Short Line Reading Series
Encyclopedia
The Short Line Reading Series is a free literary event that takes place at The Railway Club in Vancouver, British Columbia
— a venue historical for showcasing local artistic talent.
Hosted by Memewar Magazine, the Short Line is advertised as “a space where artists from different circles can connect, debate and collaborate” — an idea that its organizers keep in mind while constructing diverse line-ups of readers. At each event, members from various Vancouver-based literary groups read short selections of their work (ie: poetry, prose, essays, performance). Short Line events often include readings by prominent upcoming voices and well-established guest readers.
The Short Line began on January 9, 2007 with a reading by Michael Turner
, author of Hard Core Logo
and organizer of The Reading Railroad, a regular literary event of the mid-1990s, and inspiration for the founders of the Short Line.
was founded in November 2006 after conversations between Vancouver writer Carmen Papalia and Vancouver poet and musician Andrew Lee. The two drew their inspiration from author Michael Turner’s Reading Railroad series—a similar event of the mid-1990s which featured readings by various, and often conflicting, literary and musical artists.
Instead of presenting a mixture of starkly contrasting genres and styles as Turner did, the Short Line was designed to “connect” various prominent literary groups in Vancouver. A statement on the Memewar Magazine website reads, “In the spirit of this mixing of genres, the Short Line will include readings by artists from different Vancouver-based literary circles.”
. The other railroads found on a standard Monopoly board include: B&O Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Railroa d— the last being the name of Michael Turner’s popular reading series of the mid-1990s.
The term “short line railroad” is used to describe an independent railroad company which runs a short distance, and often “connects” different industries. The tagline of the Short Line reading series: “A space where artists from different circles can connect, debate and collaborate” perhaps refers to this quality of “connecting”.
Both “Short Line” and “Reading Railroad” also refer to “The Railway Club”, the Vancouver music venue which is famous for the miniature trains that run along its walls.
Mette Bach
, Ryan Flowers, Danielle LaFrance, Andrew Lee, Garry Thomas Morse, Carmen Papalia, Michael Turner
, Sean Wilson
February 13, 2007:
Roger Farr, Emily Fedoruk, Liam Ford, Reg Johanson
, Elliott Lummin, Tracy Stefanucci, Irene Zafiris
March 13, 2007:
Phinder Dulai, Patrick Friesen
, McKinley M. Hellenes, Dave Morris, Natalie Simpson, Aubyn Rader
April 10, 2007:
Andrea Actis, Clint Burnham, Andrew Lee, Garry Thomas Morse, Thor Polukoshko, Michael V. Smith
September 17, 2007:
Elizabeth Bachinsky
, George K. Ilsley, Brendan McLeod
, Patrick Morrison, Kevin Murray, Amanda Ryan
October 22, 2007:
Rhoda Hodjati, Matt Hogan, Donato Mancini, Garry T. Morse, Anne Stone
, Rita Wong
November 19, 2007:
Jeff Derksen, Stephen Collis, Jason Christie, Nicholas Perrin, Elliott Lummin
January 29, 2008:
Indran Amirthanayagam
, Emily Fedoruk, Fiona Tinwei Lam, Loretta Seto, Jane Silcott
February 26, 2008:
Claire Huot, Robert Majzels
, Cecily Nicholson, Carmen Papalia
March 25, 2008:
Sonia Capriceru, Jacqueline Turner, Kim Minkus, Louis Rastelli
April 29, 2008
Garry Thomas Morse, Matt Hogan, Sachiko Murakami, Ivan Drury
September 16, 2008: Matt Rader, Addena Sumter-Freitag, Sonnett L'Abbe, Russell Thornton
October 28, 2008: Jordan Scott, Taylor Leedahl, Heather McDonald, Ivan Drury
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
— a venue historical for showcasing local artistic talent.
Hosted by Memewar Magazine, the Short Line is advertised as “a space where artists from different circles can connect, debate and collaborate” — an idea that its organizers keep in mind while constructing diverse line-ups of readers. At each event, members from various Vancouver-based literary groups read short selections of their work (ie: poetry, prose, essays, performance). Short Line events often include readings by prominent upcoming voices and well-established guest readers.
The Short Line began on January 9, 2007 with a reading by Michael Turner
Michael Turner (musician)
For other people named Michael Turner, see Michael Turner.Michael Turner is a musician, and writer of poetry, prose and opera librettos....
, author of Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo
Hard Core Logo is a 1996 Canadian mockumentary adapted by Noel Baker from the novel of the same name by author Michael Turner. Director Bruce McDonald illustrates the self-destruction of punk rock...
and organizer of The Reading Railroad, a regular literary event of the mid-1990s, and inspiration for the founders of the Short Line.
History
The Short Line reading seriesReading series
A reading series is a recurring public literary event featuring writers reading from their work to a live audience. Some reading series are curated, some have themes, and some also feature music or other multimedia collaborations. Others simply focus on the act of listening to the written word,...
was founded in November 2006 after conversations between Vancouver writer Carmen Papalia and Vancouver poet and musician Andrew Lee. The two drew their inspiration from author Michael Turner’s Reading Railroad series—a similar event of the mid-1990s which featured readings by various, and often conflicting, literary and musical artists.
Instead of presenting a mixture of starkly contrasting genres and styles as Turner did, the Short Line was designed to “connect” various prominent literary groups in Vancouver. A statement on the Memewar Magazine website reads, “In the spirit of this mixing of genres, the Short Line will include readings by artists from different Vancouver-based literary circles.”
