Hailing from beautiful Victoria, Dana Neily is the newest author on The Blasted Tree's growing line-up of emerging Canadian talent. Neily uses her writing as a means of drawing attention to mental illness and neuroatypical experiences, advocating for compassion and understanding in regards to mental health. ONE DAY'S BATTLE, published in our Short(er) Fiction series, speaks directly to these issues, illuminating the daily struggle between the protagonist and a surreal manifestation of Death. Additionally, we are please to bring you two of Neily's poems, AN ESCAPIST'S FANTASY and the comically titled AIM FOR AN 'OCEAN'S 11' RATHER THAN A 'RESERVOIR DOGS' BUT EITHER WAY WE WILL LOOK KILLER IN SUITS. Read her work online, then check out her bio using the link below!
Featured Story - All Day Breakfast by Michael Smilovitch
Toys aren't the only inanimate objects with rich inner and interpersonal stories. Meet Room and Fan, a couple of "things" who get to know each other through their mutual acquaintance, the human being Tony. All Day Breakfast, Smilovitch's debut on The Blasted Tree, experiments with extreme perspective and abrupt narrative shifts to bring you into the word of every day objects. Just because Tony isn't there doesn't mean his stuff isn't going about its business...
READ ALL DAY BREAKFAST
All Day Breakfast is one of three original stories appearing in our brand new chapbook Short(er) Fiction Vol. 3, now available from The Blasted Tree Store!
The Blasted Tree Fall Party and Reading
2 weeks from now we'll be diving into the fun at our Fall Party and Reading! We've got a great line up of exciting young authors performing, and two new chapbooks available for purchase. Also, raffle prizes! We'll be at Burritoville in MTL on Nov. 6, doors at 8, readings around 9. Check out our event listing for more details and we'll see you then!!!
SEE EVENT LISTING [FB]
Featured Story - Township by Ivan Fischer
Living in the country has it's perks: fresh air, freedom, and lots of terrain to explore. But when the economy begins to struggle, working class people take the first hit. The country then becomes a place of suffocating boredom, desperation, and racial tension. Township is the suspenseful story of Cole and Boyd, two out-of-work young men chasing fortune and adventure down the back roads of rural Canada. Ivan Fischer's anxiety-filled portrait of small town living is free to read online and quality chapbooks of the story can be purchased from The Blasted Tree Store.
READ TOWNSHIP
Featured Story - Wood by Mitch Findlay
When Mitch Findlay submitted this, his second outing with The Blasted Tree, he promised us two things: puppets and sex. Aptly titled, Wood is the darkly funny story of a songbook, a twisted fixation, and the... complicated relationship that follows. Come meet Charlie, Levy, and The Monster, three musical puppets from a beloved children's show who are sure to make a lasting impact on your life. Findlay's hardboiled style never fails to impress, especially when animating such playful subject matter. Read Wood online, then buy the chapbook from The Blasted Tree Store!
READ WOOD
Adrien Smart - Interview and Exclusive Video
The Blasted Tree sat down with author and filmmaker Adrien Smart to talk life, loss, and the making of art. He's a multi-talented UVic student with an impressive array of compositional talents, from writing screenplays and short stories, to performing spoken word poetry and videography. Adrien incorporates his wide range of interests and passions into his craft, and while poetry may be the newest trick in his repertoire, he's clearly a natural. See for yourself in the exclusive video poem he's created for The Blasted Tree, WHITE KNUCKLES/RED TABLECLOTH, catch some of his wisdom on becoming a poet in the interview, and watch a few of his other creations using the link below.
WHITE KNUCKLES/RED TABLECLOTH + INTERVIEW
Featured Story - Your Own Devices by Ivan Fischer
An experimental piece of short fiction by Ivan Fischer, Your Own Devices confronts our over-dependence on smart phones. Whether it be forming a new relationship, catching up with old pals, or finding the way home, our actions are increasingly moderated by technology. Rather than making life better, smart phones may have some all-too-familiar negative consequences. Fischer asks, "What happens when the battery dies?"
READ YOUR OWN DEVICES
Your Own Devices is part of our ongoing Short(er) Fiction series. Volumes 1 and 2 can now be purchased from The Blasted Tree Store!
The Blasted Tree's Year One in Review
With The Blasted Tree's first year anniversary upon us already, we felt this would be a good opportunity to reflect on our journey so far, give thanks for all the fantastic support we've received, and take a quick look at what the future holds in store. The last year has been a whirlwind of activity, we've learned a lot about the contemporary landscape of editing and publishing in Canada, and there's tons more to look forward to, so let's dive straight into our...
YEAR ONE IN REVIEW
Featured Story - The Box by Michelle Browne
Working in an office can be deadly boring - the same menial tasks to complete day after day, the endless hum of fluorescent tube lighting, and the constant threat of a supervisor sticking their nose into the sacred space of your cubicle all lead to a week-long case of "the Mondays." But when an employee's mind starts to wander, worrisome thoughts can sneak in about the most innocuous of things. Michelle Browne's debut on The Blasted Tree tackles just such thoughts and will leave you squirming in your ergonomic desk chair. The Box is part of our ongoing Short(er) Fiction series, collecting the best Canadian short stories under 2,500 words!
READ THE BOX
Featured Author - Gabriel Wainio-Théberge
Every now and then we are fortunate enough to encounter a talent beyond our modest comprehension while remaining perfectly in tune with our commonly-held artistic sensibilities. Gabriel Wainio-Théberge is just such a talent. It was obvious during first year poetry class (a mere three years ago) that nobody possessed the depth of insight to adequately critique his work, and we've been playing catch-up with this jack-of-all-literary-trades ever since. Well, we've finally caught up with Gabriel and got our grubby, ink-bespeckled digits on three of his luminous gems, which we now happily pass along to you. Please enjoy NECROWMANCY, ALL DRESSED UP FOR A NAP, and PATAPHYSICAL PROOF OF MARCH, then check out his bio and blog for more!