grace oconnell

This Makes Me Happy

2012-01-24T14:06:00.003-05:00

Lorna Crozier, one of my favourite poets, was named to the Order of Canada. Her citation reads: "For her poetry and for her mentorship of the next generation of Canadian poets."

Totally badass.

I dig the Order of Canada (I am a sucker for ceremony and tradition) and I'm happy to see a great writer be recognised for her amazing work. I think my favourite early-in-my-publishing-life moment was working on Crozier's Blue Hour of the Day collection as an intern at M&S (and by "working on", I should clarify that I was doing things like indexing -- the real editor was doing the actual work). But I already knew and loved Crozier's poems and it was so exciting to be touching manuscripts with her pencil marks on them.

Those moments of shivery reader-pleasure should always be that exciting, no matter how long you've been around books and the strange and interesting people who write them.

All of which is a long and convoluted way of saying: Congratulations Lorna!

CanLit is Sexy

2012-01-20T14:15:00.004-05:00

There's a website called CanLit is Sexy that has been getting lots of attention lately. Reactions have been mixed (some find it funny, others deem it tasteless), but I definitely laughed over a lot of the pick up lines posted over various author photos.

Check it out and judge for yourself. Happy Friday!

Photo courtesy of CanLitisSexy.Tumblr.com

JM Frey + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2012-01-11T10:49:00.006-05:00

Remember TATAS (my interview series asking Toronto authors to tell me about their favourite local spots)?

Well, TATAS is back, in all its Toronto-loving glory. Today I welcome JM Frey, who kindly contacted me to fill out the TATAS survey some time ago (my apologies to JM for taking such a long time to post!).

JM is a science fiction writer, poet and short fiction writer, as well as a pop culture scholar and commentator. She is the author of Triptych and has a second book, The Dark Side of the Glass, forthcoming in June 2012. She also recently published a piece in the anthology When the Hero Comes Home. Read on for JM's Toronto favourites!

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from JM Frey

Your favourite...

Place to see a movie?
Toronto Underground Cinema, Spadina Ave.

Writing spot?
The Sweet Escape Patisserie, the Distillery (Mostly because the head chef is my friend and I get free cupcakes).

Bookstore or library branch?
Bakka Phoenix, Harbord Street.

Grocery or food store?
T&T on Cherry Street (I lived in Japan for two years and this is the only place I've found the mochi and green tea ice cream I adore).

Park or outdoor spot?
The Beach, walking the boardwalk.

Little-known hangout?
Withrow Park, just south of the Danforth on Carlaw. (Fantastic Saturday morning farmer's market with amazing bread from St. John Bakery.)

Booze-serving establishment?
The Old Nick, Danforth Ave (beer and board games!).

Annual or recurring event?
Ad Astra Science Fiction and Fantasy Literary Convention, April.

Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue?
I appreciate all the theatres, I just wish places like Factory were more accessible. Everyone deserves the chance to catch a show.

Underrated/usually reviled spot?
Greektown: the food is fantastic, the atmosphere is relaxed, the little shops are always fascinating to browse through, and potential is always in the air.

Thanks for JM for her responses, and be sure to drop by for more TATAS soon!

Look Mom, I'm Listed!

2012-01-09T13:03:00.006-05:00

It's preview season and I'm absolutely chuffed to be included in several round ups and lists of us soon-to-be-published folks.

Here is the National Post's 12 Most Anticipated Book of 2012 (swoon - this actually made me squeak with delight. Can one swoon and squeak simultaneously?)

Quill & Quire's Spring Preview (more swooning)

and Canadian Bookshelf's Most Anticipated Books of the Season (swoon, rinse, repeat)

Being listed along so many great writers is a trip. I guess all first timers go through this, but sharing a season with the likes of Steven Heighton, Emily Schultz and Linden MacIntyre is a bit head-spinning. It makes me think of the quote from Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye where the narrator says "Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise."

(Seriously, give me a situation, and I'll give you an Atwood quote. I'm like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding who tries to explain every word as having a Greek root. Only more successful. Because there really is an Atwood quote for everything.)

Research and Contemporary Fiction

2011-12-15T17:01:00.015-05:00

Recently a few people have asked me about what (if any) research I did for my novel. It's easy to assume that a book set in a roughly contemporary period in the city where I currently live would not require much of a library card workout in terms of research materials.

In fact, I got to do quite a bit of reading while writing the book. I say "got to" because I really enjoyed my research. My protagonist, Maggie, runs a store which sells (among other things) New Age paraphernalia, so I read books about Tarot cards and healing crystals, as well as some shorter articles on auras and aura reading. It wasn't something I knew anything about prior to the novel, but I needed to know what Maggie knew in order to write her, and having that knowledge became integral to the book.

The other subject on which I did a lot of reading was significantly more challenging. Maggie's mother, Carol, drowns herself in the Don River at the beginning of the book (literally the beginning, so no spoiler alert needed), and I felt I owed it to Maggie to read some non-fiction accounts by people who had lost loved ones to suicide. It was difficult, to say the least, but enlightening.

