Join Claire Ross Dunn, author of At Last Count, and Kirk Dunn, textile artist and actor, for an afternoon of lively conversation on creative partnership at Queen Books with special guest Julia Zarankin, author of Field Notes From an Unintentional Birder.
This talk will give insight about Claire’s writing experience, and the ways she consulted with ornithologists and birding experts in the Amherst Island area to narrow down her choice of bird to feature in At Last Count: the Henslow’s Sparrow. Attendees can expect to learn about Kirk’s creation of the Henslow’s Sparrow pillow (below), and the technique he calls “painting on the needle”, which combines colours on the fly.
The Henslow’s Sparrow Pillow
My wife and the love of my life (handy how that worked out), Claire, recently published her first novel, At Last Count. It took her 15 years to write. As someone who took 15 years to knit his own project (check out The Knitting Pilgrim), I completely understand.
At Last Count features a birdwatcher who depends on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in her attempts to control the uncontrollable. This pillow is a rendering of an image of a Henslow’s Sparrow—a bird rarely seen on Amherst Island, Ontario, where most of the narrative takes place—and uses yarn from Topsy Farms, located on the West End or “Head” of the island. I love the natural, earthy tones the doubling of Topsy fingering weight yarns provides. In the book, the Henslow’s Sparrow is a symbol of hope, survival, and a better world to come. This one’s for Claire. [Source: www.kirkdunn.com]
About Claire
Claire Ross Dunn is a Toronto-based TV writer who has worked on Degrassi and Little Mosque on the Prairie and has written several rom-com movies for streaming. Her in-laws lived on Amherst Island, Ontario, where the book is set, and she is still closely tied to its wonderful community.
About Invisible
Invisible Publishing is a small, scrappy, and seriously good producer of contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with an emphasis on Canadian authors.
As a not-for-profit publisher, we are committed to publishing diverse voices and stories in beautifully designed and affordable editions. At heart, we are makers: we work hard on every book we publish to ensure the author’s vision is fully realized, and to help them reach as many readers as possible.
