Autorentext
WAUBGESHIG RICE grew up in Wasauksing First Nation on Georgian Bay and now lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons. He is the author of the short story collection Midnight Sweatlodge and the novels Legacy, Moon of the Crusted Snow, Moon of the Turning Leaves, and Early Bird. He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his news media career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host. He left full-time journalism in 2020 to focus on his literary career. He also holds an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Nipissing University, a diploma in Anishnaabemowin and Program Development from Georgian College, and a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Klappentext

From the #1 bestselling author of Moon of the Turning Leaves comes a funny and heartfelt story of community, family and tradition set over the course of one day at Miskwaawaakong First Nation.

On a cold morning less than two weeks away from Christmas, Dottie frets over how she’s going to afford gifts for all eight of her grandchildren. She’s fantasizing about winning the big one at the Red Cedar Bingo Palace when she hears on the rez’s radio station that the beloved bingo hall is closing after tonight. Dottie worries about what the loss might mean for their community, including her dear friend Frankie, the bingo hall’s long-time MC, who found purpose in the work following a low point in his life.

Later that same day at Dottie’s granddaughter Waase’s baby shower, rumours and theories swirl about what the hall will become and whose pockets are being lined with the impending redevelopment of the land where the Red Cedar Bingo Palace sits. Some question the credibility of the source and wonder whether the bingo hall is truly closing. Meanwhile, Waase and her cousin Dakota notice their grandmothers, Dottie and Kittie, are yet again avoiding each other at the shower, and the cousins hatch a plan to end their feud for the sake of their family—and just in time for the birth of Waase’s baby.

As speculation and tension spread throughout the rez and Frankie becomes inundated with messages demanding an explanation, a blizzard begins brewing. With the largest crowd the hall has seen in years all piled in for the big holiday jackpot, a misunderstanding between snowplow drivers—one of whom has a life-changing question to pose to his girlfriend tonight—leads them far from where they’re needed . . .

Warm and endearing, Early Bird is an intimate and amusing novel showcasing an eclectic cast of characters in a modern First Nation and exploring the lighter side of life on the rez.