It's a Book! Thrilled to announce the arrival of my new baby - At the Risk of Listening - Works as Poet Laureate.
While I am often overflowing with ideas, I am a slow maker of things. As I listed out the zines and books I have put together in my life, I see that this marks the first time I have created more than one writing collection in the same decade.
Actually, I have been working on a poetry manuscript for the past 5 years. Well, I have worked on it on occasion. Mostly, I have avoided it. I was avoiding it so intensely that I created a whole other book. I used this upcoming book and zine fair as a push to get something else out into the world: a collection of poems and speeches presented during my term as poet laureate.
I thought it would be simple--the pieces, after all, were already written. Those of you who have ever created a thing will already be rolling your eyes. Of course it was not simple. Though I had created all the pieces, I had written them only for myself. In the case of speeches, some were in point form. I had to pay attention, for the first time, in most cases, to spelling, line breaks, spacing...
And that was just the beginning. There was the culling process to decide which pieces I would include. The list shrunk as I realized how constrained I was by time. There was the ordering... The book went through many incarnations, being organized by chronology, then by theme, then by audience.
The only reason this all ended up as a book at all is because of my incredibly generous and talented friend, Bruno Merz, who managed to find time to lay out the book, choose the fonts, add and create art throughout the book, design the cover... and most importantly propel me forward through a maze of deadlines I would have balked at and given up on otherwise.
I am also indebted to several friends who read the manuscript on short notice. They made the work stronger, but even more crucially, they were the first eyes on the book, building my confidence and momentum to complete the project.
As I was sending this book off to the printer, I received my 3rd straight rejection letter from the OAC. I am not sure why I am facing so many hurdles completing my book of poems, which is intended to be my first traditionally published book. But I do know that it felt amazing to take a side quest, and put something together in a way that challenged my perfectionism, forcing me to make decisions in the moment and jump before I was quite ready.
The book will be with me at Artspace for the Book and Zine Fair Friday night and Saturday. Those who come by will be the first to have it in their hands. After that, I'll be distributing it to local stores, and will let you know how you can order it from me directly as well. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. When something I hold inside me becomes a tangible entity beyond and outside me, it is one of the best feelings in the world.
(Speaking of which, if anyone needs coaching or practical support to get an inner book to become an outer book, hit me up!)
Hope to see you at Zine Fest or at the International Women's Day rally. Or to find you here in my inbox. A few more announcements and reminders below.
With a dose of joy amidst the ongoing turmoil,
Ziysah
9th Annual Artspace Book + Zine Fest
Friday, March 7th from 6pm - 9pm
Saturday, March 8th from noon- 4pm
At Artspace, By donation
Books I'll have available at the festival:
Girls in Space - 1997 - collective zine, proceeds to Camp fYrefly
Hineini - 2007 - chapbook, 3rd printing
Eyd - 2015 - chapbook, 3rd printing
Consents +/=/- Severances - 2020, book, 3rd printing
At the Risk of Listening - book, first printing
Read about all the amazing vendors on Artspace's Insta.
Girls in Space
My life changed in 1997 when Evalyn Parry came to work with our high school women's issues club. The culmination of our workshops and retreat together was a zine we launched at a cafe in Kensington Market - my first time reading publicly. A few years ago, I discovered a box of unassembled copies of our zine. Although I have embraced decluttering, I could not bring myself to recycle these treasures. And so, they shall be assembled for Zine Fest! Only 20 copies - so come grab one if you want to hear what was on the minds of Northern Secondary's budding teenage queers and feminists in the 90s - body pride, coming out stories, word art, prints, Daria... and a centrefold feministo! All made with actual cutting and pasting.
International Women's Day
I'll be speaking at the IWD rally... Perhaps reading from the new book....
Saturday, March 8, 11:30am, City Hall
Thank you, KWIC and KSAC!
The rally will be followed by a march and a speaker event at the Peterborough Public Library with an all-star cast: Jane McCue, Mshkiki Gittgan Kwe, Elder Alice Williams, Missy Knott, Jill Staveley, Sarah Lewis, Ashley Street, and Tashvi Menghi!
Upcoming Events
Excited for upcoming events with the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, the Abraham Festival, and the International Federation of Settlements and Neighbourhood Centers.... If you'd like to invite me to an event, please send a request here.
When Whales Went Back to the Water
So proud of my dear poet friend Lisa Baird and her new book, out now from UofA press. You can order it from Take Cover, though I'll be jealous if you read it before I do!
Am I in Your Spam?
Many people told me the February newsletter did not make it into their inbox. If you didn't see an email called "What's Hope Got to Do With It?" I am told it may be because of the f-bombs. But getting through 2025 without swears is a challenge I did not sign up for. Anyway, please check your spam and add ziysah@ziysah.ca to your Contacts/ safe senders list. Once you find that email, the following announcement will make more sense.
Collective Poem on Hope
Thankful for the gorgeous images, thoughts, and stories I have received in response to my prompt from last month. If you'd like to participate, it's not too late! I'd love to hear about one step you take--however big or small--toward each of the following:
1. Joy
2. Care
3. Collective Action
I’ll soon be weaving our answers into a poem.
Until then, let's keep amplifying what we yearn for.
<3