review from Edmonton Journal!

Whittall's territory in Holding Still for as Long as Possible is not the complex system of relationships among Toronto's artsy set. Rather, it is an exploration of the emotional complexities within the main characters, and how they manifest when they're alone and in the company of others. The novel is broken into sections narrated by Josh, Amy and Billy, allowing for often disturbingly intimate insights. Everything is on the table, from questions of gender and sexual orientation to depressions both clinical and romantic, from the legacy of early fame to the repercussions of childhood neglect. It's a harrowing, utterly compelling read.

It's also a misleading read. Much will be made of the age of the characters, and the times in which they live. Yes, these are young people living in an accelerated culture, but the questions they face, the struggles they endure, are as timeless as the sound of the breath of the person sleeping next to you, as fundamentally human as the broken bodies Josh faces every day. Holding Still for as Long as Possible isn't about texting and IMing and the glib surfaces of the dialogue, it's about the pulpy, bleeding depths of the heart and soul.

Click here for full review.

What Critics Are Saying About HSFALAP...and some tour photos!

Some new & exciting news: I was interviewed by Shelagh Rogers for the CBC radio show The Next Chapter. I will post details about the show's date and time as soon as I know them.

I don't update the blog very often, but I do twitter a lot lately w/ details about readings and reviews. You can follow along here: www.twitter.com/zoewhittall

Here's what critics are saying about Holding Still For As Long As Possible:

"With Holding Still, Whittall has established herself as a writer of immense vitality and courage; she stands as the voice of a lost, but thanks to her not forgotten generation: the boys and girls who will inherit the Earth." The National Post

"... Whittall is a dexterous puppeteer, and the book is unputdownable."
- The Globe and Mail

"... Whittall is a writer of richly nuanced characters. There's not a flubbed note in any of the voices& Whittall has still made a grand entertainment out of everyday collisions."
- Eye Weekly

"...a story that really speaks to the generation while offering some sage advice about living & there are moments of genuine, understated authenticity, especially in Whittall's depiction of complex human dynamics."
- FFWD

"The opening chapter introduces dutiful Josh, a transgender paramedic, responding to a call from a delusional man who claims to have been stabbed in the groin by a ghost. Robustly etched, Josh's narrative is immediately -- and consistently -- engrossing. Not only does Whittall's depiction of his work and colleagues enthrall, but her expert and compassionate telling of his after-hours dilemmas and compulsions have a cinematic richness full of enticing textures and tones. The sure-footed promise evident in Bottle Rocket Hearts, Whittall's 2007 debut, is easily matched here." The Vancouver Sun

"In Holding Still for as Long as Possible, the awareness of mortality intersects with the romantic restlessness of youth. It makes for a story whose vital signs are fully present and robust." The Toronto Star

"Zoe Whittall is a championing voice of outsiders and outcasts, of surviving your 20s and all their hangovers" The Coast

"Holding Still holds an astonishingly astute mirror to a generation still struggling to define itself. A fine sophomore novel by one of Canada's most promising young writers."
- The Westender

This is the view from our hotel room on the last night of my book tour. It was extra-special fancypants for my gf's 33rd birthday:



Elizabeth Bachinsky, Lisa Foad, and I at the Vancouver International Writers' Festival:



This is a deer we saw on our walk down a mountain in Banff:

Book Tour Day 6: Banff

Here I am trying to capture the view from our hotel room in Banff at the Arts Centre. It's day six of my festival tour promoting both Holding Still and Precordial Thump. Last night I performed at the Poetry Cabaret, hosted by the lovely Lorna Crozier, amongst some very talented poets I was honoured to share the stage with - Karen Solie, Billeh Nickerson, Alexis O'Hara and more.

Wordfest is a great festival to be a part of - who knew you could have so much fun in Calgary? I got to read with a varied cross-section of writers, like Colin McAdam and Elizabeth Bachinsky and Barry Callaghan. With the exception of Nickleback being mandatory in all restaurants and stores, it pretty much rocked. Next stop: Vancouver International Writers' Festival.

