damian lopes was born in Scotland and raised in Canada and traces his family over much of the globe, including the UK, New Zealand, East Africa, India, and Portugal. His first book of poetry, towards the quiet (ECW), was nominated for the Gerald Lampert Award. He is also the author of Clay Lamps and Fighter Kites (Mercury), Project X 1497-1999, sensory deprivation, a collection of visual work (Coach House Books), and co-editor of A Handful of Grams: Goan Proverbs (Caju). He runs Bitwalla Design, and currently lives in Barrie, Ontario.