Carmelita McGrath grew up listening to her mother's and grandmother's stories about their "times"-growing up, working in the fishery, "making do" during the 1930s in rural Newfoundland. As a first-generation writer coming out of a strong oral tradition, she has brought new life to their stories in The Boston Box, a picture book to be released soon by Tuckamore Books. Amidst a season of hard work and unfulfilled wishes, a young girl dreams of sailing her own ship and selling her fish to a handsome Spanish merchant. Dreams and imagination provide her with the real riches she needs to survive in hard times. The title's box, one of those care packages so many Newfoundlanders received from relatives in "the Boston states," is itself a magical object that feeds the family's imagination and sense of humour. The Boston Box is richly illustrated by Rochelle Baker. Watch for book launch announcements coming soon.

She's big. She's ugly. She's hairy. But Peg Bearskin is also a woman of strength, courage and heart. And this wonderful tale from Placentia Bay, originally adapted by Philip Dinn and Andy Jones for "Jack-Five-Oh," is now available as a picturebook featuring linocut illustrations by Elly Cohen. The story is associated with both Pius Power Sr. and Elizabeth Brewer (Dinn and Jones borrowed her version) and can be found unadapted in Halpert and Widdowson's two-volume Folktales of Newfoundland and in John Widdowson's Little Jack and other Newfoundland Folktales. Dinn and Jones's retelling is full of the kind of sly humour and grace that Peg demonstrates when she outwits a witch and finds husbands for her two beautiful sisters and for herself. But, as those who know Dinn and Jones's work might expect, the ending is not your typical folktale ending. Running the Goat, Books & Broadsides will be throwing a party to celebrate the publication of Peg Bearskin in early September. Watch for details!

Know of any good books that might be of interest to members of the Folk Arts Community? The editors of The Broadside would like to start making note of new publications that support the SJFAC's mandate to promote the Folk Arts in Newfoundland and Labrador. Please send your suggestions to The Broadside at the St. John's Folks Arts Council office.

Vinland Music Camp at Killdevil Camp, Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland
August 10-16, 2003

Music and nature combine for an unforgettable experience at the Vinland Music Camp in beautiful Gros Morne National Park. This is a great opportunity for musicians of all ages (10 years and up) to improve skills, share songs and tunes, learn folk dancing, and have lots of fun playing music together in a beautiful setting. Children under 13 years must be accompanied by an adult.

Vinland Music Camp is an opportunity for musicians to study and perform music with experienced professionals in the field. Students will develop performance skills, learn the history of Newfoundland music, and various approaches to interpreting it. Classroom teachers, both musically trained and otherwise, are welcome to attend. The program includes daily classes, workshops, and performances. These will consist of instrumental and vocal techniques, music history, daily staff recitals, folk dancing, and group performing. There will also be a student concert on the final evening of the camp, combining students and instructors. In addition, students will have time each day to take part in supervised activities such as hiking, swimming, canoeing, and many other activities. There will also be nightly camp-fire sing-alongs.

The principal instruments of instruction will be fiddle, button accordion, mandolin, tin whistle, and guitar - although students are welcome to bring other instruments as well. There will also be instruction in traditional singing and workshops in song-writing, folk dancing, and harp.

The principal instructors will be Jean Hewson (voice and guitar accompaniment) Christina Smith (fiddle and cello), Daniel Payne (accordion, flute, tin whistle) and Eric West (solo guitar and composition). Other instructors will also be available to give workshops in harp, mandolin, bodhran, storytelling, songwriting and folk dancing.

Tuition for the six - day camp is $375 ($350 for full time students of any age) including all meals and accommodation (there will be a 15% reduction off the total fee for members of the same family). Students who have difficulty affording the cost are encouraged to apply to the Folk Arts Youth Training Initiative, sponsored by the St. John's Folk Arts Council. Contact them for more information at: (709) 576-8508.

For more information visit the Vinland Music web site: www.vinland.ca or contact: Eric West phone : (709) 670-3377, e-mail: vinlandmusic@nf.sympatico.ca