I’m pretty thrilled to be reading at this Riddle Fence launch on August 15th in Woody Point. Why? So. Many. Reasons.

First of all, I’ve always secretly wanted to read at Writers at Woody Point even though it seemed highly unlikely (I am not a famous novelist or Jeremy freaking Dutcher). This is as close as I’m going to get, and it’s pretty swell. Also, what a festival. Seriously.

Also, Lorna Crozier was one of my first poetry profs—a big influence and support when I was first writing poetry over 20 years ago. She was a phenomenal teacher. I was lucky to learn from her, and am thrilled to be reading with her (and see her again).

I’ve been trying to get poems in Riddle Fence for a while now, and it’s one of those small things that makes me feel like this place finally wants to claim me a little bit as a writer. This province can be a complicated place to make your home when you’re not from here, and it means a lot to be recognized by rad local institutions like Riddle Fence.

And, not only do I have poems in this issue (from the Garbage Poems project), but they’re being published alongside three of April White‘s colour illustrations. They’ve been painting the pieces of garbage I used to create the poems, and I cannot wait to see these in print for the first time.