Frank Giorno is turning his passion for poetry and writing into a new publishing company, which is likely a first for Timmins.
Northern Voices Publications will soon be releasing its first volume 'MoPoPoMo Variations' which is a collection of Giorno's poems. The title is a playful abbreviation of Modern Post Post Modern, which is his way of poking fun at the overly serious 'schools' of poetry.
Originally from Toronto, Giorno has lived and worked in several cities but has really been of inspired by the people and stories from this region, having lived in Timmins since 2010. He also works as a journalist for TimminsToday.
"There is a platform here for all the writers of the Northeast, for this golden region, the land of a hundred year gold rush, to tell their stories" he said. "What I say is, alright Pierre Berton, you had four years of Gold Rush in the Klondike, we've got a hundred plus years of stories that we can tell. With loving appreciation of our background and heritage, we can tell that story without having it strangled by someone who wants to shape it in another direction" he said.
Giorno says there are a number of very talented poets in the city, even though they don't receive much exposure.
"There's a certain love of poetry that is genuine, that comes right from the heart" he said.
He wants to tear down the walls of any snobbery or pretentiousness that he feels is prevalent in cities like New York, London, and Toronto. He says in those cities, it seems like there is an emphasis on volume, and to be 'one of the select few'.
"I came from that background in a sense, and I was constantly butting my head and saying 'that's not poetry. I think what people have to remember is poetry is anything that moves you, that inspires you, that gets you through the day. It's not something where you have to shine your badge and say 'I get it. You don't'. That's something that I really appreciate about the North" said Giorno.
He says he hopes to eventually publish local novels and other works, but feels its prudent to move at a controlled pace.
"There is such a thing as growing too fast and not surviving, you see that in nature. It's first come, first serve. If you've got an idea, come to me with the idea."
Prospective writers shouldn't expect to much meddling from the top.
"It's a writer's company. It's your vision. I'm not going to tell you 'change your vision, and I'll publish you'. We're going to work with the authors to make sure their vision is done. We can do it economically. I'm not looking to make a killing of this, I want people to read. Write it in a way that is entertaining, that is true to the story, and people will read it, and make it available at a reasonable affordable price"
Frank can be reached at [email protected], or by mail:
Northern Voices Publications
C-273 Balsam Street South
Timmins, Ontario
P4N 2E5
