Author Archives: Nicole Chin

The Writing Life, Spaces and Places with Ian Kamau

Ian Kamau

Ian Kamau’s talent spans across genres. He is a writer, producer, musician and visual artist, collaborating with notable figures like Shad, Dionne Brand and k-os. Simply put, for Ian Kamau creative expression isn’t a choice, it’s a part of who he is. With a distinct voice and style, this Toronto native’s work has been making […]

Lost Loves: Dismantling the Books I Once Loved

Old books

In the furthest corner of my parent’s basement, beneath a tiny window that casts dusty light over my old futon, there’s a box buried beneath piles of other boxes. I am going to extract it from its cardboard-cobweb prison, because in it are all the chapter books I owned as a child and I want […]

How’s it going between you and your writing?

Jon Chan Simpson’s writing is both whimsy and wit. His novel, Chinkstar, explores culture, race and history culminating in a hilarious, vivid and unforgettable debut. As this month’s guest contributor, Jon’s undeniably unique voice explores the writer’s relationship with writing with his very own diagnostic quiz. Take it, read about his own personal experiences with writing […]

On Adrian Belew and Defying Expectations

For the last year, I’ve been working on a manuscript. Its working title: Letters to Adrian Belew. “That’s unexpected” is the usual response I receive when I share this with people––that is, if they know who Adrian Belew is at all. The byline on Belew’s Twitter profile notes him as “one of the world’s guitar […]

The Writing Life, Spaces and Places with Sofia Mostaghimi

Sofia Mostaghimi

Say hello to one of Toronto’s very own emerging writers-to-watch, Sofia Mostaghimi. Her work has appeared in The Unpublished City Anthology (curated by Dionne Brand), THIS Magazine and Joyland Magazine, just to name a few. And, she’s also appeared at IFOA and Word on the Street. If you’re already swooning, you’re in good company! Read […]

The imaginative world

The warm weather isn’t here yet, but we can still dream! Come take a trip with us as we explore the past and present inspirations for our Spring 2018 authors’ work. We spoke to Susannah M. Smith to see what sparked the creation of her new release, The Fairy Tale Museum, and what continues to […]

On processes and becoming

The warm weather isn’t here yet, but we can still dream! Come take a trip with us as we explore the past and present inspirations for our Spring 2018 authors’ work. We spoke to Eric Schmaltz to see what sparked the creation of his new release, Surfaces, and what continues to inspire him. Last but not […]

The beauty of the small

The warm weather isn’t here yet, but we can still dream! Come take a trip with us as we explore the past and present inspirations for our Spring 2018 authors’ work. We spoke to Cameron Anstee to see what sparked the creation of his new release, Book of Annotations, and what continues to inspire him. […]