The Poetic Ambassador

SUMMARY: 2010 in Vancouver, B.C. is the setting where this exciting new literary novel portrays the turbulent rivalries and relationships among three adversarial poets competing for the position of poetic ambassador for ZeitGeist (ZG) Publishing House. A group of six ZG executive board members, led by their CEO Rudy Sorenson and his able secretary, Ms. Stephanie Nolan wrangle with each other as they frame just the right poetic portfolio assignment designed to test a controversial shortlist of poets. After an eventful initial interview with the enigmatic Pamela aka Ms. Felicity Traviss (aka Misty), Zachary Speller is shortlisted along with two other young contenders-the psychosexually manipulative Cynthia Davison and the heady intellectual Trevor Upton. As these three dynamic Gen-Xers have been given each other's relevant contact information in order that they may fine hone each other's skill set, all manner of intrigue takes place, with a variety of family and friends whose involvement complicates the quest and challenges our readers to figure out who will win as well as just who the different narrators really are from chapter to chapter in this thrilling, highly allusive and often edgy novel. Mysteries within mysteries about character and their choices abound as these three adversaries get to know each other and compete with one another for the elusive prize: the position of poetic ambassador. At times steamy and seductive and just as often bracingly intellectual, this novel is chock full of cultural references ranging from music and movies to poetry and hockey. These characters' make surprising choices and create some inspired original professional poetry, while vying for ZG approval. The action culminates in a Halloween gala at the Red Robinson Show Theatre, where everyone in the novel makes at least a cameo appearance in costume as comedians and poets try to outdo each other while making presentations for the applause of the audience and the appro