Up in Ontario

Manitoba Literature Goes Global

The CBC picks up on Manitoba Book Week with a short article on the rising international profile of Manitoba books and writers. Or, as they headline the article, 'Manitoba' no longer kiss of death for books.

If only I knew that earlier. Maybe I could have titled my novel Down from Manitoba, instead of Up in Ontario. That might have been better for sales.

By the way, if you've ever wondered why I called the novel Up in Ontario, why not tell me what it means to you and I will tell you what it means to me. Please make your own guess. I'm always fascinated by how writing is interpreted, the many meanings and interpretations that readers create. I may not say too much about what the title Up in Ontario means to me, though you could listen to my interview with Paul Grant (MP3 file, 6.3 MB) to find some hints, for I am reluctant to tell you what things mean to me; what I say will inevitably be something that is different than what you thought, and the meaning comes as much from a reader as it does from a writer.