Feb 8, 2010

Happy 79th, James Dean! Yikes, can you imagine? Not really.

Had a great time yesterday at an Author's Brunch fundraiser for the Dayne Ogilvie Grant for Emerging LGBT Writers, sponsored by the Writers' Trust. Dayne and I were colleagues at Xtra! in the early-90s. He was an editor, writer and arts patron, so it's fitting that this grant should be established in his name by his good friend, Robin Pacific.

Writers Wayson Choy, Maureen Hines, Brian Francis and Zoe Whittall were there, along with many other enthusiastic supporters of the arts. It was a friendly, homey crowd. I read briefly from The Honey Locust, my new literary novel published by Cormorant Books.

The wine was pretty good, too.

Feb 2, 2010

This month I finally finished my new video. Driving With Rusty is a composite of archival stage show footage and interview material with the late-Rusty Ryan. Rusty was a founding member of The Great Imposters and a protege of Craig Russell. In 1992, he performed in my one-man show, Driving To Tatamagouche, at the Fringe of Toronto Festival. I had intended to make a documentary on his life and career, but it remained unfinished when he died in 2003. At last, there is a tribute to his talent and inimitable sense of humour.

Jan 20, 2010

Quick: what's a non-skiing, Internet scavenger like me doing at a family ski resort with only a dial-up modem at the top end of the Appalachians? Why, writing, of course! It's the McConnell family annual get-together at Owl's Head in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and possibly the most beautiful scenery this side of the Rockies. It reminds me of a hotel in Heiligkreuz, Switzerland, once owned by my cousin Barb Grossenbacher. I knew I wouldn't end up on the slopes once I got here, but I didn't know I was about to walk into a new fiction plot. Talk about a perfect setting for a mystery! This is as secluded and atmospheric as it gets, with mist shrouded mountaintops and roads blocked by snow. Still, it's going to have to wait, since I'm already deep into writing three other books at the moment. Every dog (and book) shall have its day.

Jan 14, 2010

My first blog post of the new year. I seem to be getting lazy at this. Lots has been going on, including the preliminary sketches of the cover for Vanished In Vallarta, third volume of the Bradford Fairfax mystery series. Nick Craine has created another great sketch. He tells me he finds the books inspiring, and I believe him, because his covers are terrific. He's had an idea for a box set of seven in the Pride Flag rainbow colours. I just happen to have seven books planned. And by chance, the first two spines also happen to be lavender and indigo.

Dec 22, 2009

A fun evening at BENT, with four other writers: Tamai Kobayashi, Farzana Doctor, S Bear Bergman and John Miller. Kudos to moderator Andrew Vail, who presided over the festivities with flair and finesse, and many thanks to the lively audience at this well-attended event at the Gladstone Hotel on Queen W. We may not have solved the publishing dilemmas of queer authors, but we had a hell of a good time discussing them.

Dec 5, 2009

Tonight marked the one year anniversary of Proust & Company, the musical and literary salon held above Gladday Bookshop. Thanks to our wonderful readers, RM Vaughan (Troubled), Peter Dube (Hovering World) and Steven Bereznai (Queeroes), as well as the Urban Flute Project, who provided some terrific musical ambience. Thanks also to John Scythes and Gladday, co-host Josh Bentley-Swan, Shane McConnell (who did most of the work, as usual) and everyone who dropped by.

December 2, 2009

It's always nice when you feel your writing is appreciated. And then there are those extremely rare reviews that send you over the moon. This is one: http://www.stageandpage.com/the%20honey%20locust.htm#locust