My favourite part of the process though was researching Toronto, where the book is set, where I live, and which I love. I double-checked even things I assumed I knew, just to make completely sure I didn't have Maggie standing at the corner of two streets that don't actually intersect or eating in a restaurant that didn't exist at the time, and I learned things I hadn't known at all, much of which didn't make it into the book but which was of great value to me as a mental backdrop (and as geeky municipal know-how).

There was one day in particular that sticks out, where I decided I needed to check the physicality of the river scenes, particularly Maggie's memory of her mother's death. I rode my bike up and down Bayview and tramped around in the weeds near the train tracks, trying in vain to locate an entry point to the river. I skulked around the Humane Society building and under the Don Valley Expressway. Finally, I remembered the staircase down from the Queen Street bridge. Locking up my bike, I went down to the river with the sun setting, using my bike light as a flashlight, still wearing my helmet in my rush, and undoubtedly looking completely insane. While high school kids calmly drank their surreptitious beers on the path, I dropped rocks into the water and tried to gauge the distance from ledge to river and various points of depth. I climbed down the bridge supports and noted the kinds of garbage on the shore, the buildings in the distance. A few days later I came back, this time riding up the pathway from the south, and I took 52 reference photographs (a few of which accompany this post). All to write two scenes, one of which is less than 650 words long. A friend called me during one of my excursions and we had the following conversation:

Me: "A drink tonight? I'd love to, but I'm in the middle of something."

My friend: "What are you doing?"

Me: "I'm trying to figure out the logistics of drowning myself in the Don River."

My very understanding friend: "...Writers are weird."

I may have been less nerdily enthusiastic about research if it had been necessary for me to slog through thousands of pages of social history in order to convincingly write about another century or something similarly demanding, but things being as they are, I am happy to say that I loved the research process. I like the chance to learn about bizarre things I might not otherwise be motivated to explore, and I like incorporating things I learn on my own into my writing.

For instance, I took sailing lessons while writing the book, so you'll notice a few sailboats and sailors manage to creep in. And for my story in The Walrus, I had good reason to research foley artists and their practices and terminology, which I might not otherwise have done. In some ways, I think research is a bonus for a writer and can really bring a character to life -- it's almost as if you are listening to them talk about their interests, like a new friend or lover. And if nothing else, maybe it will help with my Jeopardy skills. (Final photo: my trusty bike, Billy. I may have combined my research trip with a grocery shopping excursion, ahem.)

I'm in Found Press!

2011-11-10T10:24:00.005-05:00

So I'm very excited to announce that one of my stories, Mike Mike Mike Mike, has been included in Found Press' Fall 2011 quarterly collection.

You can see a preview of the collection here, which features stories by three other fantastic writers (Lee Kvern, Andrew Forbes and Pauline Holdstock, all of whom I'm very pleased to be appearing alongside).

The title of the collection, You Can't Go Home Again, is taken from my story, a fact about which I was really excited. And I need to find out who designed that cover, because it is AMAZING.

Please check out the collection and the good work that Found Press is doing.

National Post interview

2011-11-07T10:19:00.005-05:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Literary Death Match last night! I had a great time, especially in the finale where the lovely Dani Couture and I were forced to spell authors' surnames in order to pick a winner. Ms. Couture bravely prevailed after I failed to spell Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (and by failed, I mean managed to get the first letter wrong).

Anyway, Dani and the other readers, Carolyn Black and Rebecca Rosenblum, were gracious and fantastic and I didn't trip and fall in my high heels, so really, the whole evening was a success.

I realized though that I forgot to post the fun interview the National Post did with each of the Death Match contestants. Here is mine, for your reading pleasure. Thanks to Mark Medley and the National Post!

I'm Aiming to Kill: Don't Miss the Literary Death Match

2011-10-31T16:54:00.006-04:00

So this Sunday, November 6, I am competing in a Toronto instalment of the Literary Death Match.

Check out all the details here.

There are four authors, reading for seven minutes each, and three judges who say funny things and crush our dreams. Then there is a bizarre and as-yet-unknown final showdown between the two authors lucky enough to move on from round one. It's a really fun event and I will be there, possibly dressed like Rambo or some other intimidating(?) character.

Even if you have no desire to witness me in fatigues (probably wise), there are lots of other reasons to come. In particular: Carolyn Black, Dani Couture and Rebecca Rosenblum, the other readers; and Ryan Kamstra, Mark Medley and Lindy Zucker, our illustrious judges.

Join us at the Gladstone on November 6!

Author Photos: Ten Varieties, Part Two

2011-09-25T18:41:00.011-04:00

For part one of the Author Photos: Ten Varieties list, click here. Otherwise, read on...

6. The other stuff in the photo photo.

Bookcases don't count. As a rule, it's probably a good idea to just not get your photo taken with your bookcase or a stack of books or whatever. If you sell a million copies, someone will take a photo of you with a stack of your own books. Hold out for that. No, other stuff in the photo is other stuff: dogs, flowers, boats, cats, weird chairs, horses, crafts, skulls, bicycles, board games, magic wands.

Pros: Can create a connection with a reader who happens to share the authors' fondness for [insert photo thing here].
Cons: Reminds me of junior high, when we were all allowed to bring something we liked to picture day and pose with it. I brought fake flowers. They were pretty sweet. Oh wait, this is the cons. Basically, if you pose with a horse, people will expect your book to be about horses. Oh, your book is about horses? Well, that's a little on-the-nose, isn't it? Plus, you might write another book that isn't about horses. Given everything you're reading here about author photos, do you really want to have to have another one taken? Yeah. You're welcome.

