News

MAY 2023

This month I’ve had a trio of articles published – two about new ways to support youth mental health (here and here), and one about how wealthy next-gen donors are transforming philanthropy.

In creative writing news, I’ve been accepted to attend a writing residency in Finland this summer (thank you Arteles!) and the Access Copyright Foundation has approved my research proposal to visit Dark-Sky Sites in eastern Canada this autumn to inspire writing for my “astronomy poetry” collection. I am so grateful for their support.

On a more personal note, I finally completed a challenge that began in September 2019 – interrupted by a divorce, a pandemic, the death of my father, and more – the Camino de Santiago. Two dear friends that I met 30 years ago while tree planting joined me all the way from Cumberland, BC, and I couldn’t have dreamed of a more fitting end to this journey (see above photo, dubbed the Platoon moment). Thank you, Caroline and Tom. It’s easy to meet new friends, my Uncle George once told me, but you can’t meet old ones.

FEBRUARY 2023

My chapbook A Lexicon of Snow has been shortlisted with The Emma Press – a UK publisher that creates gorgeous books.

They write: Hokkaido emerges in these sparse, understated poems as landscape both harsh and invigorating. Drawing on Japanese snow-related vocabulary, the poet addresses suicide, the search for home and a sense of connection. We were sold on Long’s vision of the collection: a pamphlet to read beneath a weeping willow.

Wish me luck!

DECEMBER 2022

It’s almost the end of the year, so I thought I should post an update.

My father died mid-October and I’ve been kind of picking up the pieces since then. But, there isn’t much time for grieving if you’re a freelance writer. I’ve published another article in The Philanthropist, sent out a poetry manuscript for consideration, worked (nearly) daily on my novel, submitted grant applications and various pitches, and have been accepted for a couple writing residencies in 2023 (yeah!). Add all that to looking after the cat colony in Galicia and you get one exhausted Angela Long. I wish all of you who might read this (anyone?) a very Happy New Year.

OCTOBER 2022

Summer has come and gone, and I’ve published two more articles with The Philanthropist – It’s not you, it’s them, and Looking for the good way.

Thank you to everyone who came to my virtual poetry reading on the last day of August. One of the poems that I read, Waiting for Summer (set on Haida Gwaii during one of those summers when we all waited for the summer that never arrived), will be published in an upcoming issue of EVENT magazine, along with A Lexicon of Snow.

Every day (well, almost every day) I’ve been working on a novel that brings together two of my secret and not-so-secret loves: murder mysteries and cats.

MAY 2022

One of my stories has been turned into a podcast episode with There She Goes – a series highlighting the travel stories of women. My story – “Good is Coming” – is about an encounter with a holy man in the foothills of the Himalayas. It was a life-transforming moment that I still get shivers about. To listen to me read on Apple podcasts, click here (click here for Spotify).

My rather unconventional poem about the landing of Mars Perseverance as I boil an egg, was longlisted for the FISH International poetry prize, judged by none other than my favourite “rock star” poet Billy Collins. Once again, close but no cigar here, but such an honour.

In July, I have been invited to read a few poems from “A Lexicon of Snow” with other finalists from The Poet’s Corner chapbook contest. If you’d like to attend, click here to register.

APRIL 2022

Here’s a link for my latest article for The Philanthropist.

While writing this I learned, yet again, that the worst part about writing for a magazine about the nonprofit world is comparing myself to the amazing people I interview who dedicate their entire lives to creating social change.

In other news, I entered a chapbook competition with a collection called A Lexicon of Snow, what I call my Japanese snow poems, and, guess what? I’m one of the top ten finalists. They’ll be announcing the winner on May 1st. Until then, I’m pretending I’ve forgotten about all this and possibly winning a $1,000 prize and publication by a cool small press in the U.S. (May 4th update: While judge Naomi Shihab Nye deemed my chapbook “outstanding and eminently publishable,” I did not win the contest. Congratulations to the winner Jeffrey Bean.)

For a little bit of fun, I’ve started an Instagram account for one of the stray cats here – @pepperthespanishcat – and he has become my alter ego. Here’s a photo of the new Instagram star:

DECEMBER 2021

Please come to my latest “Winter Reading Series” on December 21 @ 20:00 ET. I’ll be reading creative nonfiction this time, about a life lived on the road and the art of culling. Fore more details, click here.

Please come to my “Winter Reading Series” on December 2 @ 19:30 ET. I’ll be reading some of my latest poems about astronomy and the search for “home.” For more details, click here.

MARCH 2021

It’s the one-year anniversary of the world going into lockdown. Needless to say, no news is simply no news in these strange times. I’ve been flexing my muscles as a writer for The Philanthropist, learning about the world of Canadian charities and nonprofits. The Philanthropist is a digital magazine run by a group of kind individuals who pay their writers fairly. Perhaps this should be breaking news considering how poorly writers/journalists tend to be treated these days.

Here’s one of my latest articles about the Arctic Inspiration Prize, called Northern Light.

I’ve also somehow managed to put together a poetry manuscript that is sitting on the desks (I hope) of several publishing houses. Stay tuned for a video series featuring some of these poems.

For the time being, I’m back in Galicia, Spain taking care of a growing colony of cats and staring wistfully at the sea until the world opens up its doors again. It’s really not such a bad place to hunker down. I say to people that I came here in an hour of need that turned into more than two years. Thank you, Galicia, for your warm embrace.

