Boo! Don't be scared. It's just a podcast. And this episode has the beyond delightful, smart, talented and hilarious, Vivek Shraya. We discuss her new book, I'm Afraid of Men, masculinity, being a multi-disciplinary artist, readers and audiences, fashion, and so much more. And maybe we decide to write Can't Lit: The Musical.
Fresh from the Fraser Valley Literary Festival Dina and Jen talk with novelist, poet, and great dog parent, Kim Fu! We talk about new latest novel, The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore, character, structure, poetry and fiction and of course dogs. Thanks to the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford for letting us record in a very quiet and lovely room.
Yes, it's fall, but in the world of this Can't Lit we're in a wildfire smoke summer haze with the truly lovely Andrew Wilmot. We discuss his debut novel The Death Scene Artist, writing genre, first book feelings, bodies, and Angelina Jolie's dating life. Jen gets real about grief and Dina admits to some Bob Seger feelings.
Late summer is here! But don't be sad, because the amazing Amanda Leduc is also here to talk about her upcoming novel, The Centaur's Wife, muppets, accessibility, world building, the FOLD, and of course many other things. Jen has summer emotions, and Dina surprises everyone with her Rage Minute.
Summer is here and Dina and Jen bask in the glow of talented writer, editor, artist and all around lovely human andrea bennett! We talk about definitive hot takes, poetry, drawing, editing, bikes, and dogs and babies. This episode has it all.
Summer has arrived and this new episode with amazing writer and delightful person Samantha Marie Nock is a great sunny or rainy day companion. Discussed in this episode: the vulnerability of writing, putting together a first poetry manuscript, friendship, fear, boy bands, PUPPIES and the latest CanLit trash. Jen and Dina are emotional as usual.
Jen and Dina have the best time with podcaster, scholar, writer and truly wonderful human Hannah McGregor! We talk scholarly podcasting, publishing, lipstick and bodies (don't comment on them, okay?) and of course there is rage and emotions and, yes, lots of laughter. Also, we all proclaim our love for librarians.
Marita Dachsel, Charlotte Gill, Jennica Harper, Nancy Lee and Laisha Rosnau are extraordinary writers who've also been friends for twenty years! Jen and Din are lucky to talk to them about their super-friendship origin story, how they help each other with their writing, celebrating successes, being there for each other (cutting umbilical cords!), teaching, pay inequality and so much more.
Get excited for this bonus episode with super delight and excellent writer, Sharon Bala. We talk about her new novel, Boat People, writing refugees and immigrants, displacement, unlikeable characters, female relationships and gross politicians. And of course, we talk a little bit about fashion.
Hello friends! This month we have another truly exciting guest: the amazingly talented and charming, Alicia Elliott. We talk about writing non-fiction (and other genres), privilege, how we have to interrogate to be good and responsible writers, lipstick, musicals and so much more. We also play a new game: 'New Lipstick or New Poetry.' And there is a lot of singing.
Winter is bleak but this episode will warm you up. Jen and Dina get to talk to the multi-hyphenate, multi-talented, multi-award-winning, novelist, poet, filmmaker (and more) Katherena Vermette! They talk with her about her novel, The Break, poetry and genre-hopping, baggy, high-waisted jeans, self-care in hard times and single moms. You're gonna feel the feelings!
Way back in November Jen and Dina interviewed part of the amazing team behind Rahila's Ghost Press, a new chapbook press that will knock your stockings off. And we sure did have a fun time, talked about a lot of poetry and yes, there were emotions. Now the episode is here for your listening pleasure, with publisher Mallory Tater, managing editor Curtis LeBlanc, editors Adèle Barclay and Shaun Robinson, and two of the first poets publisher by the press, Megan Fennya Jones (Normal Women) and Jake ...
Happy holidays from your original Can't Lit hosting team! Dina welcomes Daniel back into the "studio" in this guest-less episode that goes on too many tangents to name just one. There's a special gift at the end of the episode: a delightfully boozy pitch for a Hallmark holiday movie.
This episode is full of fun, friendship and lots of love. Dina and Jen talk to the recent winner of the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, novelist, and truly lovely person, David Chariandy. We talk about his new novel, Brother, Jen and David's early days as published writers, writing the good and hard stuff, and the passing of Jen's beloved dog companion, Molly. Molly, we love you and you are missed. We also play a game called, "Write or Go Right?" Three Leos together on the mic and it can on...
Recorded in September but here now for your ears is an episode with lovely writer Gurjinder Basran! Jen and I talk to her about her new novel, Someone You Love is Gone, which features ghosts and sadness and some laughs too. We also discuss representation in literature, rap and hip hop, and a Tinder date from the news. There's even some Halloween cackling. Happy listening!
We made it to 50 episodes! And to celebrate Dina and Jen got a lot of snacks together and welcomed Adèle Barclay, Juliane Okot Bitek, Raoul Fernandes , Leah Horlick, Nancy Lee, Ben Rawluk and Beni Xiao back to the podcast. With a very special speaker phone call from Daniel Zomparelli this episode has all the feelings, book talk, tangents and valid complaints your ears have been hearing for 50 glorious 'sodes. Do we finally go deep on Marian Engel's Bear? You decide! Thanks for listening! We love...