Photo: Hemingway and some of his recreational interests

7. The snapshot.

This is a surprisingly uncommon choice. It's basically a photo where the author looks at the camera, smiles while showing his or her teeth (commonly known as "a smile") and that is that.

Pros: smiles are nice. Author looks friendly. Smiles usually make people look younger and more attractive too.
Cons: Not really sure. I guess it's less serious looking. Might look like a Facebook or dating website profile shot. Might look like an actor's headshot.

Photo: Ayn Rand smiles for a snapshot (only smiling at capitalists)

8. The growl-shot.

This is the opposite of the snapshot. It's more or less as straightforward, but it involves the author looking at the camera and, for no particular reason, glowering, glaring, or snarling. Virtually no female authors choose this kind of photo, mostly because people think that women should not glare ("Why you no smile? You look so pretty when you smile!" – all the old men in Toronto who yell at girls on the street). I think the idea for this one is that you're pretending to be a scary Hemingway/Faulkner type and hoping it sends your cred through the roof.

Pros: People might be scared into buying your book? Or thinking you're Hemingway?
Cons: This photo choice makes no sense. Stop glaring at me from your book. Also, even Hemingway rarely went for the growl-shot. Papa liked to keep the pendulum between stoic and thoughtful or, occasionally, kinda smiley (see Other stuff in the photo photo).

Photo: even Nabokov was only doing the growl-shot for giggles

9. The outdoor photo.

There are two subspecies of the outdoor photo (which can, incidentally, involve any of the above photos – an outdoor growl-shot or side look or Hemingway's outdoor Other stuff photo above). The two species: outdoor pastoral and outdoor urban. Outdoor urban usually has graffiti in the background, or at least some sweet old brick façade of something. The outdoor pastoral has either trees, snow, water, a field, or some combination thereof. It might also be in front of wooden fence or a cabin, which may or may not belong to the author.

Pros: It implies the author has been outside, which is a proud moment for the author. It also can make for more interesting composition for the photographer. It might involve more colour than the average author photo, and is generally a more interesting photo period.
Cons: Canadian authors have to watch it on the pastoral subspecies, since we're always getting slammed for writing boring prairie stories. Young writers need to watch it with the urban subspecies since they often get slammed for writing elitist urban stories. Also, the outdoor photo runs the risk of being more of a photo-photo than an author photo. Don't forget this is supposed to be a picture of the author, not an art project. Generally though, I like outdoor photos.

Photo: Faulkner, maybe a little too outdoorsy

10. The obscured photo.

This is when the author shows only part of his or her face. It may be a cropped super close-up, or the face may be partially obscured by an object or shadow (peeking around a bookcase being a popular one). This kind of author photo is fairly uncommon and can be kind of interesting. It can also look bizarre.

Pros: Different, interesting. Can be cute or fun if treated well.
Cons: Can be scary or weird or simply look stupid. Can also be irritating to the viewer, and makes it hard to see what the author looks like, which is annoying for festival folks, publicists, and other people who will be expected to identify the author from his or her photo.

Photo: in the absence of other props, Raymond Carver hides behind his own hand (or possibly a hand supplied by Gordon Lish)

That's it folks! But don't worry -- I've still got author photos on the brain, so stick around for my upcoming post "What To Wear For An Author Photo". (Seriously.)

Author Photos: Ten Varieties, Part One

2011-09-20T23:27:00.010-04:00

Ten Kinds of Author Photos with Pros and Cons, Part One (1-5)

Note: To avoid anything that could be interpreted as mean-spirited, I've stuck to dead authors to illustrate each of these species of author photo. All of these types can be either good or bad, depending on how they are executed (even the classic).

1. The I don't even know someone is taking my photo photo

This is popular with old male authors. It usually involves them sitting at their desk or in a comfy chair in their study (if you don't have a study, you don't make the cut for this kind of photo), not facing the camera or acknowledging its presence. It's often a full body shot, usually with legs crossed for an extra "I have no idea someone else is in the room" insouciance.

Pros: intellectual-looking. Little chance of looking like a dork. Generally flattering since you can hardly see the writer. Makes the author look important, since it looks like a photo that would accompany a newspaper article about how famous and writerly the author is.
Cons: hard to actually see the author. Looks weird in a festival-program-esque collage of headshot-style author photos. Has been done a million times. Makes me think you live in a New York brownstone and disappoints me if you don't.

Photo: Roald Dahl has no idea you're watching

2. The I'm not afraid to look into the camera photo

This is popular with modern fiction writers, especially those lucky enough to look pretty good with this full-on here's my face take it or leave it approach. This photo is shot straight on, usually in black and white, not in the more common three quarter profile. It's the photographic equivalent of a headbutt.

Pros: Kind of cool. The opposite of the chin-on-fist photo. Looks smart/arty without looking stupid. Highlights the skill of a good photographer.
Cons: Kind of aggressive/scary, especially since people tend not to smile in this one (and might look creepy if they did). Not great for the less comely authors of the world, since it's just all face all the time.

