tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79711698224291462042024-03-12T20:05:43.550-04:00The Nelson Ball PrizeNelson Ball (1942–2019) was a poet who lived in Paris, Ontario. Known for his minimalist nature poems, he flew somewhat under the radar. Nelson began writing in the 1960s and continued until his death. He is the author of scores of books and chapbooks.
The Nelson Ball Prize is awarded annually to a publication, by a Canadian poet and published in Canada, that displays "poetry of observation," as chosen by two judges. The $1,000 purse has been donated by family, friends, and fans of Nelson Ball.The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-46594285367505815802024-03-04T14:55:00.004-05:002024-03-04T14:55:52.003-05:00Call for nominations for the 2024 Nelson Ball Prize<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiUt6gqEOQiDb-92nIbdjpmRqW-Lf-hAKa443mWdpjFzOUKd4YGvHmgjRQ-EBxjcyZb2ildyvwTstatcsrmDmhB3HfDLWoc0ZF96zJrzWp6L70goUjOL8dooAYEhdBucMw2UfrxL2zrpntfLKqFNBApdGunfcESbe4GVEcu_YvNyVQZZZh9GMBzEo6e8/s3300/NBP2024callfornominations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="673" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiUt6gqEOQiDb-92nIbdjpmRqW-Lf-hAKa443mWdpjFzOUKd4YGvHmgjRQ-EBxjcyZb2ildyvwTstatcsrmDmhB3HfDLWoc0ZF96zJrzWp6L70goUjOL8dooAYEhdBucMw2UfrxL2zrpntfLKqFNBApdGunfcESbe4GVEcu_YvNyVQZZZh9GMBzEo6e8/w519-h673/NBP2024callfornominations.jpg" width="519" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-19044502601631849372024-01-01T18:07:00.001-05:002024-01-01T18:07:48.013-05:00Congratulations to Cameron Anstee!<p> The winner of the 2023 Nelson Ball Prize is Ottawa poet Cameron Anstee, for his beautiful book Sheets: Typewriter Works, published by Invisible Publishing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf8MW8pmWIf-Eunf5wXtPhNWberdFNDsM_e6rK7Mx61sqj6mB-cdoMHpeI7wi1FkuNIYEpa0CGGWrYJr0dIliqPf9_Ie3y_a0xMO80XmNZODW6YLYq2U8bcgLmFxDgm4rr5p0J-3e9UI0OdCuE8_NHxJtjxal6D5vTm8QmmcD_JS8MuQXsYmk1Sq4ZDk/s2016/CameronCertificate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUf8MW8pmWIf-Eunf5wXtPhNWberdFNDsM_e6rK7Mx61sqj6mB-cdoMHpeI7wi1FkuNIYEpa0CGGWrYJr0dIliqPf9_Ie3y_a0xMO80XmNZODW6YLYq2U8bcgLmFxDgm4rr5p0J-3e9UI0OdCuE8_NHxJtjxal6D5vTm8QmmcD_JS8MuQXsYmk1Sq4ZDk/w336-h448/CameronCertificate.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cameron receives a $1,000 prize, courtesy of the generous donors who make this award possible. Here is the full award presentation:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CZa37iykdWU" width="320" youtube-src-id="CZa37iykdWU"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-8772191628544758432023-11-09T11:16:00.006-05:002024-01-26T22:44:39.454-05:00The 2023 Nelson Ball Prize Shortlist<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDLW8-8xRZzuXQbarP2-9vShsVxjdLpkur3jbnOjc1gw4CcaZSNI81PG8AuzKekhVFWShjpwpMW3GsQBA9Jdv8nETMh3ZdO5s9FbrxjmrwmaYVNy5FVcyCxYDrf3JY6c_Oor4EOaFOKvCuHWL2HTZ7jZXH9NDgNXHW0LYSadg6q-dDWgDJBPjqpWD5hw/s2550/nbp%202023%20short%20list%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="2550" height="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDLW8-8xRZzuXQbarP2-9vShsVxjdLpkur3jbnOjc1gw4CcaZSNI81PG8AuzKekhVFWShjpwpMW3GsQBA9Jdv8nETMh3ZdO5s9FbrxjmrwmaYVNy5FVcyCxYDrf3JY6c_Oor4EOaFOKvCuHWL2HTZ7jZXH9NDgNXHW0LYSadg6q-dDWgDJBPjqpWD5hw/w590-h590/nbp%202023%20short%20list%20poster.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-37938620047216405172023-01-04T12:21:00.008-05:002023-01-04T12:21:40.154-05:00Nelson Ball Prize Call for Nominations 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUlnlQztCtjqrkahQ0BCyDkULBxGsOs8L309_jTEGPBqcW2HZ1ysAeD6th9BSoR0U-P5Rz-HlwgCQ6z1SxK9QyIIPPwi7hfZyBSMRDwq6CanqkJCdXxKSJNm1joQngJCPBPMVbJVep7RFgqrUurUafuTAxq91qKNq-mbUHQ2m2bVGy2yi3EhRIiTr/s3300/NBP2023callfornominations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUlnlQztCtjqrkahQ0BCyDkULBxGsOs8L309_jTEGPBqcW2HZ1ysAeD6th9BSoR0U-P5Rz-HlwgCQ6z1SxK9QyIIPPwi7hfZyBSMRDwq6CanqkJCdXxKSJNm1joQngJCPBPMVbJVep7RFgqrUurUafuTAxq91qKNq-mbUHQ2m2bVGy2yi3EhRIiTr/w549-h690/NBP2023callfornominations.jpg" width="549" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-23356330918435991162023-01-02T15:48:00.004-05:002023-01-02T15:49:22.601-05:00CONGRATULATIONS TO QUEBEC POET PEARL PIRIE!