It’s official: my poetry manuscript, inspired by the life and work of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, has been accepted for publication. The book will be coming out this fall with Mansfield Press. The press is based in Toronto and I’m working with publisher Denis De Klerck. Everything happened so quickly; I’m currently (insanely) busy applying the [...]
Banff Writing Studio Residency – A Journal
These are some notes recorded during my residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity's Writing Studio, which occurred from April 30th to June 3rd 2017. Day 1: April 30 2017 I arrived to Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity having slept only 4 hours the previous night. Upon arriving to Calgary, there was another hour [...]
Nominated VP of the Board of Directors of the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF)
I’m really proud to join the Executive Committee of the QWF as VP of the Board. Since day one, I fell in love with the mission of the QWF as well as all of the thoughtful individuals that make up its existence. It has been such a pleasure to work with Lori Schubert (the Executive Director), [...]
I’ve Been Accepted Into Banff’s Writing Studio Residency
From time to time, a nice email pops-up in your inbox informing you of your acceptance to the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity’s Writing Studio residency. I look forward to connecting and working with other artists & poets during my stay there. And, of course, to getting some fresh air and mountain views! It’s Banff, after [...]
My Poem Makes the Long List for the 2016-2017 Ralph Gustafson Prize for the Best Poem
When you work (i.e. write) for hours on end--days on end--immersed in the solitary world of the writer (yes, it really is a lonely metier; not recommended to the faint of heart!), it’s sometimes nice to be acknowledged, even if briefly. My poem, “Portrait of Helene Klimt”, made the long list for the 2016-2017 Ralph Gustafson Prize [...]
Visiting Gustav Klimt and His 7 Muses at New York’s Neue Galerie
This weekend, it was all about Agnes Martin at the Guggenheim, Mel B at the Ambassador Theatre, August Kleinzahler at The Poets House, and Gustav Klimt & Emilie Flöge at the Neue Galerie in New York. A line-up went around the corner of 1048 Fifth Avenue, at 86th Street, as we waited in the cold for the [...]
Last Night’s QWF’s Gala Was Filled With Small Fires and A Little Measure of Darkness…
Last night's 18th QWF Awards Gala brought a few surprises... and a lot of applause. A large (and loud!) community of English--and French--writers and friends gathered on Tuesday, November 22, 2016 to honour their own. The gala was held at The Corona--a vintage silent film theatre built in 1912--in the Sud-Ouest borough. Tanya Evanson, host par excellence, opened the event with a spoken-word [...]
I’ll be reading at the Lovers and Others event at The Yellow Door
Looking forward to reading at the Lovers and Others event happening on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 @7pm at The Yellow Door. This event, organized by Ilona Martonfi, is particularly exciting because we're only invited to read 1, maximum 2 poems, not exceeding 30 lines each. The brevity of the readings makes for a swift, staccato night--perfect for [...]
It Has Arrived… The Antigonish Review With My Winning Poems
I received issue no 187 of The Antigonish Review in the mail today. Congratulations to the other two winners, Laisha Rosnau (1st Prize) and Sean Howard (3rd Prize). You check out the entire content here. You can buy copies here. Inside, an introduction reads: "The judges awarded second prize to Branka Petrovic of Montreal, Quebec. Her entry consists [...]
Second Prize – 16th Great Blue Heron Poetry Contest
I'm delighted that two of my poems received Second Prize at the 16th Great Blue Heron Poetry Contest. The first poem is based on a photograph of Adèle Bloch-Bauer, "a wealthy society woman and hostess of a renowned Viennese Salon at the beginning of the twentieth century" as well as a favourite muse of Gustav Klimt. According [...]