Singh Makes Telegraph's Top New Novelists for 2010

Ahead of Bloomsbury's March release of Chef, Jaspreet Singh has made it onto the Sunday Telegraph's list of the Top New Novelists of 2010. Chef was originally published by Esplanade Books/Vehicule Press in 2008. Congratulation Sahib!

"Agatha Christie on crack"

Encore Magazine raps the blogosphere's knuckles for overlooking two novels in its decade round-up frenzy.

Come Friendly Bombs

I'd like to point to an amazing video that uses jump-cut visuals to accompany Zach Wells' reading of John Betjeman's infamous poem "Slough" (the technique used gave me some sense of where the creators of this book trailer got their inspiration).

When you're done watching the video, come back and hear Betjeman's original reading of the poem, followed by the Ricky Gervais/David Brent hilarious, squirm-inducing rendition (Slough, of course, is where The Office -- the original BBC faux-documentary-style comedy series -- was set).

QWF Competition

The three winning entries of last year's Quebec Writer's Competition -- co-sponsored by Vehicule press, Maisonneuve and CBC -- are now up at the Maisonneuve website.

To the left is first prize winner, Kasia Juno Von Schaik.

Submissions are now being accepted for the 2010 competition. Details here. Deadline is May 1, 2010.

Pushing Product

Activity around Jason Guriel's Pure Product is proving to be one of the few growth industries during these recessionary times.

A flurry of year-end assessements flushed out more Pure Product fans: here, here, here and here.

Also Jason Guriel's book has received several lovely reviews: here, here, and here.