I am thrilled to be writing the new Book Beat for L.A. Beat. I am new to Lethbridge but not new to Southern Alberta or the writing world. I am a professional freelance writer and am the past publisher of the gone and often-missed Calgary Straight Arts & Entertainment Weekly. I write freelance features for magazine and newspapers, profiles, cover features, reviews and more. I am a busy author with many publications in the works and have recently released a book of poetry, First New Forbidden True.
I am also the initiator of the newly formed Lethbridge Writers’ Group and welcome all writers of all levels to join. I look forward to sharing the book news in southern Alberta, featuring local author profiles, book reviews and sharing the Lethbridge writing news and the literary scoop on the street.
The downtown Chapters store features many local author stickers on their books, an Alberta section and a notice board in the entrance with upcoming events. Jeanie Baczuk, assistant manager, invites everyone to attend two Saturday author events in March.

On March 6 author Darren Neuberger encourages everyone touched by cancer in his book Lets Talk About It, and on March 13 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. dynamic author Patricia Morgan encourages women to go From Woe to Wow.
On the coffee-table book front the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery offers up a recent publication, Land Matters, following a series of exhibitions of the same name challenging you to connect your identity and your environment. For details on the many art books available through the University Gallery visit their listings at http://www.uleth.ca/artgallery/?page_id=1165
The Lethbridge Historical Society focuses on publishing their current titles including The Lethbridge Viaduct and Alberta’s 40th Parallel: A Natural and Historical Journey by Johan Dormaar. Details on these and their other publications can be found at http://www.albertahistory.org/hsa/lethbridge/about-lhs.
The city offers many publications and magazines that, along with Alberta books, share stories of the community. Many local blogs on the net also bring us a literary insight through short stories and tales of the day-to-day in Lethbridge. Although bloggers don’t always aspire to literary heights, book publishing, or even consider themselves authors, many are true storytellers.
One such local blog brings a raw reality-style of telling-tales on the L.A. streets when the city sleeps. Not an endorsement by any means as this blog can often be as harsh as the night life but an interesting narrative snapshot from the eyes of an all night cab driver in Lethbridge – check out http://canadiantaxi.blogspot.com/
Michelle Greysen welcomes all of your comments and suggestions for future Book Beat topics and can be reached through her website at http://GreysenInk.com.

— By Michelle Greysen, special to L.A. Beat

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