UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
A celebration of the literary achievements of Deirdre Kessler

A celebration of author Deirdre Kessler's contributions to the PEI literary community will take place on Thursday, March 20, at 7:00 pm in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall, UPEI. The evening will be co-hosted by Dr. Richard Lemm, UPEI professor and Island author, and Dr. Laurie Brinklow, coordinator of the Master of Arts in Island Studies program at UPEI. It will include short readings of Kessler's work by other Island writers, students, and friends.

Deirdre Kessler

Kessler has had a pronounced influence on the Island's culture and literary scene as an author, educator, and advocate for Lucy Maud Montgomery's writing. She is a former Poet Laureate of Prince Edward Island, a novelist, children's author, non-fiction writer, and occasional radio broadcaster. For many years, she has been a sessional professor with the UPEI Department of English, teaching children's literature, creative writing, and a course on L.M. Montgomery. She has supported other writers as a workshop facilitator, book editor, and teacher. She has also been involved in the L.M. Montgomery Institute from its early days and is on the editorial board of the Journal of L.M. Montgomery Studies.

As the author of more than two dozen books, Kessler offers readers a diverse range of worlds to immerse themselves in. In her latest book, Darwin's Hornpipe, a sailor accused of mutiny is thrown overboard near the Galapagos and must not only survive but go on to seek justice for his friend. Her brilliant memoir, Mother Country, examines what is home and family. In the Maritime classic children's book Lobster in My Pocket, a lonely girl meets a talking lobster. A cat sets out to see the whole wide world in Adventures of an Island Cat named Brupp. Her poetry collection Afternoon Horses is filled with a sense of wonder, the beauty of nature, and the joys and sorrows of family life. With such a deep range of work to celebrate, the literary event will have something for new and old fans alike.

All are welcome to attend this free event sponsored by the Bookmark, Charlottetown's locally owned, independent bookstore, and the UPEI Department of English. For more information, please contact Heather Doran at heather@bookmarkreads.ca or 902-566-4888.