A Tale of Two Soul Sisters
Last weekend, our good friend, Carolyn Turgeon, was in town to promote her latest novel, The Next Full Moon, which is her fourth book, but first young person novel, a magical tale of swan maidens and coming of age when you're a girl who's not quite like everyone else. I loved it! And we were so happy that things and schedules worked out in such a way that we could host another book reading/signing for her. I really love these afternoons; it's such a wonderful way to gather intelligent, sensitive, articulate people together for a few hours of literature, music, discussion, comraderie.
When Carolyn and I were discussing the reading a couple of months ago, she mentioned having discovered a local violinist/vocalist, Monique Canniere, whose sister owns a bookshop outside of the city. I looked at Monique's website and listened to some of her music and agreed that she had to be part of Sunday's event. However, even having previewed her music, I was completely unprepared for how stunning and talented she is. She improvised a Snow White piece, in honor of Carolyn's next novel, which is about Snow White's evil stepmother, and then played traditional Irish pieces with her partner, John Salmon, who's in The Divine Hand Ensemble with her. It was so beautiful and moving and we were all wreathed in smiles.
The house was filled to near-capacity with friends, family, children... including Michael Swanwick and Marianne Porter, fresh from their Russian adventure, the fabulous petitbout, our friend Karen, who was wearing a new dress she had made from a gorgeous 1912 slip pattern, the incredible actress, Emily Gibson, who had just returned from her Italian theatrical tour... and it was wonderful.
Here I am with Monique and Carolyn after the reading/concert:
We then went back into the house and watched "A Tale of Two Sisters" and much terror and screaming ensued.
When Carolyn and I were discussing the reading a couple of months ago, she mentioned having discovered a local violinist/vocalist, Monique Canniere, whose sister owns a bookshop outside of the city. I looked at Monique's website and listened to some of her music and agreed that she had to be part of Sunday's event. However, even having previewed her music, I was completely unprepared for how stunning and talented she is. She improvised a Snow White piece, in honor of Carolyn's next novel, which is about Snow White's evil stepmother, and then played traditional Irish pieces with her partner, John Salmon, who's in The Divine Hand Ensemble with her. It was so beautiful and moving and we were all wreathed in smiles.
The house was filled to near-capacity with friends, family, children... including Michael Swanwick and Marianne Porter, fresh from their Russian adventure, the fabulous petitbout, our friend Karen, who was wearing a new dress she had made from a gorgeous 1912 slip pattern, the incredible actress, Emily Gibson, who had just returned from her Italian theatrical tour... and it was wonderful.
Here I am with Monique and Carolyn after the reading/concert:
We then went back into the house and watched "A Tale of Two Sisters" and much terror and screaming ensued.