https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/about daily 0.75 2025-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1648224469793-5MES2ROZCSMV2VQVKSK0/BD.jpeg About - About Barry Barry Dempster was born in Toronto, Ontario, and educated in child psychology. He is the author of two novels, a children's book, three volumes of short stories and eighteen collections of poetry. He has been nominated for the Governor General's Award twice; for his first book, Fables for Isolated Men, and for The Burning Alphabet, which won the Canadian Authors Association Award for poetry. From 1990 to 1997, he was Poetry and Reviews Editor for Poetry Canada. In 2010 and 2015, he was a finalist for the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and in 2014, he was nominated for the Trillium Award for his novel, The Outside World. He has been on the faculty at The Banff Centre as mentor for the Writing Studio, Wired Writing and Writing with Style programs; has conducted master classes all across the country and as far away as Chile; and has been the Writer-in-Residence at the Richmond Hill Public Library twice. For years, he was also a Senior Acquisitions Editor with Brick Books. Barry spent his final years in Owen Sound, Ontario after spending 30 years in Holland Landing, Ontario. On November 27th 2025, he left this world to return to his beloved wife, Karen, among the stars. He will be thoroughly missed by his family, friends, colleagues, and those who’s souls were touched through his words. https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/past-events daily 0.75 2022-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/7d3379e0-e6fc-4541-a089-6998faa49413/12891647_988726041213566_7667544569044099258_o.jpeg Past Events Disturbing the Buddha Book Launch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/e1817d59-3e3d-4d07-9f3f-0775e636939a/scan0017.jpg Past Events Barry's Toronto writing group https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/82ac769f-9ceb-4cae-9c89-04fdccdd170d/12888786_988729121213258_4240116994309763041_o.jpeg Past Events Disturbing the Buddha Book Launch with Barry and Elora Cook https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/579e350a-a75c-464b-a7fc-879b36c00870/scan0008-2.jpg Past Events Barry speaking at the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts 2002 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1ef10675-255e-4b9e-969f-6e8502a3f1f9/Screen+Shot+2022-03-19+at+10.20.06+PM.png Past Events Group photo at the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts 2010 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/80d82848-eaca-4927-aa7a-9d7f13cd1508/Barry+5.jpeg Past Events Barry with author Kimmy Beach https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/8333171d-c18c-499e-8f31-2069a6e7e36a/12107167_10153908026120579_4289677970047624346_n.jpeg Past Events Barry speaking to OAC rep at the 2015 Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/52b4e98d-81e5-49de-a4f3-a1443edfe0de/Brickbooks.jpeg Past Events Table for Brick Books where Barry's book was on display https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1a07046d-c7d1-4139-83ef-88fae92864dd/scan0002-2.jpg Past Events Finalist for the award for Premier's Excellence in the Arts 2010 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/17257a1a-b6be-4a3e-9662-c2d92cca67e3/scan0013-2.jpg Past Events Barry at a poetry reading in Ottawa https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/7d8f86ff-afe2-4503-90e1-1257ed52bf92/scan0014.jpg Past Events Barry with an interviewer at the Literary Press Group https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/f896d141-8c24-44f8-80df-b043e01e0e51/scan0012-2.jpg Past Events Barry enjoying a glass of red and white https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/53d7b4aa-e602-4005-8855-7eb347d9d5c3/10604692_703837753035731_2210430639118613028_o.jpeg Past Events Barry outside of a bookstore in Washington, DC for a reading https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/a8937c5f-4990-4eaf-bc86-0be4942e27bd/Barry+6.jpeg Past Events Barry with previous managing director of Brick Books, Kitty Lewis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/452e0f4b-a9b7-4207-9bcb-dad1df124abf/1610786_10153908025830579_5691393761117552896_n.jpeg Past Events Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2015 where Barry was a finalist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/b1998112-2734-4480-8cfb-0780bf94a0e0/scan0001-2.jpg Past Events Badge showcasing Barry's Premier's Awards for Excellence in the Arts nomination https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/fde1b43a-6d5b-4a65-b734-98596e08c5bc/Brickbooks+3.jpeg Past Events Barry with Peter Harris and John Reibetenz at the Ben McNally Bookstore https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/af98c1e2-57d4-4c07-be37-4f614f9a2a36/scan0003-2.jpg Past Events Description of Barry's book The Outside World in his Trillium Book Award Finalist page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/f54d0f56-b5c0-42f4-bd87-52132eebe1ba/scan0009-2.jpg