The maxim “good things come in threes” rings especially true for the English department after three of its own received nominations for literary awards.

UWindsor creative writing graduate Kaitlin Tremblay, creative writing master’s graduate Shawna Diane Partridge and professor Susan Holbrook have each been shortlisted for different awards.

Tremblay was nominated for a 2016 Shirley Jackson Award for coediting Those Who Make Us: Canadian Creature, Myth, and Monster Stories. The anthology features 18 authors and takes the reader on a journey ranging from an encounter with the Metis creature Rugaru to trolls dissatisfied with modern life in Toronto.

The Shirley Jackson Awards are presented for outstanding achievement in horror, psychological suspense, and dark fantasy fiction. Winners will be announced in July.

Partridge’s novel Rule of Seconds was shortlisted for a Northern Lit Award and began as her creative writing master’s thesis at the University of Windsor.

“As a first-time author I was a bit stunned,” said Partridge, who now lives and works in Sudbury. “The book is inspired by my great-grandmother who ran an illegal bar in her three-storey boarding house in Sault Ste. Marie.”

Partridge said she was captivated by these stories growing up and chose them as the focus of her creative writing master’s thesis.

The novel follows the 26-year-old protagonist Sheila as she digs into her family’s past in hopes of uncovering the cause of her epilepsy.

Partridge, who has had epilepsy since she was 13, describes the novel as “a fiction that has flashes of truth.”

Sunday marked the first anniversary of the book’s release and Partridge said she’s already started to work on the sequel.

“Rule of Seconds covers four generations of my family and so my plan is to write a series focusing on each of the women,” she said.

The winners of the Northern Lit Awards will be announced during the Ontario Library Service – North annual conference in September.

Finally, Dr. Holbrook’s Throaty Wipes has been nominated for Ontario’s highest literary achievement — the Trillium Book Award. The collection of poetry had received a previous nomination for a Governor General’s Award and presents a mash-up of consumer society filled with Disney princesses, Barbie dolls, biblical myth and the hard work of birthing.

"I feel really grateful to have had the support of the English department in the students and colleagues," Holbrook said. 

"The editor of the book was one of my colleagues Nicole Markotic and so she is a big part of the book's success."

The announcement of the Trillium Book Award winners will take place on June 20 in Toronto.

In light of the recent global ransomware campaign, Information Technology Services is advising members of the campus community to be extra cautious and not open any email messages or attachments that are unexpected, unfamiliar or suspicious in nature. If you receive such a message, delete it and open a ticket with the ServiceDesk by visiting http://www.uwindsor.ca/itshelp

Several organizations around the world — including the United Kingdom’s National Health Service — have been affected by this ransomware attack. It has been reported that some of the related emails related to this attack have subject lines containing Copy_[with Random Numbers], Document_[with Random Numbers], Scan_[with Random Numbers], File_[with Random Numbers], and PDF_[with Random Numbers].

While UWindsor currently has not seen any evidence of this attack on its networks, IT Services is asking all campus members to be vigilant and to report any suspicious emails in order to ensure that University systems remain secure.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software cyber-criminals use to extort money or information.

Ransomware attacks most commonly occur through email (a “phishing” email) where the attacker sends an infected file or link. Clicking on the file or link activates malicious software that encrypts data on your hard drive. It will also attempt to encrypt data on any network folder you are connected to at the time of infection. Once your files are encrypted, a screen or web page will show up containing instructions on how to pay the cyber-criminal to decrypt your data.

Soprano Lesley Andrew accompanied by pianist Philip Adamson have planned a one-hour program featuring works by Michel LeGrand, Aaron Copland, Gabriel Faure, Richard Rogers, Michael Head, and more gems, for a free performance in the Music Building’s Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15.

This recital kicks off the weeklong “Intensive Studies in Voice Performance” program for voice students designed to hone their repertoire, performance and presentation skills — preparing them for careers as professional musicians.

The program was created by Andrew, an instructor in the School of Creative Arts, to provide singers a focused opportunity to refine their performance skills. The program concludes with a student recital at week’s end.

Learn more on the event website.

Several University of Windsor alumni are among the community leaders who will be recognized by the Windsor and District Labour Council at an awards reception Thursday, May 25.

The Gary L. Parent Activist Awards, named for the council’s former president, honour contributions toward the environment, health and safety, human rights and other areas of public service. This year’s recipients include: Marguerite Bastien (BA 1967, BA 1973) for public education advocacy, Mireille Coral (BA 1986) for social justice, and Enver Villamizar (BSc 2003, B.Ed 2010) for political action.

The May 25 reception will feature food and a cash bar at 4:30 p.m. followed by the formal program at the Ciociaro Club, 3745 North Talbot Road. Tickets are $20, available through the labour council at 519-252-8281.