Taproot V

Description

As part of Townshippers’ Association’s 35^th Anniversary celebrations, Taproot V: Poetry, Prose and Images from the Eastern Townships was launched on Townshippers’ Day at the Pavillon des Arts & de la Culture de Coaticook.

Poets, visual artists, photographers and writers are tucked away in all corners of this picturesque region. Their work merits a local showcase and so, in 1999, the Taproot initiative was conceived as part of Townshippers’ Association’s 20^th anniversary celebrations. Fifteen years later, T.A. is celebrating another milestone (its 35^th!) and Taproot is, once again, a fitting piece of the commemorative process.

Since its inception, Taproot has published works by both established and emerging creative workers, and this anthology continues that tradition. Inside Taproot V, you will find new work by 28 contributors, 18 whose work has been published in previous editions, as well as 10 first-time contributors. Editor Brenda Hartwell says, “We are thankful to those who are established for their continued support, and we are buoyed by the submissions from fresh voices and emerging artists. It is especially heartening to receive excellent work from young people within our community, and we hope that providing them with a first book credit will bolster their confidence and help them to succeed in the future.”

Work for publication is selected by a panel of three judges, who consider each submission blindly, and then members of the editorial board meet and decide which works will be published in the current anthology. It is never easy to choose what will be included—there are so many fine works submitted—but decisions must be taken and the editors have put together an excellent sampler of Townships talent. Taproot V offers a superb assortment of stories, poems and photographs. In this eclectic mix, there is something to please every taste.

Here is a list of contributors, whose work will be showcased in Taproot V: Gordon L. Alexander, Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt, Nancy Branch, Marjorie Bruhmuller, Pamela Dillon, Dade Dudgeon, Sarah Elliot, Matthew Farfan, Ellen Goldfinch, David Gosselin, Frank Harding, Terence Hawes, Anne F. Holloway, Rachel Hunting, Anne Lipowski, Susan C. Mastine, Ashley McComb, Tricia McDaid, Ross Murray, Jim Napier, Denis Palmer, Jeff Parent, Heather Patterson, Gilles Peloquin, Allan Rowell, Barbara Verity, Raphaël Viens and Frank Willdig.

This commemorative anniversary volume provides a place to share our stories and our talents with our community and the world beyond the Townships. We are pleased to announce that we are able to offer Taproot V at the affordable price of only $10 a copy, due to financial assistance from our funding partners: Canadian Heritage, Townshippers’ Research & Cultural Foundation, the Lennoxville Youth Centre and the Knowlton Literary Association. We are truly thankful for the generous support offered us for this initiative.

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