Past Events Barry in London, England with Steven Heighton (right) and Gary Draper (left) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/90102130-6fca-40f9-959d-6f469c72c9ca/scan0011-2.jpg Past Events Barry enjoying a nice canoe ride around the lake https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/31e1e439-f53a-45a3-af87-aff7621fa6c3/scan0005-2.jpg Past Events Event announcement of the National Poetry Month at the 7th Annual Richmond Hill Poetry Gala where Barry was a featured poet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/cd1d13fa-fbc5-42c0-9f96-91a0410bde1c/karen+bary+dempster+cz+sm+1993.jpeg Past Events Barry and Karen Dempster with poets Steven Morrisey and Carolyn Zonailo https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/62e48630-40f9-49ea-9460-77e121ae9236/Screen+Shot+2022-03-19+at+10.14.26+PM-1.png Past Events A group shot at The National Poetry Month Reading at Harbourfront Toronto in 2008 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/adbacc4a-4822-46d8-81b6-cd6c7a791bfa/Barry+2.jpeg Past Events A stack of books including Blue Wherever https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/a9541a1f-4b88-4b3d-a0cb-86b5a682f275/scan0007-2.jpg Past Events Barry with his wife Karen and John Barton https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/ebef1c65-9d00-418a-8e6d-6f58ff18b3c9/1897770_10153908025930579_6618488482450185896_n.jpeg Past Events Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2015 where Barry was a finalist https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/3857f697-eb17-4018-8b59-5a55fe4f64ea/12888776_988732311212939_3683061190736329534_o.jpeg Past Events Disturbing the Buddha Book Launch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/88f89223-93e2-4444-a5d0-c394090696a9/Screen+Shot+2022-03-19+at+10.14.51+PM-1.png Past Events A group shot at The National Poetry Month Reading at Harbourfront Toronto in 2008 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/f86e9e9a-c1fa-47d4-9ae4-0279622a715f/12273702_988726994546804_7227259041599818344_o.jpeg Past Events Disturbing the Buddha Book Launch https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/4dd4ee8d-0ebe-4bc0-916f-990a6f4a55a5/Screen+Shot+2022-03-19+at+10.19.16+PM.png Past Events Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport presenting Barry with his award for Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts 2010 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/a0cb2dc1-ece9-4272-b31f-2161f222125e/scan0006-2.jpg Past Events Description of The Writers' Community of York Region (WCYR) monthly meeting where Barry was a special guest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/833f3e1f-be95-408d-b1ab-d0674128c28e/Barry+7.jpeg Past Events Barry with Ruth Roach-Pearson https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/b429d763-2b1b-4060-a33f-0bb5742656fd/scan0015.jpg Past Events Carla Hartfields, Barry and Kitty Lewis at a Brick Books event https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/6b56c06f-101c-421e-92ff-5ea208beac41/scan0016.jpg Past Events Barry and Karen with Don Domanski and Mary Meidell https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/b1b9d58a-3977-4a26-8388-7bbed91d3075/FB_IMG_1648220525680.jpeg Past Events Barry and Karen speaking to Bruce Meyer and Antonio D'Alfonso in 1979 at the launch of Guernica Editions in Toronto, Ontario. Guernica Editions published Barry's first book, "Fables for Isolated Men." https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/reviews daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Reviews https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Reviews https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Reviews https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647878276982-1ROHM9OBDTNC3IOJWSFI/20220318_104119.jpg Reviews Select Reviews https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1648001091794-PHMDEOQXK6HOUW4XC7ZG/barry+and+karen+paris.jpg Contact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/ff2f3ef2-9dab-41c0-9977-7ea056f4e40a/FB_IMG_1648220419375.jpg Contact https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/home daily 1.0 2025-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/f5af1885-26c4-4e11-bb82-38cbc1897bac/20220318_103809.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/9d997e31-ff8c-4890-b734-67c14853d1d8/20220318_105928.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/e0119691-cb7f-4b99-9647-ef0b8e5a47d8/20220318_105530.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/e7868ca8-8d66-485f-be3c-c8b5123b5aa0/20220318_111430.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/c67d4abf-3af6-4361-8883-cd800220f869/20220318_104102.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/0da48240-2b3c-4b4e-a175-e4ee44d20256/20220214_121924.jpg+%282%29.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/bae19482-d290-4d20-8582-a80789564ac0/20220318_104145.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/2e38fa50-8558-4137-b2f8-f2716cf6c079/20220318_104329.