My writing about books, authors, and publishing has contributed to more than a decade of Canada’s literary news and opinion. From 2018 to 2021 I was a frequent contributor to the books pages of the Globe and Mail. I have also written for the National Post and Toronto Star and reviewed books for the Globe. My popular column about Toronto’s literary scene ran on open-book.ca for six years.
GLOBE AND MAIL
- Winter 2021 Book Preview | 36 new releases
- The Giller Prize shortlist reflects these unprecedented times | Analysis of the 2020 Giller Prize shortlist
- Fall Books Preview 2020 | 68 new and forthcoming releases
- Summer Books preview 2020 | 34 of the season’s hottest reads
- Spring Books preview 2020 | 38 new and upcoming titles
- The industry adapts to COVD-19 lockdown | Two stories about literary events and publishers working overtime to change their spring lineup
- Teva Harrison’s Not One of these Poems Is About You | a Q&A with Harrison’s editor and husband on the process of completing her posthumous collection
- Winter books preview: 36 books to get you through until spring | seasonal fiction, non-fiction and poetry preview
- What does the loss of the RBC Taylor Prize mean for Canadian Non-fiction?
- Canadian authors receive multiple honours at Writers’ Trust Awards
- Trans poet Gwen Benaway calls Governor General’s Award win ‘very frightening’
- Ducks, Newburyport is shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It came close to never being published – on the big-buzz 1,000 page novel on this year’s Booker shortlist and the Canadian independent publisher ensuring its North American success
- Fall literary award season 2019 – long and shortlists
- Globe Books fall preview 2019
- How emerging writers programs are opening doors for Canada’s diverse talent
- The summer’s best books | seasonal preview (pictured at top)
- Globe Books spring preview: 37 books to dive into as the weather warms up
- Canadian cellist Ian Hampton back in the spotlight as an RBC Taylor Prize nominee
- Winter 2019 bumper books preview
- Fall literary award season – winners
- Fall literary award season – covering the shortlists as they roll out
- Globe Books fall 2018 preview
- Festival of Trees shines celebrity spotlight on children’s authors | feature
- The scoop on summer reads | seasonal fiction preview
- Why the outcome of Porcupine’s Quill deal could affect small presses
- Celebrating poetry in its mass-market moment | Griffin Poetry Prize piece
- Six journeys to the Amazon First Novel shortlist | Literary award preview
- Donner Prize finalists aim to shape Canadian public policy discussions | Literary award preview
- Breaking Down the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize shortlist | Literary award preview
- Globe Books Spring Preview 2018 | Preview
- Former Rogers president Ken Whyte launches publishing house
- The Most Anticipated Books of the First Half of 2018 | Preview
TORONTO STAR
- Lessons from a Prison Book Club | An interview with Ann Walmsley, author of The Prison Book Club
REVIEWS (Globe and Mail, National Post)
- Anne Enright, The Forgotten Waltz
- Jane Gardam, Last Friends
- Emannuel Kattan, Love Alone
- Eric Klinenberg, Going Solo
- Alexander Masters, A Life Discarded: 148 Diaries Found in a Skip
- Amelie Nothomb, Hygiene and the Assassin
- Karen Thompson Walker, The Age of Miracles
SELECTED COLUMNS (open-book.ca)
- Ten Years of Type | A beloved indie bookstore celebrates a big birthday, and a columnist reflects on a decade of life in Toronto shared
- Festival Like a Pro at Toronto’s Great Big Literary Party | A festival-going guide to the International Festival of Authors.
- Booking Up: With big, big names at no, no prices, Appel Salon events are filling up fast | A season preview for the Toronto Public Library’s Salon.
- On the Sensory Pleasures of Putting Pen to Paper | In praise of pens and ink pots.
- Could We Can the Cover Copy? | Raging against the spoilers.
- Booksellers for a Day | Authors mobilize in support of indie bookstores at the first Canadian Authors for Indies Day.
- The Word on the Street and the Weather | 200,000+ Torontonians take to the street to celebrate reading, rain or shine.
- The Week We Wayzgoosed | A new publishing season is in session after Coach House Books’ annual bash.
- Prom Night for WORN | A fashion magazine with a difference celebrates the launch of its first book.
- National Poetry Month Exercise | A poetry-reading procrastinator gets motivated.
- The Risk of the Long Read | On TV-viewing marathons and the return of The Long Novel.
- A Foot in the Door, A Brogue in the Basket | What did your first boss do to (or hopefully for) you?
- Welcome to the World’s Biggest Book Club | Reading Dan Brown and taking on book snobs.
- A VJ Looks Back, Publishes Forward | A record label gets into the book biz with enhanced music memoir.
- (R)age Appropriate | Freedom to Read Week and banning books in schools.
- Toronto: Great Idea | Edward Keenan’s look at Toronto post-amalgamation.
- Judging a Book | On dipped edges and catching the eye.
- The Book Diet | On roughage, motivational bookshelves, and finding poetry in weighing the mayor.
- Don’t Know Zarganar? Joke’s on You | Meeting Burma’s “most famous opposition figure.”
- Wither (sic) the CanLit? | “To say that these books aren’t Canadian enough is absurd.” On this year’s award nominees
- The Circus is in Town | Is The Night Circus worth all the hype?
- Planes, Trains, Ondaatje-mobiles | From the international launch of The Cat’s Table at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
- The News of the World of 1812 | Where we find (or steal) our stories.
- The Book Bakery | A library in the palm of your hand, an artwork in the pages of your library.
- Party Politics | Celebrating our freedom of speech.
- When Tattoos Get Serious Ink | The Scando-crime phenomenon lifts genre fiction out of the ghetto.
- Literary Insurance Policy: Tassels, Beads and Bananas Included | Fundraising for BRICK magazine, 1920s style.
- Keep Your Eye on the Many Values of the Prize | Why there are many winners with literary awards.
- IFOA Hamilton: Festival-goer on Tour | Does Toronto’s provincial festival partner still have pizzazz?
- To Do: Make List | Fall is the season of the fiction prize.
- Library Worker by Day, Library Socialite by Night | The Toronto Public Library is cool for more than its Air Con..
- The CanPub World Cup of Bookball | A play-by-play of a rocky month in publishing, as told by a soccer nut.
- Toronto The Good and Well Written | On reading Shawn Micallef’s Stroll and walking literary Toronto.
- The Evolution of an Independent Bookstore | Type Books thrives by the laws of Darwin.