eT (TTA TIN A Y A tall tale that’s like life, only taller Y Shelf Indulgence: Explosions, amputations, and excellent mischief Seen something worth sharing? Contact: Cheryl Minns, Arts Editor Marts@theotherpress.ca (¥ The unannounced album’ And more! www.theotherpress.ca Pearls of wisdom, past and present » Celebrating creative writing talent at Douglas College Cheryl Minns Arts Editor Marts @theotherpress.ca very year, the Douglas College creative writing department releases the newest edition of the student anthology Pearls. Filled with students’ non-fiction, poetry, fiction, and scripts, each edition offers something new that represents the variety of creative writing at the college. This year, Pearls 34 will be released on March 27 at the anthology’s launch event, featuring readings from eight of: College creative writing student : and music graduate, will be : reading her personal non-fiction : : story “Symphonic Repose” at : the Pearls 34 launch event, a : story about her choosing the : last classical music piece for her the book’s contributors. Writer Carleigh Baker, a former Douglas College creative writing student, had her poetry and script published in Pearls 30 and a fiction story in Pearls : 31. At the 20n Pearls event, she : read her poem, “Sailor Jerry, : Young Love, Saint Mary,’ and : won the Maurice Hodgson : Award for Creative Writing. “Reading at the launch was wonderful and exciting, : buta real challenge. I was : nervous—really, really nervous,” : Baker wrote to the Other : Press, reflecting on her Pearls : experience. “But after years of : readings, I can guarantee that : it does get better. I love reading : now, and I find it very satisfying : to share stories with a live : audience.” Nina Falcos, a Douglas : ailing grandmother to hear. : “I think ‘Symphonic Repose’ : : speaks for itself. It was one : where my instructor wrote at : the bottom of it, ‘Do not touch : this. Do not change a word. I : dug deep for that one. It’s very : personal,” she said to the Other : Press. The creative writing : department accepted three : of Falcos’ works for Pearls 34: : “Symphonic Repose,” a poem : titled “Bjossa,” and a fiction : story titled “Table 16.” However, : due to the book’s space : limitations, only “Bjossa” and : one of the longer works would : fit. Falcos decided to include : “Symphonic Repose” in Pearls 34, but plans to submit “Table : 16”—an emotional story about : two journalists of different : lifestyles about to sign divorce : papers—to other publications. Pearls gives creative writing : : students to attend Pearls events, : to support friends whose work : has been featured in the book, : or to learn more about the craft : of creative writing. students the opportunity to : have their work published and : take the first steps towards : establishing a writing career. It : also shows students the skill- : level they need to achieve in : order to excel in the writing : field. “ ? In class, we're always getting Pearls examples from : people who are now established : writers,’ Falcos said. Baker is one such writer : who has become successful after : being published in Pearls. “My time at Douglas built the foundation I depend : on today,” she wrote. “My : professors were gentle enough : to keep my delicate ego intact : as I learned to take risks and : express myself, but firm enough : : to keep me on track, learning : and growing.” Photo by Cheryl Minns Falcos and Baker encourage “I’m really looking forward to seeing what other people : have contributed. To see : someone read it and be proud : of it and hear it from their own : voice is going to be really neat,’ : Falcos said. “Writers especially need to go because it is so inspiring : to hear people read,” Baker : wrote. “Bring a journal in case : you need to scribble down : something in between sets.” The Pearls 34 launch event will take place on March 27 in : the Studio Theatre on the fourth floor of the Douglas College : New Westminster campus. Loss of a legend » ‘Simpsons’ co-creator Sam Simon dies at 59 Alex Stanton Staff Writer Sa Simon, 59, a prolific television producer, director, writer, philanthropist, and animal rights activist, passed away on March 8, after a three-year battle with cancer. He was diagnosed as terminally ill in 2012 and given three to six months to live. He proved those estimates wrong and showed the world how much one person can truly give back to society. Simon began his long and eventful career in the late 1970s as a writer for Filmation Studios’ cartoons and on the sitcom classic Taxi, which oA = fa i AA : was developed in part by his : future partner in creating The : Simpsons, James L. Brooks. : At only 25, Simon was named : show runner for the first season : : of Taxi, before becoming a writer for Cheers, among other Sam Simon : programs. These gigs led to an : executive producer position : on The Tracey Ullman Show, which is where the Simpson : family made its debut in a : series of shorts. In 1989, the show was : picked up as a half-hour : animated sitcom done by : Simon, Brooks, and Matt : Groening. Although Simon : only co-wrote nine episodes of : the show during the early ‘gos, : his resumé consists of classic, : top-notch Simpsons episodes, : such as “The Telltale Head.” He was also described by : ex-Simpsons writer Ken Levine Do : cs : as “the real creative force mage trom ayarea.com + behind The Simpsons,’ working : : in tandem with cartoonist : Groening to mould the tone : and overall sense of humour : while the series was in its : formative years. Later in the ‘gos, Simon : found himself working on : other comedies, such as The : Drew Carey Show. After leaving the writing : staff of The Simpsons, Simon : went on to live the life of a : modern day renaissance man. : He played Texas Hold’em in : the World Series of Poker : regularly. He managed boxer : Lamon Brewster, bringing : him to the 2004 World Boxing : Organization Heavyweight : Championships. He was also a massive supporter of animal : rights and organizations such : as PETA. In 2014, Simon donated : most of his estate, about : $100-million, to different : charities for a wide variety of : causes.