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Exclusive Interview with author Mathis Bailey
Mathis Bailey is the published author of Confused Spice (2016) and Brown Sugar and Spice (2019). Born in Detroit, he moved to Toronto to further his education and opportunities and became a strong voice for the Toronto LGBTQ+ community. He is a writer, blogger, foodie, travel junkie, bookseller, and overall fun guy! You can follow him on the following social media platforms: Instagram: @MathisBailey Twitter: @MathisBaileyZ OTD: Can you tell me about your first book Confused Spice? MB: Confused Spice takes place in Toronto and it follows two guys who are confused in life. One is confused about his career path and the other is confused about his religion. They…
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Interview with Fantasy Author Nicholas Eames
I caught up with Nicholas Eames, author of the bestselling fantasy series The Band and winner of the David Gemmell Morning Star Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer in 2018. The first two books in the series, Kings of the Wyld (2017) and Bloody Rose (2018), have become well loved not only for the fun-filled adventures and tug at your heartstrings moments, but the dynamic and comedic characters as well. Read the interview below to hear about how he started writing and the importance of erection scenes.
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Brenda Joslin: An Individual of the Danforth Community
My neighbour is a wise and respectful woman and has a fantastic sense of humour. During the interview, when offered tea and asked about sugar, she quickly replied, “I don’t need any sugar ‘cause I’m sweet enough.” Her name is Brenda Joslin, and she is the star of this article, as she is of her life. Originally born in Plessisville, Quebec, Joslin moved to Toronto when she was four- years-old and has been living on the same street since her arrival almost fifty years ago. She attended William Burgess Elementary School and is happy to see the tradition continue with her three kids and her little grandson. Brenda says that…
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From Writing to Driving: Craig Davidson’s Journey as a Bus Driver
The author reveals how despite his stellar literary career—one of his books was made into a Hollywood film—he felt he had hit rock bottom. Craig Davidson has published four books of literary fiction, including Rust and Bone, which was made into a Golden Globe-nominated film starring Marion Cotillard, and Cataract City, which was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and the Trillium Book Prize. The 31-year-old has also written about “boxing and dog fights, zombies and werewolves, vampire and lunatic prison inmates” under the pen names, Patrick Lestewka and Nick Cutter. But rather than being most impressed with his illustrious career, it was an honest confession that won the crowd at…
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Does The Danforth Have An Identity Crisis?
Nestled between a Starbucks and Holy Name Catholic Church is St. Irene Chrisovalantou Greek Orthodox Church. A former body shop, the space was converted into a church in 1974 in response to members of the Greek community who wanted a place to preserve their culture. However, you would literally miss it in a blink of an eye. “It’s always been off to the side,” said Katy Haralampidis, 42, whose Danforth experience started in the church. The church remains accessible to Greeks who live in the area; however, there is a string of disappointment in its lack of structural development over the years. “I remember going to play with my friends…
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How to Dress Business-Casual on a Budget
Is an internship looming and you find you only have jeans and plaid shirts to see you through? Are you also broke from student loans and have no money to invest in quality pieces for the workplace? Never fear! Your business-casual budget guide is here! I worked in an office environment for a year and never spent obscene amounts of money on work-appropriate clothing (I just bought a lot of them). I am here to guide you to pieces that can last you through an internship until you land the position, or to buying the work clothes you need. Blazer A blazer can make any outfit look business appropriate. Pair…
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“A writer, in some ways, lives and dies with the characters”: An Interview with Madeleine Thien
Says Madeleine Thien, author of the award-winning novel, Do No Say We Have Nothing. I often judge a book by its cover. But when it came to Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Madeleine Thien’s Do Not Say We Have Nothing (the book also received the Governor General’s Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize), history was not bound to repeat itself. I met Thien during a session organized by Pivot Reading Series late November. As I mustered up the courage to speak to the author, I was soon pleasantly surprised by her honesty and genuine interest. When asked how the people closest to her shaped her into the…
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Of Pirates, Parrots, and Persecution: An Interview with Gary Barwin
Ever heard of a talking parrot? I am assuming you have. Now what about the 500-year-old immortal, gay, and Yiddish-speaking parrot, who has set the literary world abuzz? Oh! Did we mention the parrot is also the narrator of a tale brimming with pirates, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, and the tragic Spanish inquisition from the 12th and 19th centuries? If that just made your head spin, let us direct you to the source—Gary Barwin, a writer, composer, multimedia artist, and the author of twenty books of poetry, fiction, and books. In his first adult fiction, Yiddish for Pirates, the 52-year-old pulled out all the stops in creating a literary piece…
