Ontario book news, interviews and more

"Delight & Surprise Have to Carry Through a Whole Poem" Chris Banks on His Process, the Poem He Reads Daily, & His Beautiful Losers

Waterloo-based poet Chris Banks' fifth collection, Midlife Action Figure (ECW Press) is uncommonly fun, with Banks' playfulness on full display in lines like his comparison of time and memory to "a ...

Governor General's Literary Awards Shortlists Announced, Featuring Big Honours for Small Presses

The Governor General's Literary Awards (or "the GGs", as they're affectionately known) are some of the longest running book prizes in the country. Established in 1936, the prizes, which each year award ...

Daddy Writer To Be – Introduction

Hi everyone. My name is Hasan Namir. I’m the author of God in Pink (Arsenal Pulp Press) and poetry book War/Torn (Book*Hug Press).First, I want to express my gratitude to Open Book for inviting me ...

"Sometimes, the Story Isn't Finished Being Told" Drew Hayden Taylor on Spending 20 Years with the Story That Inspired His Newest Novel

In playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Drew Hayden Taylor's new book, Chasing Painted Horses (Cormorant Books), an innocent act of encouragement from a parent has far-reaching consequences. When ...

Giller Prize Announces Six-Title 2019 Shortlist

Today the Scotiabank Giller Prize narrowed its 12-title longlist to just six titles. The 2019 jury with the tough task of whittling down the list is made up of Donna Bailey Nurse, Randy Boyagoda (jury ...

"When I Write Poetry, I Feel Limitless and Free" Hasan Namir, author of War / Torn, on Process & Poetry

Hasan Namir's debut collection, War / Torn (Book*hug), was one of the most buzzed-about books of poetry in the spring 2019 season for good reason; Namir's lucid, visceral examination of masculinity ...

Bookstore Love

This is my final post as September Writer-in-Residence for Open Book. It’s been such a pleasure to spend the month thinking about my writing life and what I’d like to say about it. I’m grateful ...

"Home, Family, and Finding a Place to Belong" The 2019 Shortlists for the Vine Awards for Canadian Jewish Literature

Vine Awards for Canadian Jewish Literature, a unique suite of literary prizes that celebrate Canadian Jewish literature across five different genres, announced their shortlists yesterday. The nominated ...

"I See Contemplation, Vision, and Communication as Crucial Forms of Labour" Talking Poetry & Work with Alessandra Naccarato

With wins from the RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers and CBC Poetry Prize under her belt, Alessandra Naccarato's first full-length collection comes with high expectations. Re-Origin of ...

On Building a House

When I was a young girl throwing myself into books, I I remember how I used to pull random books from library shelves without concern about what the book was about or who wrote it. I ran my hands down ...