,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
It's contest time!
With input from my publisher I've come up with
a series of discussions for book clubs reading Drive-by Saviours. But,
as I proved in high school when I formed the Chris Benjamin Club, one
member is often enough to qualify for club status. What I'm getting at
is you can answer these questions all by your lonesome.
And if you do,
in writing, you could win a copy of Earlit Shorts 4!
I'm pasting the questions below.
The first 10 people to email me [chrisbenjaminwriting@g... Continue reading ...
Clinical culture clash The IWK’s midwifery program was sabotaged by the hospital’s own administration, say women who left By CHRIS BENJAMIN
Sun, Feb 6 - 4:54 AM
Rachel Godwin was recently let go from her midwifery position at the IWK. (TIM KROCHAK / Staff)
Six-month
old Milo Meuse looks on as Linden Stevens, 3, holds a sign during a
demonstration in support of midwifery on Jan. 20 at Province House.
Linden’s younger bro...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Thursday, January 27, 2011,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Hi folks,
My reading at the Biscuit Eater Cafe in Mahone Bay (16 Orchard St) Nova Scotia has been rescheduled for Friday, Feb 11 at 7 pm. Please spread the word to any South Shorians.
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Tuesday, January 25, 2011,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
The Daily Review, Tue., Dec. 21
An unlikely friendship that offers a lifeline
REVIEWED BY CAROL MOREIRA
From Tuesday's Globe and Mail
Published
Last updated
Novels with big themes can make dull reads. In Drive-By Saviours,
first-time novelist Chris Benjamin examines the chains of culture and
politics and the barriers between established and new Canadians.
There’s an unusual plot and a character whose vitality and en...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, January 10, 2011,
In :
best books
It's
time for my annual "Best Books I Read Last Year" list, this time
featuring a dozen works of poetry, novels, nonfiction and anthology. As
usual, these books didn't necessarily come out in 2010; that's just when
I read them. This year, you should too. Happy reading!
Chris Benjamin
Poetry:
George
Elliott Clarke is a master of story and language; Whylah Falls is drama
in guttural verse, suspenseful and rhythmic to the last page.
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Saturday, December 4, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
This is a highlight reel from my recent book tour. I had fun making it and revisiting all the joy of celebrating a new book in the world! Hope you enjoy it too:
Chris Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, November 29, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Hi folks, I was recently interviewed by Arts East Magazine about Drive-by Saviours, my new book. The interview is now available online. Just click this here link to see it, complete with cool visual stuff.
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Thursday, October 28, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Exciting news all! Drive-by Saviours has made the Canada Reads longlist
of Top 40 Essential Canadian Novels of the Decade.
And we the people will decide which books make the top 10 list. You only get one vote.
If you want to vote Drive-by Saviours, just go to http://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/ and click the circle next to Drive-by Saviours by Chris Benjamin, scroll
down and click the vote button. You have until Nov 7 - but really why
wait until Nov 7 what you could do right now?
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, October 20, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Hi folks,
This year Canada Reads is letting the public decide on
the top 40 must-read novels of the past decade. As a new novelist, my
fervent hope is that my book get noticed, read, talked about, and
through Canada Reads CBC has created the perfect avenue for that to
happen.
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Monday, October 18, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
We left Lachutes
in what we thought was plenty of time. But we hit Friday afternoon
rush-hour traffic at the outskirts of Montreal. "City squirrels go to
the cottage and their kids come back from school," Jeff said, his
fingers tapping frantic rhythm on the wheel.
We crawled another
hour-and-a-half to our turnoff, then bolted through downtown as the rain
hammered everything. We drove by the Canadian Pacific sign and scanned
the streetscape
with stretched eyes until Jeff pulled the truc... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Thursday, October 14, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Lachutes
I'm writing from Lachutes, Quebec, about 40 km northwest of Montreal. A good friend of mine is Superintendent of a golf course here and he's putting me up. Tonight, (Thurs Oct 14), I read at 8:00pm in Montreal, at Argo Bookshop, 1915 Ste Catherine W. There will be three writers reading tonight, starting at 7:30 pm. Also up will be Susan Gillis, author of Volta, and Claudia Coutu Radmore, author of A Minute or Two/Without Remembering. Hopefully more authors means more people, more ener...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, October 6, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
I met blogger and author Ivan Prokopchuk the
other night, in person. He's long been one of the most colourful
personalities I've met as a blogger, and a character who consistently
captures my imagination.
But there he was in the Lula Lounge, in full colour, three dimensions, in the flesh, across the table from me with his book, The Fire in Bradford, in hand. "I'll show you mine if you you show me yours," he grinned.
[That's me in the pink shirt, reading to an enthusiastic crowd at the Lula L...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Wednesday, September 1, 2010,
In :
New Books
I was given $100 by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission
to spend on anything I wanted, as long as I documented the experience
publicly. I, naturally, chose books. Here's a video (shot by my wife,
edited by me, with music by my brother) of the experience:
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, August 13, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Hi folks,
A couple of important dates to announce. The Halifax
launch of my novel, Drive-by Saviours, will be September 22 at The
Company House on Gottingen St. We'll likely kick things off around 7 pm,
but I'll confirm that later. There will be music and probably some spoken word. Here's hoping we get half of Nova Scotia in there!
Second, the Toronto launch is tentatively booked for October 4 at the Lula Lounge on Dundas West, so
if you're in Toronto please mark that on your calendar. I... Continue reading ...
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Friday, July 30, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Hi folks,
I'm thrilled to announce the official online launch of the Drive-by Saviours Trailer! It's a two-minute appetizer to get folks salivating for the novel, which will be released in September. For now, enjoy the scenery:
Posted by Chris Benjamin on Saturday, June 26, 2010,
In :
Drive-by Saviours
Roseway Publishing (an imprint of Fernwood Publishing), which is
publishing Drive-by Saviours, has put up a web page for the novel.
Click on the Fernwood logo to see it. You can also find an excerpt from
the first chapter there.
I
have also created a myspace page and put up a clip of me reading from
the first chapter, and some fusion music my brother created for a trailer we're working on. Click my face
to listen:
