Defining love is a complicated thing - but three Charles Taylor finalists are up to the task

This Saturday Night at IFOA - the Topic is Love!

James Chatto

Over the past six years I have escorted all of the shortlisted authors for the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction to media interviews. History. Travel. Murder. Biography. Revolution. Time. Family. Art. Canada's top non-fiction authors have explored it all in their highly respected books.
Interviews are easy when the book topics are fact based. straight ahead questions lead to straight ahead answers. When it comes to love it is all a bit different. Love is not definable, at least not to most writers.
This weekend, three experts are going to give it their best. James Chatto. Elizabeth Abbott and John Terpestra.

James Chatto is an articulate writer who made a name for himself in the pages of Toronto Life where he wrote about wine and dining for years. I met him when his book Greek for Love, was nominated for the Charles Taylor Prize. It is a book about love, love between James and his wife as they escape from the hustle and bustle of Toronto in the sixties and seventies, and move to rural Greece. It is also the story of love and sorrow as their young son slowly dies from illness in what should have been their home in Eden.
Elizabeth Abbott was nominated for her book Sugar, which has little to do with love beyond issues of greed and sugar corporation's love of money. However, Linda Crane and myself assisted her with the promotion of her next book A History of Marriage. In this GG nominated book Abbott takes a clinical view towards love, especially when it involves marriage. Her History of Marriage points out that in the not to distant past love had very little to do with marriage at all.
John Terpestra, a Hamilton based poet talks about many types of love - the love he has for his wife and the love that three dying brothers (his wife's nephews)as they come to grips with death in his nominated book The Boys, or, Waiting For the Electrician's Daughter.
I sent out a Canadian News Wire release about the evening, with CBC host Mary Ito. I have printed it below because it gives the nuts and bolts of the evening. If you are media please drop me a note if you wish to cover this unique Idea City type discussion about Love.


Charles Taylor Prize Celebrates Love at IFOA
TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2011 /CNW/ -

Words of Love
Featuring Prize finalists from the past ten years: Elizabeth Abbott, James Chatto & John Terpstra. Moderator: CBC Fresh Air host Mary Ito

WHAT:

Round Table discussion about "love" with past nominees for
The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction
at International Festival Of Authors (IFOA)
Regular: $18. Members: $15. Students/Youth: FREE. Purchase tickets at the door or at:
http://www.readings.org/?q=ifoa/charles_taylor_prize_words_of_love
WHEN:
Saturday, October 22, 2011
5pm to 6pm
WHERE:
Toronto's Harbourfront Centre
York Quay - Lakeside Terrace
WHO: * Elizabeth Abbott is a writer and historian. Dr. Abbott's latest book is A History of Marriage, nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award; and A History of Celibacy, which won a Governor General's Award for Translation in 2002. She received a nomination for the Charles Taylor Prize in 2009 for her book Sugar: A Bittersweet History
* James Chatto is an award-winning food, wine and travel writer whose work has appeared in leading magazines and newspapers throughout Canada, England and the United States. His book The Greek for Love was nominated for the 2006 Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction.
* John Terpstra is a Hamilton based author and poet. His poetry book Disarmament, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Literary Award for Poetry. His book The Boys, or, Waiting For the Electrician's Daughter, was shortlisted for the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction in 2006.
The moderator is CBC Fresh Air host Mary Ito.
WHY: The Charles Taylor Prize is the country's most prestigious literary non-fiction award. Since 2000, the Prize has been a major driving force behind the recognition and growth of Canadian non-fiction.
At the annual International Festival Of Authors, The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction presents a conversation on writing about the elusive, fraught and romantic world of love with authors Elizabeth Abbott, James Chatto and John Terpstra. The CBC's Mary Ito moderates. This event is part of CBC Day, where Canada's national broadcaster, the CBC, lends members of its radio and television team to host, moderate or interview at Festival events.
The Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction is presented by the Charles Taylor Foundation with the support of its partners: Ben McNally Books, CNW Group, Event Source, Indigo Books and Music, Le Meridien King Edward Hotel, Quill & Quire, The Globe and Mail, and Windfields Farm.
For more information: www.thecharlestaylorprize.ca

For further information:
Media are requested to confirm their attendance with Stephen Weir & Associates:



Stephen Weir: 416-489-5868 cell: 416-801-3101 stephen@stephenweir.com
Linda Crane: 905-257-6033 cell: 416-727-0112 cranepr@cogeco.ca