Vivek Shraya's Blog, page 8

University of Calgary

After almost 15 years of art, love, heartbreak and self-actualization in Toronto—and working full-time at George Brown College—I am happy to share that I will be moving back to Alberta where I will be starting a new job on January 1, 2018, as a tenure-track faculty member at University of Calgary in the Department of English (Creative Writing).

Part-Time Woman – New video feat Alok

Directed by Chelsea McMullen. Read more @ Noisey.

I’m Afraid of Men – Fall 2018 – Penguin Canada

Happy to announce that my next book, “I’m Afraid of Men,” will be out Fall 2018 with Penguin Canada.

More here: Toronto Star, CBC Books

“I Take All The Blame” – Tegan and Sara cover

The first time I head The Con demos, I was bowled over by the production, especially the Tegan and Sara’s usage of synths and keyboards. Where synths on So Jealous had been introduced to add purposeful and playful layers, on The Con, the synths were fractured, ominous and omnipresent, like a new third voice in the band, especially on songs like “Knife Going In” and b-side “I Take All The Blame.” Revisiting the latter track, ten years later for this project I was now struck by the words beneath the insistent keyboard loops, the pain in self-blame and the quiet grace in being able to offer “I move away.” Wanting to amplify the emotionality of these lyrics became the foundation of my cover.

In “I Take The Blame” Sara also sings “Don’t you think that I’ve been giving up” and over the years, I continue to be inspired by Tegan and Sara’s perseverance and commitment to supporting a range of important social causes. I am sincerely honoured to be part of The Con X: Covers project that is OUT TODAY especially because the net proceeds from the project will benefit Tegan and Sara Foundation, which fights for health, economic justice, and representation for LGBTQ girls and women.

Janet Mock

Next Friday I have the honour of moderating a keynote by Janet Mock at York University. More info.

Part-Time Woman in THIS Magazine

“A sharp exploration of femininity, misogyny, and lateral violence.”

-September/October 2017 issue of THIS Magazine.

Allure Magazine

Janet Mock asks 10 Creators of Color Reveal What Makes Them Feel Most Beautiful.

“Melania Trump book donation rejected by school librarian” – The Guardian

Honoured to see The Boy & the Bindi on Massachusetts elementary school librarian Liz Phipps Soeiro’s “Dear Mrs. Trump” booklist as an example of a picture book where “children who challenge society’s social constraints and are accepted and loved as who they say they are” in response to Melania Trump’s book donation.

FLARE Magazine

FLARE #HowIMadeIt celebrates 100+ talented, ambitious and driven Canadian women with cool jobs. Want what Vivek has? Here’s how she did it

Nancy Podcast

New interview with Nancy about The Boy & the Bindi.