Settle in for an evening of conversation and poetry with authors Susan Wismer and Melinda Burns. The poets will discuss their newest collections - Hag Dan ces and Homecoming - and share selected readin gs\, offering insight into their creative processes and themes. The discus sion will be moderated by author Tanis MacDonald and will leave space for reflection and audience connection. Books will be available for purchase\, and a signing with the authors will take place following the event.
\nPresented in partnership with Words Worth Books.
\nTo change and heal takes great courage. To recon cile is to truly face yourself and ask the questions: Why am I angry\, sha meful\, hateful and prejudiced? Why does fear have control of me so profou ndly? Why is it so easy to move to prejudice\, to be manipulative\, to thi nk of myself as better than? Susan Wismer&rsquo\;s new collection of astou nding poetry reconciles identity and truth\, if truth can even be found.\n
Susan Wismer \;is a queer poet\, a mother\, grandmother\, gardener\, dancer\, hiker\, singer and activist. H er poetry explores identity\, truth\, and relationships with the land that supports us\; and reflects on her activism in projects inspired by the im portance of community and artistic expression during challenging times.&nb sp\;Hag Dances\, was published by At Bay Press in 2025. \;Hand Shadows\, a chapbook documenting a collaborative project starte d during the pandemic\, was published by Wintergreen Press in 2024. Recent poems have been published in \;Prism International\, Pin hole Poetry \;and \;Filling Station. \;Susan liv es in Collingwood.
\nThe poems i n \;Homecoming \;are grouped according to the directions of the Me dicine Wheel: East for Beginnings\, South for Innocence\, West for Going W ithin\, North for Elder / Wisdom\, and the Centre for the Creator and the Great Mystery. Each section reflects both the universal human journey of g rowth and learning\, and the author&rsquo\;s personal experiences&mdash\;s panning childhood\, marriage\, divorce\, parenthood\, and her parents&rsqu o\; aging. The poems also explore her journey to reclaim and celebrate her Native heritage.
\nMelinda Burns is a status member of the Lower Mohawk First Nation. She is the daughter of a Mohawk mother and an English father. Her short stories have placed first i n the 2001 Toronto Star Short Story contest and in the 2006 Elora Writers& rsquo\; Festival contest. Her essay\, \;Legacy\, \;was a finalist in the 2023 Prism International Creative Non-fiction contest. Her stories\, essays\, and poems have appeared in the \;New Quarterly \, Grain\, The Fiddlehead\, Canadian Notes and Queries\, Native Skin\, \;and \;One Art.
\nMelinda lives in Guelph\, Ontario. She writes to try to understand t his life without destroying the mystery\; to excavate\, untangle\, set fre e.
\nTanis MacDonald is the author of eight books and editor of many others. Her fifth book of poetry\,& nbsp\;Tall\, Grass\, Girl\, \;in forthcoming in October with Book *hug Press. She has taught and mentored a generation of poets from across the country.
\nPhotography Notice: Please n ote that photographs and videos may be taken at this event and may be broa dcast\, reproduced\, and/or made available in print or online. For individ ual or small group photos\, staff will make attendees aware of their prese nce and will ask permission before taking photos. \;
\nFor large r public events\, please note that by attending\, you are consenting to th e use of your appearance\, image\, and voice in print or digital productio ns created by the Waterloo Public Library for promotional use only. Please speak to library staff at the event if you&rsquo\;d like to be excluded f rom any photo/video. \;
\nStaff: Nancy
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