Shy

For people who have never thought of themselves as shy personalities, the various voices of "shyness" that richly crowd the pages of this anthology represent a chorus of eloquent witnesses to tell us that perhaps we are all shy, to one degree or another. Yet, we are left with the message that shyness may bring its own reward: that there is a creative power and amplitude in the experience of silence, reserve and solitude that shy writers know as the muteness, in the words of contributor Don McKay, "falling all around you, lavishly, pouring its heart out." Myrna Kostash The two [editors] set about enlisting writers from across the continent to share their stories of stage fright, reticence, insecurity, 'otherness,' inconvenient blushing and, generally, the rich, sometimes painful, inner life of being a self-conscious human being.... it is a revelation to shyniks to read literature that represents the whole spectrum of shyness-from squirmy discomfort to debilitating social paralysis-and, through various voices, asks readers not just to reject and overcome but to accept and even celebrate a character trait that deserves every bit as much respect as gregariousness gets in our culture." Jacquie Moore, Calgary Herald, October 24, 2013 [full review at http://bit.ly/17TB9ze] "In all, Lewis and Altrows received more than 100 submissions from across the country and beyond. [Shy: An Anthology] has a fine pedigree, too, with award winners like Lorna Crozier, Steven Heighton, Russell Wangersky and Weyman Chan, as well as local writers Lemay, Wade Bell and Ben Gelinas, among the dozens of contributors." Michael Hingston, The Province, November 7, 2013 [Full column athttp://bit.ly/17NDj9I] "Shy, An Anthology battles the stigmas and assumptions that surround what it means to be shy with a collection of poems and personal essays.... Primarily, the essays recounted childhood experiences, though some did discuss shyness in adulthood. For this reason, I couldn't help but think that these stories would make powerful guest lectures at elementary or high schools.... I found [Shy] to be a worthwhile read that I would recommend to anyone who has felt some sort of philosophical compulsion to understand her or his own shyness. In many ways, Shy is a compilation of coming of age stories centred on bashful, artistic individuals. And I am thankful to them for sharing their experiences." Senica Maltese, Coastal Spectator, November 14, 2013 [Full review at http://coastalspectator.ca/?p=3094] "The intimacy and honesty with which shyness, introversion, and attendant phobias, each different and debilitating, are revealed in Shy demonstrates unexpected bravery.... Shy readers will find kindred spirits and inspiration in the airing of emotions and attitudes normally kept locked inside. Less shy readers may come to better understand the occasionally incapacitating dread that is often mistaken for aloofness." Joy Parks, Quill & Quire, December 2013 #8 on the Calgary Herald's Bestsellers list for the week of December 14, 2013. "The 39 diverse Canadian contributors, successful writers all, have published their work in journals and books and have won countless awards. Some observe (as shy people do so well!) the effect shyness has on others.... However, most of this writing concerns how shyness has directly affected the writers' lives.... Obviously a topic of immense importance to the writer, either beginning or experienced, this anthology will be well received in creative writing classes as students examine what it is to be a writer, but its literary value will also draw readers and provoke re-reading and lively discussion. Highly Recommended." Joan Marshall, CM Magazine, December 20, 2013[Full article at http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/cm/vol20/no16/shy.html] "Many writers, and readers, have been noted as shy. In a way, we're inherently introverted. Shy: An Anthology

Naomi K. Lewis is the author of several books, including the award-winning story collection I Know Who You Remind Me Of and Tiny Lights for Travellers. Rona Altrows is the author of two collections of short stories: A Run On Hose and Key in Lock. She lives in Calgary.

xi Foreword NAOMI K. LEWIS & RONA ALTROWS xiii Acknowledgements 1 Sometimes a Voice (2) DON MCKAY 2 Silentium STEVEN HEIGHTON 3 On Shyness and Stuttering ELIZABETH HAYNES 11 The Shy DAVID VAN BUREN 12 I Couldnt Reveal ELAINE WOO 13 Say Water NAOMI K . LEWIS 27 affect Thrum NATALIE SIMPSON 28 that animal WEYMAN CHAN 29 Creepmouse Manifesto SYLVIA STOPFORTH 35 Fisher Woman VIVIAN HANSEN 36 The Culture of Shyness ALEX BOYD 37 Under the I DHANA MUSIL 42 High School Shyku LORI D . ROADHOUSE 43 Young Expressions EVE S. KRAKOW 56 My Dear X ELIZABETH ZOTOVA 59 Change Room BRUCE MEYER 60 Cloak of Invisibility MADELAINE WONG 65 Shy and I SYDNEY SHARPE 67 Shades and Shyness ARITHA VAN HERK 75 Secret Self ELIZABETH GREENE 76 Disturbing the Universe ELIZABETH GREENE 78 On Mingling JENNIFER HOULE 80 Good for Olivier RONA ALTROWS 85 Insecurity MICHELINE MAYLOR 86 How to be shy KERRY RYAN 91 Shybrightly SHAWNA LEMAY 98 Stage Fright CASSY WELBURN 100 As I Stand Up Here Reading, Fear Holds My Hand CAROL L. ACKAY 101 Are You an Introvert? Take This Simple Quiz JANIS BUTLER HOLM 103 a more blissful orbit STUART IAN MCKAY 104 Women Friends BRIAN CAMPBELL 106 Shy10 Ways RUSSELL WANGERSKY 119 Drunk Judgement STEVEN HEIGHTON 120 When Love Was Grey & Timid I .B. ISKOV 121 Redder Than a Canadian Sunset SHIRLEY LIMBE R T 127 Laundry Duty MIKE DUGGAN 128 to the red-haired girl on eighth WEYMAN CHAN 130 Common Loon JEFF MILLER 138 Crosswalk JENNIFER HOULE 139 Watching My Lover LORNA CROZIER 141 Other Peoples Agony BEN GELINAS 151 Its Okay that Late at Night WADE BELL 153 Amongst the Unseen and Unheard DEBBIE BATEMAN 163 Contributors 171 Permissions