Dan Lukiv

“[Lukiv] certainly [has] carved out a [writer’s] life for [himself]. For that [he is] to be congratulated. The kind of energy [he has] always…brings good results”, Robert Harlow, celebrated Canadian professor and novelist (A Gift of Echoes, Royal Murdock, Scann [a Canadian masterpiece], Making Arrangements, Paul Nolan, Felice: A Travelogue, The Saxophone Winter, and Necessary Dark).

“An original voice and a quirky, deeply humane vision…[His] work deserves publication”, D M Thomas, England’s internationally celebrated poet, novelist, biographer, and translator.

Review of Qiibils and Quirks, a novel for children; by Paul Bagdon, author of many novels, short stories, and articles:

Dan Lukiv must be a kid. Dusty and cranky old adults like the rest of us who worry about bills and the new noise in the car and what the boss will think of the latest project simply don’t have the sensibilities—the spark—to realize that creatures who smell strange are funny to young people, and that time travel, teachers named Miss Snapdragon, and idiosyncratic species called Quirks and Quibils are the very stuff of laughter, adventure, drama—and fun.

Quibils and Quirks is a precisely orchestrated chaos of sight gags, weird and wholly engaging characters and creatures, puns and word play, pratfalls and slapstick—and there’s a genuine story melded into the pages, as well. The dialogue sings—and gurgles, snuffs, yelps, belches, uluates, and snivels, too. The laughs are frequent, as they must be in a work such as Quibils and Quirks, and in my mind, it’s here that Dan Lukiv excels. Because he’s a kid himself (I refuse to believe otherwise), his humor is fresh and innocent; the convoluted logic expressed by the critters and characters is hilarious without the taint of guile or innuendo that seems to be so pervasive in current YA efforts. The scenes and situations sparkle because of their incongruity, their lack of adult parameters—and, in many cases because they reflect the stolid silliness of the adult world in a Lukiv-created, wonderfully irregular mirror.

Who is Dan Lukiv? Beats me, but I’d have to describe him as Milne with a case of the giggles, Beatrix Potter on hallucinogens, or Proust with a lobotomy. But, whoever the guy is, he knows what he’s doing, and Quibils and Quirks establishes that.

This is a must-read, not only for the intended audience, but for the few of us oldies who haven’t forgotten how to laugh. We need to hear more from Dan Lukiv—soon.

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Dan Lukiv, published in 19 countries, is a poet, novelist, columnist, short story and article writer, and independent education researcher (hermeneutic phenomenology). His writing has appeared thousands of times in print and online anthologies, journals, magazines, and newspapers. As a creative writer, he apprenticed with Canada’s Professor Robert Harlow (recipient of the George Woodcock Achievement award for an outstanding literary career), the USA’s Paul Bagdon (Spur Award finalist for Best Original Paperback), and England’s D. M. Thomas (recipient of the Cheltenham Prize for Literature, Orwell Prize [biography], Los Angeles Fiction Prize, and Cholmondeley award for poetry). He attended The University of British Columbia (creative writing department), the acclaimed Humber School for Writers (poetry writing program), and Writer’s Digest University (novel writing program).

Lukiv married his high school sweetheart in 1974. They have four daughters (married), one granddaughter, three grandsons, one step granddaughter, and one step grandson. Over many years he taught a variety of subjects (English, English Literature, communications, guitar, drama, social studies, mathematics, science, consumer education, career planning, Response Ability Pathways®, physical education, composition, and creative writing) at award-winning McNaughton Centre (Quesnel, BC), a school for troubled teenagers. From 1978 to 2019, he edited CHALLENGER international, a literary journal that focussed attention on young, up-and-coming Canadian poets, and, from 2001 to 2019, he edited The Journal of Secondary Alternate Education, a scholarly forum of research, practise, and theory. Through LukivPress, he has published numerous poetry collections, some by well-established poets such as George Swede (Canada), Paul Gotro (Canada), Elana Wolff (Canada), Bill Caughlan (Canada), Dimitar Anakiev (Slovenia), Neal Leadbeater (Scotland), Robert Lavett Smith (USA), Simon Perchik (USA), Michael J. Vaughn (USA), Esther Cameron (USA), Michael Zack (USA), Richard Luftig (USA), Luis Benitez (Argentina), and Coral Hull (Australia).

Presently, his hobbies include longboarding, searching for haiku moments, singing and playing guitar, studying mathematics, and cycling.

