Essential Anthologies

What is the literary and cultural benefit of a diaspora anthology? It presents work from a community, a family of writers. It represents a cultural contribution to Canadian literature. It makes it known where they come from personally and metaphorically, what inspires them. In this case, they are all writers who share Polish-ness, in whatever ways we define it, as a part of their personal story, be it through similar experiences, influences, and perspective on the world, a sense of history and of who they are. And also, through interest in the Polish diaspora, writers who have no Polish roots.

Although poetry is one of the oldest art forms and cinema one of the youngest, a symbiosis exists between the two - an interchange of metaphor, rhythm, point-of-view. No surprise, then, that so many contemporary poets write about film and the magnitude of its effect on modern life. Featuring work by some of the most acclaimed poets writing in Canada today (and three from the USA), I Found It at the Movies includes poems inspired by the full range of cinematic history - from silent films to blockbusters, from neo-realism to cartoon, from Fred Astaire to vampires, and from all around the world. Entering this collection is an experience as beguiling as a trip to the movies itself. Among the poets included: Margaret Atwood, Don McKay, Michael Ondaatje, Steven Heighton, David W. McFadden, Karen Solie, Marilyn Bowering, Julie Bruck, Stephanie Bolster and Ken Babstock.

This migration anthology is an entertaining miscellany of factual stories, essays, newspaper reportage, and even a poem, all of which highlight the humour, as well as the ironies and agonies generated when humans seek a new homeland. The authors, and their stories, are as diverse as our Canadian population itself, and help to tell who we all are within this amazing, tolerant, nurturing geographic space called Canada. All migrants have stories, but not all are writers, so although most authors here are academics and/or widely published, the voices of others are well represented.

The persistence of misconceptions about Italian-Canadian food culture raises many questions for us. Are we gluttonous, inebriate and too loud? Do we force-feed guests? Are we in fact food-obsessed? How many grains of truth can a stereotype hold? We had to know, so we asked articulate and thoughtful Italian-Canadian writers and simpatico friends from British Columbia to Newfoundland. The responses were surprising, thoughtful, entertaining and often touching, making my co-editor, Delia De Santis, and I very glad we asked, as every piece which streamed over the internet? ether was a gift and a joy to read. And the result is Italian Canadians at Table, a passionate literary feast of poetry and prose.

Mothers of the 1950s were wasp-waisted, dutiful, serene, and tied to the kitchen with apron strings. Or so we thought. This collection of searing and startling poetry and prose unties the stereotype and reveals women who were strong, wild, talented, wise, mad, creative, desperate, angry, courageous, bitter, tenacious, reckless and beautiful, sometimes all at once. The fifty-six contributors from across Canada and the world include multi-award-winning poets, novelists, and essayists, as well as compelling new literary voices. Authors include Judy Fong Bates, Denise Chong, Marjorie Doyle, Isabel Huggan, Jeanette Lynes, Alice Major, Daphne Marlatt, Diane Schoemperlen, Betsy Struthers, Sharon Thesen, Patricia Young, and more.

Needless to say, moments like now, when the hurdles to becoming a respected author are at their lowest. When the only hurdles to being published are the quality of your writing and your patience to deal with certain less and less important gatekeepers. Moments in history like this, must be acknowledged and celebrated. That's what this anthology is: It's a celebration. A moment to cry out, Look how many of us have a voice! There are stories, and poetry in this country that are about people like me! I am not alone!

Writing Our Way Home is an important contribution to literary studies. ?talian-Canadian writers are not just Canadian writers, but world writers,?states literary critic Elena Lamberti in the introduction to Writing Our Way Home. ?hey write from Canada with an original point of view on multiple (hybrid) identities and have something to tell the whole world ? A unique volume of creative and critical texts, Writing Our Way Home features contributors from Canada, Italy and the United States: Annalisa Bonomo, John Calabro, Michele Campanini, Licia Canton, Giusy Cesari, Pietro Corsi, Domenic Cusmano, Marisa De Franceschi, Mike Dell'quila, Alberto Mario DeLogu, Delia De Santis, Gil Fagiani, Nino Fam, Venera Fazio, Frank Giorno, Gabriella Iacobucci, Elena Lamberti, Maria Lisella, Ernesto Livorni, Darlene Madott, Michael Mirolla, Caroline Morgan Di Giovanni, Linda Morra, Oriana Palusci, Gianna Patriarca, Maria Tognan, Osvaldo Zappa, Jim Zucchero.

Poets on Poets is a unique anthology that features the poems of Canadian poets on a writer who has left a mark on them or their writing. Each poem has a back story to it, ranging from impressions to chronological details. Edited by Julie Roorda and Elana Wolff, the anthology sheds light not only on the creative process but also on the relationship between and among writers.

Migration stories are an essential component of Canada's historical/literary continuum; we need to know of such writings to rationalize about who Canadians really are, and where they are from. Aren't we all the children of migration? Where we came from, how we got here, who we were, and are, and who may become in time ? such themes should interest all those naturally concerned about identity and origin; that eternal enigma wrought of migration. These short-fiction stories tell much about migration and Canada, in ways that are funny, ribald, tragic or contemplative, but never dull.