Photo: Tolstoy does Blue Steel

3. The knowing smile photo

This is another looking-at-the-camera photo, but it's more like the author has been interrupted during their busy standing in a field (or alley) schedule and spared a wise, literary, closed-mouth smile for the viewer. Usually shot as shoulders- or chest-up. This is probably (currently) the most popular kind of author photo, and is usually shot as three quarter profile.

Pros: this is friendly but still intellectual. It's got an "I have a secret" allure, which, with some luck, implies the book might be good. The author is also looking at/connecting with the viewer, but without the scary intensity of the I'm-not-afraid-to-look-into-the-camera-photo.

Cons: can look smug, or possibly sleepy, depending on the precise moment the photo is snapped.

Photo:TIFF knew how to rock the knowing smile (Timothy Findley, showing off some sweet wallpaper)

4. The classic photo (aka the head on hand[s]/fist[s])

This is when an author sits for a photo, probably at his or her desk, and props chin on fist (or – good Lord – fists). Some authors have updated this to resting the chin on an open hand (very daring). A subspecies of this photo is the photographic-facelift, where an author places his or her hands in a strategic position on the hairline or jaw to basically pull back a decade or so of "life experience".

Pros: tried and true. Works well for non-fiction or authors over the age of 1000.
Cons: Cheeseball. Sorry.

Photo: This was probably the hot new trend when Vonnegut did it. He pulls it off, actually. Still not a good choice these days.

5. The looking somewhere other than the camera photo

The most popular version of this photo is looking just off to the side, like you're contemplating what to write for your next book. In this case, there's usually a semi-squint happening, to indicate serious side-looking. Other versions include looking down coyly (especially popular with the ladies) or looking up and to the side, which implies a sort of impish thoughtfulness. Fully-turned-to-the-side profile photos (which are pretty uncommon) fall under this category.

Pros: This is generally pretty flattering. It can be intellectual (the side look) or cute/funny (the up look) or thoughtful (the down look), so if you're going for one of those, it's a good choice. It also avoids the occasionally creepy I-am-staring-into-your-soul-until-you-buy-my-book effect that the above looking-into-the-camera photos can create. The looking off to the side look is probably the second most popular kind of author photo right now, after the knowing smile.
Cons: It can be legitimately hard to see what the author looks like, especially if he or she is looking down. It can also seem twee (the up look) or capital A arty (the side look) or boring (the down look). Also, the side look can occasionally make the author look blind because their eyes are sometimes unfocused. Not that being blind is a bad thing. But it seems a bit of a weird choice.

Photo: Virginia Woolf, giving a truly awesome side look

Got a favourite? Let me know. Also, stay tuned for numbers 6-10.

Author Photos

2011-09-20T23:13:00.004-04:00

Author photos. They're terrifying.

As a reader, I briefly glance at the author photo, and usually spare no more of a thought than "What a delightful looking lady/fellow!"

But as a writer, you agonize. You want to look good, but not so good that people cringe in surprise when they meet you in person. You want to look cool, but not so cool that you look like you're attempting to make up for a lifetime of rejection.

First you have to find a good photographer. The tricky part is not only choosing someone really (really, really) good, but someone who won't make you feel like an idiot when you spend x minutes mugging at their camera with your writer-face (note: do not look directly at writer-face, for your own safety).

Then you have to decide what to wear, where to take the photo, and how to pose (or not-pose, if you want to pretend that you just happened to have a photo snapped – what a surprise! – during the normal course of the day).

So, since writers have to live with these photos for years and years (or, in the case of some writers, decades – this is a separate issue), I decided to write a few posts about the magic that is the author photo. Stay tuned for the first one very shortly. And yes, my own author photo moment is approaching, which may have something to do with this subject being on my mind.

Photo credit (minus text): Leslie Watts via sxc.hu

Working from Home

2011-08-29T20:30:00.005-04:00

I've been working from home for a while. It's pretty awesome in a lot of ways (my commute is zero minutes! No weird bathroom-sharing situations! I don't break down and buy countless slices of apple cake from Mystic Muffin anymore! Wait, maybe that last one is a drawback) but it definitely has it's own set of issues.

Which is why I must direct you to The Oatmeal's webcomic about working at home, which made me laugh so hard, alone in my apartment, that it basically became a meta-thematic performance art piece.

Check out the rest of his stuff if you have a moment (or 100) to spare.

RIP Jack Layton

2011-08-22T11:52:00.005-04:00

This is truly sad news. Jack Layton, the Leader of the Opposition, has died today at age 61. You can read the story on the CBC News website.

I'm a huge fan of Jack Layton, as well as of his wife, Olivia Chow (my MP) and his son, Mike Layton, a wonderful city councillor in Toronto.

Jack Layton was a positive, progressive, tireless crusader. He cared about vulnerable people, about families, about the planet and about making Canada a great, just and sustainable place to live. We are all poorer for his loss, but his legacy is very much alive.

I don't want to get political here. No matter what side of the aisle you sit on, Jack Layton was a great Canadian resource, a fiercely intelligent and dedicated worker. My deepest sympathies are with his family, friends and loved ones. The country is mourning with you.

Update: I wanted to add a link to Layton's final letter, written two days before he died. It's posted here on CBC and it's deeply moving.

