Page Fright: A Literary Podcast

Mallory Tater joins Page Fright to talk about her new poetry collection, Lockers are for Bearcats Only. Andrew's stoked about National Poetry Month. It's a great conversation!--Mallory Tater is the author of four books, two collections of poetry and two novels: This Will Be Good, Lockers are for Bearcats Only, The Birth Yard, & Soft Tissue (forthcoming, 2028). She was the publisher of Rahila’s Ghost Press, a now-retired chapbook press. Mallory currently lives in Vancouver, where she teaches at the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing. --Andrew French (They/Them) is a queer poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published four chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025) and Fists You've Called Home (Pinhole Poetry, forthcoming 2026). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this podcast since 2019.

Christina Shah is here to discuss her debut full-length poetry collection, if: prey, then: huntress. Andrew's wondering about how to stop yapping on and on in their poems. It's a fun one!--Christina Shah lives in New Westminster and works in heavy industry, where she drinks from the firehose of knowledge. Her poetry has appeared in numerous Canadian literary journals, including The Fiddlehead, Vallum, Arc, Grain, PRISM international, EVENT, The Malahat Review, The Antigonish Review and elsewhere. Her poem, ‘they canned a good man today’, was shortlisted for The Fiddlehead’s 2021 Ralph Gustafson Poetry Prize. Her poem, ‘interior bar, 1986’, was selected for Best Canadian Poetry 2023. She is one-fifth of the Harbour Centre 5 poetry collective, whose chapbook, Brine, was released in 2022. Her first videopoem, ‘rig veda’ (in collaboration with videographer Mark Mushet), was translated into Spanish and screened at the 2023 Cinemística festival in Granada, Spain, and the 2023 Versi Di Luce festival in Modic

Kashayar "Kess" Mohammadi drops by to talk their latest poetry collection, The Book of Interruptions. Andrew asks about bringing new life to old poems. It's a blast!--Khashayar “Kess” Mohammadi (They/Them) is a queer, Iranian born, Toronto-based Poet, Writer and Translator. They  are the winner of the 2021 Vallum Poetry Prize and the author of  “Book of Interruptions”, out with Wolsak and Wynn. Their sixth full length poetry manuscript is forthcoming with Ugly Duckling Presse.--Andrew French (They/Them) is a queer poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published four chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025) and Fists You've Called Home (Pinhole Poetry, forthcoming 2026). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this podcast since 2019.

Joanna Streetly joins Andrew to talk her new poetry collection, All of Us Hidden⁠. Andrew asks about staying curious in your poetry. It's a great time!--Joanna Streetly is the author of five books. Her work is published in The Best Canadian Essays 2017 (Tightrope Books, 2017) and Best Canadian Poetry 2024 (Biblioasis, 2024). She is the winner of the 2023 FBCW Literary Contest Poetry Award, has been short-listed for the Van Isle Collective Prize, and The Spectator’s Shiva Naipaul award for outstanding travel writing as well as long-listed for the Canada Writes Creative Non-fiction Prize. She has lived in the unceded territory of the Tla-o-qui-aht for over thirty years and was the inaugural Tofino Poet Laureate from 2018 to 2020. Joanna’s first poetry book, This Dark, was published by Postelsia Press in 2008. Her 2018 memoir, Wild Fierce Life: Dangerous Moments on the Outer Coast (Caitlin Press, 2018) was a BC Bestseller.--Andrew French is a queer poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have publi

Mary Dalton joins Andrew to chat about editing this year's edition of Biblioasis' Best Canadian Poetry series. Andrew listens in to three readings from featured poets Erin Moure, Kevin Irie, and Sue Sinclair while chatting with Mary along the way. It's a fun one to start the year!--Mary Dalton is the author of six books of poetry, among them Merrybegot, Red Ledger, Hooking, and Interrobang, as well as a prose miscellany, Edge: Essays, Reviews, Interviews. The book version of her 2020 Pratt Lecture, The Vernacular Strain in Newfoundland Poetry, was released by Breakwater in 2022. She lives in St. John's, Newfoundland.--Andrew French is a queer poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published four chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025) and Fists You've Called Home (Pinhole Poetry, forthcoming 2026). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this podcast since 2019.

