I’m very pleased that my short story “The Hardest Part” has found a home in online Canadian literary magazine Agnes and True, and is up for the reading as of now. Many thanks to  everyone at Agnes and True, especially editor Julie McArthur for her thoughtful edit. And while you’re there, stay and read some of the other contributions — I am honoured to join this fine slate of writers.

Got a first draft that needs some work? Looking for feedback and fellowship? Writing Beyond the Basics, my facilitated manuscript workshopping course, starts Sept. 18th, and runs at the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society on Wednesdays 12:30 – 3 PM for thirteen weeks. Register now before it fills up!

https://www.alexandrawriters.org/courses/manuscript-workshop-day/

FreeFall Magazine’s Jamal Ali caught with me for an interview last fall, and now you can read it here, on the FreeFall website. Thanks to Jamal and FreeFall — I always love talking libraries, writing and punk rock!

My contributor copies of Room 42.2 arrived today. I’m pleased to be in Room again (my story “Close to the Bone” appeared in Issue 31.2 back in 2008). This issue features work from many contributors, including winners of Room’s 2018 contest, as well as my story “A Good Long Life” and Jenna Butler’s story “The Magically Disappearing Woman”, which I am looking forward to reading. Looks like another fine issue!

It won’t exactly be the Bard, but most of the crew from the the Winter’s Tale we did a few years ago are reconvening for a summer solstice reading. Join Tyler Perry, Lee Kvern, Vivian Hansen and me for sultry summer readings  from our poetry and fiction in the Treehouse at cSpace King Edward on June 27th. Things get started around 7 PM and there will of course be refreshments. Hope to see you there!

Back in the early 2000’s, one of my early short stories was published in Forum, a feminist magazine published here in Calgary. Editor Vivian Hansen was set to include another story of mine in Forum when the magazine sadly folded. But now a new incarnation of the magazine has arisen, and I’m happy to be reading at the launch of New Forum, from a new piece that will appear in the inaugural issue.

The Gauntlet recently ran an interview with Silvia Pikal, editor-in-chief of New Forum, here.

And the launch is at 7 PM on June 22 at Loft 112. Tickets are available here. Looking forward to the event!

Looking forward to taking part in The Indie YYC’s Storytellers event, along with poet Kyle Flemmer and singer-songwriter Mercy Lamola. The event will be hosted by Lisa Murphy Lamb and will present a central story-theme performed as an organic collaboration of artists from each community, telling the story in three dimensions.

It’s all happening on Wednesday, April 3 at 7 PM at Koi, # 100 1011 1ST St SW. Come on out and support your local indie storytellers!

Calgary’s literary culture has its roots in the early days of the city’s history; earlier, even, than the the olden days of the local punk scene, believe it or not. To find out more, read Shaun Hunter’s blog post, “Seeds of Calgary’s Early Literary Culture” on the Chinook Country Historical Society’s website, here.

Shaun’s new book, Calgary Through the Eyes of Writers, launches at 2 PM on December 9th at our fabulous new Central Library. I am very much looking forward to celebrating with her!

Looking for a blue-pencil session? Some writerly chat? NaNoWriMo’ed yourself into a corner? Not to worry! The Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society offers a Mentor-in-the-Loop program, where you can book time with an experienced writer to talk about your manuscript or just talk about the often-crazy process of writing. I’m November’s Mentor-in-the-Loop, and I’d love to read your work, or just have a coffee and a chat at Barrow in CSpace. Sign up for a session here.

I look forward to chatting with you.

I’m very happy to be acting as the one of the defenders at this year’s ninth annual Calgary Giller Light Bash! I’ll be defending finalist Thea Lim’s novel An Ocean of Minutes, which I am looking forward to delving into. Join me and co-defenders Sheri-D Wilson, Karen Hines, Fred Stenson and Marcello Di Cintio, along with host Russell Bowers, at Wurst (at 2437 – 4 St. SW) on Monday, November 19th, 5:00 – 9:00 PM.

Funds raised at the Giller Light Bash support Frontier College, Canada’s original (and oldest) literacy organization. So come and join us in supporting an excellent cause! Hope to see you there.