Required Reading: A witness in words and drawing to the Reena Virk Trials 1998–2000

**Out of Print**

January 2000
96 pages | ISBN 978-0-919897-70-0

**Winner of the Pat Lowther Award**

In 1999 and 2000, two Victoria teenagers were convicted of the murder of their schoolfellow, fourteen-year-old Reena Virk. Of the more than 500 drawings she prepared as courtroom artist for the trials, Heather Spears has selected some 50 to accompany the poems that record her experience of the process. The poet describes her aim as a visual and verbal record "without sentimentality," that "set[s] it down and leaves no residue."

About the Author

Heather Spears, Vancouver-born writer and artist, has lived in Denmark since 1962. Her books include fourteen collections of poetry, four novels, and three books of drawings. She has won the Governor General’s Award, CBC Literary Award and the Pat Lowther Memorial Award three times. As an artist she specializes in drawing in theatres, concert halls, courtrooms, hospital wards and war zones. She has held many exhibitions in Europe and America. Check out her website.

Other Titles by this Author

I can still draw (2008)

Poems Selected and New (1998)

The Word for Sand (1988)