November 5, 2003 Culture ¢ the other press © Mortfication Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival, Oct. 25 Amanda Aikman Culture Editor Working from a limited budget, okay an extremely limited budget, it is an annual challenge to select which Vancouver International Writers Festival (VIWE) events to attend. This year, however, it was a little bit easier. Not only because almost every- thing I wanted to go to was sold out by the time I actually got around to purchasing tickets, but also because one event in particular sparked my interest. This event was billed as Mortification. Mortification—now there’s a subject I can get behind. The event was a panel discussion revolving around Robin Robertson's book Mortification, which features 70 short accounts of embarrassing moments in the careers of international writers. Or as event moderator Noah Richler put it, “shitty experiences in writer's lives.” The panel for the event consisted of Robertson, Louise Welsh, A.L. Kennedy, and the man of the hour—Irvine Welsh. Welsh’s success with novels like Glue, Filth, and of course, Trainspotting, ensured that this VIWF event was sold out well in advance. _ The four panelists each took turns reading from their respective sections of the. book, with Robertson selecting a favourite excerpt to read as his own experiences were mercifully spared from the publication. Louise Welsh, author of The Cutting Room, got things started with a recollection of how she once criticized a creative writ- _ ing student for the “lack of visual description” in his work, only to have him point out to her that he had been blind since birth. Next up was the real treat of the day, A.L. Kennedy. An accomplished writer of short fiction, non-fiction, and journalism, Kennedy has also penned three novels and twice been listed among Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists. Professing that it is “better to claim that you are a war criminal fleeing justice or a rehabilitator of wasps” than to admit to being a writer in public, Kennedy unfurled a string of humbling _ reminiscences that had the audience cringing and laughing along with her in no time. From tales of disintegrating pants to being “urinated at” in France, Kennedy's impec- cable sense of timing and oh-so-British dry wit were a definite hit with the festival crowd. Following Kennedy wasn’t easy, but Irvine Welsh had no problem wooing the audi- ence once he took to the podium. According to Welsh, just the concept of being a writer is often a source of mortification. Greeting the audience with, “it’s sort of an embarrassing thing, making a living through spending time with people who dont exist,” the charismatic Scottish novelist launched into a series of equally amusing and humiliating remembrances. At one point, as Welsh was in the midst of his tales of debauchery—many including football and drug use which should come as no sur- prise to those familiar with his work—a festival volunteer had to come on stage and ask him not to slouch over the microphone. To the crowd’s delight he responded, “Stand up straight Welsh! Now there’ a fucking mortifying experience. This is a great event, no matter how much you fuck up, it’s all in the spirit of the day.” If you're like me and you happen to delight in the embarrassment of others, be sure to check out Mortification from Fourth Estate publishers. Other authors appearing in the anthology include Margaret Atwood, Norman Mailer, Rick Moody, and Roddy Doyle. e Rentals Costum 4x Kg #42 - 6th Street se ot New Westminster * <% tel: 604-524-0413 x* ‘ x Sede $c HH for all your party ideas: mascots...theme parties... corporate events...community events special occasions You are not alone The Students’ Union’s Pride Collective provides resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered students at the college. The Collective meets Thursdays at 4:30. All lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and allied students are welcome. ae Douglas Students’ Union Canadian Federation of Students Local 18 http://www.otherpress.ca e Page 17