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUjldZm3lEdlyHOr2OBQDvg8YckkWTbiInz06IXBdUiGU4PcESrfBl4Cywg3YZWkQ8LzldsjcJxvyQCDT9m8l1W8mfaVu_eDhY7WWYEzAI4cSMEWFZHH5OrsVvkKrjNE7DXnmNvV2xTCjsgSYBj8Lg8p8GcYsDZLBo4lAQxUSZd6yOIT3I0G6LPk1/s4032/PearlCertificate2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="671" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUjldZm3lEdlyHOr2OBQDvg8YckkWTbiInz06IXBdUiGU4PcESrfBl4Cywg3YZWkQ8LzldsjcJxvyQCDT9m8l1W8mfaVu_eDhY7WWYEzAI4cSMEWFZHH5OrsVvkKrjNE7DXnmNvV2xTCjsgSYBj8Lg8p8GcYsDZLBo4lAQxUSZd6yOIT3I0G6LPk1/w503-h671/PearlCertificate2022.jpg" width="503" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-32958521176437198542022-12-30T00:39:00.005-05:002022-12-30T00:39:24.691-05:00The 2022 Nelson Ball Prize Presentation <p>The 2022 Nelson Ball Prize Presentation will be released on Friday, December 30, at 9:00 a.m. ET. Hear short readings by each of the shortlisted poets, as well as some news about Nelson's legacy. And, of course, learn who won the 2022 Nelson Ball Prize, worth $1,000.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/An1TNqSZ23s" width="477" youtube-src-id="An1TNqSZ23s"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-43153658656613929422022-11-28T10:16:00.003-05:002022-11-28T10:16:31.398-05:002022 NELSON PRIZE SHORT LIST JUST ANNOUNCED<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyFtqo_jBUTpkOSGokHHqcn6ZMIwLC7ESMoUG5PYokGJwPXcu4oGG40VPYYbHn4uX9XK3IIYgpIqMWaf4KWVt6k4bo8SPYG4LtJRqJwxF6r9LZusLmN-uYgm1zzrUH3cOpohHULBZgOGL1GkMZ4smhsE-FpIEEOR4xCetEsiUv8KU05WKZW8kIANW/s3300/nbp%202022%20short%20list%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyFtqo_jBUTpkOSGokHHqcn6ZMIwLC7ESMoUG5PYokGJwPXcu4oGG40VPYYbHn4uX9XK3IIYgpIqMWaf4KWVt6k4bo8SPYG4LtJRqJwxF6r9LZusLmN-uYgm1zzrUH3cOpohHULBZgOGL1GkMZ4smhsE-FpIEEOR4xCetEsiUv8KU05WKZW8kIANW/w409-h530/nbp%202022%20short%20list%20poster.jpg" width="409" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-67577097970164240802022-10-12T10:42:00.000-04:002022-10-12T10:42:21.741-04:002022 NELSON BALL PRIZE LONG LIST<p>We're pleased to announce the Long List for the 2022 Nelson Ball Prize, as selected by our dedicated judges, Beverley Daurio and James McDonald. The judges read about 100 submissions of books, chapbooks, and ephemera, looking for the best in "poetry of observation" by a Canadian poet.</p><p>Stay tuned for the Short List! The winner will receive $1,000, thanks to our generous donors.</p><p>Here is the Long List of 10 titles, in alphabetical order by the poets' names:</p><p><br /></p><div style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>Lines – </i>Cameron Anstee (St. Andrew Books)<br /></b></span></div><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>Undoing Hours</i> – Selina Boan (Nightwood Editions)</b></span></p><div style="font-size: 16px;"><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>wind</i> – Guy Ewing (Puddles of Sky Press)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>a grain of sand</i> – Helen Hajnoczky (above/ground press)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>Zero Dawn</i> – Shelly Harder (above/ground press)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>A Number of Stunning Attacks</i> – Jessi MacEachern (Invisible Publishing)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>Gone South</i> – Barry McKinnon (above/ground press)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>Rain's Small Gestures</i> – Pearl Pirie (Apt. 9 Press)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>Ghosthawk</i> – Matt Rader (Nightwood Editions)</b></span></p><p style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i>So/I</i> – Andy Weaver (above/ground press)</b></span></p></div>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-14703892083554739092022-05-21T21:26:00.002-04:002022-05-21T21:26:12.477-04:00Nelson Ball Prize Call for Nominations 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ofk43FJp3GIHenOMqm1a69qKQ2idAQxFzm0fPfndI5TMbKmf_tWtOEBszCbYSSVH2b5ygByEZ6BUrktrWtVHlLyVI3ksgIDbShnvM2Zqu98eLXhuQXoJgrnQRrPr2SM22U9zOUoRwsCwF1qbx7zrjr75u74L-P4jyCKvteV2jRKfVfFwvmR3cTf6/s3300/NBP2022callfornominations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="791" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ofk43FJp3GIHenOMqm1a69qKQ2idAQxFzm0fPfndI5TMbKmf_tWtOEBszCbYSSVH2b5ygByEZ6BUrktrWtVHlLyVI3ksgIDbShnvM2Zqu98eLXhuQXoJgrnQRrPr2SM22U9zOUoRwsCwF1qbx7zrjr75u74L-P4jyCKvteV2jRKfVfFwvmR3cTf6/w611-h791/NBP2022callfornominations.jpg" width="611" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-38307721019744418882021-12-17T15:12:00.005-05:002021-12-17T15:12:25.441-05:00The 