Ontario book news, interviews and more

On Writing, with Lisa Moore

Newfoundland author Lisa Moore's gorgeous, moving, and whip-smart novels and short stories have gained a devoted following across Canada (and beyond), but her newest offering is particular exciting as ...

Public Exhibitions of a Private Act

A great many things in life that I expected to go one way have instead gone another. Imagine my surprise. Maybe this has happened to you, too. As example: I thought I'd know when I became an adult; that ...

Ten Years of Type

In March 2006, across the street from the not-yet-hip Trinity Bellwoods Park, a storefront window on Queen Street West held a teaser display: a brown leather armchair piled with books. Behind the chair ...

#WritingTips Mondays: Kurt Vonnegut on the Importance of Being Sadistic

Kurt Vonnegut was one of the best loved writers of the twentieth century, known for his wit and playfulness, as well as the strong socio-political undercurrent in much of his writing.Before his death ...

Arguing Balls and Strikes

I always come back to baseball. As subject, I mean. Each time I think I'm done writing about it, or that I'd be better off focusing exclusively on the production of fiction, something occurs on a green ...

Profile on Monty Reid, with a Few Questions

Ottawa poet Monty Reid, who moved to the area in 1999 after spending most of his working life in Alberta, including side trips to British Columbia and Quebec, was originally born in Saskatchewan. He is ...

Strength in Brevity: A List for Short Story Month

Maybe it's fitting that I'm the Writer-in-Residence for May, since somebody, somewhere decided this is Short Story Month, and the short story is far and away my favourite literary form. In the past, Steven ...

At the Desk: Jenna Butler

Many writers wear a lot of hats, between dayjobs, other passions, and family demands. But Jenna Butler has a particularly interesting second identity, and she's brought her other life and her writing ...

Posthumous Lit: How Do You Capture a Dead Author’s Voice and Intentions?

You all know the saying. It goes something like this. The only three things guaranteed in life are death, taxes, and the Toronto Maple Leafs not making the playoffs. Okay, so I tacked on the latter Leafs ...

On Doubt

It'll be your constant companion. You won't know a day without it. It will defy cold logic and your efforts to cultivate confidence. It will be haughtily contemptuous of your desire to focus on positives, ...