Derek McCormack + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2011-08-17T22:46:00.005-04:00

TATAS (my interview series asking Toronto authors to tell me about their favourite local spots) is not dead! I still have a few good ones in the hopper, including today's featured writer, the lovely local literary star Derek McCormack.

Derek is a writer, journalist, bookseller and very well-dressed gent. Toronto book lovers can thank him not only for his own excellent books, but also for his support of other writers through his work at Type Books and with indie art project/micro-publisher The Book Bakery.

Read on for the inside scoop from Derek.

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Derek McCormack

Your favourite...

Place to see a movie?
Lightbox.

Writing spot?
My couch! That's also my fave napping spot.

Bookstore or library branch?
Type Books, Toronto Ref.

Grocery or food store?
Fiesta Farms.

Park or outdoor spot?
Trinity-Bellwoods.

Little-known hangout?
Capital Espresso is a well-known hangout that's great.

Booze-serving establishment?
The Beaver, No One Writes to the Colonel.

Annual or recurring event?
Easter.

Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue?
MKG 127, Mercer Union, Clint Roenisch, Birch Libralato.

Underrated/usually reviled spot?
Toronto Western.

We're getting close to the end of TATAS, but there are a few more instalments that are definitely worth dropping by to read. I'll wrap up at the end of the summer, but in the meantime, check out my day job for more literary goodness.

Narrative Perspective: What's Your Favourite?

2011-07-15T16:17:00.003-04:00

One of the things I do in my ridiculously awesome new job is post polls asking people about their reading habits and other literary-themed questions.

I've just posted a new poll about a subject I love, so I'm double-dipping by posting here as well!

Mosey over to Open Book: Toronto and tell us: What is your favourite narrative perspective to read in fiction?

Vikki Vansickle + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2011-07-12T22:17:00.006-04:00

So I'm way behind on posting interviews for the Toronto According to Authors Survey, but rest assured I have a few more good ones in the pipeline.

Today we have the lovely Vikki Vansickle, YA author, bookseller, library goddess and (for full disclosure) a great friend of mine (and a total fox - look at that photo). Vikki published her first book, Words that Start with B, with Scholastic last year and already has a sequel coming out later this year. She has a Masters in Children's Literature and conducts workshops in schools and libraries as well as through the Harbourfront Centre. She's basically superhuman.

But I will let you get the goods from Vikki herself. Enjoy!

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Vikki Vansickle

Your favourite...

Place to see a movie?

The Cumberland. Great selection of films and fountain pop options.

Writing spot?

My living room, which features a big bay window and lots of light. I've also been known to work at Ezra's Pound on Dupont. They have great scones.

Bookstore or library branch?
My favourite bookshop will always be The Flying Dragon.

Grocery or food store?

Nancy's Cheese.

Park or outdoor spot?

Toronto Island. Beaches, petting zoo, funky houses, tons of cats. What more do you need?

Little-known hangout?

I love grabbing a post-show drink in the upstairs bar in the main space at Theatre Passe Muraille.

Booze-serving establishment?

Eat My Martini.

Annual or recurring event?
Summerworks Theatre Festival.

Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue?

Supermarket in Kensington.

Underrated/usually reviled spot?

Hot dog carts. I have a weakness for street meat.

There you have it. The charming Vikki has spoken, and I've got a few more surveys before the series wraps up. So stay tuned!

Music and Lyrics

2011-07-12T22:11:00.003-04:00

The lovely Dani Couture has kindly included me in a series she is doing about music and writers (specifically, what literary folks listen to while stationed at the keyboard/notebook/typewriter).

Check it out here - Dani even put together a YouTube playlist of all the videos. The list isn't very coherent, but they are all (in my humble opinion) great songs.

How about you? What (if anything) do you listen to while writing?

Lawrence Hill: Pure Class

2011-06-21T14:07:00.005-04:00

So I'm sure some of you are aware of the controversy brewing around the Dutch edition of Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes. A group in the Netherlands has announced they will burn the book on June 22 (aka tomorrow). The point of contention is the title, which the group (a collective that lobbies for reparations for the descendants of slaves) interprets as racist and offensive.

Obviously this group of people are well-intentioned, or have been in previous activities. But the moment you decide to make your point with intimidation and censorship, you lose your credibility and do a disservice to your own message. Targeting Hill, a writer whose work (both fiction and non-fiction) has been universally praised for opening valuable dialogues around race identities and relations, seems frankly bizarre. They do have Google in the Netherlands, right?

Hill responded to the group via a balanced and thoughtful piece in the Toronto Star. I appreciate that Hill was so measured in his response but also assertive.

Also, just to clarify, the title of the book is taken from a real historical document. It's not meant to represent the actual book. But then, you'd have to read the book to know that, and that's a bit difficult if the only copy you have is, say for example, on fire.

Taddle Creek party time summer fun

2011-06-16T16:07:00.006-04:00

Hello ladies and gents. I'm thrilled to announce I will be reading at the Taddle Creek summer launch party on Friday (tomorrow) evening. It all happens at Jet Fuel Coffee Shop (519 Parliament in Cabbagetown) starting at 8:30pm. Word on the street is that contributing authors have to take shifts minding the grill, so if you've ever read this blog and thought, "I'd like her to cook me some meat or meat-alternative", then this is the event for you.

