Fay Martin, a close colleague of the late David Pate – who authored a book about national anthems – has partnered with the Arts Council – Haliburton Highlands to bring Pate’s book to the County during an Oct. 10 event.
Martin said another Major of Fine Arts colleague, Helga Rausch, who is a 38-year veteran in the Canadian Armed Forces, will also read from her to-be-published book Leaders All: Women in the Armed Forces since WWII.
Martin said a discussion with the audience, “will explore what writers need to support their work, both at the writing and the marketing phase.
“Writing a book is hard work, but getting it out into the world to be read is even more difficult,” she said.
Pate wrote a book about national anthems, “which you wouldn’t think is a very interesting topic. But you’d be wrong: Pate, a long-term CBC Radio host in Halifax, applied his slightly bent research skills and acerbic wit to make the subject sing,” Martin said.
“In The Worst Songs in the World: the Terrible Truth about National Anthems, Pate says they lean tremendously toward being violent, sexist and religious. They wouldn’t exist if there weren’t wars and professional sports – and the Olympics.
“Singing together is useful, perhaps even necessary, to make a disparate population feel unified and focused on a common goal. Pate wishes this power might be reflected in less gory and divisive lyrics, but he finds some heart-warming examples of bad words being put to good use.”
She said Pate died, young and unexpectedly, before his book was published. His colleagues in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Non-Fiction program at University of King’s College, Halifax, have shouldered the burden of helping to market his book by hosting a series of launches across the country.
The event, co-sponsored by the Arts Council – Haliburton Highlands and the University of King’s College MFA program, will take place at the Dominion Hotel, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10. Martin said it is “pay what you wish.” light snacks provided, food and drink available at cost. Pre-registration via haliburtonarts. on.ca/events1
