Did I write a series of manifestos in the voices of my mortal enemies? Why, yes I did. In this case: Insomnia. It was a weird exercise in attempting some kind of imaginative empathy for entities that have made my life miserable. (But also, did a single night of insomnia make me gay? Yes, yes … Continue reading New poems in Rogue Agent

So delighted to see an anthology I have been a part of (Impact: Women Writing After Concussion, University of Alberta Press, 2021) on this list! It is impressive company indeed--so many great books on there. https://www.cbc.ca/books/the-best-canadian-nonfiction-of-2021-1.6276723 The essay I wrote for the anthology is called "In Which Skinny Dipping Temporarily Fixes a Life." It talks … Continue reading Impact anthology on CBC list of best Canadian 2021 non-fiction

Illness and joy have had a strange and often fraught relationship in my life. My sickest years in my twenties, when I had to stop working and attending classes for several years, were also the time I came out and discovered writing. When I was on medical leave a couple of years ago, swimming outdoors … Continue reading The Canthius Pleasures Project

This year's Sparks Literary Festival was cancelled once during our Snowmageddon State of Emergency this January, and rescheduled for late March. We all know how that turned out. The festival is wonderful, and it's one of many recent cultural losses. I'd entirely forgotten about the associated poetry contest until I got the email saying I'd … Continue reading I am writing a spell for your nervous system

I don't nap easily, but I am of the mind that a good nap is an almost spiritual experience. I recently ran across this poem that was published earlier in Maisonneuve. It's one of the few poems I've ever written about happiness, and I can tell you I had recurring doubts about whether a basically … Continue reading A sweet little poem about napping

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 … Continue reading Writers at Woody Point

It's been a rough day on social media. I cried watching so many friends disclose or pointedly refuse to disclose sexual violence of all kinds. Either way, you're all amazing and brave. I believe you. And I support your right to not share anything you don't want to. I cried trying to figure if I … Continue reading #metoo

This is fun. One of my poems originally published in Room Magazine made it into their 40th anniversary anthology, alongside many other writers I admire a great deal. The magazine is raising money to cover printing costs by pre-selling the anthology (plus other perks) on IndiGoGo. Updated to add: The link above is no longer … Continue reading Room’s 40th Anniversary Anthology

A poetry thing happened to me! Several of my poems have been shortlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize. I always follow this prize closely, so it was a thrill even to be included in the longlist. When I found out about the shortlist, I was so giddy I couldn't stop dancing around the kitchen while … Continue reading CBC Poetry Prize shortlist