The Brockton Writers Series is a monthly literary series that welcomes established and emerging writers and the people who love to read their work. I have the pleasure of curating …
Resolutions
Many of us take a moment to reflect on our lives at this time of year and set goals for self improvement. How many of you are vowing to go …
2010 in review
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health: The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Minty-Fresh™. Crunchy …
Performance block?
Do you get writers block? Published and unpublished writers speak with dread about this phenomenon. For some it can last for days or even for years. I don’t really get …
more about Word on the Street
Check it out: I’m today’s Toronto Word on the Street guest blogger Photo courtesy of Diaspora Dialogues.
Location, location
Writers are often asked where we write. It is a question as much about writing process as it is about location. What spaces provide inspiration, focus, or unblocks a writer? …
The Morning After an Election
A long-time friend, Kristyn Wong-Tam, decided to run for City Council in Toronto. Although I’ve helped out a little in other candidates’ campaigns in the past, this was the first …
Being a clue-giver at the Diaspora Dialogues Scavenger Hunt at Word on the Street
What a lot of fun it was to be at WOTS this year. I was a clue-giver and the correct answer was “Maury”. Here’s a link to the video. Here’s …
A year of words and community
Conversations between neighbours in dog parks can lead to great things… Just over a year ago, Melanie Janisse, local poet, artist and Zoot’s Cafe owner, and I were standing around …
Word on the Street Scavenger Hunt
I think this is going to be the most fun reading I’ve ever done. Diaspora Dialogues is holding a scavenger hunt at Word on the Street, and I get to …
Suggestive reading
My review of Wayson Choy’s memoir, Not Yet, came out today. Have a look here.
Revisions, revisions
I’ve just come through the first stage of revisions and edits with Six Metres of Pavement and I’m pleased with the recent changes. Mostly, it’s small stylistic stuff and catching …
If you are in London
I’m visiting London this July! Imaan Queer Muslim Support has invited me to do a book reading and writing workshop. Check out the details here: imaan london flyer If you’re in …
Feeling Verdant
I’m so excited to be part of this amazing line-up at Verdant: Queer Writers on the Verge Saturday June 27th, 8-10pm, The Piston, 937 Bloor Street, west of Ossington. Verdant: …
Novel in a nutshell
YouTube and Google have a very cool and fun app that helps you create a 35 second video using 7 search terms. Here’s my 35 second rendition of Stealing Nasreen. …
Crafting an Income
First published Mar 30, 2010 by The Mark Today’s best Facebook status update was from a friend who is an author: “Royalty cheque finally arrived. Time to get that root …
The City as a Character
I love to write about Toronto. I’m not alone; Dionne Brand, David Chariandy, MG Vassanji, Margaret Atwood, Barbara Gowdy, and many others have situated their fiction in this city, often …
Embracing Change
I attended a very useful symposium put on by the The Writers Union of Canada this past Friday called “Secure Footing in a Changing Literary Landscape”. Well, the literary landscape has …
Six Metres of Pavement
Novel #2 has a title! After a short process of elimination, Dundurn and I have decided on “Six Metres of Pavement” as the title of my book. And we have …
A New Year, A New Book!
When I returned home from vacation, a fat envelope awaited me. Inside was a publisher’s contract which I’ve since signed and mailed today. Wahooo! So, what I anticipate for this …
Montreal Serai review
Here’s another Stealing Nasreen review, this one by Montreal Serai‘s Niranjana Iyer. I was reflecting on how a number of reviewers have specifically noticed and commented on the scene between …
Support Canadian Writers This Holiday Season
I’ve been pleased to hear that most people I know are challenging the rampant consumerism of the upcoming holiday season. Lots of us participate in gift swaps, only shop for …
Brockton Writers Series
For some time, I’ve been a proud resident of Brockton Village, in Toronto’s West End. I have a great sense of community here and I love knowing and getting to …