Spider Women: A Tapestry of Creativity and Healing weaves together the wisdom of Canadian writers, artists, therapists, clients, academics, musicians, educators, and others. It includes stories, essays, poetry, original music, art, and photography by urban Canadian women from Victoria to St. John’s and rural women from Verigin, Saskatchewan to Kelowna, British Columbia. In a variety of forms, the contributors describe the ways they use their creativity to overcome adversity, achieve empowerment, and work toward developing a more just and caring society. The personal and political aspects of women’s lives are examined by women from diverse cultures, classes, and age groups.

Joan Turner is a social worker and massage therapist. She is editor of Living the Changes, co–editor of Perspectives on Women, and contributing author to Healing Voices. Her writing has appeared in Pottersfield Portfolio, Motherworker, Backtalk, and Feminist Bookstore News. She was Associate Professor, Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba, for almost 20 years, and chaplain of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg. She lives in Winnipeg. Carole Rose is a writer, teacher, and counsellor. She is published in CV2, Dandelion, Other Voices, Parchment, Prairie Fire, Quarry, The Wascana Review, Vintage '96, Whetstone, and Zygote. Her work has also appeared in anthologies: Consciousness Raising: Women’s Stories of Connection and Transformation, Voices and Echoes: Canadian Women’s Spirituality, and Miriam’s Well. Carol’s awards include the Henry Fuerstenberg Award for Poetry, co–winner in the Sandburg–Livesay poetry competition, and second prize in the Stephen Leacock International Poetry Competition. She was also twice nominated for the John Hirsch award for most promising Manitoba writer. Her collection of poetry is called Behind the Blue Gate. Carol lives in Winnipeg.

Joan Turner's profile page

Carol Rose won second prize in the Stephen Leacock Poetry competition in 1994 and was nominated in 1996 for the John Hirsch Award for the most promising Manitoba writer. She is a valued colleague of Anne Szumigalski, David Margoshes and other noted prairie authors. Rose has toured with Mennonite poet Di Brandt performing their dialogical work Occupied Territories: An Argument in Poetry. She is currently co-editing Spider Women: A Tapestry of Creativity and Healing with Joan Turner. Carol Rose lives in Winnipeg. Her first poetry collection is Behind the Blue Gate (Beach Holme, 1997), which was recently awarded the Henry Fuerstenberg Award for Poetry by the Jewish Book Awards Committee.

Carol Rose's profile page