Samantha Everts

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.  I’ve got notebooks that look like they’ve gone through wars, they’re so beaten up.  Some have wine stains, others just smeared with water-stains, dirt and bits of paper I’ve shoved in for some reason that they seemed important at the time.  Same goes for any and all of my books in my library.  There’s always things like plane tickets, receipts, concert flyers, or stickers holding my place for no particular reason.

Normally I do finish entire books (unless they’re really painful).  My copy of Plato’s Republic I’ve not been able to give away it looks SO well read.  I’m kind of proud of that since it proves I not only read, but the dogears and post-it tabs means I analyzed and understood it.

I love books.  However if you were to ask me my favourite one I’d draw a blank and most likely site Charlotte’s Web as the most influential.  (I’m vegan, love animals, and Charlotte as the outsider was so strong-willed and independent of the rest of them even if all odds were against her.  Sorry for the intense metaphor, I just feel strongly about the book.

For my Sweet 16 birthday I had my parents buy me a book that cost $100.  It was the Beatles’ Anthology and I read the entire coffee-table sized 300+ page artifact.  My only complaint was that it was so big I couldn’t bring it on the bus to school.

I lend out books that I love regularly.  The bits of paper go along with them even if someone opens it up and tries to hand it back.  I kind of hope that they’ll be returned with a new surprise inside.

Same goes for signing my name on the inner cover.  There’s a sense of pride and ownership that goes along with purchasing a new book.  Coming from a separated family I’m terrified of the day I need to divide my books.  Maybe that’s my own personal baggage coming into play, but it goes both ways.

There are a few books I haven’t inscribed my name however.  I find orphan books on the street of our nation’s capital on a fairly frequent basis.  Living in Centretown means that my neighbours are pretty transient.  Of course I understand, cheap rent, young lives full of infinite possibilities, why the Hell would you drag a bunch of your old film studies or philosophy books to teach in Japan or something?

(Hypocritical confession:  I dragged a whole bag of books to Alberta with me when I moved… Anyways)

Monsieur Kerouac

I’ve been hoping to pass off these orphaned books left on the curb to friends or colleagues that would benefit from them.  Same with zines, I can definitely admit to photocopying entire zines to share with others… or to be kitchen proof for vegan recipe experiments to be spilled upon.

Most of the books in my library would tell a thematic story.  I love music.  I’m curious about different cultures.  I’ve studied literature and society.  Just that I’m eclectic.

The books that serve as almost a passport stamp, my travel guides for when I was living abroad have been lent out forever.  They were like beacons that attracted their own attention to where I’d been.

The books I’ve found on anarchist feminist movements on Elgin Street outside the human rights memorial I pocketed, same with Jonathan Strange’s epic story I tripped on while going to a comedy club in Little Italy.

I can remember seeing Douglas Coupland give a talk last Winter.  He said that the biggest compliment to him as a writer would be to see someone steal his book.  He then promptly added you could purchase his books at the door.

Coupland would definitely be an influence however, just in his informal stream of consciousness efforts Jack Kerouac is too.  I followed the trail of William Burroughs in Tangier with the intention of staying in the hotel he wrote Naked Lunch in.  It was scary.

In Ireland going to see Oscar Wildes’ home and being present in front of his and James Joyces’ original manuscripts was humbling. I have so much respect and admiration for trailblazers such as them that truly pushed the envelope for subjects and arts.

2007 - Ireland - kind of a Mecca for writers

What I’m trying to get at, basically is how from my childhood to formal literature and cultural writing education has prepared me now for what I am attempting to do.  I have the means stylistically to structure and background knowledge to allude to the greats.

And if you ever see my book on a city street sitting alone, please pick it up and give it to a friend.

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It was my birthday last weekend.

from raw sugar of course.

I didn’t get cake but I had the best birthday in years.  Went out with a group of friends and didn’t get in until 7 a.m.  Apparently everyone else was on my side too because for my birthday I got an extra hour to party!

We started at my favourite lounge, Avant Garde before making our way to Zaphods.  It was amazing to look out and see like 40 of my closest friends there. Honestly, most incredible night.  It’s been about three years since I’ve been in town (or the country!) to celebrate with my old friends.

It was also my bffs margie and iva’s birthday.  Happy birthday to those lovely ladies too!

I didn’t get any cake though…

but my best friend Tyler did get a tattoo to honour our friendship, which is so moving, I can’t even begin to tell you.

i'm the yellow ribbon apparently.

thanks guys! xo

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So this was about two weeks ago, apologies, but life has been ridiculously busy in covering different events, concerts, work stuff and writing.  (all super awesome positive things!)

Lately I’ve been privileged enough to be invited to many an event.  I’ve decided recently that like how Alberta is a ‘resource rich’ province, I’m ‘cultural connection rich.’  A lot of the events I go to or cover I would not be able to attend unless I was on the list- this is not me being pretentious, it’s just a fact!  When you’re a music journalist or involved with the local radio station or simply friends with musicians life can offer this fabulous little bonuses.  Kind of like how I ended up hanging out with Bedouin Soundclash last week… anyways…

I had to prepare for being red-carpet-glam and of course I my hairdryer crapped out just before and I lost my eyelash glue to the ninja I live with.  In the meantime I got distracted because of these!

Yup, I towered over my date, a friend and independent filmmaker who should have gotten back to me for me to plug his production company.  I invited him, industry-type, so we could both schmooze.  The whole event was invite-only and of course I needed red-carpet worthy shoes.

I also apparently needed red carpet eyes…

I was so glammed-up it was similar to past photoshoots where I don’t recognize myself in the later proofs.

glam-girl super close-up!

