Canlit

CHEMICAL VALLEY Available for Pre-Order

I am thrilled to announce the impending publication of my second book of short stories, Chemical Valley, now available for pre-order from the publisher, Biblioasis, or your local independent bookstore. There are lots of people to thank, including editor John Metcalf, designer Ingrid Paulson, my agent Stephanie Sinclair, and all the wonderful folks at Biblioasis. Also, as always, Natasha, for weathering the storm of my making.

I have several events lined up, at which I’ll be reading from this new work. Please do consider joining, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like more info.

Promotional events:

Mid-Novemeber, Chemical Valley online reading and interview, hosted by On Paper Books (online, exact date TBA)                

Mid-October, 2021, Online launch, Chemical Valley, sponsored by Biblioasis (online, exact date TBA)

September 24th, Lunenburg Literary Festival

September 17th, 18th, or 19th (exact date TBA) University of King’s College Literary Society Eco Themed Reading, at King’s in Kjipuktuk/(Halifax) [in-person event]

August 27th, Wild Threads Literary Festival, PEI, morning workshop and evening reading (in-person events):

August 17th: Frye Jam, The Frye Literary Festival, 8 p.m. Aberdeen Cultural Centre, Moncton (in-person event)

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Humanimus Nominated for Atlantic Book Award

So pleased that my strange little poetic collection, Humanimus, has been shortlisted for the J.M. Abraham Atlantic Poetry Award! The book was chosen from collections published across Atlantic Canada last year. You can buy a copy of Humanimus from your local bookstore, or from the publisher, Palimpsest Press: https://palimpsestpress.ca/books/humanimus/

The winner will be announced at the Atlantic Book Awards Gala on Thursday May 13th. The online event (http://atlanticbookawards.ca/time-to-celebrate-join-us-for-the-virtual-2021-atlantic-book-awards-gala/) is free to attend. Hope to see you there!

As a follow-up, I’ll be chatting craft with Tammy Armstrong, Afua Cooper, and Anne Simpson on Tuesday May 18th. This event, hosted by Amanda Peters, is also free to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3aw5zlcFQSGM5QIztGskqQ. Come out, join the chat, get crafty!

    PS Review & Best Canadian Stories 2018

    Somehow back in April I missed this lovely review of Peninsula Sinking from Jeremy Gilmer at The East. It’s one of the most thorough and thoughtful reviews the book has received. Gilmer describes the stories in PS as “rooms full of wonder that will play tricks of light with our hearts and heads,” adding that there “are forests behind this first sight of treeline, and I welcome the dark journey.”

    In other recent news, I’m quite tickled to have a story included in Best Canadian Stories 2018, edited by Russell Smith. The volume features stories by some writers I’ve long admired, including Lisa Moore, Stephen Marche, and Lynn Coady. There’s talk of a Toronto launch on November 15th and I, for one, can’t wait to nervously skulk the outskirts of this crowd.

    Book Deal: Peninsula Sinking

    Unbearably happy to report that my short fiction collection, Peninsula Sinking, is now under contract with Biblioasis. I’ll be fine-tuning the stories over the next few months with editor extraordinaire John Metcalf, whose work as both an editor and a writer I deeply admire. The book will be in print some time next year, likely fall 2017 or spring 2018. Needless to say, I’m ecstatic that the book landed at Biblioasis, its ideal home. I’ve been eagerly reading recent Biblioasis short fiction collections by the likes of Trillium winner Kevin Hardcastle, Jack Hodgins winner Kris Bertin, and Giller-nominated Kathy Page, and I’m excited–if a little intimidated–to add my work to this catalogue. I’m also deeply grateful to all the friends, writers, agents, editors, and teachers that have helped me out along the way.