Taddle Creek is one of those magazines I started reading when I first moved to Toronto and found my way to Pages on Queen (RIP) and Magazine International on College, where there were stacks and stacks of literary magazines to buy, read and drool over. TC was always on my dreamy "someday" list and now that I've managed to insinuate myself between the covers, I'm pretty much going to wallpaper my apartment with copies.

So c'mon out and listen to me read a weird (short) piece about a guy who is maybe a spy or maybe not, and get a copy of the magazine and read my piece about teenage Bible trivia champions. And if none of that is really your speed (how is that even possible), well then how about the amazing other folks gracing the pages, including James Lindsay, Damian Rogers, Alexandra Leggat, Dani Couture and David Ross (and I edited that list down! There are more fantastic people!). Not to mention a cover by the amazing Jack Dylan.

If you miss this one, your eyes and brain might be really mad at you for a while.

Zoe Whittall + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2011-06-15T19:41:00.007-04:00

I'm late updating the TATAS series! Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. If I can plead my case: I just left my job and started a new one. And it was my birthday yesterday (a lady never tells). It's been a whirlwind and though I was sad to part ways with the awesome folks at my old gig, I'm hugely excited to start the next chapter.

Okay, enough excuses. This week's TATAS answers come from the amazing Zoe Whittall, a writer who Toronto would brag about if it had a mouth. Zoe's just won a Lambda Award for her Holding Still as Long as Possible. The Globe & Mail said of Zoe: "Whittall might just be the cockiest, brashest, funniest, toughest, most life-affirming, elegant, scruffy, no-holds-barred writer to emerge from Montreal since Mordecai Richler." WOW. I am very glad that Toronto has managed to adopt the extremely talented Zoe Whittall.

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Zoe Whittall

Your favourite...

1. Place to see a movie
At the drive-in down by the water. Every year we dork out and blow up an air mattress in the back of our car and watch whatever terrible or terribly amazing films are showing back to back.

2. Writing spot
Lately I've been writing at the Hub Cafe on Shaw street. It's close to my house, and has the most exquisite tiny egg sandwiches and someone always plays The Smiths or The Bronski Beat at some point during my stay.

3. Bookstore or library branch
I love Type Books for its beautiful space and nicely curated selection by the smarties who work there; I love Another Story for its great selection of political non-fiction, queer books and lovely booksellers. I'm also a longtime supporter of The Toronto Women's Bookstore & Glad Day, of obvious reasons.

4. Grocery or food store
Fiesta Farms on Christie - best lez hangout in the west end. Brown rice is constantly on sale. Plus I feel like I always see the Broken Social Scene people there buying cheap health foods.

5. Park or outdoor spot
I like Bickford Park for its cave-like qualities. Lots of handsome dogs hang out and run around there, and I can watch them and daydream about eventually having enough room in my house to have a dog.

6. Little-known hangout
My backyard?

7. Booze-serving establishment
Ah. I rarely go out, but when I do I enjoy The Henhouse on Dundas, and The Beaver.

8. Annual or recurring event
My favourite day of the year is the first day where it is warm enough to bike without wearing tights or a jacket, and drink iced coffee. As for an official event, I love Word on The Street. It's like Disneyland for me with all those cheap books and free readings.

9. Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue
I'm trying to be a stand-up comic right now, so I'm appreciating the Comedy Bar. Great folks there.

10. Underrated and/or usually reviled spot
I'm so out of touch with what's reviled or popular - egads. I guess most older cynical queers hate the gay village, but once a year I like to go there and remember how it looked to me at 18 - kind of magical and gross at the same time.

(Photo of Zoe Whittall borrowed from http://zoewhittall.blogspot.com/)

Jacob McArthur Mooney + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2011-06-03T09:58:00.006-04:00

Today on the Toronto According to Authors Survey stage we have Jacob McArthur Mooney: poet, journalist, event host, blogger, critic and general genius type. Jacob published his first collection of poetry, The New Layman's Almanac, with M&S (this is pretty unheard of, by the way, and ridiculously impressive) in 2008. His fab new collection, Folk, was just released this spring.

About his first collection, The Globe and Mail said: "This is Canada speaking, loud, clear, quirky and unashamed to be itself." Which kind of melted my heart. Jacob is hilarious, his writing is fresh, his blog is amazing and seems to get under the skin of folks whose skin could use a little getting-under. What more could you want?

How about a great set of TATAS answers? Read on!

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Jacob McArthur Mooney

Your favourite...

1. Place to see a movie
I don't live there anymore, but I'll still take the Rainbow Cinemas at the Woodbine Centre in Rexdale. Everyone talks love at the Carlton and the Varsity downtown, but every time I go there some dude in a hat talks the whole way through my movie. I prefer the underground spot the horsies.

2. Writing spot
My apartment. But, if my apartment is on fire, I'll hit Big Guys' Coffee Shop on antiques hill on Queen West, in Parkdale. I hear he has an older location in Mimico, too. Though I don't know what a "Mimico" is.

