The White Pine celebrations were a magical experience because I got to meet actual readers of my book and because the day itself is so chock-full of activities and attendees and volunteers and street performers and amazing music from the live bands…

It was all a little overwhelming and thrilling.  Nowhere else in Canada do authors for young people get treated like such rock stars!  I doff my cap to the OLA and its organizers and volunteers.  The sheer energy surrounding the event and the hours of planning that go into it are staggering.

But back to the stars.  I had the privilege of meeting and sitting amongst the illustrious, my co-nominees: Drew Hayden Taylor, Jo Treggiari, Kelley Armstrong, Don Calame, Lesley Anne Cowan, Donalda Reid and Don Aker (Sarah N. Harvey and Moira Young were unable to attend).  I really felt as though I were in a multi-decker star sandwich.  And I probably came off as starry-eyed and foolishly fawning.  Ah well.  Whenever will I again sit with such royalty?  It was an honour.

And of course, it was an honour to have Chance to Dance for You chosen as a Honour Book.  I was simply dumbfounded, as I was unconvinced that the book had resonated with readers according to blogs I’d visited.  What a happy surprise!  And to be a finalist with Moira Young (Blood Red Road) and the winner, Kelley Armstrong (The Gathering), with whom I presented in an earlier workshop (applause to the readers and singers who attended).  Wow.

So a great big thanks to all you readers out there.  I’m truly humbled and so grateful.  Thanks also to the nominating committee of the OLA – without you, I’d be nothing.

But the fun didn’t stop at the awards.  Afterwards,  I had a wonderful time with Don Aker and Jo Treggiari at dinner.  What larks, Pip!

And the following day was also just grand:  dinner with the Toronto CANSCAIP folks who made me feel so very welcome – muchos gracias!  Then to share the panel discussion with the very fancy Linda Bailey and Susin Neilsen (ooh ah!) – what a special treat for this prairie girl.  I felt…well, lucky.

Especially gratifying also this week was the chance to meet and talk with students and teachers at the Fairview Public Library, Cawthra Park Secondary School and Gordon Graydon Memorial Secondary School.  As an author, I work mainly in isolation, so to meet real readers is very special, indeed.  Thank you to the teachers and librarians who organized my visits and to the Authors Booking Service who facilitated the bookings.

Today I am still digesting the events of the past week.  I am filled with wonder that this happened to me, as I look with wonder at the beautiful Patricia Lake above Jasper and amongst the grandeur of the Rockies. I am grateful for this writing life and to all of you who read my words.  So I’m sending out my appreciation to the universe and will sing a song of thanks later on my hike (and to ward off the bears!).

Humbly,

Gail Sidonie Sobat

Also I met Don Aker today – wow!  I’m star struck!

This White Pine week is supercalifragilisticexpealidocious!  I feel so lucky to meet so many readers and to have the opportunity to talk about Chance to Dance for You.

Insert big smile right here!!!

“All I ever needed

Was the music and the mirror

And the chance to dance (read) for you!”

from “The Music and the Mirror” – A Chorus Line

Now is the month of maying,
When merry lads are playing, fa la, la, la, la, la, la – fa, la, la, la, la, la, la
Each with his bonny lass
Upon the greeny grass. Fa la, la, la, la, la, la – fa, la, la, la, la, la, la

The Spring, clad all in gladness,
Doth laugh at Winter’s sadness, fa la, la, la, la, la, la – fa, la, la, la, la, la, la
And to the bagpipe’s sound
The nymphs tread out their ground. Fa la, la, la, la, la, la – fa, la, la, la, la, la, la

Fie then! why sit we musing,
Youth’s sweet delight refusing? Fa la, la, la, la, la, la – fa, la, la, la, la, la, la
Say, dainty nymphs, and speak,
Shall we play at barley-break? Fa la, la, la, la, la, la – fa, la, la, la, la, la, la

You can guess what happens during the “fa la las” and “barley-break[ing]“!  Ah, Thomas Morley, ye knew well what ye were about, dancin’ around the old Maypole, didna ye?

Yes, it is May.

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, young wantons!

YouthWrite Society Canada presents:

Spring Awakening Cabaret – A FunRaising evening of music, comedy and poetry fundraiser and silent auction in support of YouthWrite

April 14, 2011, Doors at 7 pm

Show at 7:30pm                                                                                                                       Holy Trinity Anglican Church

10037-84 Avenue, Edmonton

Tickets $20 (includes a drink and a draw)

Available by calling 780-996-4962 or at the door (but don’t be disappointed – last year we sold out entirely!)

With special guests:  Colleen Brown (singer-songwriter), Grant Stovel (CKUA), Anna Sommerville (singer-songwriter), Rapid Fire Theatre (improvisation), York Underwood (comedian), SWYC (Spoken Word Youth Choir), and other special guests.

Silent auction items include artwork by Spyder Yardley-Jones and Yardley Jones, plus much more!  All proceeds go to YouthWrite Society Canada.

YouthWrite Society Canada is a registered non-profit society and charitable arts organization.

For further information about YouthWrite, visit www.youthwrite.com

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Some of my readers may wonder why we need such an institute, why we need such a camp.  As iSMSS notes: “In public schooling in particular, stories of the symbolic and physical violence that sexual-minority students have endured have been recorded in narratives about confusion, depression, substance abuse, alienation, poor attendance, dropping out, gay bashing, and suicide.”

But, of course, there are many stories of resilience.  We need to hear those stories, to tell them, to tell them often, and to make sure that the people who most need to hear such narratives get the message: LGBTTQQ youth.

In short, that is why I wrote Chance to Dance for You.

My novel is based on real-life events from my time as a high school English and drama teacher. A gay student came out to me and confessed that he and a very popular school athlete were having a clandestine affair. Tragically, another student, several years later, committed suicide because he could not reveal his orientation to his peers or family as his father was a fundamentalist Christian and a member of the Armed Forces who simply forbade his son to be homosexual. The narrative grew out of a confluence of those events. Many of the details about suburbs, schools, teachers, the racism and intolerance (particularly Tilly’s story) are also based on true events.

I wanted to write about Ian’s trials, his personal struggles, his love of dance, and ultimately his triumph. I believe that lost and lonely, sensitive kids can grow into amazing adults.

Some days I wonder at the book’s reception.  So many young readers are caught up in its likeness to Glee (though the book was written long before Glee existed).  Some don’t relate to the characters.  Of course, readers are entitled to such opinions and criticisms, but I wonder how many of them understand the struggles of those on the margins, those who live the life of Ian and Jess, and how very difficult and painful the struggle through adolescence can be.  I wonder if they understand the resilience and courage people like Ian possess.

If they did, why were so many supporters out in full force on Saturday night at the Matrix Hotel in Edmonton?

We need iSMSS.  We need Camp fYrefly.  We need books like Chance to Dance for You. Even if I do say so, myself.

Chance to Dance for You Dance (choreographed by Marla Albiston, starring Lester Thomas and Brandon Nguyen)

And then!  I sang a number of classical pieces with my lovely singing teacher, Judith Richardson,  and pianist Robin Phillips that same evening.  Despite being under the weather, it was a lovely and a truly fun evening.  I feel so honoured to have sung with such amazing musicians.

Now I look forward to the YouthWrite Spring Awakening Cabaret and silent auction this April 14th, 2012.  So much excitement to come!

Stay tuned!  Drop me a line if you were at either the Young Authors’ Conference or at the Saturday evening concert last week (February 25th).

Read the interview here!