Page Fright: A Literary Podcast

Jim Johnstone joins the show to discuss his new poetry anthology celebrating 10 years of Anstruther Press, The Anstruther Reader. Andrew asks about chapbooks, full-lengths, and turning off "editor brain." It's an informative chat! -- REGISTER: PAGE FRIGHT LIVE! AT THE FRASER VALLEY WRITER'S FESTIVAL -- Jim Johnstone is a Toronto-based poet, editor, and critic. He is the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently The King of Terrors (Coach House Books, 2023), as well as a collection of essays titled Bait & Switch (The Porcupine's Quill, 2024). Johnstone is a senior editor at Palimpsest Press, where he recently published The Anstruther Reader: Ten Years of Poems, Broadsides, and Manifestos. -- Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book revi

Manahil Bandukwala pops into the Zoom studio to talk about her second poetry collection, Heliotropia. Andrew admits to never seeing Star Trek and plans to jump in midway through, just to understand a poem. It's an episode blooming with great poems! -- Manahil Bandukwala is a writer and visual artist based in Ottawa and Mississauga, Ontario. She is the author of Heliotropia (Brick Books, 2024) and MONUMENT (Brick Books, 2022), which was shortlisted for the 2023 Gerald Lampert Award, and was selected as a Writer’s Trust of Canada Rising Star in 2023. See her work at manahilbandukwala.com. -- Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Natasha Ramoutar is back to talk about her new poetry collection, Baby Cerberus. Andrew emphasizes the fun they've had writing lately. It's truly a fun one! -- Natasha Ramoutar is a writer of Indo-Guyanese descent from Toronto. Her debut collection of poetry, Bittersweet, published in 2020 by Mawenzi House, was shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. She was the co-editor of Feel Ways, an anthology of Scarborough literature. She is a senior editor with Augur Magazine and serves on the editorial board at Wolsak and Wynn. Her second collection of poetry Baby Cerberus will be released October, 2024. -- Andrew French (they/them) is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Amanda Merpaw drops in to talk about her debut poetry collection, Most of All the Wanting. Andrew asks about poetry as a queer art form. It's a great time! -- Attend Page Fright: A Poetry Reading & Celebration (Sept 20 6-8pm at Massy Arts Society in Vancouver) -- Amanda Merpaw (she/her) is a writer, editor, and translator. She is the author of the chapbook Put the Ghosts Down Between Us (2021), and her writing has appeared in Arc Poetry Magazine, carte blanche, CV2, Grain, Prairie Fire, Plenitude, with Playwrights Canada Press, and elsewhere. Amanda has been a finalist for the Poem of the Year Contest and the Montreal Fiction Prize. She is currently a contributing editor at Arc Poetry Magazine and a member of the editorial board at Anstruther Press. Most of All the Wanting is her first full-length collection. -- Andrew French (they/them) is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (8

Hannah Siden zooms in to discuss writing tips and movement poetry! Andrew talks about moving from the journal to a computer and back again. It's a fun chat! -- Hannah Siden is a writer and filmmaker living on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations (Vancouver, BC). Her poetry has been published in PRISM International, Canthius, Room Magazine, The League of Canadian Poets, Metatron Press and elsewhere. She can be found online at https://www.hannahsiden.com.  -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast

Patrick Connors joins the podcast to talk about his second poetry collection, The Long Defeat. Andrew asks about keeping things light. It's a wide-ranging discussion! -- Patrick Connors' first chapbook, Scarborough Songs, was released by Lyricalmyrical Press in 2013, and charted on the Toronto Poetry Map. Other publication credits include: The Toronto Quarterly; Spadina Literary Review; Sharing Spaces; Tamaracks; and Tending the Fire. His first full collection, The Other Life, was released in 2021 by Mosaic Press. His new chapbook, Worth the Wait, was released in 2023 by Cactus Press. His second full collection, The Long Defeat, is newly released by Mosaic Press. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews,

