rob mclennan

rob mclennan lives in Ottawa, even though he was born there once (1970). The author of ten trade poetry collections, most recently What’s Left (Talonbooks), and Stone, Book One (Palimpsest Press), he is the editor of (among other things) the anthologies Side/lines: A New Canadian Poetics (Insomniac Press), You & Your Bright Ideas: New Montreal Writing (with Andy Brown, Vehicule Press) and Groundswell: Best of Above/Ground Press, 1993-2003 (Broken Jaw). The editor/publisher of Above/Ground Press (probably the most active chapbook publisher in Canada) and STANZAS magazine (for long poems/sequences) since they both began in 1993, his own poetry, fiction & reviews have appeared in print in eight countries, three of which he has done reading tours in (try to guess which ones). With Ottawa poet Stephen Brockwell, he edits the online critical journal Poetics.ca, and writes reviews andother clever things every so often on his clever blog. His work has been up for the Archibald Lampman award more than a few times (always the bridesmaid, never the bride), and in 1999 he won the Canadian Authors’ Association / Air Canada Prize for most promising writer (in any genre) in Canada under the age of 30 (the only non-cash prize given out by the CAA). He also runs SPAN-O (the small press action network – ottawa) and the semi-annual ottawa small press book fair (since 1994).