Sheila Watson published the iconic novel, The Double Hook, in 1959 and influenced the writing styles of many Canadian authors who followed her, including: Robert Kroetsch, Michael Ondaatje, George Bowering, Daphne Marlatt and others. This is the first collection of essays devoted to all of Watson's writing as well as her work as editor and mentor. The collection examines not only The Double Hook but also the first novel she wrote, Deep Hollow Creek (published in 1992), her short stories and the McLuhan connection. The contributors include: Caterina Edwards, E. D. Blodgett, Mary G. Hamilton, George Melnyk, Margaret Morriss, Margot Northey, Glenn Willmott, and Sergiy Yakovenko. The collection also features material from Sheila Watson herself, including her notes on "How to read Ulysses. " Joseph Pivato is editor and contributor. The cover photo is by Rowland McMaster from 1976.

Joseph Pivato is Professor Emeritus of Literary Studies at Athabasca University in Edmonton. His Ph.D. is in Comparative Literature. When he held The Mariano Elia Chair in Italian-Canadian Studies at York University in 1987-88, he taught the first course on Italian-Canadian literature offered anywhere. In 1985 he edited Contrasts: Comparative Essays on Italian-Canadian Writing which became a seminal book promoting ethnic minority writing. His other publications include: Africadian Atlantic: Essays on George Elliott Clarke (2012), Echo: Essays on Other Literatures (1994), Mary di Michele: Essays on Her Works (2007), The Anthology of Italian-Canadian Writing (1998), and Caterina Edwards: Essays in Her Works (2000). His new books are: Sheila Watson: Essays on Her Works (2015), and Rina Del Nin Cralli, From Friuli: Poems in Friulan, with English Translations (2015, Longbridge Books, Montreal).