Matthew Walsh comes back on the podcast with a new book: Terrarium. Andrew re-learns how to start writing poems. It's a good one!--Matthew Walsh grew up in Nova Scotia and now lives in Toronto. Their poems have appeared in Joyland, the Capra Review, the Antigonish Review, the Malahat Review, and Geist; in a chapbook entitled ICQ; and in their celebrated book-length collection These are not the potatoes of my youth, a finalist for the Trillium and Gerald Lampert Awards. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Kevin Spenst is back to talk about his latest poetry collection, A Bouquet Brought Back from Space. Andrew celebrates 5 years of Page Fright. Everyone's thinking about words!-- Kevin Spenst is the author of sixteen chapbooks and three full-length books of poetry plus his newest collection A Bouquet Brought Back from Space (Anvil Press, 2024). He is one of the organizers of the Dead Poets Reading Series, has a chapbook review column for subTerrain magazine, occasionally co-hosts Wax Poetic on Vancouver Co-op Radio, and teaches poetry through The Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver on unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territory where he cohabitates with the one and only Cheryl Rossi.  -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University

Rob Taylor is back to talk about his new book, Weather. Rob Taylor is the author of five collections of poetry, including Strangers and The News, which was a finalist for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. He is also the editor of What the Poets Are Doing: Canadian Poets in Conversation and Best Canadian Poetry 2019. He lives with his family in Port Moody, BC. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

-- Rhea Tregebov is the acclaimed author of eight collections of poetry. Her most recent, Talking to Strangers, was published by Signal Editions/Véhicule Press in April 2024. She has also published two award-winning novels, Rue des Rosiers (2019) and The Knife Sharpener’s Bell (2009). Tregebov served as Chair of the Writers’ Union of Canada from 2021 to 2023. Born in Saskatoon and raised in Winnipeg, she now lives and writes in Vancouver, where she is Associate Professor Emerita at the School of Creative Writing at UBC. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Matt Rader returns to talk about his second poetry collection, Fine. Andrew wonders about the beauty in the struggle. Everybody leaves a bit lighter! -- Details on Matt's Vancouver launch here. Details on the Dead Poets Reading Series event here. -- Matt Rader is an award-winning author of six volumes of poetry, a collection of stories and a book of nonfiction. His previous book of poems, Ghosthawk (2021), was shortlisted for the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. He teaches Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and lives in Kelowna, BC. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Kayla Czaga drops in to discuss her third full-length poetry collection, Midway. Andrew asks about elegies and editing together a manuscript. It's a fascinating chat! -- Kayla Czaga is the author of two previous poetry collections: For Your Safety Please Hold On (Nightwood Editions, 2014) and Dunk Tank (House of Anansi, 2019). Her work has been short-listed for the Governor General's Award for poetry and the BC and Yukon Book Prizes' Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize. Frequently anthologized in the Best Canadian Poetry in English series, her writing has also appeared in The Walrus, Grain, Event, The Fiddlehead, and elsewhere. She lives with her wife on the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people. -- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English fro

THREE poets read and talk about their poems from Best Canadian Poetry 2024! Nicholas Bradley discusses an atmospheric river. Matt Rader explores heat domes. Joanna Streetly searches the depths. It's a powerful set of chats! -- Nicholas Bradley lives in Victoria, BC. He is the author of two books of poetry: Rain Shadow (University of Alberta Press, 2018) and Before Combustion (Gaspereau Press, 2023). He teaches in the Department of English at the University of Victoria. Matt Rader lives in Kelowna, BC. He's the author of five collections of poems, most recently, Ghosthawk (Nightwood, 2021). He teaches Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Joanna Streetly has lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island since 1990. She is the published author of four books and has been listed for the FBCW Literary Writes Poetry Contest, the Canada Writes Creative Non-fiction Prize, and The Spectator's Shiva Naipaul award. Her work appears in the literary magazines, anthologies, and Best Ca

andrea bennett pops by to chat about their latest poetry collection, the berry takes the shape of the bloom. Andrew asks about bodies and gets too excited talking about the ocean. It's a fun one! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- andrea bennett is a National Magazine Award–winning writer and senior editor at The Tyee who lives in the Ayjoo mixw area of what is currently known as Powell River, B.C. Their previous book, Like a Boy but Not a Boy: Navigating Life, Mental Health, and Parenthood Outside the Gender Binary (Arsenal Pulp Press), was a CBC Books’ pick for the top Canadian nonfiction of the year. Their most recent book is the berry takes the shape of the bloom (Talonbooks). ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Weste

