The Porcupine's Quill

01/25/2025

‼️New release alert ‼️

Ayaz Pirani's () new collection of short stories, Death to America, is now officially available!

The stories follow a cast of colourful characters as they navigate the borders and fringes of western empire. In the first story, “Battle of Waterloo,” Danju is obliged to choose sides in the struggle between disco and rock and roll, and in the last story, “Brief Survey of Coloreds in the Rift Valley,” Nunu’s feeble crush on his grade-school librarian spins out a second post-colonial yarn. The youngster Aqbal, in “The Lyric,” is rescued by racism, and in “They’ve Forgotten That I’m Not There,” the small-time fence, Mohan, observes the narrow path. And sometimes you get to start over, as Gently discovers in “Kitchener, née Berlin.” Other characters include Arf, Fruq, Eerfal, Salty, the East African dandies Sur and Nur, and the sparring teenagers Umed and Frenni.

You can get your copy of the book here – https://theporcupinesquill.com/collections/new-titles/products/death-to-america.

01/24/2025

Joanna Cockerline's debut novel, Still, is now available for preorder.

Still is the story of Kayla, who lives and works on the streets of Kelowna, Canada, and of Little Zoe, a woman working in the s*x trade who is missing. Set in a vibrant and diverse community of people living unhoused, the novel explores s*x work, street life, the opioid crisis, what it means to survive, and what it means to find a home—especially in one’s self.

You can find out more about the book or preorder your own copy here – https://theporcupinesquill.com/collections/new-titles/products/still.

Still is the story of Kayla, who lives and works on the streets of Kelowna, Canada, and of Little Zoe, a woman working in the s*x trade who is missing. Set in a vibrant and diverse community of people living unhoused, the novel explores s*x work, street life, the opioid crisis, what it means to surv...

01/22/2025

01/22/2025

rob mclennan has reviewed Matthew Gwathmey's recent collection of poems, Family Band.

mclennan writes, "Through short, sharp lyrics, Gwathmey swirls together a mixtape’s-worth of earworms and experience, documenting road trips, birdwatching, visual art, nature walks and playing music, a broadband of all that circles the domestic of family life, rippling quietly outwards."

You can read the complete review here – https://robmclennan.blogspot.com/2025/01/matthew-gwathmey-family-band.html.

You can get your copy of Family Band here – https://theporcupinesquill.com/collections/new-titles/products/family-band.

11/05/2024

Join Adam Lindsay Honsinger as he launches his new novel, Giving Up the Ghost, on Thursday November 14, 7:00 PM, at the ANAF in Guelph.

You can get a copy of Adam's book here – https://theporcupinesquill.com/collections/new-titles/products/giving-up-the-ghost.

He'll be joined by two Gordon Hill press authors, Hollay Ghadery, reading from her new collection of short stories, Widow Fantasies, and Rhonda Waterfall, reading from her novel, Sombrio.

10/29/2024

Danny Jacob’s The Ignis Psalter is now available for preorder!

Find it here: https://theporcupinesquill.com/collections/new-titles.

10/10/2024

‼️TOMORROW‼️

Join Jim Johnstone for the launch of Bait & Switch, his new book of poetry criticism. Join Jim, as well as Victoria Mbabazi, Nisa Malli, and Candace de Taeye on Friday October 11 at 7PM at The Bookshelf in Guelph to celebrate its release with a reading and signing.

📍The Bookshelf, 41 Quebec Street, Guelph ON
October 11, 7PM

10/08/2024

Lyida Kwa's Book Is Officially Available!

If you pre-ordered Lydia Kwa's most recent collection of poetry from time to new from The Porcupine's Quill, you already know it's available, because a copy has appeared on your doorstep.

For the rest of you, from time to new is now officially available through your favourite book seller or directly from our site – https://theporcupinesquill.com/collections/new-titles/products/from-time-to-new.

And, if you're in the Vancouver area, Lydia is launching the new collection with Rita Wong and host Tania de Rozario at Massy Arts Society on Wednesday October 9 at 6:00 PM – https://theporcupinesquill.com/pages/events -6422001b-30ec-49c2-b53d-9f725a806067-event-m1a2vpa0. Go check it out!

10/07/2024

‼️New titles alert‼️

The Porcupine’s Quill is thrilled to announce the official release of three new titles:

—Matthew Gwathmey’s Family Band, a collection of poems on family life.

—Nathanael Jones’ Aqeuous, poetry on post-colonial realities in the black diaspora.

—Jim Johnstone’s Bait & Switch, essays and interviews on Canadian poetry.

Shop these titles at the link in our bio. Happy reading!

09/25/2024

Gordon Hill Press and The Porcupine’s Quill will be at Word on the Street () in Toronto this weekend!

We’ll be selling books in Queen’s Park, including new releases by Hollay Ghadery, Matthew Gwathmey, Nathanael Jones, Jim Johnstone, and Lydia Kwa. Discover your new favourite author and find the next book for your TBR!

🗓September 28-29
📍Queen’s Park, Toronto

09/23/2024

The Porcupine’s Quill has a new website!

We’ve made some improvements. You can now order books directly through the site, with new titles available in ePub and PDF format. Stay up to date with the Events page and find new and forthcoming titles under the New Titles tab.

All of The Porcupine’s Quill’s titles are still available through the Catalogue.

Find us at: https://theporcupinesquill.com.

04/12/2024

If you've ever wanted to know what the theme song for a scrappy indie publishing company might sound like, Marcel Gagné has harnessed the power of AI to create this jazzy little ditty.

What do you think? Catchy?

Lounge jazz song. Listen and make your own with Suno.

01/16/2024

Now available in print! Judith Nasby's KIVIOQ'S JOURNEY takes you on a guided tour of the Art Gallery of Guelph's beautiful Donald Forster Sculpture Park.

https://porcupinesquill.ca/bookinfo6.php?index=381