miscellanelist

1. i've been going back and forth to my mailbox every five seconds waiting for my advanced copy of matthew j trafford's the divinity gene to get here. cause he's a genius, remember? i think i'm basically more excited about this book than i was about my own. i mean, i had already read all the stories in mine, so, like, yawn. i've read a few of matthew's stories in various forms but not close to all of them. as soon as i get it, you can expect an extremely fair and balanced and not at all gushy and over-the-top review. it's going to be epic.
2. those of you who are in toronto should totally go to the book launch. matthew's book launch is basically going to be the aaron collier cd release party of the literary world. it's basically my book launch (same venue, same peeps putting it on) except probably with less of my family there and more of matthew's. also, way more interesting entertainment. i mean, not that me getting all loud and drunk wasn't super entertaining. i just think the entertainment at matthew's will be more organized.
3. in other, non-matthew-related news, i really want to tell you about this cool new project i'm involved with called seen reading. well, actually, seen reading is not exactly new, it's been around for a while and was just on hiatus for a little bit. it was started by the amazing julie wilson (aka the book madam) and this is pretty much how it goes: she sees you reading something, she reports it to the world, you become famous for half a second. but now she's recruited an army of literary voyeurs from around canada (possibly the world!) who can also log reports on a separate blog. and guess who gets to spy on thunder bay? well, duh, it's me. so if you live in thunder bay and you're embarrassed by what you're reading (you guys, i have very intimate knowledge about what thunder bay is reading and seriously it's nothing to be proud of) then you'd better invest in one of those little book cover thingies cause i've got excellent long-range vision and i work really, really close to a starbucks.
4. if you are living in northwestern ontario, are a writer, and you're NOT a member of NOWW, i am sad for you. not only because you are missing out on getting awesome emails from me on a regular basis, but also because you will be missing out on taking part in this really cool new electronic writer-in-residence project we're launching this week. lucky for you that even if you're not a member, you can come to the launch this weekend, with a reading and workshop with our e-writer-in-residence himself, michael van rooy. the reading is on friday night and also features readings by scott pound and rebekah skochinski, poet extraordinaire and all-around lovely person. also i will be there. and so will cory, because i'm making him. I'M JUST THAT PERSUASIVE.
5. the january issue of the walleye is out in the world and typo-free thanks to your superhero copy-editor. but the really exciting part will be next month, when i make the first step towards my dream of being a food network chef by PUBLISHING MY AWESOME RECIPE FOR CHICKEN POT PIE along with an article about comfort food in the february issue. now you will all be able to cook like me! except here's the thing: i don't think you will. writing out recipes is HARD, you guys. i mean, i don't know how many carrots or how much garlic i use! i don't know how long i cook it! but you can't just write "some" or "enough" or "until it's done" in a recipe. so probably if you try to cook with that recipe you will end up with a tasteless mess. and not tasteless in a good way, either.
6. i'm going to halifax next week for a visit! i seriously cannot wait to see my pet lobster again. also, to eat donairs, go fishing, and play my fiddle. it's going to be THE BEST WEEK!