My friend wore a suit so we could fit in with the following:  The HARPERS, American Ambassadors, Stockwell Day, Mordecai Richler’s latewife, Philip Lampman (head producer and old friend of Richler’s) and the rest of the film cast and crew. Except for Dustin Hoffman- he skipped out.

There was like a 30 minute presention before the film basically setting it up as Canada’s entry into the Academy Awards.  It was the second screening in Canada but I felt like all the mini-presentations were there to reassure the government people there that there money was well spent.

Lots of gratuitous Canadiana references- e.g. wedding gets interupted to hear the hockey score, kraft dinner, lots of images of Montreal… the character of Barney even eats at Le Cafe- the NAC’s restaurant.

The movie itself was good.  I felt that they sped up the story a bit too much towards the end.  Paul Giamatti’s acting was VERY good, and made me love the misogynist, alcoholic, abusive rascal he was.  I especially liked the parts of living in Italy in the 1960s- very beat-generation-like. (which i of course was all over).

The film was quite long, got a little teary-eyed.  It’s interesting I was able to participate, I thought in preparing for the schmoozing because Mordecai Richler, only dead since 2001 was one of Canada’s greatest writers ever.  What am i doing there?  I am a writer.  See I fit in!  Why would I write about it?  I’m a film graduate.  ta-dah!

presenters with film cast

There was a live band and tons of food and hors d’oeuvres to snack on (surprisingly none being vegeterian,  let alone VEGAN), but they looked beautiful and the whole reception was themed around the film.  There was a Montreal canadian jerseyed bartender serving drinks and Schwartz’s smoked meat mini MTL bagel sandwiches being munched on.

my date

Now the problem with that was that the film was so long and I was racing around so much to get ready for the event I didn’t really eat much  so…. let me just tell you, the wine and champagne was delicious.

i never realized how beautiful hollywood celebs are in real life. this man GLOWED.

I met some cool people, not gonna lie, made a few connections, but not the ones you’d expect.  (fellow writer actually).  There was such a mix of ages and backgrounds, really glad I got so dressed up.

And then I met THIS guy.  I decided to have to a quick conversation with him as opposed to freaking out and asking for a photo.

My friend on the other hand photobombed Stockwell Day.  I asked him to email the pic in time for this post- he’s super busy.  Just trust me, it’s HILARIOUS.

Crystals everywhere, the whole thing reeked of money.  Live big-brass band, jewels everywhere.  (I was wearing diamonds too but really…

Kind of felt like I was living a lie as I waited for my ride to the gala- I mean if you see where I live (Chinatown- the poorest part of the city) and yet I’m there turning a spin for the paparazzi looking like a million dollars.  It was great.  We then went for Elgin Street Diner to gush about how ridiculous it was rubbing shoulders with the elite and head honchos of the North American Biz.

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So I got a really exciting package in the mail the other day from my Irish rock star friend Stephen.

He’s asked me to help choose out of two full albums 15 tracks or so to go onto it. His old band was pretty awesome.  www.myspace.com/empireoflights

They took me out on the town last time I was in London in THE most hipster part of the city, Shoreditch.  You could even see the Gherkin from their flat.  That as also the night I ended up at the VICE MAGAZINE night club bumping into more British rock royalty.  I digress…. love getting packages in the mail.

I’m reliving my rock star days.  If anyone’s known me the last 7 -8 years they’ll recall how involved I was with music journalism and how oddly enough my life has echoed the story of Almost Famous, my favourite Cameron Crowe film ever.  I’m both Wiliam and Penny.  Where does Penny run away to?  morocco!  What does William cry about?  Being snubbed for professional work (interviews) and missing genuine people.

It sounds good so far! I’m making little notes on the side.  It’s indie-rock but with lovelier than ever irish accents sinking through.

Oh, and forgot to mention I finally got to see Murder Plans with my bestest earlier this week and got a lovely shout out from them (for my journalism skills)  I took this career development test when I was in highschool and the results revealed that money was not a concern, as long as I had a job that everyone else thought was cool. Ha ha.  This is hilarious considering I get the question, ‘So what is it you actually DO?’ on fairly regular basis.

I reply, ‘I’m just me.’

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My good friend invited me to an event that he didn’t even know meant so much to me.

Writer and artist/visinonary Douglas Coupland was in town reading his newest novel, ‘Player One’ as part of the CBC Radio 1 Massey Lectures.  I’m only about 100 pages in but listening to him read in the beautiful theatre was magical.  Last time I saw him I was disappointed because it as a discussion on Marshal McLuhan which left no time for him to address any of my questions on his writing style, inspirations, and how to be a good writer.

Have I revealed how much of an influence and idol he is of mine sufficiently yet?  In all honesty, he’s on my list of Canadians to interview for the non-fiction book.  I know he doesn’t do much in that way though so I’d have to be super prepared… and get those damned grants.  I went to a grant workshop meeting a little while ago, unfortunately, but also forutnately, there was no money for my medium – physical books.

There was a discussion with the Ideas CBC host afterwards.

Coming into the introduction the jokes made by the host were such a stark contrast to the radio host/audience demographic than I normally deal with.  It’s not that one is better than the other, it’s just that for me, I am the typical CBC audience.

I’ve only read so many Coupland novels (The Gum Thief is my personal favourite), but I love his observational style of humour.  I told my friend I really hope that I would be able to write those sorts of nuances in the same entertaining manner.  I have a pretty twisted sense of humour thanks to my stepfather.

Forget editors and proofreaders!  This is my writing partner.

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