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Selected comments by kind editors and writers:

“I cannot even begin to [explain] how much I have enjoyed working with [Lukiv] over the past seven years (has it really been that long?) and reading all of [his] absolutely wonderful contributions. [He has] been a dedicated, thoughtful contributor, and I will miss my monthly opportunity to absorb [his] beautiful creativity. I look upon [him] as a dear acquaintance, and I will sincerely miss working with [him],” Dr. Elizabeth Haller, Academic Exchange Extra (USA).

“A very dedicated writer…[Lukiv] enhances the world we live in, in a sincere manner,” Penny Lynn Dunn, Tacenda (USA).

“Thanks for [‘Bowls Beneath Leaks’ and ‘Not Just Another Day’]. I appreciated [their] humor and empathy...[As for ‘Her Story,’ ‘The Kitten,’ and ‘Beer Bottle-Knives,’] I like their delicate observation....I especially liked ‘The Whirlpool’ (wonderful imagery) and ‘One-Way Ticket’ (been there),” Esther Cameron, The Neovictorian/Cochlea (USA).

“The best stuff I’ve had from [North America],” Jonathan Brookes, The Yellow Crane (Wales).

“Wonderful haiku,” Julia Busch, Anti-Aging Press (USA).

“Gripping,” Sheila Robertson, Western People.

“Poetry submissions...are rarely up to [Lukiv’s] standards...[His] work is very good,” Barbara Stevenson, Nature Canada.

“Vibrant poetry,” John Harris, Repository.

“I like [his] work very much,” Chris Czajkowski, British naturalist and author of Cabin at Singing River (Raincoast Books), Lonesome: Memoirs of a Wilderness Dog (Horsdal & Schubart Publishers), Cabin at Singing River (Raincoast Books), Snowshoes and Spotted Dick (Harbour Publishing), To Stalk the Oomingmak (Aquarelle Press), and Diary of a Wilderness Dweller (Orca Book Publishers).

“What talent!,” Peggy French, Shemon (USA).

“Interesting how [“I Have Never Traveled” is] all tied in—at the end and without being predictable. I like what it doesn’t say—then I can think. [Both] topics [in the poem] fascinate me—insects [and] war,” Australian poet Dr. Coral Hull, author of In The Dog Box of Summer in Hot Collation (Penguin Books Australia), William’s Mongrels in The Wild Life (Penguin Books Australia), Broken Land (Five Islands Press), and How Do Detectives Make Love? (Penguin Books Australia).

“[Lukiv] certainly ha[s] the gift,” Dorian Love, The English Teachers’ Online Network of South Africa.

“[Lukiv’s] poetry is wonderful,” Victoria Valentine, Skyline Literary Magazine (USA).

“[Lukiv’s] work is quite amazing....I am greatly impressed with [his] writing; it is enlightening,” Tony Scavetta, The Plowman.

“Interestingly sharp,” Shane Thades, The Fiddlehead.

“We really appreciate what [Lukiv’s] doing....We love [his] poetry,” Ernest and Elvena Slump, The Speaker.

“Our readers are impressed with [Lukiv’s] verbal energy....[‘Bowls Beneath Leaks’] has a lot of charm,” Iain Higgins, Canadian Literature.

“[Lukiv is] a talented writer and [‘The Germans from Dortmund’] is evocative,” Tom Cruickshank, Harrowsmith Country Life.

“Fine images,” David Green, Green’s Magazine.

“Love the images and tone,” Wostman, Prism international.

“[There’s] much to like [in Lukiv’s work],” Alan Ross, London Magazine (England).

“Very unusual, original..., impressive,” Geoff Lowe, Psychopoetica (England).

“[Lukiv’s] poems...I read with great interest and pleasure....I would be delighted to read more...They were thoughtful and interesting. I particularly enjoyed ‘Not Just Another Day’....[He has] a good style,” David Caddy, Tears in the Fence (England).

“We like [Lukiv’s] work very much,” Libby O’Loghlin, Redoubt (Australia).

“No dull moments. Many fine ones,” Andreas Gripp, Afterthoughts.

“I enjoyed [Lukiv’s] work....[And] ‘The Storm’ is a wonderful poem. Allen [Ginsberg] would have liked it,” David Christy, Alpha Beat Soup (USA).

“Great poem!...After reading ‘Dinner for Two’ we must agree with D. M. Thomas, yes, D. M. Thomas, who noted that Dan’s is ‘an original voice..., a quirky, deeply humane vision,’” Firm Noncommittal.