2021 Nelson Ball Prize Presentation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9s22_lzHhkc" width="467" youtube-src-id="9s22_lzHhkc"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-35622882092097852012021-12-15T23:36:00.005-05:002021-12-15T23:36:56.958-05:00And the winner of the 2021 Nelson Ball Prize…<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmraJ5NwRdanXoTQHN-vlc2Cx60FdHrsdE5cDeFtMJrX7piuCzymmXM6fq_PxvRf44CvQPaZxjd7v4y5-tKarpGaVmv71tp3FTVEVHUVHNucoJkPkFba1TJJZa30-pT1QIeM2AZOLDxKOIAxGrYXXsa3OMarNOEYuMEXtNtkrPrwI0jP0NE1J-HyE6=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmraJ5NwRdanXoTQHN-vlc2Cx60FdHrsdE5cDeFtMJrX7piuCzymmXM6fq_PxvRf44CvQPaZxjd7v4y5-tKarpGaVmv71tp3FTVEVHUVHNucoJkPkFba1TJJZa30-pT1QIeM2AZOLDxKOIAxGrYXXsa3OMarNOEYuMEXtNtkrPrwI0jP0NE1J-HyE6=w318-h424" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More details forthcoming soon!</div><br /><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-83187530361758428902021-11-26T11:05:00.001-05:002021-11-26T11:05:13.059-05:00:The shortlist for the 2021 Nelson Ball Prize!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDFIjqUreJQ-9uZS91q7nQdgBi24VO7fGyV2dCMFd4qXCDUCVJB2eGvfIfnAJRxb3H0lHMw_VBONMFvxZnO9QLvJ63PSueEidljM6dZAhnxYMDyQP_T3vX4vzcRnQ-MUVv5UFaCXbiHfHT18CtuUD0xYzAk-_soA_sfjrkbC5-Y5Uu3d41QIkGjAI4=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDFIjqUreJQ-9uZS91q7nQdgBi24VO7fGyV2dCMFd4qXCDUCVJB2eGvfIfnAJRxb3H0lHMw_VBONMFvxZnO9QLvJ63PSueEidljM6dZAhnxYMDyQP_T3vX4vzcRnQ-MUVv5UFaCXbiHfHT18CtuUD0xYzAk-_soA_sfjrkbC5-Y5Uu3d41QIkGjAI4=w439-h439" width="439" /></a></div><br /><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-51312602667378590072021-07-12T14:22:00.002-04:002021-07-12T14:22:10.443-04:00Last call for nominations for the 2021 Nelson Ball Prize!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGSNNFijUs_3kK4ec89ilDJQvbat2HEPuKdBAdEDTWnwx20A_txfLS713S5KfChD5jLwiMAdrjw5wjoIqJTItFrq4zjcISloQ0XL2z6TeN6OL-_xTLGiuVMT5nHoDlXEf44zslryVeT8/s2048/NBP2021callfornominations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="539" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGSNNFijUs_3kK4ec89ilDJQvbat2HEPuKdBAdEDTWnwx20A_txfLS713S5KfChD5jLwiMAdrjw5wjoIqJTItFrq4zjcISloQ0XL2z6TeN6OL-_xTLGiuVMT5nHoDlXEf44zslryVeT8/w416-h539/NBP2021callfornominations.jpg" width="416" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-35101963014261465982020-12-14T21:41:00.005-05:002020-12-14T21:41:27.726-05:00Toronto poet Mark Truscott wins inaugural Nelson Ball Prize for his book Branches<p><span style="font-size: medium;">On the evening of December 14, during a Zoom gathering, Toronto poet Mark Truscott was awarded the first Nelson Ball Prize for his 2018 collection <i>Branches</i>, from Book*hug. The prize comes with a commemorative plaque and $1,000, provided by donors from across the country.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nz-3w_JTe4gXr48H4QnYezNnYeOJtKpgTSCSbS0NrXlj5UhnsMHVYHYZSvLlxUQ3XsipOWHYzIM9U7v8MfN5E6h5MvIxkK1i83JFwFZCiXuPR9cicNuaKi9Q7YXM9v0BJ4hYExJFMZA/s2048/Mark+Trusctt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1606" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nz-3w_JTe4gXr48H4QnYezNnYeOJtKpgTSCSbS0NrXlj5UhnsMHVYHYZSvLlxUQ3XsipOWHYzIM9U7v8MfN5E6h5MvIxkK1i83JFwFZCiXuPR9cicNuaKi9Q7YXM9v0BJ4hYExJFMZA/s320/Mark+Trusctt.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Nelson Ball's friends Stuart Ross and Catherine Stevenson hosted the event, attended by over fifty people (not bad for a Zoom event!). The presentation featured brief reading by all five shortlisted poets: Cameron Anstee, Mike Barnes, Susan Gillis, Thomas King, and Truscott. Bookseller and Nelson friend James McDonald read the thoughtful citations he and co-judge Beverley Daurio, the Toronto writer and onetime publisher, prepared.