Kit Roffey jumps into the Zoom to chat about their first chapbook, Civilian of Dirt. Andrew mistakenly assumes Kit organizes readings because of their reading skills. It's a good ol' time! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- Kit Roffey is a queer writer. They hold a BA in English and Cultural Studies from Huron at Western University. Their work has appeared in Vallum, Event, Existere and Grain among others. Their first collection of poetry “Civilian of Dirt” is out now with 845 Press. They can be found on Instagram @poetry_kit and are always happy to talk writing, or debate over the best pen brands, boygenius songs, and coffee orders. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC

Chris Johnson stops in to talk about their new chapbook, 320 Lines of Poetry. Andrew asks what it's like running a successful poetry journal. It's a fun one! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- Chris Johnson (he/they) is a bi, settler poet from Scarborough, ON, currently living on unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. He is the Managing Editor for Arc Poetry Magazine, a board member for the Ottawa Arts Council, and a member of the creative collective VII. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and host this very podcast.

Chris Banks pops by to discuss his 7th poetry collection, Alternator. Andrew talks about being a writer who doesn't write. It's a lovely chat! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Instagram here. ----- Chris Banks is a Canadian poet and the author of seven collections of poetry, most recently Alternator with Nightwood Editions in 2021. His first full-length collection, Bonfires, was aw2arded the Jack Chalmers Award for Poetry by the Canadian Authors Association in 2004. Bonfires was also a finalist for the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award for best first book of poetry in Canada. His poetry has appeared in The New Quarterly, Arc Magazine, The Antigonish Review, Event, The Malahat Review, GRIFFEL, American Poetry Journal and PRISM International, among other publications. He lives and writes in Kitchener, Ontario. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021)

Brandi Bird stops by the virtual studio to talk about their debut poetry collection, The All + Flesh. Andrew relates their obsession with Mary Oliver to Brandi's work. It's a great time! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Twitter here. ----- Brandi Bird is an Indigiqueer Saulteaux, Cree, and Métis writer and editor from Treaty 1 territory. They currently live and learn on the land of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam peoples. Bird’s poems have been published in Catapult, The Puritan, Room Magazine, and others. They are a fourth year BFA student at the University of British Columbia, but their heart is always yearning for the prairies. ----- Andrew French is an author from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published two chapbooks, Poems for Different Yous (Rose Garden Press, 2021) and Do Not Discard Ashes (845 Press, 2020). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write

Tom Cull joins Andrew to reconnect and talk about his new poetry collection, Kill Your Starlings. Andrew asks about elegies and IKEA. It's a good one! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Twitter here. ----- Tom Cull was born and raised in Huron County in Treaty 29 territory. He currently resides in London, Ontario, on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenape, Attawandaron and Huron-Wendat peoples. Tom works at the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority and teaches creative writing at Western University. He was the Poet Laureate for the City of London from 2016-2018. Tom is the author of two books of poems: Kill Your Starlings (Gaspereau Press, 2023) and Bad Animals (Insomniac Press, 2018). His chapbook, What the Badger Said, was published in 2013 (Baseline Press). His work has appeared in several journals, and anthologies including This Magazine, The Rusty Toque, Long Con Magazine, The Windsor Review, The New Quarterly, The Dalhousie Review,

Jen Currin and Andrew sit down to chat about Jen's new poetry collection, Trinity Street. Andrew talks the poetic and personal. It's a blast! ----- Listen to more episodes of Page Fright here. Follow the podcast on Twitter here. ----- Jen Currin lives on the unceded, ancestral, and traditional territories of the Halq̓eméylem-speaking peoples, including the Qayqayt, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, and Kwantlen Nations (New Westminster, BC, a suburb of Vancouver). They teach in the Creative Writing and English Upgrading Departments at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Jen’s most recent poetry collection is Trinity Street (House of Anansi, 2023). They have published four other collections of poetry: The Sleep of Four Cities (Anvil Press, 2005); Hagiography (Coach House, 2008); The Inquisition Yours (Coach House, 2010), which won the 2011 Audre Lorde Award for Lesbian Poetry and was shortlisted for the 2011 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize (B.C. Book Prizes), the Lambda Literary Award in Poetry, and a ReLit Award; and S