Jen Currin, kevin mcpherson eckhoff, Alan Reed, Thom Vernon, and Rachel Zolf will all be reading from their latest works at the Coach House Spring 2010 launch on Wednesday. To mark the occasion Books@Torontoist made these authors fill out a brief questionnaire. We’ll print one a day until it’s party time.
Today’s installment of the Coach House Countdown is provided by Rachel Zolf, whose poetry collection Neighbour Procedure is a dazzling collection of conceptual poetry that combines the unlikeliest of neighbours and ideas.
What’s your book about and what makes it unique?
Depressing stuff like war, torture, and occupation, but with a unique ironic sensibility!
Which fictional literary character is your favourite?
The fly on the wall in Gail Scott’s forthcoming book, The Obituary.
Who are some of your greatest writing influences?
NourbeSe Philip, Erín Moure, Dorothy Trujillo Lusk, Gail Scott, Paul Celan, Edmond Jabès, Margaret Christakos, Betsy Warland, Jeff Derksen, Kate Eichhorn, and Walter Benjamin.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write (to be trite–just do it)… and read read read…and oh yeah, read.
What’s your favourite bookish spot?
Of Swallows, Their Deeds, & the Winter (new bookstore/gathering space at 283 College), This Ain’t the Rosedale Library, and the Toronto Women’s Bookstore.
What do you love about Toronto?
One of the best places in the world to be queer.
Keep Toronto Reading is all about spreading literary love in this city. What book would you recommend to Torontonians?
Angela Carr’s The Rose Concordance (BookThug, 2009). Beautifully written—and very sexy, with many fountains…
Why should people come to the Coach House launch?
To support the most important literary press in Canada, so that it may still exist next year. And oh yeah, because it’s a good party.
Coach House Books’ Spring 2010 launch will take place at Revival (783 College Street) on Wednesday, April 28th. Doors open at 8 p.m.
Author photo courtesy Moyra Davey
