Suzanne Alyssa Andrew's Blog: The PROCESS blog, page 10

My interview with Terese Marie Mailhot

I had the pleasure of talking with Terese Marie Mailhot, author of the extraordinary book, Heart Berries. (The New York Times called it a “sledgehammer.”) . 

Read my article for NOW magazine, “Terese Marie Mailhot wants to liberate Indigenous people through writing.”

Evidence, a new short story

I’m pleased to announce my short story, Evidence, about a crime that happens at a band’s last show was published by Joyland magazine and is now available to read online. This story saw a circuitous route to publication. Although it won second prize in Matrix magazine’s LitPop Awards in 2017, I had to pull it from publication in Matrix. I wrote about that for The Walrus magazine. I feel it found a perfect home in Joyland and I’m delighted to see it finally published.

I invite you to read Evidence here.

Wayward Sisters comics anthology

I wrote about the launch of Wayward Sisters: An Anthology of Monstrous Women (TO Comix Press). As I was looking into it, comics creators began to be attacked online, and it turned into a bigger story.

Read Monstrous Women comic creators overcome the haters: Allison O’Toole’s anthology of comics by women and gender non-conforming authors and illustrators is launching amidst an alt-right harassment campaign in NOW magazine.

Is Toronto harsh to opening acts?

I tackled the question for NOW magazine and talked to bands and promoters, including The Pack AD, PUP, Dan Burke and Jonny Dovercourt from Wavelength Toronto. 

Read the article

Why I pulled my story from a literary magazine

Deciding to pull my award-winning story from publication in a Canadian literary magazine wasn’t easy, but the new momentum is about small acts of resistance that can lead to large-scale shifts in attitude. 

Please read my personal essay in The Walrus magazine.

An article to spice things up!

My journalism beat is usually music and books, but I also hit the gym three or four times a week to combat the sedentary writing lifestyle. I pitched a fun fitness article that turned out to be an amazing opportunity to talk to Toronto instructors who are empowering women all over the city.

Read my article, “Toronto classes to help you bring it in the bedroom” on She Does the City! 

Photo of Amber Joliat, founder of Misfit Studio is by Jessica Blaine Smith.  

Heavy Bell’s novel adaptation

I chatted with a Winnipeg songwriting duo that adapted Elizabeth Smart’s poetic prose novel, “By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept” into an album. 

Read my Q&A with Heavy Bell on the Quill & Quire magazine blog.

Best of 2017: concerts

I saw more than 40 concerts in Toronto in 2017! There were so many excellent ones, it was a challenge to choose which ones were the most exhilarating, entertaining and inspiring. These were my favourites:

Large venue show: Nick Cave at Massey Hall

Medium-sized venue: Chelsea Wolfe with Youth Code at the Opera House, and Trentemoller at the Danforth Music Hall

Small venue: Muna with Lo Moon at the Drake Underground, Zola Jesus at Longboat Hall, and Drab Majesty at the Baby G (which I got to review for NOW magazine!)

All the concert photos below are my own! (Taken on my iPhone.)

Best of 2017: books

The three books I enjoyed reading most this year are:

Graphic novel: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

Novel: The Break by Katherena Vermette (it came out last year, but I read it this year!)

Non-fiction: The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson

Biographies

I’m busy writing professional biographies for independent professionals and entrepreneurs! The latest is Margie Miller, a bold visual storyteller, creative director and inspiration.

Read about Margie Miller on the Biograflyer blog!