By Whitney Matusiak Author Stephen Kelman grips readers and deftly conjures compassion with the use of a culturally and socially magnetic dialect in his debut novel Pigeon English (2011). Set in a rough London estate, Pigeon English is a modern-day coming-of-age tale with dark leanings centring on the gang-related death of a young boy. With … Continue reading Book review: Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Wordplay: The new birds
Wordplay is a regular column by editor and language writer James Harbeck in which he tastes and plays with English words and usages. Imagine going out for a stroll in the woods with a friend who loves birds. You hear a bird’s song. “What’s that?” you ask. “I don’t know,” your friend says; “I don’t recognize … Continue reading Wordplay: The new birds
The Daily Grind: Bloorcourt’s new café Bloomer’s
The Daily Grind is an ongoing mini-feature that highlights the best cafés in Toronto for freelance editors looking for a caffeine fix and a temporary office away from home. By Chris Hughes Bloomer’s is a brand new café that just opened in July on Bloor Street West just east of Ossington Avenue. It has an … Continue reading The Daily Grind: Bloorcourt’s new café Bloomer’s
The Nitpicker’s Nook: August’s linguistic links roundup
The Nitpicker’s Nook is a monthly collection of language-related articles, interviews, and blog posts from around the Web. If you read something that would make a good addition, email your suggestion to [email protected]. By Emily Chau Canada doesn’t have its own dictionary, since the final edition of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary was published 10 years ago, … Continue reading The Nitpicker’s Nook: August’s linguistic links roundup
Chasing fire trucks is not for me: my second beginning as an editor
By Karen Kemlo “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” —A.A. Milne I call my decision to change careers in mid-life my “second beginning”—for me it defines the place where I am now. It’s also about coming full circle again and being a late bloomer. I grew up … Continue reading Chasing fire trucks is not for me: my second beginning as an editor
Q&A: Mary Lawson on the author/editor relationship
What do authors think about editors? What do authors think makes the difference between a good editor and a great editor? Previously, BoldFace asked children’s author and illustrator Jeremy Tankard about his experience working with editors. This time we posed the same questions to London, United Kingdom–based, internationally bestselling author Mary Lawson, who penned Road … Continue reading Q&A: Mary Lawson on the author/editor relationship
The Daily Grind: Toronto café L’Espresso Bar Mercurio
The Daily Grind is an ongoing mini-feature that highlights the best cafés in Toronto for freelance editors looking for a caffeine fix and a temporary office away from home. By Sara Scharf Whenever I need a little italianità or crave a superior cappuccino, I head to L’Espresso Bar Mercurio. This family-owned “bar” (in the European … Continue reading The Daily Grind: Toronto café L’Espresso Bar Mercurio
The Nitpicker’s Nook: July’s linguistic links roundup
The Nitpicker’s Nook is a monthly collection of language-related articles, interviews, and blog posts from around the Web. If you read something that would make a good addition, email your suggestion to [email protected]. By Emily Chau This month, we revelled in parody master Weird Al’s new release “Word Crimes” and appreciated his suggestion to “hire some … Continue reading The Nitpicker’s Nook: July’s linguistic links roundup
