The Town Crier

The Town Crier operated as a hub for criticism and commentary, connecting a community of writers, readers, and commentators through social media, and focusing on the interplay of literary opinion in and around the city of Toronto until its closure in February 2021.

• Sixty Seconds of Happiness: An Interview with Jonathan Bennet

  By Nathaniel G. Moore | April 19, 2018

  Nathaniel G. Moore interviews Jonathan Bennett and the pair discuss Bennett's latest book of poems, Happinesswise, and the inspiration behind it.

• Writing from Life: Part II

  By Gwen Benaway | April 16, 2018

  Gwen Benaway continues her month-long writer in residence position on the Town Crier with an essay on bodies and writing poems about her body.

• Writing From Life

  By Gwen Benaway | April 9, 2018

  Gwen Benaway begins her month-long writer in residence position on the Town Crier with an essay on writing from life and her experience as a poet.

• Author Note: Rachel Crummey

  By Rachel Crummey | April 2, 2018

  Rachel Crummey discusses her experience of writing as connected to landscapes, and her poem “Kamouraska,” which appeared in The Puritan Issue 40, Winter 2018.

• Author Note: Claire Matthews

  By Claire Matthews | March 29, 2018

  Claire Matthews discusses the influence behind her poem “Caution No Barriers,” which appeared in The Puritan Issue 39, Fall 2017.

• How to Sell Books on Consignment

  By Jason Freure | March 26, 2018

  Jason Freure discusses selling books on consignment and talks to Light Zachary, author of "The End, By Anna," and Nicole Brewer, co-founder of words(on)page.

• The American Photo Essay

  By Brad Casey | March 22, 2018

  Brad Casey shares a photo essay on his short story “The American,” which appeared in The Puritan Issue 39, Fall 2017.

• Homelands & Belly Dancers: On Writing About Obsessions

  By Hajer Mirwali | March 19, 2018

  Hajer Mirwali asks six writers about their current obsessions, with answers from Adèle Barclay, Dina Del Bucchia, Leah Horlick, Nyla Matuk, Sina Queyras, and Jen Sookfong Lee.

• Review of Sam Cheuk's Deus et Machina

  By Jeremy Luke Hill | March 15, 2018

  Jeremy Luke Hill of Vocamus Press reviews Sam Cheuk’s chapbook "Deus et Machina" (Baseline Press, 2017), with references to the form of the apostrophe.

• #MeToo Might Be Ruining Romance As We Know It — Good Riddance

  By Dana Ewachow | March 12, 2018

  Dana Ewachow analyzes three romance novels and discusses how sexual violence is often mixed into the narrative of love, passion, and seduction, with references to the #MeToo movement.

• Author Note: Renée Jackson-Harper

  By Renée Jackson-Harper | March 9, 2018

  Renée Jackson-Harper discusses the process that went into writing the poem “Re: Council,” which appeared in The Puritan Issue 38: Summer 2017.

• The Brutally Honest Ones: Interview with Dane Swan

  By Garvia Bailey | March 7, 2018

  Garvia Bailey interviews Dane Swan and the pair discuss "A Mingus Lullaby" and Swan's new collection of short stories, "He Doesn’t Hurt People Anymore."