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I will be posting all the citation, as well as the recording of the Zoom event, soon. For now, here are James and Bev's words on the winning book:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;"></span></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;">The opening lines of <i>Branches</i>—one line per page—are about a line (or is it a branch?). We inch along, searching for definition in the oscillating throw of metaphor: "a branch like a line like a branch". The desire to know, that exilic quality of the mind, is an old drama, and in <i>Branches</i>, Truscott enacts the wanderings of the mind with single intent, and finds in the poetic line a direction home, a way of going further in the direction of what is to be thought, the direction that goes in both directions simultaneously. </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;">This book gives moving testimony of the need for poetry. For this reason, and so many others that you must discover by reading the book, we have chosen <i>Branches</i> by Mark Truscott as the winner of the Nelson Ball Prize for this inaugural year.</span><span style="background-color: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwmS_jcJ00F3WmGb3vG_UsAhvOvZEXnbAXP1H6J5hvW7GV6nga6yAQtAJgl-PR6Nvhu2ogGhaQqSI9X_mk-ncaLS-NqKQu-K4dCz6kXurcIh4JrW6UDselLhbOiwMyGYSqHlnuhcSqR4/s717/Branches-by-Mark-Truscott-Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwmS_jcJ00F3WmGb3vG_UsAhvOvZEXnbAXP1H6J5hvW7GV6nga6yAQtAJgl-PR6Nvhu2ogGhaQqSI9X_mk-ncaLS-NqKQu-K4dCz6kXurcIh4JrW6UDselLhbOiwMyGYSqHlnuhcSqR4/s320/Branches-by-Mark-Truscott-Cover.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />More info coming soon! And stay tuned for information on how to submit 2020 titles for the Nelson Ball Prize.</span><p></p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-38556470485759224992020-12-11T15:05:00.001-05:002020-12-11T15:05:27.895-05:00The 2020 Nelson Ball Prize award ceremony: December 14, online<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3mcLvl_7YnSk8671a5QHx60rW888FI7qpSni9j4gVVxElWQn7UiF8kwTBthevrgYEKBUYVkSVQQ_K0K8fqJKw0thkbMqxjUbJ5jQmMJH7eKmF9irZPjFU5zpyDiZWgG2OC5LJ5GcyFQ/s900/NBP+LOGO+with+colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3mcLvl_7YnSk8671a5QHx60rW888FI7qpSni9j4gVVxElWQn7UiF8kwTBthevrgYEKBUYVkSVQQ_K0K8fqJKw0thkbMqxjUbJ5jQmMJH7eKmF9irZPjFU5zpyDiZWgG2OC5LJ5GcyFQ/s320/NBP+LOGO+with+colour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The inaugural Nelson Ball Prize will be awarded on Monday, December 14, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The proceedings will feature brief readings by each of the shortlisted poets, as well as remarks by the judges and announcement of the winner. I'll kick the event off by talking a bit about Nelson and the origins of the prize.</p><p>You can get a free ticket to this online ceremony <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-2020-nelson-ball-prize-tickets-132477599065">right here</a>.</p><p>Please join us!</p><p>Stuart Ross</p><p>for the Nelson Ball Prize Committee</p>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-63158416645850982372020-12-03T19:22:00.004-05:002020-12-08T15:18:42.780-05:00The 2020 Nelson Ball Prize Shortlist<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The 2020 Nelson Ball Prize shortlist was announced today, December 3. The judges this year are Beverley Daurio and James McDonald — both publishers of Nelson and close friends. This year's prize rewards a distinguished publication by a Canadian poet, published in Canada in 2018 or 2019, that features "poetry of observation," one of Nelson's great interests. One hundred and ten entries arrived for consideration.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The Nelson Ball Prize consists of a framed certificate and a cheque for $1,000. The funds have been generously provided by relatives, friends, and fans of Nelson Ball. We are grateful for their kindness and devotion to Nelson's legacy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The winner will be announced during an online event on December 14. (Further details will be posted on this blog.