Reading Mary Billy

Squamish Arts Council and Squamish Writers Group help launch Mary Billy’s third collection of poems

An enthusiastic group of poetry buffs and Mary Billy admirers gathered at Gelato Carina for the recent launch of her third collection of poems, She is Carved in Stone. In addition to the expected author reading, the evening took on a more participatory approach with friends from the Squamish Writers Group choosing some of their favorite poems from the collection to read also. This added variety to the presentation and many of the readers shared their insights and affinity for the works they chose to present.

“It’s quite a thrill for me to hear other people read my poetry, especially men,” Billy remarked. Billy’s work has a strong feminist voice and can be both emotional and fearless in its expression of the injustices suffered by women.

The readings were very warmly received and many in the audience were carefully following along from their own copy of She is Carved in Stone. In a spontaneous gesture towards the end of the evening, Jude Goodwin of the Squamish Writers Group invited members of the audience to come forward to the microphone and read a poem if they so wished. Three people stepped up to the microphone to read, each one expressing their love of poetry and their admiration for Mary Billy’s work.

Gelato Carina proved to be a very fitting place for the event with its intimate yet easy going atmosphere. Food and beverages for the event were generously sponsored by SAC.

Excerpted from the Squamish Arts Council Fall Newsletter, September 2007