Publication in Nasha Doroha Anthology 2012

I am excited to announce publication of two pieces of my writing in the 2012 Nasha Doroha Anthology, a special edition of the quarterly journal of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada.

As a tribute to 1,300,000 Ukrainian immigrants to Canada during the past 120 years, the editor, Oksana Bashuk Hepburn, has assembled a collection of over 50 stories and poems, both in English and Ukrainian, in a double edition of their journal under the headings: Departing, Settling, Remembering, Contributing, Returning and Going Forward.

The story about my father appeared on this blog in an earlier version by the same title, 'Thoughts on my Father' and the poem 'Knowing You', about my paternal Baba, was previously published in "Grandmothers' Necklace" in 2010.

Here is a link to the publication: Nasha Doroha An Anthology 2013

Copies of Nasha Doroha Anthology may be obtained for $10.00 each from:

Elizabeth Zahayko
387 Betts Ave.,
Yorkton, SK
S3N 1N3
(306) 783-6282
eazahayko@sasktel.net

Copyright © 2012, Ruth Zaryski Jackson

Benefit Concert for Grandmothers to Grandmothers

Copies of Grandmothers' Necklace will be available at this concert for $20 +GST.

Getting Published

Yesterday I received a package containing a copy of Grandmothers’ Necklace where two of my poems appear: one about each of my grandmothers.

I tear the padded bag open and am unprepared for the thrill. OMG, as the kids say in text-speak; my chest fills with pride as I search for my entries. There’s one of them on the first page! Knowing You © Ruth Zaryski Jackson 2009. I exhale, read quickly through it and glance at the photo of my paternal grandmother, my Baba. Very nice, though the quality of the photo I sent was poor. Still, the first entry. Good start.

Next, I look for my other one. There it is on page 38 but whoops, my name is misspelled: Zarysky instead of Zaryski. Flash of anger. That was careless of somebody. The editor, the publisher; who to blame? Gradually I relax. I talk to myself. It’s ok, Ruth. It’s correct in the first entry. Maybe they can correct it in future print runs. Just chill.

I forget about the error and focus on the poem. Wash Day © Ruth Zaryski Jackson 2009. Looks fine, though not as prominent on the left side of the book. The old photos of my grandmother and my mother at age 6 are not bad. I read the poem and smile. Not too bad at all.

I’d arranged to meet a couple of old university friends in Toronto last night at the former Park Plaza Hotel Roof Top Lounge, so I tuck a copy of the book in my bag. When I show it to them, they’re impressed. I smile with pride. I’m a writer now and here’s proof.

By the time I roll into bed, after reading a few more pieces in the book, I yawn and expect to be out in a flash. No. The excitement is still bubbling. I enjoy the reruns of the day for several more hours.

Grandmothers' Necklace

Two poems, one about each of my grandmothers, have been published in Grandmothers' Necklace, to be released in early February 2010. Grandmothers’ Necklace is an anthology created in honour of grandmothers. Over 60 award-winning male and female professionals, and some gifted non-professionals, writers and poets of multiple racial and socio-economic backgrounds from across Canada, the United States and Ireland have donated gems to it. Joyous and wistful, hilarious and serious, the collection is too rich to be scanned all at once. It is divided into three units: About Grandmothers, Being A Grandmother, and Aging and Intergenerational Relationships. Appreciate it a few treasures at a time.

Pictured on the cover are Gillian Federico, Mary Anne K. Moran, Jean Ostrom, Kathleen Gibson, Dianna Robin Dennis, Jean Turnbull Elford, African Grandmother and grandchild from SLF resources, Judy Maddren’s Nana, Glynis Belec, Winona Baker, Linda Patchett, and Terri Elders.

A few of the authors not on the cover: Phil Callaway, L. June Stevenson, Kathe Rogers, Ann Ritter, Marcia Lee Laycock, Denis Taillefer, Judy Maddren, Sandy L. Hazell, Ruth Zaryski Jackson, C.G. Mordaunt, Ruth Smith Meyers, Matthew Reesor, Carolyn Wilker, and Bella Mahaya Carter.