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Here is the shortlist:</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Cameron Anstee, <i>The Book of Annotations</i> (Invisible Publishing, 2018)</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Mike Barnes, <i>Braille Rainbow </i>(Biblioasis, 2019)</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Susan Gillis, <i>Yellow Crane</i> (Brick Books, 2018)</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Thomas King, <i>77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin</i> (HarperCollins, 2019)</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); margin: 0.5em 0px;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Mark Truscott, <i>Branches</i> (Book*hug Press, 2018)</span></p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7971169822429146204.post-82003931648378066882020-12-03T19:15:00.001-05:002020-12-08T15:19:00.722-05:00The 2020 Nelson Ball Prize Longlist<p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">The Nelson Ball Prize longlist was announced on October 30. Judges Beverley Daurio and James McDonald — both publishers of Nelson and close friends — read through 110 publications released in 2018 and 2019 to arrive at this list. The prize rewards a distinguished publication by a Canadian poet, published in Canada, that features "poetry of observation," one of Nelson's great interests.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Here is the longlist:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Cameron Anstee,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"><i>The Book of Annotations</i></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Invisible Publishing, 2018)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Mike Barnes,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Braille Rainbow </i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Biblioasis, 2019)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Michael E. Casteels,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">snowfall</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Puddles of Sky Press, 2018)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Chantal Gibson,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">How She Read</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Caitlin Press, 2019)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Susan Gillis,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Yellow Crane</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Brick Books, 2018)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">James Hawes,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Bus Metro Walk</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Monk Press, 2018)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Jason Heroux,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">The Book of Blessings</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Puddles of Sky Press, 2019)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Amanda Jernigan,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Years, Months, Days</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Biblioasis, 2018)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Basma Kavanagh,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Ruba'iyat for the Time of Apricots</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(Frontenac House, 2018)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">Thomas King,</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">77 Fragments of a Familiar Ruin</i><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); font-family: times;">(HarperCollins, 2019)</span></span></p><div class="bi6gxh9e" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); margin-bottom: 8px;"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa fgxwclzu jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; line-height: 1.3333; max-width: 100%; min-width: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Tara McGowan-Ross, <i>Scorpion Season</i> (Insomniac Press, 2019)</span></span></div><div class="bi6gxh9e" style="caret-color: rgb(5, 5, 5); margin-bottom: 8px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: times;">Mark Truscott,</span><span style="font-family: times;"> </span><i style="font-family: times;">Branches</i><span style="font-family: times;"> (Book*hug Press, 2018)</span></span></div>The Nelson Ball Prizehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07624994132793300347noreply@blogger.com0