Progressions presents another batch of erudite and entertaining essays on a variety of topics covering Saskatchewan's literary development, as well as tributes to some of the major con- tributors to that history, and a pictorial glimpse into the past. Writers stopped using typewriters, and even moved beyond the Kaypro computer box for their compositions.The Saskatchewan School of the Arts was shut down, ending the Fort San writing experience. But the Sage Hill Writing Experience quicklyrose to replace it. Saskatchewan literary presses really found their feet and published important and lasting books.A wave of new writers joined the founders of the province's literary tradition. Responding to this growth in the community, the Saskatchewan Book Awards, and the Saskatchewan Festival of Words in Moose Jaw, came into being. The Saskatchewan writing community stormed out of the 20th Century in a frenzy of creativity and accomplishment. Essay contributors to Volume 2 include Dave Margoshes, Jeanette Lynes,ArithaVan Herk,Alison Calder and seven more.The eleven essays include such topics as “To House or House Not: The New Saskatchewan Women Poets?, “Contemporary Nature Writing in Saskatchewan?, “Fort San/Sage Hill” and “Brave and Foolish Nonconformists?. In addition, literary tributes are offered for: Caroline Heath, Pat Krause, Martha Blum and Max Braithwaite.

David Carpenter spent his first twenty-three years in Edmonton, working during the summers as a car hop, a driver for Brewster Rocky Mountain Grayline, a fish stocker, a trail guide, and a folksinger. He read French and German at the University of Alberta to indifferent effect. He graduated and taught high school in Edmonton until 1965, then migrated south to do an M.A. in English at the University of Oregon. He returned to Canada in 1967 and once again taught school until the summer of 1969, when he enrolled for his Ph. D. at the University of Alberta.

Between 1985 and 1988 Carpenter published a series of novellas and long stories -- Jokes for the Apocalypse, Jewels and God's Bedfellows. Jokes for the Apocalypse was runner up for the Gerald Lampert Award, and his novella The Ketzer won first prize in the Descant Novella Contest.

In 1997 Carpenter turned to writing full-time. A first novel, Banjo Lessons was published in 1997 and won the City of Edmonton Book Prize. During the early nineties he also finished the last of his personal and literary essays which make up Writing Home, his first collection of nonfiction. The essays explore his engagements with such writers as Richard Ford, the French writer/scientist Georges Bugnet, and the late Raymond Carver. Several of these pieces won prizes for literary journalism and for humour in the Western Magazine Awards. One of these essays was featured on CBC Radio's `Ideas`. He brought out a second book of essays about life around home, a month-by-month salute to the seasons entitled Courting Saskatchewan. It won the Saskatchewan Book Award for nonfiction.

Throughout the years he has always been a passionate outdoorsman and environmentalist. This abiding love of lakes, trails, streams and campsites translates into city life in Saskatoon as well, where he lives with his wife, artist Honor Kever, and their son Will.

David Carpenter's profile page