My “Abyssinian Maid” essay launched in the landmark Issue 100 of Canadian Notes & Queries. Link here for sales venues across Canada. Congratulations to publisher Dan Wells and editor Emily Donaldson on CNQ’s 100th issue. Spoiler alert: the only whiff of poetry here pertains to the late poet, scholar, and artist Barker Fairley reciting Coleridge’s “Kubla Khan” while he paints me in 1976 as the Abyssinian Maid. Nested in this story,…
What’s Your Score?
When the prolific poet, David W. McFadden, won the 2014 Giller Prize for Excellence in Poetry for What’s the Score? (Mansfield, 2013), my first poetry manuscript was still out in left field without a literary home. “David,” I asked, “what advice can you give me?” “Just keep writing and sending them out.” David was right. I kept writing and sending them out. Eventually I scored. Link to…
some conditions apply
With gratitiude to Luciana Ricciutelli for fishing me out of her slush pile, I announce that my first poetry collection, some conditions apply, will hatch with Inanna Publications in 2019. I am proud to follow many fine writers into this creative stable.
Invite to write with Moosemeat Writers
Bring your notebooks, pens and pencils to explore how music-evoked imagery can round out characters and resolve stuck plots. When: 7-9 pm, Thursday, November 17, 2016 Where: The Central, 604 Markham Street (upstairs) Why: A writers’ session — all genres and hybrids welcome Cost: Free All art constantly aspires towards the conditions of music. (Walter Pater, 1839-94) Find out what conditions and how to…
Numéro Cinq July 2016
“My First Job” was published Saturday, July 9, 2016, in Numéro Cinq, the literary web journal curated and published by Douglas Glover. For a comic sliver of my wild and wooly youth — with images and audio — http://numerocinqmagazine.com/2016/07/09/x/. But never mind me, enjoy the poetry, fiction and nonfiction on this splendid site.
Sounding the Road for National Poetry Month 2016
Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 Place: OCAD U Learning Zone, 122 St. Patrick Street, Toronto Time: 7:00 pm (open mic sign up by 6:45 pm) Cost: none This National Poetry Month reading features Andrea Thompson, Armand Garnet Ruffo, Robert Priest, Bänoo Zan, Mary Rykov, Catherine Black, Carrianne Leung and Lisa Myers PLUS open mic and Q & A hosted by Lillian Allen. Honouring National Poetry Month and the journey to and…
Welcome new Canadian immigrants!
I welcome new immigrants with music experiences designed to facilitate English language skills…
Taraxacum officinale blooms
Happy New Year, one and all! Taraxacum officinale blooms in Issue 9 (Winter 2016) of the West Coast literary journal, Pulp Literature, a wonderful way to begin the year. I am grateful to the editors for selecting this poem for publication, and particularly to Mel Anastasiou for rendering the official Taraxacum officinale photograph (below) in a beautiful line drawing. Order your copy today and enjoy Taraxacum officinale — the poem and…
Writers for Lifeline Syria Benefit Dec. 4, 2015
Date: Dec 4, 2015 Time: 6:30pm—l0:00pm Location: Quaker Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave (Avenue Rd/Bloor) Cost: $l0.00 Kudos to writer Sara Asyyed and journalists Vivien Fellegi and Nate Hendley, who teamed up to organize this fundraiser on behalf of Lifeline Syria. Enjoy poetry, stories, and music about Home and Exile. Silent auction items include theatre tickets, jewellery, spa treatments, and lunch with award-winning author Camilla Gibb. Appetizers…
Reading July 19, 2015: Plasticine Poetry
Plasticine Poetry Series Spoken Word and Open Stage Sunday, July 19 at 6:00 pm at Blackbird Bistro 993 Bloor Street West Featuring: Danila Botha, Edward Nixon, Mary Rykov, Vivek Shrava The Blackbird Bistro is fully wheelchair accessible. Food is available for purchase, but there is no liquor license. A hat will be passed (suggest optional $5) to cover rental.