Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Excerpt: Read from Kimia Eslah’s latest novel, Enough
In her third novel Enough (Fernwood Publishing), Kimia Eslah takes on the empty promises of corporate DEI initiatives through the experiences of three women of colour navigating the structural racism and microaggressions of their workplaces. This excerpt features one of the protagonists, Sameera Jahani, as she grapples with a racist encounter at work.
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Poetry in Motion: Barbara Pelman + A Brief and Endless Sea
What does it mean to wait? Barbara Pelman draws on Jewish traditions to explore the idea of waiting – and what it can yield – through the poems in her fourth collection, A Brief and Endless Sea (Caitlin Press). She reads a work that kicks off the collection in today’s feature.
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An Interview with Kathryn Mockler, author of Anecdotes
Poet, writer, and teacher Kathryn Mockler talks with us about the differences – or lack thereof – between writing poetry and fiction, what she’s reading right now, and about her new collection of stories, Anecdotes (Book*hug Press).
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Off/Kilter: A Hallo-Reads Roundup
Happy Halloween! This roundup of six spooky reads that are sure to keep you turning pages well past the witching hour is our cavity-free gift to you to celebrate the season. Better yet: scroll through to find your favourite scary film and find its perfect follow-up read.
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First Fiction Friday: The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories
A literary-speculative hybrid debut by Rebecca Hirsch Garcia The Girl Who Cried Diamonds & Other Stories (ECW Press) is a collection of 14 dark, uncanny stories that bring to mind writers like Carmen Maria Machado, Kim Fu, and André Alexis.
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Two Poems: Elementary Particles
Sneha Madhavan-Reese’s new collection Elementary Particles (Brick Books) is part family history, part scientific exploration of the world. The poems take us from India to Michigan and consider ancestral language, planetary histories, transformations, and loss. We share two poems from the collection, below.
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Writer’s Block: Lucy E.M. Black
Acclaimed short story writer and novelist, Lucy E.M Black (recentlyThe Brickworks from Now or Never Publishing) shares the alchemy that goes into developing her characters, practical writerly advice, and why character-driven writing is the ultimate goal.
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We Need More Older Protagonists in Speculative Fiction – and Beyond by Samantha Garner
I was 18 when I decided to pursue my goal of becoming a published author. Twenty-three years later, my goal was achieved with my debut literary sci-fi novel The Quiet is Loud. I was 41 when it was published, but 36 when I started writing it, so making its protagonist 28 was a natural thing…
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First Fiction Friday: The Economy of Sparrows
In his debut novel The Economy of Sparrows, (Thistledown Press) naturalist Trevor Herriot offers an innovative look at climate change and our shared grief over the loss of our natural habitat. Read on for more about the novel, and why readers of Guy Vanderhaeghe will especially appreciate it.
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Writer’s Block: J.R. Burgmann
J.R. Burgmann—author of Children of Tomorrow (Great Plains Publications) a cli-fi novel that shows us hurtling towards a grim future reality while remaining hopeful in its portrayal of our collective humanity—shares with us what he’s working on next (“involving a lot of Tarantino-esque Nazi punching!”), the toughest part of being a writer, and his tips…
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National Speak Up for Victims of Sexual Abuse Day: An Excerpt from Shop Class Hall Pass
Content warning: This post mentions instances of sexual assault. If you need help, visit Ending Violence for a list of resources. For National Speak Up for Victims of Sexual Abuse Day, we’re highlighting a passage from Karin Martel’s Shop Class Hall Pass (Signature Editions), a survivor memoir that delves into the author’s difficult eighteen months…
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Two Poems: Magdaragat
An anthology of Filipino-Canadian writing Magdaragat (Cormorant Books) collects poems and other writings that highlight Filipinx experiences, histories, and identities in Canada. Read two poems from the collection from Steffi Tad-Y and Karla Comanda.
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Horror, fairy tales, and writing the surreal: An interview with Paola Ferrante
In her genre-bending short story collection, Her Body Among Animals (Book*hug Press), Paola Ferrante uses horror and fairy tale conventions to challenge the boundaries placed on women’s bodies, while also highlighting how toxic masculinity devastates women and our planet. We talk to Paola about her book, how poetry has taught her how to do fabulism,…
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Homegrown: Locally Produced Reads (October 12)
Our final batch of Homegrown fall releases from your favourite independent Canadian literary presses, include pop culture essays; queer, Black stories; a debut novel, and more.
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Where in Canada: Dancing in Small Spaces
In her heart-wrenching memoir Dancing in Small Spaces, Leslie A. Davidson discusses how she and her husband Lincoln went from ardent outdoor enthusiasts to the shock of a devastating double-diagnosis. In this essay Leslie shares how their community of Grand Forks, BC, became Lincoln’s final resting place.
Got any book recommendations?