The Estevan Public Library will be the scene of two public readings by authors in September.
Todd Devonshire will be reading from his small town hockey book, Rink Burgers on Saturday, Sept. 7 and Jean Freeman will read from her non-fiction book, Fists Upon a Star: A Memoir of Love, Theatre and Escape from McCarthyism. She will also be promoting her two children's books at the reading, which will be held Sunday, Sept. 21.
Devonshire and Freeman will also be available to chat with the public and sign copies of their books following the formal portion of the evening's schedule.
Devonshire is a native of Big River, Sask., and a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan with degrees in education and kinesiology, but the inspiration for his novel came during his years of travelling trains and subways through Tokyo. When he returned to Saskatchewan he finished the novel about his family's experience with small town hockey.
Rink Burgers has been called a "love affair with hockey rinks in small towns, delicious rink burgers and moments of misery and exhilaration that fans and players share. The story of a father and son is in the heart of the novel."
"The humour is laugh-out-loud hilarious and the imagery is powerful the chill of a prairie winter the skate blade's scrape the onions frying; we can taste the rink burgers," said fellow author Wes Funk.
Rink Burgers captures the familiar scenes Canadians are so accustomed to, like time spent at the local rink, cheering sons, daughters, friends, nieces, nephews and other family members, as they clasp coffee cups between cold hands or steal fries from a neighbour's basket.
When Freeman arrives at the library on Sept. 21, she'll be able to recount her multi-layered career as an actress, writer and story teller. She'll also be able to talk about her occasional appearances on the hit CTV series Corner Gas, playing the role of the mother of Dog River's mayor.
Fists Upon a Star, is a collaborative work with the late American theatre director Florence James and Freeman's memoirs that included fleeing the United States to Saskatchewan after a devastating experience with McCarthyism. It is her first foray into adult literature with her two previous works being children's stories.
Fists Upon a Star is a memoir of a woman who believed theatre "could offer both an uplifting artistic experience and the tools to advance community development."
Freeman worked closely with James before her death so that a message on creativity, freedom and "fascistic strain of American politics that continues today," would not be in vain.
Any further information regarding these readings may be obtained by contacting Krista at the public library at 306-636-1621.
