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.

• Cryptozoology and Life Working in the Gallery: An Interview with Nina Berkhout

  By Julienne Isaacs | January 22, 2015

  Nina Berkhout on working at the National Gallery, Paul Gauguin, cryptozoology, alcoholism, and Classical numismatics.

• Author Notes: Angela Hibbs

  By The Town Crier | January 19, 2015

  Angela Hibbs opens up about her love of Francis Bacon, Destiny’s Child, Eric Satie, Haruki Murakami, and why she won’t read biographies.

• Four Questions with Roxanna Bennett

  By Domenica Martinello | January 12, 2015

  Domenica Martinello talks to Roxanna Bennett about fairy tales, painting over canvases at OCAD, A.A. Milne, and the deceit of author bios.

• Author Notes: Shawn Fawson

  By The Town Crier | January 8, 2015

  Puritan contributor Shawn Fawson relates Larry Kent Graham and Edward Tick to her poetry, and writes about reconciling oneself to a history of war.

• Reading Online: Literary Publishing in a Digital World

  By André Forget | January 5, 2015

  André Forget argues that print magazine practices still dominate digital literature, while reading online demands new curatorial forms.

• Why I Don’t Like Blagrave’s Unlikeable Characters

  By The Town Crier | December 29, 2014

  Jason Freure discusses Mark Blagrave’s “Salt in the Wounds,” unlikeable characters, Austrian national memory, and Roxane Gay's essay on unlikeability.

• “I Owe It To the Book”: Angie Abdou on Marketing and Self-Promotion

  By Julienne Isaacs | December 26, 2014

  Julienne Isaacs gets Angie Abdou talking about Canada Reads, the CBC marketing machine, “The Bone Cage,” living in Fernie, and DIY book tours.

• “Such a Fascinating Symbiotic Ecosystem”: An Interview with the Creators of ChessBard

  By E Martin Nolan | December 22, 2014

  Aaron Tucker and Jody Miller discuss their digital, chess-based poetry generator, ChessBard, as well as Box Score App, Graeme Burnett, Duchamp, and Cage.

• “Artists are Lepers”: Another Review of Polyamorous Love Song by Jacob Wren

  By Domenica Martinello | December 18, 2014

  Domenica Martinello finds sympathy with the Mascot Front, New Filmmakers, and none for reviewer Keith Cadieux on Polyamorous Love Song by Jacob Wren.

• When Filmmakers Don’t Make Movies: A Review of Jacob Wren’s Polyamorous Love Song

  By André Forget | December 15, 2014

  André Forget criticizes Polyamorous Love Song for ignoring propaganda and finds fault with Jacob Wren’s avant-garde vision.

• Two Questions for Puritan Contributor Stevie Howell

  By E Martin Nolan | December 11, 2014

  E Martin Nolan interviews Stevie Howell about musicality in her poetry, working on Avenue Road, Rorschach blots, and Northern Ireland.

• Author Notes: Paul Carlucci Talks Insiders and Outsiders

  By The Town Crier | December 8, 2014

  Paul Carlucci argues that regionalism and inter-cultural tensions could be solved by sitting down to eat together and yelling a little at each other.