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h i | b evruary 8,2018 | BB Micon Canadian Champion | Thursday 0 i ' not ARTS Visit insidehalton.com for more coverage Former Campbellville resident pens debut book of poetry JULJE SLACK jslack@miltoncanadian champion.com Allison LaSorda worked for many years on her own, crafting poems and allow- ing her mind to be open. That collection of poet- ry has culminated in Stray, the debut book by LaSorda, 32, who grew up in Camp- bellville. In fact, she credits her elementary education at the Halton Waldorf School for allowing her to focus on the arts. who lives in Toronto now. "Often though, they come when I let myself have the space to let my mind wan- der. I am trying to clarify what is difficult to articu- late. "I'm concerned with hu- mour and absurdity. I'm trying to -ask why certain questions are important to me, and why poetry is the way to open them up." She also gets inspiration from some of the authors she finds particularly in- spiring, such as Dionne Brand and Karen Solie. That, combined with "They are both incredi- parents who read to her all. bly smart and excellent the time, men- gave La- 'It's super exciting to '°*S' Sorda an ! P . e £ L g said La- opportu- See something Sorda it t h n° concrete form in front ea when it of you.' English comes to litera- writing. -Allison LaSorda, poet ture at Her the Uni- keen versity sense of of To- humour is also vital to her work. Her poems are play- ful yet serious meditations on themes of intimacy and mortality that appeal to a broad audience. She sums it up this way: "IfI think about it, my ideas insidehalton.com come from diverse sources; it could be a turn of phrase that someone uses, a par- ticular view, a film, or a memory," said LaSorda, ronto after college. She started in the masters of fine arts and creative writ- ing at the University of Guelph in 2014. Now, she works at Hum- ber College as the editor of the Academic Press, out of the centre for teaching and learning. She edits profes- sional development and ac- ademic journals, as well as research articles and text- Allison LaSorda, who grew up in Campbellville, has released her debut poetry collection, Stray. books. Most 'of her personal writing she does at home, or in cafés, where she finds the distraction of white noise appealing. To see her poetry in a book is exhilarating, she said. "It's super exciting to see something concrete form in front of you," she said. "It's really nice to have the- product in your hands, af- ter working in isolation for so long." EEL un In her spare time, she likes to get out to travel and go for a hike. Toronto is a great place to live because it's nice to be able to have a variety of things to do, she added. LaSorda is currently Since 1977 Nadine Sander working on another collec- tion of poetry in addition to what she is "cobbling to- gether in the hopes of be- coming a-novel." Her book Stray can be purchased at Amazon, In- digo and alllitup.ca. we've been creating dream kitchens, baths, ( losets and wall units {sR stelle 1a Ie) {UTata ito ale ale beauty We manutacture our own cabinets. » www.laurentidekitchens.ca. OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9AM - 5PM, Evenings by appointment o MILTO Ni Satire, 10220 Derry Rel VHT Sans FIO) Ya: 380