Matthew Farfan

The third edition of Townshippers’ Association’s popular literary and artistic journal, Taproot, was officially launched at La Brise Restaurant in Magog last Friday. A large crowd was on hand to catch a glimpse of the new volume, and to hear readings by contributors to the book, which features work by English-speaking authors, poets, artists, and photographers from all across the Eastern Townships.

Readers at the event included, among others, former Stanstead Journal editor Ross Murray who offered “a humorous look at the writer” and Catherine Charpentier-Coté who recited her poem “Like Gravity”. Music was provided by Julia Rohan, who performed a musical selection from her CD “Love and Fear”; the women of Choromondo, who performed a selection of world-music; and singer-guitarist Peter Mendietta, who played his song “Memphré”.

The 111-page soft-cover book features contributions from thirty-seven talented Eastern Townshippers. Each of the pieces featured was selected by a jury. A team of editors led by Brenda Hartwell laboured away on Taproot III for several months before it went to press. Hartwell was assisted by co-editors Carolyn Rowell and Ann Scowcroft, and by Josiane Caillet and Richard Goldfinch, who helped select the photographs and artwork. The illustration chosen for the front cover (left) is the work of Bernice Sorge, a printmaker of international repute.

Interviewed after the launch, Hartwell summarized the philosophy behind the book. "English-speakers in this region have deep roots," she said, "so Taproot is an apt metaphor for our community. A taproot is a main root, growing almost vertically downward, from which small branch roots spread, and it is our hope that our literary anthology showcasing local writers and artists will help to nourish the artist life of our community.  

Hartwell stressed that the book contains "an interesting mix of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, photos and artwork." Works were selected, she said, "according to literary and artistic merit, and the variety should please a wide readership. Taproot III will take you on a journey that is sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, sometimes artsy, sometimes folksy—but always interesting."

Besides Bernice Sorge, the following contributors appear in Taproot III:

Louse Abbott; Munira Judith Avinger; Jori Baldwin; Gladys Mackey Beattie; Tanya Bellehumeur-Allatt; Marjorie Bruhmuller; Catherine Charpentier-Coté; Katharine S. Childs; Philippe Custeau; Tony De Melo; Pamela Dillon; Sarah Dowling; Monique Éthier-Yates; Emily Anne Evans; Matthew Farfan; Leah Fitzgerald; Ellen Goldfinch; Frank Harding; Sarah Henderson; Anne Holloway; Jerome C. Krause; Rose Marie Le Breton; Colin McGregor; Kathleen McHale; Ross Murray; Denis Palmer; Robert Paulette; Trisha Pope; Uta Regoli; Julia Rohan; Lynn Ross; Allan Rowell; N.O. Skedaddler; Diana Harding Tucker; Barbara Verity; and Michel-Antoine Xhignesse.

Taproot III : Poetry, Prose and Images from the Eastern Townships, is available for $10.00 at the Townshippers' Association offices in Lennoxville and Cowansville. Supplies are limited. For more information, call (819) 566-5717.