A series of fortunate events

Susan Rich, BA'91, has information that many a ten-year-old would kill for -- she knows what's going to happen next to the hapless Baudelaire orphans, the resilient heroes of author Lemony Snicket's wildly popular children's books, "A Series of Unfortunate Events." In each book, Violet (the inventor), Klaus (the bookworm) and Sunny (the baby blessed with remarkably strong and sharp teeth -- she once used them to fend off a sword attack), are faced with the latest machinations of the scheming Count Olaf, a vain villain out to plunder their family's fortune.

Outside of Harry Potter, the series is the hottest thing around in children's literature. In early June, six of the top ten books on The New York Times list of children's bestsellers were Snicket books. Over four million copies have been sold and a movie deal has been inked. The books' arch, winking tone has attracted plenty of readers of legal drinking age too.

The series might not exist at all if not for Rich, a senior editor at Harper Collins' children's books division. When she was a junior editor, Rich ran into unpublished author Daniel Handler (Snicket's not-so-secret identity) at literary get-togethers in New York and the two "nobodies" struck up a friendship.

Handler complained about how formulaic and touchy-feely most kids' books were, so Rich challenged him to do something about it. Handler responded with what he termed "an inappropriate idea," a series of books in which the young protagonists would be constantly subjected to grim misadventures, with happy endings nowhere in sight.

To Handler's surprise, Rich thought it was a great idea. To her surprise, her publisher agreed.

As editor for the Snicket books, Rich also oversees how the books are assembled -- the handsomely crafted books have drawn praise for their imaginative, retro design."We really wanted to do something unique. I spent many a lunch hour with my designer, scouring old used-book stores in New York, searching for inspiration," she says.

Rich studied political science at McGill, but found her calling when she signed up for some children's literature courses with English professor Ronald Reichertz.

"I took these electives just for fun," she explains. Struck by the variety and quality found in the best children's books, Rich went on to do a master's degree in children's literature before veering into publishing.

It's a wonderful time for kids' books, says Rich, who also edits Carol Gorman's award-winning "Dork" series (Dork in Disguise, Dork on the Run). "It's definitely a golden era. Harry Potter broke down the wall a little bit, proving that books written for children might be fun for adults to read too."

Tangling with tricky Dick

PHOTO: courtesy Timothy Porteus

Timothy Porteous, BA'54, BCL'57, was startled to discover that back in the early 1970s, the most powerful man in the world had it in for him. Porteous figures in the recently released tapes of White House conversations between President Richard Nixon and his advisors. On the tapes, Nixon steams about a trip to Ottawa during which Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's staff refused to cede control of the schedule of events to Nixon's own men.

"Was the prime minister's executive assistant that bushy-haired fellow?" Nixon asks. "Ugly bastard. Probably very left-wing. Why don't we do something about it?" The president even suggests planting damning stories about Porteous in the press.

Porteous (shown at left with the late Pierre Trudeau) says he was "astonished" when he found out about Nixon's comments.

"He was elected president of the United States and you always got the sense from him that he was struggling to act the part.

It was a real effort for him. He seemed so unsure of himself, so uncomfortable in his own skin." A much different man than Porteous's old boss. "Pierre was terrific company. He had a wonderfully adventurous spirit and a sense of humour that didn't always come across in the media."

Since his time in government, Porteous has gone on to some impressive jobs, heading both the Canada Council and the Ontario College of Art, but he vividly remembers his years working with Trudeau. "Pierre was the opposite of a gossip. It could be very difficult to know what he thought of someone. He had no talent at all for small talk. For a politician, that was actually something of a handicap."

Porteous met Trudeau in 1957 when the two were university delegates at a conference in West Africa. Porteous represented McGill (along with former federal cabinet minister Donald Johnston, BCL'58, BA'60, who now heads the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and anthropologist Lionel Tiger, BA'57, MA'60, who penned such provocative bestsellers as The Decline of Males). Trudeau represented the UniversitZ de MontrZal.

"He was not a team player at all," laughs Porteous of the young Trudeau. "He was a complete individualist. No way could I have imagined that this man would one day be responsible for the government of Canada."

Fans of flapjacks

	PHOTO: Owen Egan

These students were among the more than 300 who showed up for a Pancake Breakfast thrown by the McGill Alumni Association in April at the University Centre. The MAA hosts a bash each year to celebrate the end of classes and to fortify students as they head into final exams.

Engineers help students build bridges

When graduate student Enrique Torres, BEng'00, was looking for help with job applications, he found what he needed -- and more -- at the McGill Engineering Career Centre, a resource billed as a "one-stop shop" for engineering students. Enrique isn't alone; more than 550 budding engineers profit every year from the many services offered at the MECC. One of the most valuable services is provided by retired engineers, who help students bridge the gap between school and the professional world.

In the late 1980s, engineering students and a group of retired volunteers collaborated on the creation of the McGill Engineering Summer Employment Program. Students needed help finding summer jobs and the seasoned engineering professionals were only too willing to offer their expertise. In 1998, the program was incorporated into the MECC office, and began its evolution into a more complete service. Volunteers still helped the students find jobs, but they also began to advise on resumé and cover letter writing, and on how to prepare for an interview. Each volunteer works intensively with individual students, almost 30% of whom are women.

Joe Broz, a MECC volunteer since 1991, worked in transportation and distribution for Canadian National Railway. Now the MECC's coordinator of volunteers, he says the program benefits everyone involved.

"It helps young people get ready for entry into the business world and keeps retirees abreast of developments in industry and the business environment." He emphasizes that people from fields other than engineering are welcome to enlist in the program. "We need all kinds of expertise. People from public relations or education, for example, could be of enormous assistance. The main thing," he says, "is to find volunteers with a real commitment to helping our students."

For more information, contact Gregg Blachford or Joe Broz at 398-8100, or via email.