The Other 23 & a Half Hours: Or Everything You Wanted to Know That Your Mfa Didn't Teach You - Softcover

"?it's immensely refreshing that she subverts the discourse about the status of poetry as a popular culture failure and celebrates the possibilties inherit in broadening and hybridizing the poet's practice." - Events: Poetry and Prose

"Engaging, informative, concise, evocative ? Catherine Owen's The Other 23 & a Half Hours is a clear, keen contemporary snapshot of Canada's vibrant poetry community. A must read for any new, emerging poet." - Urban Graffiti

"The book offers no program for a career in poetry, making the title a somewhat tongue-in-cheek jab at professionalized poetry. At the Victoria, BC event in promotion of her book, in July of this year, Owen told the audience that the book grew out of her frustration with the pressure young poets feel to enter academia." - The Bull Calf

In this provocative book, Catherine Owen examines the moving parts of the literary community and explains what makes it tick. Starting with reading, which she believes is a fundamental part of being a writer, Owen considers activities such as reviewing, translating, hosting radio shows, and even running small presses. With more than 60 interviews as well as her own experiences to draw on, Owen sketches a compelling picture of what a literary life can be. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for the dynamism of the Canadian literary scene and the inspiration to contribute to it.