3. Bookstore or library branch
It's Type Books on Queen. Lots of love for Ben McNally's on Bay though, too. I'll throw some love out to The River (Parkdale, Queen West) if we're talking used or cheaper books.

4. Grocery or food store
Harvest Farms, Queen and Sorauren. I recommend the tofu noodles. I recommend NOT boiling them in the water they come shipped in. That was a hard lesson.

5. Park or outdoor spot
Sorauren Park is pretty great, but if I had to pick a favourite I'd go back to Rexdale and spread some love for the Humber Arboretum. That's a great place to get lost in.

6. Little-known hangout
Lots of great ones. Anywhere in Parkdale that serves Momos would be great. Le Tibet, Om, Shangrila. Also, the Tibet Cafe in Kensington does a thoroughly badass avocado sandwich. Mezzrow's is another great Parkdale spot, obviously (editor's note: fish tank!). Chopin, on Ronces, too.

7. Booze-serving establishment
Oh shit, I started to answer this question in the last one's space. This is what I get for not reading ahead. My friends and I have a standing arrangement whereby we go to The Intersteer, on Roncesvalles, every week or so and play the jukebox and drink. I also have a soft spot for The Rhino, even though every time I go in there I feel eight percent older and less cool than the previous time. Basically, it's The Intersteer. But don't go there, it's too busy already.

8. Annual or recurring event
Baseball season? I would normally say "The Scream Literary Festival", but I hear that's done this year.

9. Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue
I tend to avoid concerts. I mean, I need to really love the band or else it's just too much crowd for me. I'm into Pivot, at the Press Club. I can handle that crowd. As for theatre, I like it all, really. If I had to pick one I'd take Soulpepper, though.

10. Underrated and/or usually reviled spot
I love Bistro 422, on College. Anyone is welcome to fight me on that.

(Photo of Jacob McArthur Mooney borrowed from of www.walrusmagazine.com)

Stacey May Fowles + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2011-05-30T15:46:00.006-04:00

It's that time again! Read below for the latest round of answers to the Toronto According to Authors Survey.

In this instalment, we get our answers from the lovely Stacey May Fowles, author of Be Good and Fear of Fighting. Stacey is a former publisher of Shameless Magazine, a fabulous magazine for feisty and brainy girls. EYE Weekly called Stacey, "Toronto's most talented writer to come out of the last generation of zine and small press scribes." On top of all that, Stacey writes witty, unflinching articles on the Walrus Magazine blog. One of Toronto's top literary lasses, we get to enjoy her take on our fair city below!

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Stacey May Fowles

Your favourite...

1. Place to see a movie
I can not tell a lie. At home. In my bed. With the dog.

2. Writing spot
Lately, The Hub on Shaw. The BOB sandwich there is a delicious weekend staple. Tequila Bookworm in the past. The coffee shop at 401 Richmond has also served me well, as the purchase of a few cups of tea and a bagel with cream cheese can get you a free pass to installing yourself there for the work day. Also? At home. In my bed.

3. Bookstore or library branch
I was a Pages devotee, may it rest in peace. Now it's Type Books on Queen. The revamped Gladstone library. There's a line up before it opens on the weekend.

4. Grocery or food store
Fiesta Farms or Kensington Market on a bike.

5. Park or outdoor spot
High Park for the dog, Trinity Bellwoods for myself. New love? West Toronto Rail Path.

6. Little-known hangout
416 Snack Bar. Bone marrow on toast, CNE donuts and a mean Manhattan. Bonus? Beautiful tattooed bartender boys.

7. Booze-serving establishment
Breakfast mimosas, Starving Artist on Lansdowne. After work, the Roxton on Harbord or (one fancy drink at) Note Bene on Queen. Late night dancing with my favourite ladies? Nothing beats Neutral. Whether you view the goth bar with all seriousness or irony, I am constantly in awe of how nice the patrons are and how clean the bathroom is.

8. Annual or recurring event
Summer?

9. Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue
The Ossington is wonderful because they'll let you read your short story, screen Buffy episodes and play the Smiths off your ipod. At least in my experience.

10. Underrated and/or usually reviled spot
The Tiff Lightbox Lounge, reviled cause it tries too hard, and Hong Fatt BBQ, reviled because it doesn't try hard enough. Both are favourites of mine.

(Photo of Stacey May Fowles from of www.theconsensualproject.com)

Michael Lista + TATAS: The Toronto According to Author Survey

2011-05-27T17:12:00.007-04:00

Welcome to the now twice-weekly Toronto According the Authors Survey!

Today we get our answers from wunderkind Michael Lista, known for his incredibly poetry, insightful reviews and stylish duds (never have I coveted a man's glasses with such fervor). Michael is the author of Bloom (House of Anansi), a poetry collection which details a day in the life of Louis Slotin, a physicist on the Manhattan Project. The Globe and Mail said of Bloom: "Not only is its face beautiful, its body yields clues both to the genetic make up of poetry - the process of parenting and birthing it - and the purpose of life." I mean, wow. Michael is one of our finest poets, and I'm very happy to have him both in Toronto and, today, on my blog. Read on for Michael's TATAS answers.

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Michael Lista

Your favourite...

1. Place to see a movie
My living room, with laptop plugged into my stereo by extra-long cable that doubles as a trip-wire.

