inspired

by real events

From page 24

‘tenders. If she were doing the

~ choosing, Julie Johnston’s Adam

and Even and Pinch Me would eas-

"ily come out on top.

“It's just beautifully written,”

Ellis says of Johnston’s book on the

same-day the GGs were announced.

.- (At this point she had not yet

-, learned who had been chosen the

'. Winner.) As it turned out, she at
least'had the satisfaction of seeing
her pick of the finalists chosen.

‘Like Pick-Up’ Sticks, Ellis’ latest 7

book ‘was inspired by real life

“ events — nota personal experience ™-

(‘P'm not the sort of writer who sits
up at night and digs deep into my
psyche':), but by.a Morningside
‘program wbout children who had :
found their birthmothers.
It was a story that had lots of
complicated relationships,” she says
in between sips of tea. “They. talked
to:daughters, sons, mothers, but
somehow, they didn’t mention sib~
ings: That was the part that fasci-
hated me — what would happen if
all of a sudden you found ( out you’

Out of the Blue ceiitres ‘on the’

trials of Megan who out of the blue.

learns'she has a half-sister. The

news of her new. sibling, whom her’:

mother as a teenager gave up for
adoption, hits Megan like a bomb.
en the grown-up daughter

comes to take her place in the fami-:

ly we watch as Megan struggles
‘through feclings of anger, resent-
ment, and hostility. ‘ :
Ellis may not be. writing from’ ;
first-hand experience but she has. :

feels most children can relate to.
“When I was a kid [| went through a
stage when I thought I was adopt-;

ed, 'think a lot of kids experience

this.” a
Did winning the most presti-
" gious prize in Canadian literature

make writing Out of the Blue more:

* difficult? No, says Ellis, If there

Was any pressure, it was from‘:

_ Wanting to write a better book.

On the other hand, she says she

. will never become a full-time

‘writer because “life would become °
too solitary,” and she needs the

stimulation of the outside world for °
herself and as a source of Merary
material.

-. Now Ellis is contemplating a
sequel to Out of the Blue, but
Megan isn’t the only one who is

growing up. “I might write for
adults some day. I have a couple of
short stories I take out of the file,’

. rework, and put back.
(Interestingly, they all involve chil-
dren or people's childhoods.) :

_ Writing for adults in some ways |
seems freer — I could do more

experimental things. But who

’ knows if I can?.] have to try it to.

find out.”
“Until she, embarks on that future °
-course Ellis ‘says she’s content'with =:
her current audience. “I like writing
for children because it taps into the
‘optimistic part of me, Which isn't
to say that all characters have to be
‘optimistic, but mine are. I tend to
look for hopeful solutions, recon-
ciliations between people, change.
And, most importantly, I really do
‘believe that all the important things

~ happen to you by the time you're

13.”

= tonite tei 7
_ Dee. 70 Dev 19° 7

“Adiiission by Food Bank®
"Donation would be appreciated

“RISTORANTE.

oy Serving Home Style Italian Cuisine .

Scrumptious’ pasta, fabulous veal, delicious
chicken fish & meat dishes.

. Saturday Dec. 10th « Monday D Dec. 12th
| Tuesday Dec. 13th Only

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sto powers t6.00 with a 2 Cyl. Extras Excluded.
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Is the Christmas Season starting to get to you? Take a little time |.
out for yourself. Relax and treat yourself to a new pair of |
glasses or contact lenses without blowing your whole budget. |
-At the same time why not pick up ‘some gift certificates,
sunglasses and other accessories for family and friends. | o

*Serengeti «Dinner at the ST
wit Sunglasses Fish House Fi R FREE’
wn ASet of Luggage _ Pear! Beads
oe -#Novelty Watches ~xBinoculars.._.

_ Seasonal 1 Closing:
_ December 16, 1994 - March, 1995

“Ever volte at Furry Creek Golf and Country Club
would like to thank the golfers, diners and visitors
who helped make. our 1994 season one to _
remember.

With the arrival of winter, and people’s thoughts :
turning to either the ski slopes or the great indoors, ©
Furry Creek Golf and Country Club will be closing.
its facilities for the season, ¢ effective December 16..

‘We look forward to welcoming you back during our

early spring opening, scheduled for March, 1995,

Our best wishes during the Holiday Season. See
‘you in the spring.”

John Kearns
General Manager"

LOE ee TE See