A coast-to-coast community celebrates an absent author’s book launch.
In a fall season rich with author book events, a string of evenings across the country will stand out because of an author’s absence—and the King’s MFA community that has gathered to ensure he and his book are not forgotten.
David Pate’s, MFA’23, book The Worst Songs in the World: The Terrible Truth About National Anthems (Dundurn Press) will be featured at book events in Halifax, Fredericton, Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Haliburton and online through September and into the fall, seven months after the unexpected death of the debut nonfiction author. Pate, a retired CBC journalist, earned his MFA in Creative Nonfiction at the University of King’s College. He graduated in May 2023, delighting in the fact that he’d earned a Master’s degree despite lacking an undergraduate degree, having qualified for entry on the basis of his 45-year career as a newspaper reporter, broadcaster, program editor, TV news anchor, radio producer and more in both Ireland and Canada.
Six months after graduation, Pate proudly shared the news that Dundurn Press would be publishing one of the two books he’d completed in the King’s program. And though he died in February, before the book’s August publication, when MFA Cohort Director in Creative Nonfiction Kim Pittaway put out the call to see if classmates would be interested in assisting with the book launch, King’s alumni from coast to coast joined forces to ensure his book finds its way onto bookshelves.
“It’s clear from the way David’s fellow students have come together to bring his book into the world that we have a very special community here at King’s,” says Gillian Turnbull, Director of Writing and Publishing. “Each one of David’s colleagues can cite at least one moment when he enthusiastically started up a conversation with them, sharing his love of developing passion projects—like his own—with fellow writers. I’m moved by the swell of support for the arrival of David’s book; it speaks to the respect and care our students have for each other, even after graduating.”
Pate was passionate about his own book’s subject matter, national anthems. As a schoolboy in Scotland, he’d been beaten for refusing to sing “God Save the Queen,” and in The Worst Songs in the World, delves into themes of nationalism, diplomacy and international sport to ultimately argue how anthems, the worst songs in the world, can stay relevant in the 21st century.
“National anthems are not necessarily benign things,” he said in an interview for the King’s MFA newsletter early in 2024. “My book is aimed at people who are interested in their country and their place in it.” His affection for the absurd, his fascination with context and history and his keen sense of justice shine through in the pages of The Worst Songs in the World, as he dives into the stories of blood-and-guts-glorifying anthems, Olympic orchestral screw-ups and efforts to transform outdated national tunes into unifying songs that represent all citizens.
Pate’s place in the MFA community is at the heart of the events planned to launch his book this fall. His height, deep voice and rolling laugh made him hard to miss, even in the Zoom classrooms that dominated his pandemic-era return to school. Classmates recall his vivid opinions, genuine interest in others and wit. “He was easily one of the funniest people I have ever met,” says Amy Fish, MFA’23, who hosted an event in Montreal. Events have also taken place in Halifax, Calgary, Toronto and online, with others planned for Haliburton, Kingston, Fredericton and Vancouver. Each event will be unique, though an overlapping theme will be the support writers find as members of a community of writers.
“My dad’s humour, intelligence and his talent for storytelling are present on every page of The Worst Songs in the World,” says Rebecca Pate, BA(Hons)’06, David’s daughter. “My family and I are touched by the support we’ve received from the King’s faculty and the MFA cohort to ensure that dad’s book was published posthumously, and his work celebrated. He was thrilled to get a publishing contract and excited to reinvent himself as a nonfiction author in his retirement. I’m grateful to King’s and everyone in the MFA program for their ongoing support. Dad would be humbled by the outpouring of affection from his classmates and the work that has gone into organizing these events. I suspect he would have also secretly enjoyed all the fuss being made around the launch of The Worst Songs in the World. As a King’s graduate myself, I’m especially moved.”
“Whodunits and literary tell-alls have been crafted around the stereotype of writers jealous of each other’s success,” says Pittaway. “It’s wonderful to see the King’s community subvert that trope by coming together to celebrate David, his book and the supportive writing community of which they are all part.”
HALIBURTON
The Arts Council Literary Arts Roundtable ~ Haliburton Highlands
The Dominion Hotel, Minden, Ont.
October 10, 5–8 p.m.
Organizer: Fay Martin, MFA’23
Event Details: Guest reader Helga Rausch (nationalism theme) and a panel Q&A on importance of support to writers. Co-hosted by the Literary Arts Roundtable of the Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands, as well as the Dominion Hotel.
KINGSTON
Novel Idea
October 16, 7–9 p.m.
Organizer: Helga Rausch, MFA’23
Event Details: Exploring the links between music, nationalism and militarism, Helga will read from David’s book, then from her own manuscript in progress. Terry Loveridge will read from his new book, The Road Past Monchy. Other readers TBC. Copies will be available for purchase.
VANCOUVER
Wesbrook Community Centre, UBC
October 26, 1–2:30 p.m.
Organizer: Jenny Chen, MFA’23
Event Details: Reading/discussion session followed by a Q&A with audience.
