Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Reviews of 'Because I Have Loved and Hidden It' and 'Valentine's Fall'

Aloha everyone! We've got two great reviews for you folks to check out.



First up is a review of Elise Moser's Because I Have Loved and Hidden It, from Quill & Quire:

"Moser’s Montreal is unusually well-realized, with geographic references that go beyond mere signifiers and instead vividly reflect the city for those of us who don’t know it well"

Read the rest of the review
Read a preview of Because I Have Loved and Hidden It




And here's a review for Cary Fagan's novel Valentine's Fall in The Globe and Mail:

"Fagan has a completely easy and fluid style, and he controls the narrative so as to create suspense ..."

Read the rest of the review
Read a preview of Valentine's Fall

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

An interview with Karen McLaughlin


Check out this page featuring the author of From This Distance, Karen McLaughlin:

http://www.totemfigures.com/Site/Totem_Figures/Entries/2009/10/8_Audio_Interview_with_Karen_McLaughlin.html

Not only is there an audio interview, you're also treated to some of her fabulous visual art pieces. And why not pay a visit to her blog at http://karen-mclaughlin.blogspot.com too?

Montreal launch for 'Because I Have Loved and Hidden It'

For those of you in the fair city of Montreal looking for something to do tonight, why not check out the launch of Elise Moser's Because I Have Loved and Hidden It, in Café Romolo at 272 Bernard West?

The event runs from 6-8 PM. So drop by, have a drink, meet the lovely and delightful Elise Moser, get a great book signed. I can think of far worse ways to spend an evening in beautiful Montreal.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Review: Still Life With June

Here's a great review from A Certain Bent Appeal for one of our favourite Cormorant Books:

http://www.acertainbentappeal.com/2009/10/still-life-with-june-bitter-writers-may.html

In all seriousness, check out the preview for the book. You won't regret it.

Friday, October 23, 2009

June Hutton @ Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival




















So here's June Hutton (Underground) hanging out with Lisa Foad at the Vancouver International Writers & Readers Festival.

Photo courtesy of Zoe Whittall of Quill & Quire - and check out more shots from the festival at the Quillblog.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The mayor of the Big Smoke has a Big Book

This is Mayor David Miller:





















This is the city of Toronto:






















Next year, we're going to be publishing Witness to a City: David Miller's Toronto, compiling "some of the most powerful and inspirational of [Torontonians'] stories to articulate his vision of Toronto: a 21st century city that shows the world how different cultures can live, work and dream together as one community."

Gotta tell you, I'm pretty excited. The book promises to be an interesting take on a city I've lived my whole life in. And the idea of working with a sitting mayor of Toronto who's had a very eventful tenure is going to be an experience worth writing home about.

Or in this case, blogging about. So stay tuned!

Read the official press release

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The other day when I was interviewed ...

Last night I was interviewed by Sean Berry, host of The Casting Couch on Blog Talk Radio, an online radio show for aspiring actors, writers, musicians, and so forth, who are hoping to break into the entertainment industry. He's had some really interesting guests on there (aside from me, of course) so do take a look at the archives.

First off, I totally enjoyed the experience, although I'll admit to a few nerves. I didn't want to come off as sanctimonious, or boring, or sounding like a moron, but people tell me I did an okay job and that's the story I'm sticking with.

So that was fun. Why do I bring it up? Well, I think it's a neat example of the subtle things you to get a bit of publicity for your press. As much as I love the idea of going out into schoolyards dressed as a giant Cormorant mascot and harassing terrified children into buying Canada Counts, I find that people will eventually be drawn to substance over style - especially on the internet, where everything lasts forever and your thoughtful material will still be available long after a fad has died.

Not that I think I was groundbreakingly thoughtful in this interview. What the hell are 'baby gloves'? Still, I think I was able to give a little insight into the workings of a small press, talk up our books a little, and even provide useful advice for new writers trying to get published (Seriously: get an agent.)

Here's that interview if you want to give it a listen: