Click the image below to see the poster for JC’s newest book of poetry.
Click HERE to order any of JC's books of poetry. This includes "Life, After Life", "Bricolage", and "South Shore Suite".
Author Archives: JC
Launch of JC Sulzenko’s SOUTH SHORE SUITE, November 18, 2017 in Picton, Ontario
Point Petre Publishing (PPP) launches JC Sulzenko’s first full collection of poetry in Picton, Ontario, on Saturday afternoon, November 18, 2017. Prince Edward County publisher Brian Flack gives his reasons for electing to publish JC’s lyric and narrative poetry in PPP’s inaugural publishing program. “In our current political climate, the need for ‘something’ that speaks […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Oratorealis publishes two centos by A. Garnett Weiss
BC-based Oratorealis, which focuses on spoken word and experimental poetry in a triannual literary journal, published two centos by A. Garnett Weiss in Volume 2/Issue 2, which came out at the end of the summer. “Reflection, stained glass” welcomes lines from poets such as Toi Derricotti, Beckian Fritz Goldberg, Brenda Hillman and Alicia Suskin Ostriker. […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
New Bookends Review: Henning Mankell’s “Italian shoes”
JC gives this 2006 novel by prolific master of the ‘dark’ Swedish tale, Henning Mankell, 7/5/10 even though she couldn’t put the book down. Why? Go to Bookends to read her mini-review.
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Italian Shoes Henning Mankell 2006
This novel, where an island in the Swedish archipelago in a dying sea is a main character, represents the embodiment of John Donne’s “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of a continent.” The island sanctuary of the protagonist, a disgraced MD, prisoner of his avoidance personality and selfishness, […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
Impromptu poetry morphs into BESPOKE POETRY or POETRY To-GO– JC Sulzenko writes poems on commission
“I just can’t resist the challenge: writing to a subject not of my choosing, suggested by someone whom I didn’t know beforehand, for the most part, to mark a birthday, an anniversary, a special event or person, or in memoriam,” JC admits. “I’ve now launched “BESPOKE POETRY” to give me the chance to create new […]
Posted in A. Garnett Weiss, Publications, Whats New Leave a comment
Where’d You Go, Bernadette Maria Semple, 2012
Suggested for reading list as a book with humour, this novel is distinctly unfunny, with the exception of pages 222-223. Perhaps the ‘mis-label’ turned me off from the start. Added to that: only one likeable character, Bee, resilient daughter of a dysfunctional union (distant genius father with also genius, now fallen, falling-apart but loving mother, […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
New Bookends Mini-review by JC Sulzenko: “Where’d You Go, Bernadette”
JC reviews Maria Semple’s national bestseller (US), “Where’d You Go, Bernadette.” Go to Bookends at www.jcsulzenko.com to read her low-down on the 2012 novel.
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Silver Birch Press features A. Garnett Weiss poem in new ‘lost and found’ series
Garnett’s prose poem “When Johnny came marching” appears online in the newest series from Silver Birch Press (SBP) in California. This is how Garnett described her creative process: “I’m always intrigued by subjects Silver Birch Press suggests for a series. I read the cue, then waken as though from a dream to revisit experiences I […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
January 20 Deadline for the February Poetry Quarter Featuring Themes Linked to Canada Sesquicentennial
JC returns for the second year to curate “Poetry Quarter(PQ)” in the Glebe Report. For 2017, rather than collect and bank poems throughout the year, PQ will tailor calls to specified themes for each issue. Full details of the call for submissions for the February, 2017, PQ appear on the home page of January’s Glebe Report at […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Jonagold Peter Blendell, 2014
Laid low by flu, I took up this independently published 102-page novella, which almost stalled during “Adam,” the first and least engaging, most recitative section of three, interrelated but independent first person narratives. Even though Adam’s family relationships and connection to the land, its apple orchards and the seasons are well presented, I almost set the […]
JC Reviews “Jonagold” by Peter Blendell
JC has been reading steadily but not caught up on her mini-reviews, which use up to the same number of words as characters for a tweet. Go to “Bookends” to read her review of Prince Edward County author, poet and artist Peter Blendell’s “Jonagold,” published in 2014.
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Annual reflection on the holiday season — JC’s poem “Boxing Day Colours”
From time to time, I revisit this poem after the frenzy of activity and gift-giving/receiving because of how it captures for me the inevitable, annual letdown, even as celebrations around the new year add add an upbeat quality to the season. So here again is the piece. Boxing Day Colours Three black pigeons found […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Two poems by A. Garnett Weiss in the 28th issue of “The Light Ekphrastic”
Editor Jenny O’Grady paired Garnett with Maryland artist Gina Pierleoni as co-contributors to the 28th issue of the online journal “The Light Ekphrastic, ” now celebrating its 7th anniversary. Garnett chose The Deepest Sleep from among the extraordinary works of art on the website featuring Pierleoni’s art– http://ledbaltimore.com/featured-on-the-board/gina-pierleoni/. “Given the range of work Gina exhibited, so […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Comments about A. Garnett Weiss’s winning centos in The Banister Niagara Poetry Anthology
For the second time, Garnett’s centos took top honours in The Banister, the annual anthology featuring “ an eclectic mix of Ontario voices,” in the words of Poetry Chair Keith Inman.Here’s what award-winning poet and author Keith Garebian, who judged the entries, wrote: ” Never mind the first unicorn is an expert cento—a form that is a […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
In honour of Leonard Cohen–“After ignorance, blessings” by A. Garnett Weiss republished
When Silver Birch Press (SBP) featured Garnet Weiss’s “After ignorance, blessings” in its Same Name Series, it gave her the chance to mark how as an undergrad she ‘bumped’ into Leonard Cohen at university and how she evolved into a devoted fan. Here is the link:https://silverbirchpress.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/after-ignorance-blessings-poem-by-a-garnett-weiss-same-name-poetry-and-prose-series/ Given his passing yesterday at 82 and having seen a clip […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
JC Reviews “On the Outside Looking Indian” by Rupinder Gill
Go to the Bookends tab for JC’s most recent review of Rupinder Gill’s 2011 memoire, “On the Outside Looking Indian.” She gives it a 6.5/10 rating.
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
On the Outside Looking Indian Rupinder Gill, 2011
Somewhat self-indulgent and narcissistic, this easy-read memoire, occasioned by Gill turning 30, offers humourous moments but isn’t really FUNNY because of the telling and touching insights she provides into growing up as an outsider in a ‘white’ culture felt and into the rigidity of her parents’ Sikh belief system. The best part of the book? […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
“Siren,” A. Garnett Weiss creates a found poem inspired by Silver Birch Press’s Nancy Drew Anthology, published October 1, 2016
Siren When you feel like talking, tell these stories. In fine antique gallery paintings, even those depicting angels, a woman is seen gliding over the water dressed in such a flimsy, evening-type dress you will forget what happened, if you capture her. From somewhere nearby, hear low singing sounds like some fairy tales. Refuse […]
Posted in A. Garnett Weiss Leave a comment
A. Garnett Weiss featured in Silver Birch Press’s Nancy Drew Anthology
For kids of many generations, Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene hooked them on reading. Whenever a new book came out, the local bookstore (and there were several independent! bookstores in my neighbourhood!) would sell out very quickly, as young readers couldn’t wait to follow their favourite sleuth as she unravelled threads of the next […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
“What My Grandma Means to Say” — lynchpin for the Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island’s outreach program in PEI Elementary Schools
JC is thrilled that the Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island (ASPEI) chose to anchor its 2016-2017 education program in schools with “What My Grandma Means to Say,” JC’s play and storybook for children and families about Alzheimer’s disease. With the province’s Department of Education and input from JC, ASPEI developed a resource kit for […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Globe and Mail prints JC’s letter to the Editor: “Dead Birds Cannot Sing,” 17/09/2106
JC responded to the Partners in Flight report in the Globe on the large decline in bird populations with a scathing indictment of governments that site industrial wind turbines in environmentally sensitive areas on bird migration routes and in habitats of endangered species, such as the Blandings turtle. The Editor included a verse from “Spectacle,” […]
Posted in Archive 3 Comments
They Left Us Everything Plum Johnson, 2015
Frankly, Plum Johnson’s pettiness intruded on my enjoyment of the book. Perhaps her mother’s letters will anchor another memoire, since “They Left Us Everything” offered only a teasing glimpse of the woman, whom Plum resented but came to appreciate through de-cluttering the family home and herself. I also didn’t find the book humorous, one of […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
The County Murders J.D. Carpenter, 2016
Once in a while, and particularly this day of thunder and the first real rain in more than 7 weeks, I chose an easy book, one that doesn’t tax my spirit yet holds my interest. I read it almost in one sitting. Carpenter sets this mystery in the fictional town of Saybrookmin Prince Edward County […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
New Bookends Review: The County Murders J.D. Carpenter, 2016
Again, it gives JC a kick to keep her reviews within the same number of words as twitter allows characters per tweet. Focuses the mind. Adds discipline. Makes her not yak on and on with thoughts about a book. Go to Bookends to read JC’s review of J.D. Carpenter’s 2016 mystery, “The County Murders.” She […]
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Bookends Review: “Little Bee” Chris Cleave, 2008
Go to “Bookends” to read JC Sulzenko’s mini-review of Chris Cleave’s 2008 novel, “Little Bee.” Why does she give this best-seller only a 7/10 rating? See for yourself.
Posted in Archive Leave a comment
Little Bee Chris Cleave, 2008
There are lines in this account of a 16 year-old girl’s odyssey I wish I’d written: the language/the dialogue so fine; the connection with the title character forged so skillfully. I couldn’t put the book down, in spite of scenes of appalling brutality, gory details about suicides, and the inevitability of “Little Bee’s” failure to break […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
A God in Ruins Kate Atkinson, 2015
I borrowed the book because it promised to revisit characters (particularly Teddy) and situations (privileged country life) I’d appreciated in Atkinson’s Life after Life. This novel is not a sequel or prequel. It flows in a parallel kind of way, taking detours and making inroads, which often are unexpected but drew me in. Where Life […]
Posted in Bookends Leave a comment
“South Shore Suite” with poems honouring Prince Edward County launched on November 18