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Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
Two Poems: In the Capital City of Autumn
Tim Bowling’s new collection of poetry In the Capital City of Autumn (Wolsak and Wynn) shows off his masterful skill of language and imagery with poems that draw our attention to universal themes of loss, the passage of time, and finding home. We share two poems from the collection below.
ALU Summer Book Club: An Interview with Valérie Bah, author of The Rage Letters
When writing the stories that would become linked collection The Rage Letters (Metonymy Press), author Valérie Bah sought and found “patterns in the heterogeneity” that grew a community of characters from disparate experiences in Montreal. Read on for our interview with Bah about how our August book club pick came to be.
In House: Book Blurbing – A Model of Good Faith
This In House segment is courtesy of Palimpsest Press publicist Vanessa Shields who takes us through the process of book blurbing.
Under the Cover: The Genius Hour Project by Leanne Shirtliffe
Leanne Shirtliffe’s debut middle-grade novel The Genius Hour Project (Thistledown Press) follows the middle-school experiences of eleven-year-old Frazzy and her obsession with music and garage sale outings. Today, Leanne Shirtliffe tells us about her funny female protagonist, what garage sales have to do with her book, and writing about mental health.
Two Poems: Holy Winter by Maria Stepanova, translated by Sasha Dugdale
In her book-length poem, Holy Winter (Book*hug Press), acclaimed author and one of Russia’s most influential literary figures, Maria Stepanova speaks of winter and war, banishment and exile, social isolation and existential abandonment. Translated by Sasha Dugdale, the long poem blends confusing signals from the media and social networks, love letters, travelogues, and fairy tales,…
ALU Summer Book Club: Intro to The Rage Letters
Our ALU summer book club rages on with our August pick, Valérie Bah’s The Rage Letters (Metonymy Press), a collection of linked stories of the lives and loves of queer and trans people of colour living in Montreal. Read on for our interview with Metonymy Press publishers Ashley and Oliver, as well as translator Kama…
Writer’s Block: Raymond Beauchemin
Hot on the heels of his latest release, the collection of novellas The Emptiest Quarter (Signature Editions), Raymond Beauchemin joins us to tell us his thoughts on writer’s block, writing in general, napping, and more.
Excerpted: Felt by Mark Blagrave
Mark Blagrave’s new novel, Felt (Cormorant Books) is a multi-generational story about family, immigration, and memory that follows a museum curator who returns home to his mother in New Brunswick to help her deal with her developing Alzheimer’s. Read a passage from the novel, below.
Two Poems: Excerpts from a Burned Letter
Joelle Barron’s new collection of poetry Excerpts from a Burned Letter (Nightwood Editions) features “hauntings” from historical or fictional characters, recasting their lives to where their queerness is explicit and acknowledged. We share two poems from the collection below.
Gripping the Pen: On Writing and Death by Kaleigh Trace
When I found out that I was going to die, my first response was a great gripping. My career, my confidence, my sense of futurity—I tugged at them all, trying to hold everything close. My pull was both relentless and ineffective. Everything was leaving me.
Writer’s Block: Richard Van Camp
How does an author write 30 books in 30 years? We ask Tlicho Dene writer Richard Van Camp, who’s due to release books number 29 and 30 this October – one of them being the Indigenous horror graphic novel, ROTH (Renegade Arts).
Excerpted: Pet, Pet, Slap by Andrew Battershill
The prequel to Pillow, Andrew Battershill’s 2016 Scotiabank Giller Prize-longlisted novel, Pet, Pet, Slap (Coach House Books) is a mashup of underdog sports story and existential mystery novel. In this standalone prequel, we follow the zany misadventures of young boxer, “Pillow Fist” Pete Wilson as he tries to find the motivation to train for his…
Two Poems: Disorder
In her new collection Disorder (Gordon Hill Press), poet concetta principe explores the relationship between the home and the mind – and how perceptions of a home’s “safety” can be troubled by mental illness. We share two poems from the collection below.
ALU Summer Book Club: Follow-up Reads After Anomia
What’s after Anomia? We offer four fantastic follow-ups to try if you loved our July book club pick as much as we did.
Writer’s Block: Nathan Hellner-Mestelman
All of our featured Writer’s Block writers are special, but Nathan Hellner-Mestelman may also have the distinction of being the youngest writer we’ve ever featured! We interview teenager Nathan about his writing habits, asking the world’s big questions, and his non-fiction book for young adults, Cosmic Wonder (Linda Leith Publishing).
Got any book recommendations?