Congratulations On Everything got named a Book of the Year.
Monday, November 28, 2016
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Intensities in 3 Cities
For a few days every year, I get to act like a capital-A Author. Those days are upon us.
On Tuesday, October 25, I will be reading and talking in Ottawa.
On Wednesday, October 26, I'll be talking in Toronto.
And then on Friday, October 28 I'll be... I don't know, probably watching Toy Story 2 for the thousandth time with a two-year-old.
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Open Book
For the month of July, I am the writer in virtual residence at Open Book: Toronto.
So far, I've written about Donald Trump, plagiarism, work in literature, Alice Munro, my brilliant wife, waitresses being asked to dispose of vomit, and much more.
Read all the nonsense here.
So far, I've written about Donald Trump, plagiarism, work in literature, Alice Munro, my brilliant wife, waitresses being asked to dispose of vomit, and much more.
Read all the nonsense here.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Congratulations On Everything reviewed in The Globe & Mail
"These are believable creations. They speak and fail and contradict
themselves with the regular inelegance of real people. The day-to-day
pleasures and pains of the service industry are also rendered with
fine-tuned realism, an ear for the strange within the mundane. Whitlock
is a very smooth, competent stylist, in an understated way. There’s no
flash or bang here: His characters propel the action, calling attention
to narrative style only with metaphor and image – which are always
arresting, always right."
The whole thing here.
The whole thing here.
Thursday, June 09, 2016
Service Industry Hell
Dear Former Bartenders, Waiters, and Cooks:
I am in need of funny, ridiculous, and/or disturbing true service industry stories for a thing I am doing next month for Open Book. Tales of bad bosses, "eccentric" customers, hellish shifts, exploding kegs, etc. What are some moments you'll never forget, no matter how hard you try?
They need to be short - 100 to 200 words, max. Just the gist. Unless you say otherwise, they'll be anonymous. Send as many as you like.
I am in need of funny, ridiculous, and/or disturbing true service industry stories for a thing I am doing next month for Open Book. Tales of bad bosses, "eccentric" customers, hellish shifts, exploding kegs, etc. What are some moments you'll never forget, no matter how hard you try?
They need to be short - 100 to 200 words, max. Just the gist. Unless you say otherwise, they'll be anonymous. Send as many as you like.
Please email them to [my first and last name, all one word] AT gmail dot com.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
"All Those Sexy Things"
I got interviewed by Canadian Notes & Queries:
Congratulations On Everything felt like a very different book while I was writing it, and I think it is, though now that I look at it as a finished thing, I can see a lot of similarities – people in bad relationships, people who mistake passivity for integrity, people who pursue dreams they are maybe not suited to achieve. All those sexy things.
Friday, May 13, 2016
"Superstition" is the way at the launch of Congratulations On Everything, May 3.
The band kills it. As does guest singer Alex Lukashevky. I try to keep up on drums.
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