Ontario book news, interviews and more

Iconic Activist Marjorie Beaucage on How Circus School, Sante Fe, & De-Cluttering Lead to Her Debut Memoir

Marjorie Beaucage has spent her life telling stories and helping others tell theirs: as a teacher, community organizer, activist, and later, an acclaimed filmmaker, she has wield storytelling as a tool ...

"Tender and Smart, Sometimes Savage Poetry" A Conversation with the 2023 Griffin Poetry Prize Finalists

This week, on June 7, poetry lovers and publishers will be gathered, waiting to hear one of the biggest announcements of their year: that evening, the winner of the $130,000 Griffin Poetry Prize will ...

Happy 45th Birthday to Groundwood Books! Enter to Win Classic Books & Iconic Swag

Groundwood Books is one of Canada's most iconic kids' books publishers and they're celebrating an incredible 45 years of bringing us books that are both highly decorated and loved by kids and caregivers ...

Why I Write About Difficult Topics

I believe in my readers: their vulnerabilities, their resiliencies, their self-awareness, their goals and aspirations, and their ability to change. That’s why I write about difficult topics.More than ...

Getting to Know June Writer in Residence Suzanne Methot: the World's Best Pen & Life Without Restaurants

Talking about trauma, especially its intergenerational effects, isn't easy. But it's necessary to help survivors and especially their children process experiences and find support. Educator, activist, ...

Anthony MacMahon & Thomas McKechnie on Harrison Ford, Vomit, and Stolen Moments as Part of Their Playwriting Process

The adage "all you need is love" might be catchy, but it overlooks the reality of life under late stage capitalism for many. Jack and Veronyka start out with an unshakable bond, the two of them against ...

Feed Your Brain, Read Widely

Writers are often advised to read within their genre to better understand it. And when it comes to readers, it can be tempting to stick to their favourite genre too⎯it’s a favourite for a reason!I'm ...

Bringing It All Back Home

As I write this, I am sitting outside in the backyard of a rowhouse in Toronto’s East End. The wind is stirring the leaves of a big maple tree spreading its branches high above me, and stirring the ...

Philipp Schott on Weaving Together Iceland, Ostriches, and ASD in His Newest Mystery Romp

After a long period of dominance by dark and gory Scandi-style titles, the mystery genre seems to be spreading some love to less grim aesthetics, as book lovers twig to the pleasure of reading tightly ...

Liem, McDonald, & Hernández-Ramdwar: 3 WOTS Guest Authors on What They're Reading at the Festival & Why

This weekend, The Word on the Street will take over Queen's Park in Toronto to bring together over 100 writers and creators for two full days of literary celebrations. There will be panel discussions, ...