Powell River Public Library kicks off its 2019 BC Writers Series this Friday, March 22, with fiction and poetry writer Dina Del Bucchia.
“This is the first year of what we hope will become an annual series,” said library teen services coordinator and writer Megan Cole.
This year the series is hosting a diverse lineup of noted BC authors starting off with Del Bucchia, who will hold a workshop with teen writers Friday afternoon followed by an evening reading from her latest book of poems, It’s a Big Deal, and a discussion hosted by Cole.
“I’m excited to come to Powell River after a 22-year absence,” said Del Bucchia.
She last visited the community as a high school participant in the BC Festival of the Arts. Since that time she has earned her masters degree in fine arts, taught creative writing at University of British Columbia and published five books that have received national recognition.
“In addition to being a celebrated and beloved author, she’s also the hilarious and engaging co-host of the popular Can’t Lit podcast,” added Cole.
Del Bucchia’s latest book looks at everything from contemporary self-improvement culture, popular catchphrases, big ideas and big animals, a theme running through all her writing.
“This book started with megafauna,” said Del Bucchia. “The last section is about extinct creatures like mammoths, giant sloths, sabretoothed salmon, big cats, all of those things. Animals are always in my work in different ways.”
Del Bucchia knew from an early age she wanted to be a writer, but her trajectory involved leaving her small community of Fruitvale, BC, to find an artistic network.
“It took many years before I felt like I had people around me who were helping me as a writer and artist,” she said. “That’s the key regardless of where you are. Finding some sense of community, people you can trust that are going to look at your work and knowing what your goals are.”
Other authors participating in the series throughout the year include young-adult novelist Susan Juby, mystery writer Sam Wiebe and children’s book author Deborah Hodge.
Del Bucchia said although many people believe poetry is not for them, she encourages everyone to give it a chance.
“People maybe assume that they don’t ‘get’ poetry or they don’t like it,” she added. “I hope that reading a book like mine, a goofier book, will help people develop a different appreciation.”
The BC Writers Series begins at 7 pm on Friday, March 22, at Powell River Public Library.
For more information go to prpl.ca.