MAY 2020

Well, I’ve won something. A top-ten spot in an Irish poetry competition. This is a great honour because the judge was none other than Billy Collins (see Summer 2019) and nearly 2,000 poems were submitted.

The poem starts in a church in northern Ireland and ends with persimmons in northern Italy – an unlikely combo that somehow worked. Luck o’ the Irish, perhaps?

Thank you, Billy!

Hot off the press: My friend Susan Musgrave won third prize in the aforementioned poetry competition. Here is an article all about it in her local paper: Haida Gwaii-based writer takes home third prize in international poetry contest.

APRIL 2020

One of my articles was just published in The Philanthropist after a more than six-month wait in the vault. The editor updated it to include a COVID-19 spin.  If you’re curious about the link between rural journalism and philanthropy, read here.

MARCH 2020

Sorry for the lack of news. I’ve been working on a few articles here and there, and writing poetry again. I’ve also been suffering from depression and getting a divorce. Oh, 2020, it’s already been quite the ride. I’m currently taking a break from the rural journalism book.

The world changed overnight in the town where I’m living in Galicia, Spain. We just finished Day 2 of a nation-wide lockdown due to the coronavirus. Luckily I have lots of practice living in a state of self isolation. But this feels different. The streets are eerily quiet.

They say famous writers have composed great works during the quarantines of the past. Let’s hope that happens here in this tiny house beside the Atlantic. Actually, let’s just hope I can stay sane.

Welcome to the lonely streets of March 16, 2020:

SEPTEMBER 2019

Finally, the latest in the Fluff Stops Here series, Rewriting Colonial Narratives.

SUMMER 2019

In late July, I met my poetry idol Billy Collins in Armagh, Northern Ireland as one of 12 writers accepted by the John Hewitt Society for his masterclass. He wore a pink linen shirt. He shared pearls of wisdom, such as “no stranger has an interest in your internal life” and “death is the magnetic north” for poets and “gets us up in the morning.” On top of all that, he actually liked my poetry. I am still in shock.

When not hobnobbing with famous poets, I’ve been slogging away at my computer, continuing work on the J-Source series (stay tuned!) and an upcoming article for The Philanthropist.

Oh, and that book about rural journalism.

I’ve also been the foster parent for a number of Spanish kittens (five, at last count) abandoned throughout the countryside where I’ve been living in Galicia.

Here’s the latest wee girl, Luna, who was abandoned in a box by the side of the road in plus 30-degree heat:

APRIL 2019

Here’s the latest in the J-Source series, published on April 18th: Death of an owner silences small northern Ontario paper

Read all about Judy Wells, the one-woman show in Deloraine, Manitoba, right here.

MARCH 2019

Just published the fifth J-Source article, set in Watrous, Saskatchewan.

Number four of the J-Source series is here: A fourth-generation newspaper rides the waves of change

Where next, you ask? Deloraine, Manitoba.

FEBRUARY 2019

The latest J-Source article – Delivery by the thousands beneath glacier clad peaks  –was published on February 21st. Warning: you might want to move to the Kootenays after reading this.

This is the February 7th article: Do oil and paper mix on B.C.’s northwest coast?

The next stop on the Fluff Stops Here series will be Provost, Alberta.

JANUARY 2019

My first J-Source article, Not gold, but close, about the local news scene in Dawson City, Yukon is alive. Next stop–Haida Gwaii.

DECEMBER 2018

Would you like to buy my latest book? Here are a few places where Every Day We Disappear is available:

Amazon.ca       Indigo.ca       Radiant Press

NOVEMBER 2018

J-Source has agreed to publish a ten-part multimedia series about my rural journalism project. We are aiming to publish the first article in January, 2019 about the local news scene in Dawson City (population 2,323).

OCTOBER, 2018

The Toronto book launch was a success. Many thanks to everyone who came. On October 28th I’ll be heading to Vigo, Spain to mingle with some Galician writers and particpate in some literary events. Stay tuned!

SEPTEMBER, 2018

Hot off the press: Every Day We Disappear is here. A book launch? you ask. Just waiting for the word from my publisher.

Local news project: I’ve returned from the east coast with ten pounds of PEI potatoes and at least ten hours of interviews. I have one paper left to visit in Kahnawake, Quebec, and then I’ll be donning a pair of headphones to transcribe interviews for weeks. Wish me luck.

AUGUST, 2018

Upcoming book: Just finished reading proofs for my collection of essays Every Day We Disappear which will be published by Saskatchewan literary press, Radiant, very soon. Writer Susan Musgrave was kind enough to review the book:

Angela Long writes of hash dens and tulip fields, avocados dropping like bombs in  Guatemala, plotting to free an elephant in the cardamom forests beyond Madurai; she writes with a clear eye, a big heart, a wry wit. She offers tender hope for the f-word (the future) in this engaging, endearing, life-affirming book.

Local news project: On a rainy day in late April, I packed up my car in Toronto and headed west to begin work on a local news research project, thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts and  Wolsak & Wynn.

I travelled more the 17,000 kilometres, to the land of the midnight sun and back, talking to those on the front lines of rural journalism.

Tomorrow I will head east to PEI where I will interview the staff at the Eastern Graphic in Montague and visit several other Atlantic Canada communities. Stay tuned for stories about local news in rural Canada.

Copyright © 2020 Angela Long