Through Patricia Anne Elford (a member of the Petawawa Grannies), editor and compiler, ALL profits will go to Grandmothers to Grandmothers, a branch of the Stephen Lewis Foundation, http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/ , to assist the grandmothers of Africa. These women aged 40 to 80+ , have lost adult children to AIDS and AIDS-related illnesses and are raising their orphaned grandchildren alone under unbelievably impoverished circumstances.

The first book launch: Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Petawawa Library, Petawawa, Ontario from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.,

The second launch: Monday, February 22nd, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at The Bean House Café , Deep River, ON, followed by readings, signings, launches in Pembroke, Ottawa, Belleville (Greenley’s Bookstore, possibly February 27th), Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and other Southern Ontario communities. Plans are also being made for Grandmothers’ Necklace events in other provinces, in the USA and in Kenya.

Grandmothers’ Necklace Patricia Anne Elford, B.A., M.Div., Compiler and Editor
ISBN 978-1-5542-468-6 Essence pub., Epic imprint, 200 pp $20.00 Cdn, incl. taxes

Where to buy: various independent stores (e.g. Greenley’s Bookstore, 248 Front Street, Belleville, ON; Coates Laser Engraving, 3584 Petawawa Blvd., Petawawa, ON), on-line: 1) http://www.essencebookstore.com/ , or 2)  www.presbyterian.ca/bookroom/pcc/pcc.html , 3) The Church Bookroom http://bookmanager.com/churchb/ . More outlets to be announced.

Although the Stephen Lewis Foundation will benefit most from books bought at launches, readings and signings because no percentage is charged for handling, not everyone can get to these events and orders placed on-line will buy a rich read and still benefit the African grandmothers through the SLF.

Monitor the media to learn of other launches, reading nights and signings; opportunities to hear some of the first-class writers, new places to buy a copy or two of the book and help the grandmothers of Sub-Saharan Africa as they selflessly, determinedly, fight to meet the daily challenges.

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“According to organisers, Sub-Saharan Africa had an estimated 13 million children orphaned by AIDS in 2006; this number is expected to reach 18-20 million by 2010. Amidst the overwhelming needs, grandmothers have stepped up to take on the care of children left destitute and alone. With hardly any resources, the grandmothers of Africa are at the heart of the community response to the AIDS pandemic. In some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, between 40% and 60% of orphans live in grandparent-headed households; the vast majority of them are cared for by grandmothers. “

From the Communication Initiative Network

Poetry as Memoir

A few months ago I received an invitation from Patricia Elford to submit a piece to an anthology called Grandmothers’ Necklace. As it was to be published as a fundraiser for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Project of the Stephen Lewis’ Foundation, I was highly motivated to send something. My problem was: what to send? I could write about my experiences as a new grandmother but those feelings seemed too recent to write about. I had already written and published a short story in Wisdom of Old Souls about a woman who was like a grandmother to me. I never knew my paternal grandmother as she never emigrated from Ukraine and died when I was 6. My maternal grandmother or Baba had immigrated to Manitoba from Ukraine in 1911. We visited her once when I was about 18 months but I have no memory of her, and she died a few months later when I was two. How could I write about them?

I had interviewed my mother extensively trying to piece together my family history, so I had stories she had told me about her childhood and her parents. I decided to write a short poem based on a story she had told me about doing laundry on the farm under primitive conditions. The story tied into many feelings both she and her mother had about their lives. I called it Wash Day. After finishing one poem and feeling successful, I thought about my paternal grandmother and remembered an audiotape my sister had done with my father talking about his life. I listened to it again, especially the part where he talks about his mother then wrote a second poem about her called Knowing You. It too felt right so I sent both poems to Patricia, along with photos of my grandmothers and crossed my fingers.

On the 7th of July, almost 2 months later I was delighted to receive an email that both poems had been accepted.

What I learned from this experience was that memories, the basis of memoirs, can be expressed in many forms. Poetry is a great vehicle for short focused thoughts about a person, place or thing you remember from your past or, as in this case, a memory of someone based on stories you’ve heard. It’s all part of your past and all fuel for your memoir. Michael Ondaatje also knew this when he wrote his family memoir Running in the Family.