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16 - The Canadien Champion, Frlday, Decernber 10, 1999 Art n ranent Jew book gets up close and personal _with Canadians By. IRENE GENTLE The Champion Shen Milton authors David Cruise and IJ iAllison Griffiths set out to research VV their seventh book 'Working The Ln' hy weren't looking for ways to bring the country together. But after scouring the nation for those whose livings are fused to Canadian soul, they found it anyway. 'The thing that struck us from doing the book is that Canadians don't really know a lot about each other," said Mr. Cniise. "We just don't really understand each other." And that's a tough obstacle to overcome for average Canucks, who with bills to pay and families to feed cari hardly rush off to get to know their fellow countrymnen. Instead, it's the job of wniters like Mr. Cruise and bis 20-year - partner Ms Gniffiths to spread the word. And if they were asked, tbey might say that 'Working The Land', which features intimate portraits of Canadiens wbo eke a living out of this nation's sou, is a good place to start. "There's issues in the book but they're not presented as lec- tures," said Mr. Cruise. 'fIey're presented as being part of their Milton authore Allîson Grififthe and David Omuise bave talon Urne away from their recent horae-reerlng endeavours e s, to prt helrlatnt ook WorinqThe and.That sbould also be a mandate of the country's news outlets, lie to pnthlr ltee I>ok Wrklg Th Lad'.said. M -his is where the national media bas reafly failed us miser- ably," said Mr. CQuise. "We don't get a meal feel for what's out __________________________Much of Canadien hlstory unknown And bistory lessons baven't done much better. !i~ ~~ ce "We've written this sanctimonious pap. We have a fascinating D ream ing of a new lifestyle? Dee*d$I r4h histoiy, but most of t is unknown," said Mr. Cruise. "Just tel Milto ciH klay tetuhi mr xiig oto u great figures are notbing J~anc h.as achievc. »hcr n flC ifCstylC like how tbey've been poesented." by lsingNow that he mentions it, the history of Mr. Cruise and Ms b54oin . Griffiths is also pretty fascinating. Their acquaintanceship began in Edmonton, where botb had fallen into careers as freelance writers. Botb were enmeshed in ill-fated marriages wben they decided, separately, to extricate tbemselves and try their luck in Vancouver. There tbey met and deepeneri tbeir friendsbip enougb to conceive a cbild. ~GEORGETOMN So they were. One partrier was staring age 30 in the face, tbe CINEMAS other was already there. They weoe at crossroads. /235 eiJF. STET m139m lhougb both made enougb to support themnselves as freelance î wniters, tbey didn't earn enougb to support a cbild But they were wnitens - neither wanted to give that up. S0 tbey Enrli owwit ou Crismasspcia. TOY STORfY2 teamed up instead. no w th ou hrst assp cal W 7 * i&* "We started editing each otber's work and that really sped loinnow Stn imeditel orUit B St IS &41 .5.thing up," said M. Cruise. 1oi Low S ar t i eia l or DMIC MAL! BGALW flE And when Ms Griffitbs got banged up playing rugby, Mr. wazt u4ntd trie ewv ear. MWDIy &:4 a. PB Cruise did a few interviews in ber stead, banding ber the informa- ma amunaN a a tion an sbe could write the story. Cml for a fr cndos Bu Imut their book wniting began as a fluke. One on ont support & siervice $M * SE"P H1OLLOW In what he describes as "a writer's nlgbtmare," a friend of M. 6 Weeka *uas .1 riesbda sooner forsaken a freelance writing career for the Rum suit Valais..m Hoew bigger bucks of public relations when he was offered a book deal. Fécun* o a POKMON & n In aVancouver bar, it was decided du thesoution was for die 0 ., POUMON IP friend, Mr. Cruise and Ms Griffiths ta ca-write the book. R ftt Sm 't ail1 blosanmed from that4" said Mr. Cruise. * oses AUTiIORS' on page 17 NORVAL WE FINANCE EVERVONE! lEyai va3ik, yoe ricb! CW)1 Mm:io c Daïe 702-1494 559 Guelph St., (w. i.t et WheM CeéI DV Mi-u tiwn &dans .FixSt Tirre B2yrS, IRW AiJ[ie f Cr Bai4t, Bd (1ecit, No oýeff&- 905-70-1494