Second Boring Reading Added

I now have a second reading scheduled at the UBC Robson Reading Series, so now you have no excuse not to heckle me. I'll be appearing with Jordan Scott at both events:


April 17 - 12:00 p.m. at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
(http://www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca/)


April 17 - 7:00 p.m. at the UBC Robson Book Store
(http://www.rsquare.bookstore.ubc.ca/common/start.html)

not your average Saturday night

Literature fans. Nay, Lovers!

For those who are interested, yours truly will be presenting at the Robson Reading Series on April 17. This is an annual reading series of good Canadian writers paired with local hacks, like myself (visit the link below for a complete list of participants). I'll be sharing the slot with poet Jordan Scott. There are some great Canadian writers appearing on different dates, including such heavyweights as Wayson Choy, Rawi Hage, and Michael Turner. More importantly, the organizers have been know to supply free coffee and cupcakes to presenters and guests.

Check out the following link for more information and details.

http://www.robsonreadingseries.ubc.ca/



All readings are held in the UBC Bookstore at Robson Square in downtown Vancouver (underground the Vancouver Art Gallery).

"short list" is not short for shortcomings, let me assure you ladies

sweet, sweet justice. or is it revenge? I guess it's neither.

http://therelitawards.blogspot.com/

Spring means three things: heel-less socks, sandals and award season!

what are the ReLit awards? well, sufficed to say that, as one of over 20 finalists, I have little reason to bother finding out.

http://www.quillandquire.com/announcement/index.cfm?act=main_detail&announce_posting_id=1288


in other, equally insignificant news:

http://www.bcartnews.com/litpage.html

if the name of this award provides any insight into humour, it's seems like being funny is a pretty simple exercise. essentially just insert a funny word like "cock" into your name. for example, Ryan Arnballs.

alright suckers, bring on the hardware.

if only my "casual environments" weren't so filled with shhhh-ing

Check out this sweet little comment:

http://www.indyish.com/the-coward-files-by-ryan-arnold/#comments

Ah, you won't bother, so here is it:

Comment:
I bought this book at Expozine and it's just one of those books you can carry around and read a story every once and again and re-read a story whenever you have a spare 10 minutes. When surrounded by people in a casual environment, reading out a story from this book will make people like you better for sharing, tried and true, so for social purposes, this book is a must!
-Marilis Cardinal

Now that is a mighty roar.

the classless loser

people often ask me, "hey fella, whatcha think of poetry?" My reply, invariably, is, "I love poetry, as long as I don't have to read it."

In 2006, my fine mate and biggest crush, Mr. Jon Paul Fiorentino, released his 53rd book of poetry, titled "The Theory Of The Loser Class" (Coach House Books). Months and months later, for the first time, I sat down and read a couple pages.

To my surprise, Jon's not such a shite poet after all. You wouldn't know this by looking at him or hearing him talk about poetry. His book is attractive and thoughtful and intelligent. And I'm not just saying that because he edited my book and was the one person who said, "you're only a partial hack" when everyone else was saying I was completely void of skill, compassion and sex appeal.

But don't take my word for it.

I'm no marketing undergrad, but I know quality press when I see it

If I know one thing about consumer behaviour, it's that middling book reviews in obscure Canadian papers will radically boost retail sales. Recently, as luck would have it, I received just such a review.

http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/books/books.aspx?iIDArticle=11360

"Ryan Arnold's short story collection The Coward Files is an okay book."

Now there's a quote for the dust jacket of the inevitable forthcoming hard cover reprint. Here's another.

"Nothing in Arnold's book hits and sticks. You just sort of wade through it and then it's over. "

I don't know this Matthew Firth character, but I sure wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. He sounds like a pretty aggressive guy. The kind of guy who'll knock you down with a cutting remark or false compliment. Like how your darts skills are "improving" or that your sweater is perfectly attractive, but it fits one size too small.

Ah well, like my mother always said, 1 out of 10 people won't like me. The other 9, well they'll just downright despise me.