Last week I was awarded the Judy Mappin Community Award at the QWF Literary Awards gala. The honorary award goes to someone who has made a significant and longstanding contribution to English-language literature in Quebec (kind of like a cross between a lifetime achievement award and Miss Congeniality). I was awarded the prize for my work with both the Quebec Writers’ Federation and the Violet Hour Reading Series & Book Club. You can read the QWF’s statement here.
The evening was a lot of fun. The theme was “Reflecting the Future” and everyone was encouraged to dress up. As you can see from the photos (credit Kevin Calixte), my partner Greg and I came in some bling.
I’ve been involved with the QWF since 2005, when I started working for them as publicist for their literary awards. As I mentioned in my acceptance speech., I remember standing at the bar that night, impressed with such an amazing, supportive community. To be now acknowledged by them means the world to me.
Last month I had the incredible opportunity to travel to PEI to be the inaugural writer-in-residence at The Hideout. Run by writer Trevor Corkum and his partner, psychotherapist Joshua Lewis, The Hideout offers artists a secluded and inspired place to work on a project, surrounded by pastoral landscapes and PEI’s wide-open sky. I was invited to stay and write in The Cottage, one of The Hideout’s two suites. The residence is in a small town called North Tryon, located just over the Confederation Bridge on the Island’s South Shore and about a 40-minute drive from Charlottetown. It was an ideal and comfortable setting to work on my next project.
This residency came at just the right time. This year makes it 10 years that I have been producing literary events in the city, and since January I have produced more than 25. Although it’s been great and something I love to do, the pace is taking its toll and I’ve been feeling close to burnout the last few months. Receiving this invitation from Trevor and Joshua did two important things for me: one, it made me realize that the work I’m doing does mean something to people; and two, it gave me precious and uninterrupted time away from the day-to-day to focus on my writing. I will be forever grateful to Trevor and Joshua for this kindness.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I was going to work on. I knew I only had six days and didn’t want to get bogged down by my current work-in-progress. For the last few years, I’ve been writing my third novel but lately it’s been giving me trouble. I thought it might be best to take a break from it and try something new. So, I used the time to plan and draft book number four.
It’s funny the ways that stories come to you. A ghost of an idea might be living in your head for a few years before it begins to take corporeal shape. At least, that’s the way it is for me. For the past three years, I’ve had the kernel of an idea in my head, but finally it began to develop at The Hideout. I don’t want to say too much about the story right now, but it’s a satire about the loss of the important life experiences we have come to feel entitled to as humans (i.e.: a successful career, a healthy relationship, a home to call our own). As a result of this residency, I was able to construct a detailed skeleton for the book, blocking out most of the scenes and filling the well with lots of material (it’s a total mess, but I have over 100 pages of words/notes).
In addition to writing, I was able to visit the Island a bit. I went for walks to get inspired. I had never been to PEI before and was struck by its stillness and beauty. It was the beginning of October, so the summer season was over. The towns were less populated, and the air was colder. One thing I will always remember about my time is how far the sky seemed to go. And at night, all the stars came out in a way we never get to see in the city (I even saw aurora borealis). Also, walking on the red sand on PEI’s South Shore beaches felt like walking on Mars. I’m not sure exactly all the different ways my time on the Island will influence my work moving forward, but I left recharged, grateful and with a great head start on a new project.
In addition to writing time, one of the highlights of the trip was getting to co-present my first Violet Hour outside of Montreal. Trevor and Joshua put together a great line-up of queer readers and allies that included Island writers Hayden Little, Vanessa Bradley, Debbie Langston, LJ Lawlor, and Julie Bull. The event took place at the Gallery Coffee House and Bistro and was sponsored by the PEERS Alliance, and the PEI Writers Guild. I read from The Family Way and was interviewed afterwards by Hayden. It was strange to be the focus of a Violet Hour for a change, but it felt good to be asked about my work in another province. Hayden had some great questions on craft and there were thought-provoking questions from the audience. I was even able to make people laugh (that never happens). I didn’t want the night to end.
This was the second time in my life that I’ve been lucky enough to experience a writing residency. Last year, I got my first taste at Dentro La Terra in Arielli, Italy, as part of Espace de la Diversité’s writing residency program. Programs like these two are not easy to come by, but I have to say that having time free from distraction to think, plan, read and write is essential for writers. If you’re a writer thinking about applying to one, I can’t recommend it enough.
Trevor and Josh have told me the writer-in-residence program at The Hideout will return in 2025. You can’t apply to be the writer-in-residence, but folks are welcome to apply to their general residency program (available to writers, artists, academics, yoga/meditation teachers, or health-wellness practitioners) for low-cost, self-directed solo residencies.
PS: Because of this invitation to PEI, I was also able to present a Violet Hour in Moncton on my way home. Gary McLaughlin and Ari Roach opened ARIS Bar & Nighclub in Moncton earlier this year and were happy to collaborate on an evening of queer readings in their space. The event was bilingual and featured local writers Arianne Des Rochers, Kayla Geitzler, Joseph Drew Lavigne and Xénia. I was blown away by the talent.
Maybe one day I’ll be able to bring Violet Hour across the country. (fingers crossed)
Journalist Pamela Pagono attended last night’s Violet Hour: Here & Now event and interviewed writer Anthony Portulese and me for CityNews about our event and book club. It’s the first time VHBC has appeared on TV. You can watch the report below. CityNews also has an article on its website.
I met Shawn last year after he reviewed The Geography of Plutofor his Youtube channel, Shawn Breathes Books. He’s a smart, kind and thoughtful man, based in the Prairies, who loves literature and wants nothing more than to share his thoughts on the books he reads with his community. Shawn proceeded to read The Family Way and he reached out to speak to me about both books for his series. The conversation was a delight.
In-depth interviews with writers about their work are few and far between these days, so I am grateful for two recent opportunities to talk at length about my writing and community engagement.
Earlier this year, I spoke with writer and professor Linda M. Morra for her excellent literary podcast Getting Lit with Linda. We talked about both of my novels, as well as the recent literary milestones in my life (namely the 10th anniversary of The Geography of Pluto and Violet Hour). Her questions were great, and it is always fun to talk to another writer about craft. You can listen to the interview here.
And last week, I was a guest on CBC’s The Bridge with Nantali Indongo. The hour-long show features in-depth interviews with artists and cultural players where we talk about our personal journeys and play music that is important to us. I spoke with Nantali about growing up on the south shore, my two books, and my thoughts on community building. You can listen to the interview here.
A writer always dreams to make it in the pages of The New York Times. Imagine my surprise to find The Geography of Pluto mentioned in a feature this month by celebrated Canadian novelist Mona Awad (it’s only a sentence, but I’ll take it). Mona made a number of book recommendations for people looking to “Read Your Way Through Montreal.” There are so many great books she could have included, I’m honoured she mentioned mine.