Don't lament summer ending because we have the two most lovely guests: Paul Vermeersch and Bianca Spence! While visiting Vancouver from Toronto they made time to talk to Jen and me about karaoke, Degrassi, diversity panels, friendliness in literary community and fries. We also bring back Literary Would You Rather?
This episode with writer Michael V. Smith is a joyful summer treat! He writes great poems, prose and tweets. Jen and Dina talk to him about his new poetry book, Bad Ideas, dreams, why we write, navigating the exclusion and power imbalances of the literary community, Disneyland and even Daniel's wedding. We have so many laughs. Also, we talk about Jen's new book, Gentlemen of the Shade. Read both of their new books and you'll have a better summer.
Three amazing guests in one super episode! Finalists Kai Cheng Thom and Ali Blythe along with event MC Leah Horlick join Dina and Jen the day after the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers ceremony. We talk poetry (a lot, in so many ways), exclusion in canlit, the problem with "universal" stories, and so much more. This episodes has laughs, lots of emotions and ends in a real lovefest. Though not in the room with us third finalist Eva Crocker makes an appearance through the magic of te...
Things get spicy in this episode because Dina and Daniel get to talk to poet, photographer and general delight Tenille Campbell! We talk about that writing life, surprise yoga, and culture, sex, desire in her wonderful debut poetry collection #IndianLovePoems. Come for the hook up stories, stay for the fun cackling throughout. Also, Daniel deals with reviews of his new book, Dina survived a year of teaching and Tenille was in a commercial.
A short bonus episode! Jen and Dina wished they'd had more time with Deborah Willis, but we all still had a fun time and great a conversation about Deborah's amazing new short story collection, The Dark and Other Love Stories, hypochondria, Riverdale, and quite a bit of gross body stuff. HOT TIP: This episode was recorded in February! A real blast from the near past.
It may be Poetry Month, but we pull a short story switcheroo! Daniel is the guest, along with Carleigh Baker. Jen Sookfong Lee is your guest host. Dina is up to the same old tricks. In this whopper of an episode we talk about Daniel's book of short stories Everything Is Awful and You're a Terrible Person, and Carleigh's Bad Endings. Other topics covered include: reviews, Canada Reads, putting biographical stuff into fiction, and a ban on summer literary events.
Live from Growing Room: A Feminist Literary Festival we have two mega-talented and wonderful guests, Juliane Okot Bitek and Leah Horlick! In our second live outing we talk about rejection, free labour, jumpsuit anxiety, book award red carpet fashion, broken heaters, their books, 100 Days (Juliane) and For Your Own Good (Leah), and of course Dina and Daniel's anxiety. We also debut our newest segment "I'm So Tired" and everyone, including our audience, has a lot to say about it.
When Daniel's away Dina gets to co-host with podcast guest host superstar Jen Sookfong Lee! They talk to complete talent and delight Eden Robinson. Be prepared for so much boisterous laughter. Their conversation touches on her new novel, Son of a Trickster, otters and other animals, humour, swearing, dietary restrictions and Dina talks about her Danielversary.
No guest? No problem. It's just Dina and Daniel! They went to Kelowna and lived to tell the tale. This episode has so much: spring books we're excited about, a literary festival/winery recap, so much singing, and a very special CanLit Feud featuring one of the hosts.
Happy New Year, listeners! Daniel has a post-vacation glow and Dina beams from an amazing otter encounter. Our smart and talented guests are writers Beni Xiao & Mariah Devcic. These sharp young ones talk about writing, university, periods, the culture of CanLit and so much more. Don't call them emerging. They're already here!
Happy holidays, listeners! This episode has singing, laughing, shouting, seasonal stories, book recommendations, suggestions for places to donate this holiday season from many guests from Can't Lit past: Jen Sookfong Lee, Ben Rawluk, Adèle Barclay, Sheryda Warrener, Elee Kraljii Gardiner, Carleigh Baker, Anthony Casey & Anakana Schofield. Daniel has a broken water pipe, Dina is sometimes quiet, and it all happens during a snowstorm! xoxo
Oh wow! On this episode we have the amazing novelist, poet, TV writer and enjoyable person, Zoe Whittall! Her great novel, The Best Kind of People, was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and Dina and Daniel praise it like dorks. We talk about that novel, but cover so many other topics, like blemish talk, TV we're watching, weird movies, and so much more. Zoe wins the award for Super Delightful Podcast Guest!
In a special bonus episode of Can't Lit, Daniel interviews Dina about late Canadian icon and her hero, Leonard Cohen. She talks about his influence, why he's amazing and the time she met him at a chain bookstore basement. We also just look at the past week and say WTF?
Hooray for Halloween candy and our supes special guest, secret matriarch and poetry witch, Adèle Barclay. As we munch on so many fun-sized chocolate bars we talk about her new poetry collection, If I Were in a Cage I'd Reach Out for You, her new position with CWILA, winning the LIT POP poetry prize and finishing her PhD, and we give some dirtbag tips for writers. We also talk so much Halloween stuff and Daniel gets us to play a game called Which Witch?
