
Every year for the past six I’ve written a fall books preview for the Ottawa Citizen. It’s labour intensive in the sense that I have to research all the fall offerings from the many large and small publisher catalogues (most are online now, which helps) then write a succinct few sentences on a variety of books ranging from fiction to non-fiction, lifestyle to memoir, biography, food, sports and Young Adult/Kids books. Since I’m writing largely from marketing copy with so few books actually finished or even in the advance reading copy stage, it takes awhile to come up with something new, fresh and lively to say. The task takes me awhile to research and a longer while to write.

Still, I love doing it because a) it introduces me to the new exciting list; b) I get boxes of books, the equivalent of Christmas morning to a book-lover; c) it’s become an annual assignment that I can count on.
So without further ado: Fall Book Season: Fact and Fiction
This year we added a side bar: What they’re reading this fall
My personal recommendations are:
all stories take place in and around Vancouver; she has unusual ways of describing the most common of feelings
it’s been too long since we’ve heard this important and interesting literary voice
Doug Coupland, Worst. Person. Ever.
Favourite. Author. Ever. / Most. Inspirational. Creative mind. Ever.
Stephanie Domet, Fallsy Downsies
another inspirational person and wonderful writer
Steve Paikin, Paikin and the Premiers: Personal Reflections on a Half Century of Ontario Leaders.
Steve Paikin is my best example of a hard working, wide-brained, fully engaged and professional journalist and a helluva nice guy
I love YA novels and this one is a page turner. Also, you gotta love a TV writer turned novelist!
Happy Reading!