Sheila Heti - Author and Maverick

There are many well known Canadian authors that use their fame to create television shows or robot hand to autograph books around the world without leaving her house... But then there are authors that simply strive for originality without any regard for glory. Sheila Heti maybe best known for writing the celebrated novel Ticknor and the acclaimed story collection The Middle Stories. Her work has been published in The Believer, The New Yorker, Geist, Esquire, Brick and more. But I believe she should be best recognized for created the "Trampoline Lecture Series".

The Trampoline Lecture series is something that makes us D.I.Y kids proud. The series was created by Heti and hosted by Misha Glouberman. These shows feature three lecturers speaking on subjects they're not experts on, in addition to readings and other activities. The New Yorker praised the series for "celebrating eccentricity and do-it-yourself inventiveness." Lecture topics range from wacky things like "Female poisoners of 18th century France", "Gossip is worse than pork" to less wacky subjects like "Hasidic speed dating" and "Not being naked". Okay... well they're all kinda wacky. Heti and Glouberman started the series in 2001 in Toronto and have sold out every show since.

Early this year, Heti started the Metaphysical Poll, where readers upload dreams they've had on Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain. It's apparently the first and only metaphysical poll of the three former candidates in the U. S. Presidential election. Speaking of Presidental elections, Heti can compete with Sarah Palin and John McCain to see who's a real maverick. Heti received a citation from the City of Toronto in 2006. It was awarded to 12 "cultural mavericks who, through artistic promise, achievement or vision, have enriched the cultural life of this city now and for future generations."

Heti will be in town speaking at two events, first at SFU Harbour Centre on Monday November 9. The second event is the next day at the Memory Festival along side Haida Manga inventor Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, and other artists Faith Moosang, Christopher Grabowski and Marcus Youseff.

Monday, November 10, 7 p.m.
SFU Harbour Centre
Segal Centre, Room #1400
515 West Hastings Street
Free admission

Memory Festival is a free-floating series of public events that focus on public and private memory. The events are improvised and open-ended and will unfold in different venues around the city throughout 2008, the year of British Columbia's sesquicentennial.

Tuesday, November 11, 1-5 p.m.
Listel Hotel
1300 Robson Street
Impressionist Gallery

Photo credit: Lee Towndrow