Ontario book news, interviews and more

On Writing in Longhand

I have bad handwriting. I always have. I remember as a child being put through the terrible paces of the Canadian Penmanship books at school, which were intended to teach us to write in cursive (one of ...

SJ Okemow on Her Heartwarming Debut Picture Book's Unconventional Path to Publication

The humble dandelion rarely gets much love, often cited as a nuisance weed that spreads easily and takes over. But the hardy little plant has many lessons to teach us, and in SJ Okemow's Âmî Osâwâpikones (Annick ...

The Word on the Street's Sienna Tristen on Programming 100+ Writers to Create an In-Person Version of Bookstagram & BookTok

The Word on the Street returns to Toronto this weekend, May 27 and 28, for their second year back in Queen's Park after a long absence. The two-day schedule is packed with programming that would make ...

Dessert

Outside my window are two strands of spidersilk, about five inches apart, both slanting downwards from left to right at a sharp angle. They move semi-independently in the slight morning breeze, almost ...

The Joys and Challenges of Writing for Adults AND for Kids

I’ve had May 2 circled on my calendar for months and months—it marks the pub date of my debut picture book, Dear Street. As the launch approaches, I’ve been thinking about how different the processes ...

Sandra V. Feder & Rahele Jomepour Bell on Creating a Picture Book that Celebrates Finding Peace Within

Anyone who spends time with children knows that when it comes to kids, the feelings are big. Happiness, sadness, anger – it's all magnified, and it's not always easy to navigate. Writer Sandra V. ...

D.M. Bradford on Translating Nicholas Dawson's Stunning Poetry Collection, House Within a House

Nicholas Dawson's Désormais, ma demeure (Triptyque, 2020) was received as a powerful and authentic exploration of depression when it was published, and it became one of the most decorated French-language ...

Enter to Win a Pair of Tickets to the Griffin Reading & Prize Announcement

With spring in full swing in Toronto, lots of book lovers are eager to get out and connect with the literary community. There are plenty of great events coming up that will offer readers a great way to ...

Read an Excerpt from Discipline n.v by Concetta Principe, a Wry Lyric Memoir of Navigating Academia's Prejudices

The academic world's nickname—the Ivory Tower—is meant to communicate that it's an environment where scholars can be cut off from everyday concerns while they pursue deep knowledge. But that removal ...

Book Therapy: Mother’s Day Edition

 Beyond the saccharine sentiments, store-bought flowers, and (adorable but messy) kid-crafted breakfasts in bed, Mother’s Day can be an extremely fraught if not painful holiday for many. I know I spent ...