Terri Bosner Wins Emerging Artist Award

Terri Bosner (centre) receiving the Emerging Artist Award. On her left is Sarah Simison and on her right is Amanda Kelly Farnel

Nick Murray

Local poet and comedian Terri Bosner was the big winner of the Saskatchewan Festival of Words' very first, and now to be annual, Performer's Cafe/Royal Bank of Canada Emerging Artist Award.

The award was presented to her by Sarah Simison, Executive Director at the Festival of Words, prior to Thursday's Performer's Cafe at Mitsu Sweet Cafe and event that was headlined by musician Victor McLean.

Here is how the awarding works. There are 10 Performer's Cafe's held each year and each one has a headlining artist; a handful of other artists also perform, in a structured open mic fashion; but it’s only the headlining acts who have the opportunity to win the award.

"I was the headliner in February" Bosner said. "The winner was chosen by audience vote and a jury from the Saskatchewan Festival of Words. I was the lucky winner" she added.

Her winning performance had her doing half a set of comedy and half a set of poetry.

The other candidates with the opportunity to win were Steve Nicholls, Project 104, Friend Friend, William John Stewart, Bernadette Wagner, Ethan Brentnell, Frederique Cyr Michaud, Elise Pallagi and Garret DeLaurier (who was actually the co-founder of this here little news outlet.)

Terri has been writing for most of her life, she told MJ Independent. In 2007 she published a book of poetry called Upside Down & Inside Out and she was a featured writer in Balanced Life Magazine for a couple of years. Bosner has also performed stand-up comedy at Yuk Yuks in downtown Vancouver before.

More recently, seven of her poems were published in From Darkness to Light, an anthology of works from the Moose Jaw Night Writers; a collective of writers, both published and aspiring, who meet regularly to fashion and critique their crafts.

She was awarded $1000 and a plaque.

"I am honoured and humbled and grateful" Bosner said, adding that she's already got plans for the winnings.

"I’ll spend the money on other writing pursuits like attending the Festival of Words next year, perhaps a writer’s retreat and other art filled things to inspire me."

You can find From Darkness to Light at Post Horizons Booksellers in Moose Jaw or through McNally Robinson online.

The next Performer's Cafe is October 25th at Mitsu. Drew Nicks is the headlining performer.