Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  IT IS A DOG’S LIFE IN THE WORLD OF ANDRE ALEXIS Woof. Woof. Who let the dogs out? The Crow’s Nest Theatre in downtown Toronto is quick to answer that it is Caribbean Canadian author Andre Alexis who is to blame.   For almost two weeks the Carlaw Avenue theatre has been selling out each and every performance of their new play “Fifteen Dogs”.  The new work is based on the award winning novel  by Alexis which won the Giller Prize, the  Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and Canada Reads   back in 2015.    The book has been adapted for the stage by  Marie Farsi and has received funding in part from  The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation  and the Canadian Literature Adaptation Fund.    The play follows the book storyline which begins with two Greek Gods – Hermes and Apollo, drinking in a seedy Toronto tavern. They make a bet to what will happen when they grant 15 dogs human consciousness. They watch fro...

One day Canada’s top novelist will write about Trinidad.  André Alexis wins the Writer’s Trust for his book set in Ontario   By Stephen Weir   Author André Alexis is the toast of English Canada.  Last Tuesday in Toronto the Trinidadian Canadian won the prestigious $50,000 Writers' Trust fiction prize for his English language novel "Days by Moonlight". This is the fourth time Alexis has been nominated for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and the second time he has won it. He is only the second author in the country to capture the award twice.  Miriam Toews also won the trophy two times. Days by Moonlight  is his seventh novel. The book is about Alfred Homer who takes a Southern Ontario road trip to investigate the story of John Skennen, a poet whose ghost haunts a few souls around the province! Days by Moonlight  is part of his  "quincunx" of five thematically linked novels. The second installment in ...

Three of Twelve books picked for the Giller Longlist are by Caribbean Canadian authors.  by Stephen WEIR Ian Williams A dozen Canadian authors were just named to the 2019 Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist and three of them are Caribbean-Canadian!  The Scotiabank Giller Prize, one of the richest book awards in the country gives $100,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel or short story collection published in English. Giller finalists will receive $10,000 each. The Scotiabank Giller Prize's annual celebration of Canadian literary talent began on Tuesday morning with the announcement of this year's longlist. Last year’s winner, Esi Edugyan (Washington Black) hosted the event and unveiled the nominees. Esi - 2018 The three Caribbean Canadian authors who made this list are  André Alexis  for his novel  Days by Moonlight ;  Ian Williams  for his novel   Reproduction  and  Zalika Reid-Bent...

--> Brother Can You Spare Me A Dime? By Stephen Weir In terms of prize purses, David Chariandy's novel Brother, is now one of the the most successful Canadian fiction title ever. Last night shortly after the Caribbean Camera went to print, the former Scarborough writer won UK's Windham-Campbell Prize of $165,000 US ($220,000) for his 2017 book about two young Trinidadian brothers growing up in a tough part of Toronto. "I was floored by the news! And for some time, I didn’t dare believe my fortune," said Chariandy last night. "The Windham-Campbell Prize offers a life-changing opportunity to devote time and energy to writing. I am humbled and profoundly grateful to be counted among the recipients." Chariandy grew up in Toronto's diaspora; he now lives and teaches in Vancouver. His debut novel, Soucouyant, was nominated for many prizes and won the Gold Independent Publisher Award for Best Novel.  Brother, his second novel, won ...