Rough Ground Revisited [Paperback]

COVERING ROUGH GROUND, Kate Braid's first book, was published in 1991 and awarded the Pat Lowther Award for Best Book of Poetry by a Canadian Woman. Since then Kate has written extensively in prose, poetry and on CBC Radio about her and other women's experiences in the construction trades. Her work has been highly praised by women in almost every line of male-dominated work including lawyers, accountants and engineers, and she is in wide demand as a speaker and writer on the subject of women in non-traditional work. After publishing her memoir, JOURNEYWOMAN: SWINGING A HAMMER IN A MAN'S WORLD, in 2012, it seemed appropriate to return to the first poems with the release of a second edition, ROUGH GROUND REVISITED. In this new edition, some of the original poems have been replaced with new ones that explore-in slightly more gritty fashion but still with humour, compassion and a wise eye-her experiences and the impact of that crucial time in her life.

Kate Braid has edited, co-edited and written eleven books and two chapbooks of poetry and non-fiction, many of them about working people including miners, fishermen, and artists Emily Carr, Georgia O’Keeffe and Glen Gould. Her poetry has won or been nominated for national, provincial and local prizes. Her most recent poetry book, Rough Ground Revisited, based on her 25 years as a construction carpenter, is a companion to her memoir, Journeywoman: Swinging a Hammer in a Man’s World. For 12 years she also taught creative writing in Vancouver and Nanaimo, BC, including classes on how to write in form. In 2015 Braid won the Mayor of Vancouver’s Arts Award in recognition of leadership and contributions to the Vancouver literary arts. She divides her time between the beauties of Vancouver and Pender Island. www.katebraid.com