2. Writing spot
My cluttered little office.

3. Bookstore or library branch
Type Books on Queen (editor's note: I think we have a winner, people!).

4. Grocery or food store
Sanagan's Meat Locker in Kensington.

5. Park or outdoor spot
The north end of Trinity-Bellwoods, just south of Dundas, under one of the trees where the white squirrels live.

6. Little-known hangout
The 97 square-foot Blood and Bandages barber shop on College at Dovercourt.

7. Booze-serving establishment
Brass Taps, right beside it.

8. Annual or recurring event
Spring.

9. Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue
Pivot

10. Underrated and/or usually reviled spot
The second floor balcony of the RCYC plantation house on the island, dressed up and looking at the city at dusk with a drink in your hand.

Many thanks to Michael for this. Drop in Monday to see which lovely local wordsmith is talking Toronto next.

(Photo of Michael Lista from www.rowerspubreadingseries.com)

Nathaniel G. Moore + TATAS: The Toronto According to Authors Survey

2011-05-24T13:45:00.012-04:00

It's (not technically) Monday (but there was a long weekend! So it's pseudo-Monday!) and you know what that means... and if you don't, you're in for a treat. It's the second edition of the Toronto According to Authors Survey!

This week we get our answers from the multi-talented Nathaniel G. Moore, author of Bowlbrawl, Let's Pretend We Never Met and Wrong Bar, amongst others. Nathaniel boasts ninja-level skills in journalism, poetry and fiction and probably some yet-to-be-invented genres that he navigates with ease. This is the gent about whom Eye Weekly said: "Moore can piledrive a sentence like no other." I know we were all being extra-Canadian (cough, beer, cough) this weekend, so consider the Toronto-laden fun below to be your wake up call, friends. Enjoy!

The Toronto According to Authors Survey - Answers from Nathaniel G. Moore

Your favourite...

1. Place to see a movie
Rainbow Cinema, Front Street. Dirt cheap, and you can even bring your baby (editor's note: this is my favourite place to see a movie too! Minus babies!)

2. Writing spot
I'm not telling you, but you can go to Holy Oak all you want. I like to write at Clinton's and Lakeview on napkins and things. Or on the street. Oh wait, Disgraceland. Spencer Gordon and I go there sometimes. We went there a lot in 2009. Once we saw Kevin Connolly eating a hamburger and we marked out large. (That means we got excited.)

3. Bookstore or library branch
Toronto Reference library, the Yonge and Eglinton area one is good, Palmerston and also Gladstone. I think Gladstone is the best. I've seen Russell Smith and Jason McBride there. And the librarians are helpful. A bit too helpful. Also Type Books of course.

4. Grocery or food store
The one across from Saving Gigi in the Bloor and Ossington area. And No Frill's by my brother's house at Lansdowne and Dundas. It's a great place to take your family and discuss episodes of The Cosby Show and Growing Pains.

5. Park or outdoor spot
Trinity Bellwoods, Serena Gundy, Sorauren Park

6. Little-known hangout
Monica's Bar, Bloor and Ossington. Think Mos Eisley Cantina meets Mos Eisley Cantina.

7. Booze-serving establishment
Oh I thought that's what a hangout was. Disgraceland, Hurricanes, Holy Oak and Clinton's. My friend is trying to make me go to Cloak & Dagger a lot, so we'll see. I went there once with Bill Kennedy and he said I reminded him of Duffy from Guns N' Roses. Or there was some talk of Duffy from Gn'R.

8. Annual or recurring event
Trips to the Beach where I go to lunch, the library and read at the beach and think about sharks and put my feet in the water.

9. Gallery/theatre/reading/concert venue
I like the gallery on Ossington across from 88 Ossington, that bar where Anansi had their poetry bash, you recall? My friend owns that bar! We went to Atwood's high school together. In the early 1990s.

10. Underrated and/or usually reviled spot
Green Room. This place is a historical monument in the legacy of Nathaniel G. Moore, but I never go there anymore, but have historical encounters dating back to 1994 to about 2006. The plaque reads: "Emily Spoke in Class Today".

Drop in next Monday for answers from another fabulicious Toronto writer.

(Photo of Nathaniel G. Moore from www.nathanielgmoore.net. Credit: the incomparable Derek Wuenschirs)

RIP Scream Festival & Flying Dragon

2011-05-20T13:00:00.008-04:00

I wanted to give a quick shout out to the Scream Festival in Toronto, which has announced it is shutting down after 18 years of programming. You can read about it on Quill & Quire here.

A big thank you to the brilliant Bill Kennedy and the rest of the fabulous Scream team for many years of great work. I once lost my bike key in the grass at the Scream and I still had a great time, which is definitely saying something.

In other heavy-hearted literary news, the Flying Dragon Bookshop has announced it is closing down after eight years of dedicated hand-selling, event hosting and author promoting. Here's the Quill's write up on said closing.

I worked on an event with the Flying Dragon folks and the fabulous Kathleen Winter earlier this year and it was a lovely, lovely experience. I'm so sorry to hear they're shutting down, but wanted to thank them for fighting the good fight all these years (especially my own dear Vikki Vansickle, a manager at the store, who was recently named Young Bookseller of the Year at the Lib ris Awards).