Brian Bartlett joins the podcast LIVE at the Fraser Valley Writers' Festival in Abbotsford, BC, to chat about his new book, The Astonishing Room. Andrew asks what's up with everyone writing bird poems lately. We're back in-person!--Brian Bartlett has published sixteen collections and chapbooks of poetry, three volumes of nature writing, and a gathering of his prose on poetry. His most recent books are The Astonishing Room and Daystart Songflight: A Morning Journal. He has also edited many selections of poets’ works, as well Alden Nowlan’s Collected Poems. Bartlett’s honours have included The Atlantic Poetry Prize, the Acorn-Plantos Award for People’s Poetry, and two Malahat Review Long Poem Prizes. The Astonishing Room was shortlisted for the 2025 Al and Eurithe Poetry Prize. Since 1990 Bartlett has lived in Halifax/Kjipuktuk. For many years he has kept a daily journal.--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alf

Nick Thran joins the podcast LIVE at the Fraser Valley Writers' Festival in Abbotsford, BC, to chat about his new book Existing Music. Andrew wonders about time in music and the passage of time. It's a joyous return to in-person Page Fright!--Nick Thran’s newest collection of poems is Existing Music. His previous books include the mixed-genre collection If It Gets Quiet Later On, I Will Make a Display (2023) and three previous collections of poems. Earworm (2011) won the 2012 Trillium Book Award for Poetry. His poems have been anthologized in Best Canadian Poetry and The Next Wave: An Anthology of 21st Century Canadian Poetry. Thran lives on unceded Wolastoqey territory (Fredericton, NB), where he works as an editor and bookseller.--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted

Daniel Cowper returns to talk about his new novel in verse, Kingdom of the Clock. Andrew asks about writing long poems. It's a poetic chat!Daniel Cowper is a poet and writer from Bowen Island, BC. His poetry has appeared in publications in Canada, the USA, and Ireland, including Arc Poetry, Vallum, Southword, and Barren, and has been long-listed for the CBC Poetry Prize. A chapbook of his poetry, The God of Doors, was published by Frog Hollow Press in 2017, as winner of its chapbook contest, and Grotesque Tenderness, a full-length collection, was published by McGill-Queens University Press in 2019. Kingdom of the Clock is his new novel in verse, out now with McGill-Queens University Press.Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this podcast since 2019.

Arleen Paré stops by to chat about her latest poetry collection, encrypted. Andrew asks about Coleridge and video games. It's a fun time!Arleen Paré is a writer with ten collections of poetry, based in Victoria, BC. She has been short-listed for the BC Dorothy Livesay Award for Poetry and has won the American Golden Crown Award for Poetry, the Victoria Butler Book Prize, a CBC Bookie Award, and a Governor Generals’ Award for Poetry.Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this podcast since 2019.

Estlin McPhee returns to the podcast to chat about their debut collection, In Your Nature. Andrew asks about werewolves and community. It's a good listen!--Estlin McPhee is a writer and librarian who lives on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. They hold an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and are the author of the poetry chapbook Shapeshifters (Rahila’s Ghost Press, 2018). For many years, they co-organized REVERB, a queer reading series in Vancouver. In Your Nature (Brick Books, 2025) is Estlin’s debut poetry collection.--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Natalie Lim is back with her debut poetry collection, Elegy for Opportunity! Andrew talks about capturing connection in poems. It's a great reunion!--Natalie Lim (she/her) is a Chinese-Canadian poet living on the unceded, traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples (Vancouver, BC). She is the author of a full-length book of poetry, Elegy for Opportunity (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025) and a chapbook, arrhythmia (Rahila's Ghost Press, 2022). Winner of the 2018 CBC Poetry Prize and Room Magazine’s 2020 Emerging Writer Award, her work has been published in Arc Poetry Magazine, Best Canadian Poetry 2020 and elsewhere.--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Tolu Oloruntoba returns to chat about his third poetry collection, Unravel. Andrew asks about getting "good" feedback. It's a "good" one!--Tolu Oloruntoba was born in Ibadan, Nigeria, where he studied and practiced medicine. He is the author of three collections of poetry, The Junta of Happenstance, winner of the Canadian Griffin Poetry Prize and Governor General’s Literary Award, Each One a Furnace, a Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize finalist, and most recently, Unravel.--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Marc Perez comes on the show to talk about chapbooks, form, and his debut full-length poetry collection, Dayo. Andrew asks about finding the right form for your poem. It's a great time!--Chapbook launch info: Featuring Marc Perez , Andrew French, and Kevin Spenst! See you on Saturday, April 19, 5pm at the Teck Gallery SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver.--Marc Perez is the author of Dayo (Brick Books, 2024) and the chapbook, Domus (Anstruther Press, 2025). His work has appeared in The Fiddlehead, EVENT, CV2, PRISM international, and Vallum, among others. In his free time, he likes to wander with his camera and document fleeting moments around the city.--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

