I’ve been fortunate to spend some time with the extremely talented Zoe Whittall. A few years ago, my friend Jaclyn L. chose Holding Still for as Long as Possible as our book club’s selection of the month. Zoe was a gracious guest and provided some very cool insight into her novel and the community of Toronto’s Blue Shirts. (Sadly, when we asked her to join Curling Was Full, she told us she’d just signed up for improv classes).
Recently, shedoesthecity.com posted a great article on the acclaimed author called “Zoe Whittall on Giller Prize-shortlisted Novel The Best Kind of People.” (The Best Kind of People was actually named one of Heather Reisman’s two top novels of last holiday season, the other being Joseph Boyden’s Wenjack) While the article is an interesting read if you like the author and her fiction/poetry, what caught my attention as a professional freelancer was her determination to make this thing called writing a viable career, even if it meant straying from her traditional domains of writing novels and poems. Give it a read when you have a chance, especially if you’re a starving artist and looking for inspiration about how to pay the rent while also pursuing your passion.
Many congratulations to @zoewhittall on her newfound – and well-deserved – success on multiple writing fronts.
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Richard H. Harris 