Depending on your definition of summer, it’s more or less here! Grab a blanket and some snacks, and let’s head to the park! And a hat; don’t forget a hat. And water; it’s important to hydrate. Okay, now let’s head to the park! These four reads are the perfect companion to an easy afternoon of […]
“Whatever their form—tiny or massive, domed or open, concrete or wood or brick, or bleachers made from aluminum—ballparks are host to something so spiritually, aesthetically, emotionally, and intellectually stimulating as to elevate them, whatever their architectural shortcomings.”Andrew Forbes Amen. It’s a lazy summer day and ball is done for the Jays and me. I only […]
Have you ever been reading at a bus stop or in a coffee shop, and a passerby stops in their tracks and gestures at your book with a quizzical expression? If so, then you’ve likely been seen reading a book with a title that garnered a second look. How to Get Along with Women by […]
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 […]
My first introduction to author Jael Richardson, founder and artistic director of The Festival of Literary Diversity was after she was invited to speak while I was taking a nonfiction class with writer Ayelet Tsabari. Jael wrote the memoir The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, A Father’s Life. It’s about her journey to find her […]
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 […]
“If only every day were opening day.” – Mary Schmich For those who have already set a countdown timer for MLB Opening Day 2019, these three books will affirm your love of the game, the off-kilter joys, the sorrows and the wonder of North America’s national pastime. Baseball Life Advice by Stacey May Fowles (McClelland […]
When A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle was published in January 1962, it had been rejected twenty-six times by publishers. She tried to sell the book for 2 ½ years. Publishers weren’t sure what genre A Wrinkle in Time was or whether it was written for children or adults. Today it is classified as […]
By Jeremy Hanson-Finger, author of Death and the Intern One problem I’ve struggled with as a writer is keeping track of the changes I make to my work during the editorial process. Organizing the versions of the text that correspond to each step in the production schedule is easy enough. You send your editor your […]
Small Claims author Andrew Kaufman tackled the CBC Books Magic 8 Q&A, wherein he answered eight randomly selected questions submitted by eight fellow writers. Here’s an excerpt: 1. Matti Friedman asks, “If you could go somewhere on earth right now, where would it be?” Zipolite, Mexico. But not the Zipolite of now — the […]