Ontario book news, interviews and more

17 for 2017: Mariko Tamaki recommends The Land of Forgotten Girls

1. The Land of Forgotten Girls by Erin Entrada Kelly recommended by Mariko Tamaki Throughout my tenure as the December Writer-In-Residence, I will be assembling a list of 17 must-read-books for 2017. ...

Enter 49th Shelf's Holiday Contest to Win Books for You and a School Library of Your Choice!

If you were lucky enough to have a terrific, well-stocked school library in your early years, you know what an impact such a space can have on reading development - both educationally and in terms of ...

Photos! All Your Favourite Authors at the Writers' Trust Gala

The stars of CanLit came out for the Writers' Trust annual fundraising gala last week, and we've got all the glamorous photos to prove it. From publishers to novelists, broadcasters to poets, dozens of ...

RBC Taylor Prize for Non-Fiction announces 12 Title Longlist

The RBC Taylor Prize, which honours the finest book of non-fiction published in Canada each year, has released a hefty 12-title longlist today. It's an interesting mix of memoir, art, history, and more, ...

Stone Woman: In conversation with Frances Gage, sculptor of "Woman"

By Bianca Lakoseljac: OB Writer in Residence    My novel, Stone Woman, was inspired by two major Toronto artistic achievements: Frances Gage’s sculpture “Woman,” a white Carrera marble piece ...

The WAR Series: Writers as Readers, with Mat Laporte

Mat Laporte's Rats Nest (BookThug) has a pretty unique protagonist - "The Kid" is self-reproducing and 3D-printed, but no less compelling for his strange origins. With him, we explore the bizarre and ...

Six Tips For the Tired Activist

Earlier this year, Quill & Quire referred to me as an activist on the cover of their February 2016 issue. I felt flattered, invigorated. I felt motivated by the call and the work. Today, just nine ...

Kid Lit Can: What’s So Funny about Kids’ Books? Part 1

A few weeks ago, while thinking about topics for this blog, I came to a startling realization: I’ve never hosted a funny Q and A blog. With funny authors. About funny children’s and YA books. Never.Why ...

The Art of the Novel: Interview with Daniel Marchildon

By Bianca Lakoseljac: OB Writer in Residence At Read Local in Midland, back in September, Daniel Marchildon, the winner of the Trillium Award for children’s literature, and I were among the local authors ...

The Toronto Heliconian Club: Literature Section readings

By Bianca Lakoseljac: OB Writer in Residence Since I was a child, reading has been an escape for me. A leap into the world of imagination. As a writer, when I guest as a reader or a presenter, it’s ...