I’m proud that Six Metres of Pavement made it into the Kingston Writers’ Fest Top 15 Canadian Books! Have a look at all the titles:
I’m proud that Six Metres of Pavement made it into the Kingston Writers’ Fest Top 15 Canadian Books! Have a look at all the titles:
Daylight Savings
You say: let’s fall back
into timelessness
see 2 am twice.
But I have so much to do
before the hour is up:
finish my report, colour-code the closet,
regrout the tub, read that book.
With wide eyes
and a goading grin
you ask: but what if
this hour is a silver locket
holding every
shiny wish?
Let’s shut down the club
you and me
and all of humanity
sweating gratitude
onto beer-drenched floors.
Let’s swallow a drug,
make the universe vaster
climb over your neighbour’s fence
pull off sweaters
somersault underwater.
I close my eyes, think:
any wish?
I’d meet my mom on a park bench
sit hip to hip
show her all the Girl Guide badges
she didn’t get to see.
I’d gather together
strangers and intimates,
offer fragrant garlands,
blossoming apologies
for when I was clumsy,
petty and mean.
I’d use every expansive second
to learn kindness,
for in spring
we’ll lose time
rushing, rushing forward.
Farzana Doctor
For All Inclusive‘s US release, I’m “going” a month-long US virtual tour! Each weekday from October 9-November 3, I’ll be visiting a different writing/book blog. There will be interviews, reviews and short pieces about the process of writing the novel. I hope you’ll join in with your comments and questions. Here’s a list of the stops:
October 9: This and That Book Blog
October 10: Mello and June, It’s a Book Thang!
October 11: It’s Raining Books
October 12: The Avid Reader
October 13: Beyond Romance
October 16: Writers and Authors
October 17: Long and Short Reviews
October 18: Tina Donahue Books – Heat with Heart
October 19: Kit ‘N Kabookle
October 20: Book Lover Promo
October 23: Angels With Attitude Book Reviews
October 24: T’s Stuff
October 25: Dawn’s Reading Nook
October 26: Sharing Links and Wisdom
October 27: Fabulous and Brunette
October 30: Readeropolis
October 31: Books, Dreams,Life
November 1: Edgar’s Books
November 2: BooksChatter
November 3: Harlie Williams, Writer
A big thanks to Bani Amor for interviewing me for On She Goes: Travel Stories for All Women of Colour. Check it out here.
Bani will be joining me, along with Tiffanie Yanique and Julia Hori for readings and conversation about decolonizing travel and tourism on October 12th, 7-9pm at the Asian American Writers Workshop in NYC!
I have some good news! All Inclusive will be released in the US on August 5th.
You can find reviews and a synopsis here (the book’s been out in Canada for over a year).
I’m hoping to promote the book through a few events in the fall, as well as by Skyping into book clubs and doing some media/blog interviews. If you are in book club, invite me! My publisher has a book club guide and will offer a free book to the book club’s host.
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by writer colleague Cristine Cowley, who hosts a weekly radio show about authors, books and writing. We discussed social media and self-promotion, how to cope with writers block and the importance of writer community. Listen here!
Click here for information about upcoming One Book One Brampton events! Here’s a list of workshops and talks I’ll be giving:
Writers Workshop with Farzana Doctor
Brampton Library Cyril Clark Branch, 20 Loafer’s Lake Lane
March 22, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
One Book One Brampton Book Club
Brampton LIbrary Four Corners Branch, 65 Queen Street E.
April 5, 1:00-3:00pm
An Evening with Farzana Doctor
Brampton Library Cyril Clark Branch, 20 Loafer’s Lane
April 21, 6:00-8:30pm
Recently, I gave a talk and reading at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo. A University of Waterloo MA class taught by Dr. Mariam Pirbhai attended the session after reading All Inclusive. One of those students, Khadijah Plummer, wrote an interesting essay on my book, entitled “Creating Identity Through Relocation: The Resort Space in All Inclusive”. Many thanks to her! Check it out.
Doing book events in India is such a thrill for this diasporic gal! Join me if you’re there.
January 6th, 12:30pm at CoHaB IDC, University of Mumbai
January 16th, 10am, SAP Labs India Bangalore.
I believe that writer’s block is a normal, human condition where we are not really struggling with writing, but with a part of ourselves. This part is our Inner Critic. Want to learn some strategies to deal this? Click here for an article I wrote for the Australian Society of Authors.
I spoke with Mary-Lou Zeitoun about my novel ALL-INCLUSIVE, and race, sexuality, publishing, and more. Read it here!
I spoke with The South Asian News about why you should never ask authors for a free book, the art of networking and why I’ll won’t ever write a Twitter novel. Read it here!
I’ve been a fan of Shelagh Rogers and The Next Chapter for years. It was an honour to be on her show this week. Have a listen here:
It was a pleasure to meet and chat with the dynamic and warm Raj Girn. Here’s the link to the interview:
Here’s The Chat with Trevor Corkum of 49th Bookshelf.
I’m thrilled that All Inclusive has been selected as one of Kobo CA’s Best Books of the year, in the Canadian Favourites category (and it’s in very excellent company)! Kobo folks will receive double Kobo points when purchasing any best-of-the-year title.
I’m giddy that All Inclusive has made this National Post best books list! See the list here.
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Rob McClennan. No one’s ever asked me #12 before. Have a look here.
“Altogether, an absorbing read. Farzana Doctor has used humour, heartache, joy and eroticism, to produce a compelling story of self-discovery with characters that we cheer on as they struggle towards a satisfactory conclusion.”
Thanks to Jeanne Duperreault for this review! Read more here.