HSFALAP review round-up

Dear Toronto: I hope to see you at Word on the Street tomorrow. I'll be reading at 5:30pm in the Great Books Marquee, right after Lauren Kirshner, who you should try to catch as well!

"With Holding Still, Whittall has established herself as a writer of immense vitality and courage; she stands as the voice of a lost, but thanks to her not forgotten generation: the boys and girls who will inherit the Earth." The National Post

Full review here.

Interview and review in Xtra! here.

Review and interview...and Corpusse reference?.. here.

Great review in the Toronto Star...then off to read at Eden Mills

"At one point, Josh reflects, "There's something about watching someone die right in front of you that makes your petty relationship problems seem of little importance."

No one could argue with that. Yet for most of us, most of the time, life is our own petty concerns – which is why the relationship dynamics Whittall chronicles will resonate with anyone, straight or gay, who's ever fallen in or out of love.

In the final section of the novel a major crisis occurs, and this catalyst furnishes a resolution to the story. It seems like a convenient plot device, in a way. But the crisis also bears out one of the novel's major motifs, as illustrated by Josh's experiences as a paramedic: Life can change drastically (or end) in a flash, and there's no telling how or when that can happen.

In Holding Still for as Long as Possible, the awareness of mortality intersects with the romantic restlessness of youth. It makes for a story whose vital signs are fully present and robust." Barbara Carey, The Toronto Star

Holding Still For As Long As Possible - out and getting some reviews!

For up-to-date news, follow me on twitter: www.twitter.com/zoewhittall

The latest review from Calgary's FFWD Magazine:

This is the second novel from the award-winning Canadian writer Zoe Whittall, who presents us with a story that really speaks to the generation while offering some sage advice about living... there are moments of genuine, understated authenticity, especially in Whittall’s depiction of complex human dynamics. She manages to beautifully encapsulate that sickening feeling when you realize your ex might be over you and to convey how it feels to fall in love with startling brevity.

And in a world where everything is connected — including your sexual partners — the anticipation of how these characters will be affected by the accident (and affect one another) is a real page-turner. Although the turning point comes late in the novel and falls short of the catastrophic conclusion we eagerly envision, the journey is enjoyable and the prescription for living is clear — and right on the money."

"Whittall has written an ambitious saga that keeps readers turning pages" - FAB magazine

"Holding Still for as Long as Possible is a clear improvement over Whittall’s affected debut, Bottle Rocket Hearts. A pervasive sense of authenticity runs throughout the novel, whether the focus is on the practices of EMS paramedics or on the mental anguish fostered by repeated attempts to drown out reality in a sea of booze and casual sex." Steven W. Beattie, prepared for The Walrus

My video trailer

Last week I had a lot of fun filming my promotional trailer for the new novel. A rough cut is linked from twitter and facebook and pasted below. Above is a still photo from the shoot taken by Joel Johnson. He's one of the 5 paramedics I convinced to make a human pyramid, have wheelbarrow races and do fake CPR in Trinity-Bellwoods park, all in the name of promoting my book.

The book has a three narrators, and one is a medic in downtown Toronto named Josh. Major themes in the book include emergency, disordered anxiety and how we change during moments of crisis. I thought having some real medics - many of whom helped me research for the book - goofing around to Jens Lekman's plucky little song about death was a perfect way to set the tone for potential readers.

stormy summer update

*The Toronto launch of Holding Still For As Long As Possible will be held on September 30th at the Gladstone Hotel, as part of This Is Not A Reading Series. Details TBA. Here is a link to the Facebook invitation.

* Precordial Thump made the ReLit Award Longlist!

* Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/zoewhittall

Pre-order HSFALAP, and upcoming gigs!

Order the hardcover version of Holding Still for As Long As Possible by clicking this link!

Upcoming Appearances:

-The Leacock Festival this Saturday in Orillia with Lisa Foad and Gale Zoe Garnett.
- Eden Mills Festival
- Word on the Street in Toronto
- Calgary WordFest
- Vancouver International Writers' Festival

My new front cover!!

Design by Ingrid Paulson for House of Anansi Press.