Origin of name
The name “Short Line” refers to the “Short Line Railroad”, one of the four railroads in the popular board game MonopolyMonopoly (game)
Marvin Gardens, the leading yellow property on the board shown, is actually a misspelling of the original location name, Marven Gardens. The misspelling was said to be introduced by Charles Todd and passed on when his home-made Monopoly board was copied by Charles Darrow and thence to Parker...
. The other railroads found on a standard Monopoly board include: B&O Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad and Reading Railroa d— the last being the name of Michael Turner’s popular reading series of the mid-1990s.
The term “short line railroad” is used to describe an independent railroad company which runs a short distance, and often “connects” different industries. The tagline of the Short Line reading series: “A space where artists from different circles can connect, debate and collaborate” perhaps refers to this quality of “connecting”.
Both “Short Line” and “Reading Railroad” also refer to “The Railway Club”, the Vancouver music venue which is famous for the miniature trains that run along its walls.
List of Readers (by date)
January 9, 2007:Mette Bach
Mette Bach
Mette Bach is a Vancouver author, teacher, screenwriter, and director. She was born in Denmark and grew up in North Delta, BC. Mette attended Simon Fraser University where she received a Bachelor of Arts with an Honours English major...
, Ryan Flowers, Danielle LaFrance, Andrew Lee, Garry Thomas Morse, Carmen Papalia, Michael Turner
Michael Turner (musician)
For other people named Michael Turner, see Michael Turner.Michael Turner is a musician, and writer of poetry, prose and opera librettos....
, Sean Wilson
February 13, 2007:
Roger Farr, Emily Fedoruk, Liam Ford, Reg Johanson
Reg Johanson
Reg Johanson is a composition and literature instructor, poet and essayist. His critical writing focuses on the critique of Standard English as a classist and racializing disciplinary practice, the political economy of cheating and plagiarism, the problem of radicalism within a national literary...
, Elliott Lummin, Tracy Stefanucci, Irene Zafiris
March 13, 2007:
Phinder Dulai, Patrick Friesen
Patrick Friesen
Patrick Frank Friesen is a Canadian author. He has written many works, from poetry to stage plays. He began his works in 1970, writing books of poetry. This Canadian poet, who was born in Steinbach, Manitoba, studied at the University of Manitoba. While there, he received a Bachelor of Arts ...
, McKinley M. Hellenes, Dave Morris, Natalie Simpson, Aubyn Rader
April 10, 2007:
Andrea Actis, Clint Burnham, Andrew Lee, Garry Thomas Morse, Thor Polukoshko, Michael V. Smith
Michael V. Smith
Michael V. Smith is a Canadian novelist, poet and filmmaker, originally from Cornwall, Ontario and now living in Vancouver, British Columbia. His debut novel, Cumberland, was nominated for the Books in Canada First Novel Award in 2002...
September 17, 2007:
Elizabeth Bachinsky
Elizabeth Bachinsky
Elizabeth Bachinsky is a Canadian poet. She's published three collections since 2005: Curio, Home of Sudden Service, and God of Missed Connections. Her second book, Home of Sudden Service, was nominated for a 2006 Governor General's Award for Poetry...
, George K. Ilsley, Brendan McLeod
Brendan McLeod
Brendan McLeod is a Canadian spoken word artist, musician and novelist. His work often deals with the exploration of social and political commentary, family histrionics, surreal love poems, obscure adventure stories, and powerful personal stories....
, Patrick Morrison, Kevin Murray, Amanda Ryan
October 22, 2007:
Rhoda Hodjati, Matt Hogan, Donato Mancini, Garry T. Morse, Anne Stone
Anne Stone
Anne Stone is a Canadian writer.Primarily an underground literary figure, Stone alleged in 2000 that she ghostwrote the majority of Nega Mezlekia's award-winning memoir Notes from the Hyena's Belly. Mezlekia responded that Stone's role in the book's publication was strictly that of a copy editor,...
, Rita Wong
November 19, 2007:
Jeff Derksen, Stephen Collis, Jason Christie, Nicholas Perrin, Elliott Lummin
January 29, 2008:
Indran Amirthanayagam
Indran Amirthanayagam
Indran Amirthanayagam was born in 1960 in Colombo, Ceylon . When eight years old, he moved with his family to London, and at 14 to Honolulu, Hawaii. He began writing in Honolulu....
, Emily Fedoruk, Fiona Tinwei Lam, Loretta Seto, Jane Silcott
February 26, 2008:
Claire Huot, Robert Majzels
Robert Majzels
Robert Majzels is a Canadian novelist, poet, playwright and translator.- Life :Majzels was born in Montreal. In 1986, he graduated with a Master's degree in English Literature from Concordia University in Montreal, where he would later teach creative writing for thirteen years. Between 2000 and...
, Cecily Nicholson, Carmen Papalia
March 25, 2008:
Sonia Capriceru, Jacqueline Turner, Kim Minkus, Louis Rastelli
April 29, 2008
Garry Thomas Morse, Matt Hogan, Sachiko Murakami, Ivan Drury
September 16, 2008: Matt Rader, Addena Sumter-Freitag, Sonnett L'Abbe, Russell Thornton
October 28, 2008: Jordan Scott, Taylor Leedahl, Heather McDonald, Ivan Drury