Brian Bartlett joins the podcast LIVE at the Fraser Valley Writers' Festival in Abbotsford, BC, to chat about his new book, The Astonishing Room. Andrew asks what's up with everyone writing bird poems lately. We're back in-person!

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Brian Bartlett has published sixteen collections and chapbooks of poetry, three volumes of nature writing, and a gathering of his prose on poetry. His most recent books are The Astonishing Room and Daystart Songflight: A Morning Journal. He has also edited many selections of poets’ works, as well Alden Nowlan’s Collected Poems. Bartlett’s honours have included The Atlantic Poetry Prize, the Acorn-Plantos Award for People’s Poetry, and two Malahat Review Long Poem Prizes. The Astonishing Room was shortlisted for the 2025 Al and Eurithe Poetry Prize. Since 1990 Bartlett has lived in Halifax/Kjipuktuk. For many years he has kept a daily journal.--

Andrew French is a poet from North Vancouver, British Columbia. They have published three chapbooks, most recently Buoyhood (Alfred Gustav Press, 2025). Andrew holds a BA in English from Huron University College at Western University and an MA in English from UBC. They have hosted this podcast since 2019.