MA|DE (Mark Laliberte & Jade Wallace) pop by to talk about their debut collaborative full-length poetry collection, ZZOO. Andrew tries to wrap their head around writing with another person. It's a fun one!--Subscribe to get Andrew's 3rd chapbook, Buoyhood, at this link and come to the launch alongside chapbooks from Marc Perez and Kevin Spenst! April 19, 5pm, Teck Gallery SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver.--MA|DE (est. 2018) is a collaborative writing entity, a unity of two voices fused into a single, poetic third. It is the name given to the joint authorship of Mark Laliberte and Jade Wallace. MA|DE's published work comprises 4 chapbooks, including the bpNichol Award-shortlisted A Trip to the ZZOO from Collusion Books, and debut full-length poetry collection, ZZOO (released with 5 variant animal-themed covers), out now from Palimpsest Press. Their follow-up book, Detourism, is forthcoming in 2028. More: ma-de.ca--Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbo

Annick MacAskill is back to talk compiling her latest collection, Votive (Gaspereau Press). Andrew asks about book length and queer poems. It's a good one!--Annick MacAskill is the author of four full-length books of poetry, including Shadow Blight (Gaspereau Press, 2022), which won the Governor General's Award. Her most recent collection is Votive (Gaspereau Press, 2024). She is also the publisher of Opaat Press, a micropress focused on publishing pamphlets of individual poems. MacAskill lives in Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia), on the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq. --Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Aislinn Hunter joins Andrew to talk about editing Best Canadian Poetry 2025. Four featured poets read their poems from the anthology. Andrew asks about the monumental task of editing BCP25 and poetry more generally. It’s a fun one! -- Aislinn Hunter is an award-winning novelist and poet and the author of eight highly acclaimed books including the novels ’The Certainties’ – a bestseller shortlisted for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize – and ‘The World Before Us’ – a NYT Editor’s Choice book, a Guardian and NPR Book the Year, and winner of the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. Her work has been adapted into music, dance, art, and film forms ¬– including a feature film based on her novel ‘Stay’ which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Hunter’s three poetry collections (‘Into the Early Hours,’ ’The Possible Past,’ and ‘Linger, Still’) have been shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Award, the Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize, and the ReLit Prize, and have won the Gerald Lampert Award and the Fred Cogswell Award

Rob Madden joins Andrew to discuss grief and masculinity, writing alongside photography, and his chapbook second hand smoke (Pinhole Poetry, 2024). It’s a rich discussion! -- Rob Madden is a writer living on the traditional and unceded territories of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations in the City of North Vancouver, BC. His chapbook second hand smoke was published in 2024 by Pinhole Poetry, and has had work published in Grain, Prairie Fire, SubTerrain and other literary magazines. He holds a certificate in Creative Writing from the Writer’s Studio at SFU from 2005. -- Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.

Anita Lahey drops by to record an episode, live at the Fraser Valley Writer’s Festival! Andrew asks about birds, finding anthology editors, and Anita’s latest poetry collection, While Supplies Last. It's a fun lil’ convo! -- Anita Lahey’s latest poetry collection, While Supplies Last, was published by Véhicule Press in 2023. She’s also co-author, with Pauline Conley, of the 2023 graphic novel-in-verse Fire Monster (Palimpsest Press). Her 2020 memoir, The Last Goldfish: a True Tale of Friendship (Biblioasis), was an Ottawa Book Award finalist. A longtime magazine journalist and occasional ghost writer, Anita also serves as series editor for the Best Canadian Poetry anthology. She is grateful to live with her family in Ottawa on unceded Algonquin, Anishinabek territory. -- Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western Un

The 100th episode(!) of Page Fright, in which Andrew hosts a live reading featuring four poets (Estlin McPhee, Kyle McKillop, Jane Shi, and Rob Taylor) at Massy Arts Society to celebrate 5 years and 100 episodes of poetry interviews! The poets share their writing with the audience, and Andrew gets overwhelmed! -- Estlin McPhee is a writer and librarian who lives on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Estlin holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is the author of the poetry chapbook Shapeshifters (Rahila’s Ghost Press, 2018). Their writing has appeared in journals across North America; for many years, they co-organized REVERB, a queer reading series in Vancouver. Estlin's debut poetry collection In Your Nature is forthcoming in spring 2025 with Brick Books. Kyle McKillop is a poet and teacher who completed his MFA in creative writing at UBC. His poems have appeared in CV2, tuesday poem, English Practice, the Sustenance antholo

Lauren Peat comes onto the show to talk about her first poetry chapbook, Future Tense. Andrew asks about ending poems with questions. It's a curious chat! -- DETAILS: Lauren's Vancouver chapbook launch, hosted by Andrew! -- Lauren Peat is a writer, translator, and teacher. Her poems and translations have appeared in journals such as Arc Poetry Magazine, Asymptote, No Tokens, The Malahat Review, and World Literature Today. Her writing, in both English and French, is also featured in the repertoire of acclaimed vocal ensembles across North America. Translation Editor for the poetry magazine Volume, she lives in Vancouver and works in public education. -- Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (forthcoming with Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They write poems, book reviews, and have hosted this very podcast since 2019.