Uncovering Canadian Short Fiction
I've been chewing up a fair bit of Canadian fiction this year. Some on and some off the Can-lit track. Mostly short story collections. Good news is that there is certainly no shortage of wonderfully talented writers in this country, but, like everyone, my time is far too limited - and well... my taste is perhaps - a little south of mainstream. With that thought in mind, I share some of my favourites over the past year (or so) and officially encourage you to turn off the dvd player once in awhile.
Let's Not Let a Little Thing Like the End of the World Come Between Us, by James Marshall (Thistledown), Jessica Grant's, Making Light of Tragedy (Porcupine's Quill) and Kissing the Damned, by Mark Foss (Oberon) are right at the top of the list. Obviously, I'm a big fan of the brilliant Kilter: 55 fictions by John Gould (Turnstone). My latest film, The Perfection of the Moment, was adapted from the story of the same name contained within this marvelous assemblage of flash fiction. Craig Davidson's Rust and Bone is also delectable read. He has also recently released a new novel The Fighter. Read his interview with the Torontoist here.
Like most writers, I am a HUGE fan of the Public Library. So, eventhough I've linked the NW Passages site above, ALL of the titles listed here will be available through you're local library.
Now get on it.