David W. McFadden and Merlin Homer
At the June 13 Griffin gala, in the company of his wife, Merlin Homer, his daughter Jennifer, his brother Jack, and his grandson Benny, plus a bunch of really famous people, Dave accepted his $65,000 cheque from prize founder Scott Griffin. As soon as he got back to his table, he phoned his 99-year-old dad, William, to tell him the news.
David was previously shortlisted for the Griffin for 2008’s Why Are You So Sad? Selected Poems of David W. McFadden (Insomniac Press). He has also been shortlisted three times for the Governor General’s Award for Poetry. With all that experience being a bridesmaid, he didn’t have his hopes up this time around, and was clearly stunned — and beautifully jubilant — when he took the stage to accept his prize.
David is also the author of the Mansfield Press titles Be Calm, Honey (a GG finalist) and, most recently, Mother Died Last Summer.
Among those on their feet for a rousing, hoot-filled standing ovation on Thursday night were Mansfield Press publisher/editor Denis De Klerck and editor Stuart Ross, under whose “a stuart ross book” imprint What’s the Score? was published.
Even since the 1970s, Dave has been one of Canada’s most beloved poets, and now he’s received the kind of recognition that will substantially broaden his already-devoted audience.
Congratulations, Dave.
