Today (April 15) is the deadline for poems for the Bywords.ca May issue. Read guidelines on site before submitting your poems svp. bywords.ca

Wow wow wow! Great news for a great book (and it's in pretty darn good company too)!

One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns!

The words "VERSeFest EXTRA - Monday, March 30 - 2:30pm - Carleton University - Dunton Tower Rm 2017 - Reading and Q&A with Karen Solie" appear in white text against a pink background, next to a photo of Karen Solie - a white woman with sharp features. Her hair is pulled back in a pony tail, and she's wearing hoop earrings and a turtleneck. Please note: This image is totally a screen-shot from our instagram account, which is why it's pretending there's a second slide. There is no second slide.

2:30pm TODAY

Presented in partnership with CU's Dept of English, join us at @carleton.ca (2017 Dunton Tower) for a FREE reading + Q&A with Karen Solie!

Karen Solie was born in Moose Jaw and grew up in rural Saskatchewan. She is the author of six books. Her most recent, Wellwater, won EVERYTHING.

PRAYING FOR ARMAGEDDON | Official Trailer | UpNorth Film (2023) YouTube video by UpNorth Film

Fabulous documentary about this: Praying for Armageddon: www.youtube.com/watch?v=75eh...

So sorry for mis-handling you, Libby! Oh, I wish this site allowed edits.

I'm very happy to have my poem "Umbra" in the lovely spec lit magazine Sprawl. Thanks so much to editors @mahailasmith.ca and @oklibby.bsky.social .

www.thesprawlmag.ca/vol-3-1#umbra

Thanks as ever for the boost, @robmclennan.bsky.social !

yes

Condemn Canadian support for US/Israeli war on Iran Mark Carney has endorsed the US/Israeli war on Iran. Tell the Prime Minister to condemn this effort to balkanize Iran in service of US imperialism and genocidal Jewish supremacy.

I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter re my opposition to Canadian support for US war on Iran . Write one here, with a customizable template: actionnetwork.org/letters/cond...

Air, Locked To break the window glass, to merge air and air ― Cynthia MacDonald “The Triborough Bridge a Crown for his Head” Airy hands locked in challenge, a wealth of worries wrung from the embrace. Breath e…

Grateful to the editors of Great Lakes Review for publishing my poem Air, Locked.
Check out fine writing from the regions in the US and Canada that touch on the lakes: greatlakesreview.org/air-locked/

I'm reading Iryn's (wonderful) novel right now and I've long followed Terese; will look for Phillip Dwight Morgan

I wish!

Coffee (and maybe a waffle) at The Cannon, browse at The City and The City Books across the street, wander down Ottawa Street to the huge antiques market.

Here's the first sneak peek at my novel Skin Hunger (upcoming from @guernicaeditions.bsky.social Oct 1).
This tiny snippet appeared in the "micro-excerpts" issue of the great online mag, @gonelawn.bsky.social , thanks to EIC @owenwyke.bsky.social .

Thanks @majorseventh.bsky.social and EIC @keersteemack.bsky.social for putting my Joni-Mitchell-inspired poem on repeat (and for publishing it in the first place!)

Delighted that I'll have a poem in here! Coming soon!

Good eye! Yes, it is a detail of a Rousseau painting.

Since I can now say "later this year" instead of "next year", here is the COVER REVEAL for Skin Hunger, my forthcoming novel. It will be published by @guernicaeditions.bsky.social on October 1!

Stand by for more soon.

I'm delighted that my first 2026 acceptance is from the wonderful print magazine @stanchion.bsky.social edited by Jeff Bogle. I've been submitting to them for several years and glad my poem "Misty Mountain" landed. It will appear in the upcoming Music themed issue 21. Available for pre-order now!

By chance, two (fine) books I just finished are by profs at University of Regina, where I did my B.A. looong ago. Melanie Schnell's novel blends buried secrets, little-known history and environmental magic. @jesbattis.bsky.social's poetry collection is strong, witty and very moving.

Probably my favourite book by Le Guin.

Love this. I miss post ghost.

My 2025 publishing numbers:
- 33 pieces published
- 180 rejections/ 26 acceptances, best ratio since 2020
- chapbook ms an award finalist
- 6 public readings
- 2 grants thanks to @ontarioarts.bsky.social & recomending publishers
AND
- 1 novel, edited & ready to meet the world later this year!

@versefest-ottawa.bsky.social aka VERSeFest is a registered charity! If you have the means, consider making a gift TODAY to receive a 2025 tax receipt.
E-transfers (verse2transfer@gmail.com) go directly into our bank account, but you can also donate via PayPal. verseottawa.ca/en/site/supp...

@ceeeejohnson.bsky.social ? @michelinemaylor.bsky.social ?@phillipcrymble.bsky.social ? @puneetdutt.bsky.social ?

The @glasspoetry.bsky.social archives are well worth dipping into! While you're there, if you're so inclined please check out my poem "Combustion" from April 2025 -- one of several magazine publications I was honoured to have this year. www.glass-poetry.com/journal/2025...

Can't wait to get my hands on a copy!

I've likely posted this poem of mine here before, but thought I'd share it again for Solstice.

Or anytime, really