Larry Loyie talks and news

April and May are busy months for Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden. We hope to see you along the way!

Presentations to May 1, 2009

Alberta Library Association Conference, Jasper, BC. Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden will give a talk “Perspectives on Aboriginal Publishing” on Friday, April 24 at 1:15 pm.

Introducing Goodbye Buffalo Bay, A true story of life in a residential school…and of moving on. Join Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Central Branch, Vancouver Public Library, 7:30 pm. All are invited to this free event.

Other free talks in Vancouver: The Gathering Place, Tuesday, April 28 at 2 pm; Britannia Branch Library, Wed., April 29 at 12:15 pm; Carnegie Community Centre, May 1 at 3 pm.

ALSO: McBride, BC. On Wednesday, April 22, 2009, noon to 3 pm at the Beanery 2 Bistro, Larry Loyie and Constance Brissenden will visit for a Goodbye Buffalo Bay book signing and reading. Several chapters of Goodbye Buffalo Bay are set in McBride, BC.

Excerpt from Goodbye Buffalo Bay:

“I love McBride,” Lawrence said to Elizabeth. “I could stay here forever.”

“That’s the café where I’ll be working.” She pointed inside the station. The Beanery
Café had a big window that looked out onto the platform.

Elizabeth was pleased. “I’ll be the first to see who gets off the train. Who knows? Maybe some famous movie star will get off one day.”

His sister strode out of the station carrying her suitcase. Lawrence hurried to keep up. “We’re staying with cousin Adele and her husband, Frank. They live across the river,” Elizabeth said. She walked to a taxi nearby, got in, and told the driver their destination.

More news of Larry Loyie books:

Larry’s four children’s books have now sold more than 35,000 copies.

Goodbye Buffalo Bay from Theytus Books received a “Highly Recommended” rating from CM magazine. Review available on the CM website.

Now a best-seller: The Gathering Tree from Theytus Books, Larry Loyie’s fictional account of a First Nations family learning HIV awareness and prevention together is now a best-seller. Larry and Constance have heard from many classes (from grade 4s to college level) that they use the book for health studies. The Gathering Tree include 15 questions and answers about HIV and AIDS, prepared in a family friendly way by health educator Melanie Rivers of the Chee Mamuk education program of the BC Centre for Disease Control.

When the Spirits Dance, Larry’s family story set during the Second World War, will soon be available in a soft cover edition from Theytus Books. The book introduces many subjects, including how war affects a family, Aboriginal culture and traditions, a child’s anger and confusion when trying to understand the meaning of war, Aboriginal veterans, food rationing and other changes to lifestyle brought about by war.

All of Larry Loyie’s children’s books are on the recommended resources listing of many school boards. The latest is the Calgary Board of Education which positively evaluated The Gathering Tree, When the Spirits Dance and Goodbye Buffalo Bay and will include them in the board’s May 2009 Recommended Resources listing for schools. The Calgary Board had already reviewed and highly recommended As Long as the Rivers Flow.

In March 2008, 2000 copies of As Long as the Rivers Flow were purchased by Scholastic Canada from Groundwood Books for use as part of the Moving Up with Literacy Program for Grade 5s.