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/3f128010-2b83-4432-b8fe-ce9c4d639d15/20220318_103913.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/af91be90-035b-4519-a0e5-3404e26c7c38/20220318_110352.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/dfb205b4-aaf0-4096-9603-e37046c68026/20220318_105725.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1709c13d-f89a-4711-8724-a8caa6f319ca/20220318_111236.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/213c6813-a2a5-4f62-95b5-764c11ab3d76/20220318_110158.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/85afaf70-531d-47ff-a6b3-2f3ad26b74cd/20220214_122036.jpg+%282%29.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/8432e5b8-6283-4c20-82fe-4303b5c32acb/20220318_105631.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/fea63a89-14c4-47cd-b46b-a93b7cd3beee/20220318_104119.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/13a7e15b-a47c-4ae4-b5ce-266c80e8e8c0/20220318_111508.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/b19034f6-8651-40eb-9820-a3d596de4937/20220318_111557.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1652986317160-CUJKXHKWF10J3HNN1VSG/20220419_134709.jpeg Home Being Here the chemistry of startle by Barry Dempster Barry’s final collection of poetry titled, Being Here the chemistry of startle is available to purchase through Frontenac House. To learn more about it and to purchase a copy, go to Frontenac House’s website. https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books daily 0.75 2026-01-13 https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/invisibledogs monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647717264719-CELBKUR4PVN4JPEP5I4N/20220317_115117.jpg Books - Invisible Dogs - Brick Books, 2013. Click here to purchase a copy. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/disturbingthebuddha monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647721834305-DPR1KTPCN79A4J5QOGQV/20220317_115244.jpg Books - Disturbing the Buddha - Brick Books, 2016. Click here to purchase a copy. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/blue-wherever monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647722427358-388FJ8Y2729FNR2JNZZF/20220318_160741.jpeg Books - Blue Wherever - Signature Editions, 2009. To purchase a copy, reach out through the Contact page to request. Price: $17.95 + shipping Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/tread monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647725762513-3ELAD55QWFNX41ZX2W6I/20220317_114910.jpg Books - Tread & Other Stories - Tightrope Books, 2018. To purchase a copy, reach out through the Contact page to request. Price: $17.95 + shipping Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/fire-and-brimstone monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647727153757-E3PLX63NW1NBRD7CKANT/20220317_115316.jpg Books - Fire and Brimstone - Empyreal Press, 1997. Archived. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/loveoutlandish monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647718149761-GGONR4EH7YTDHUWVLQCU/20220317_115202.jpg Books - Love Outlandish - Brick Books, 2009. Click here to purchase a copy. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/tributaries monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647727391970-8FOHOZECNA7LLAN15EVD/20220317_115326.jpg Books - Tributaries - Valley Editions / Mosaic Press, 1978. Archived. https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/fables-for-isolated-men monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647728203290-B775GSGZFO4B1QR6ZSIQ/fables.png Books - Fables for Isolated Men - Guernica Editions, 1982. Click here to purchase a copy. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/letters-from-a-long-illness-with-the-world monthly 0.5 2022-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647893029860-8KNPN54KE7X3XK1FXVMB/9781926829548_large.jpeg Books - Letters From A Long Illness With The World - Brick Books, 1993. To purchase a copy, reach out through the Contact page to request. Price: $17.95 + shipping https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/late-style monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647728610646-BED2PWO9X8W6LVKNJA9N/20220317_114836.jpeg Books - Late Style - Pedlar Press, 2017. Edited by Don McKay. To purchase a copy, reach out through the Contact page to request. Price: $17.95 + shipping Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/dyingalittle monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647717679821-OFFADRIN6LZRNJF25H6F/20220317_115128.jpg Books - Dying A Little - Wolsak & Wynn, 2011. Click here to purchase a copy or at Indigo Books and Music. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/the-unavoidable-man monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647727868496-RCGSG45PDGWMDO7TYRNS/20220317_115430.jpg Books - The Unavoidable Man - Quarry Press, 1990. Archived. https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/theburningalphabet monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647718744802-WQ74ILK0E1SSFRIVKUQZ/20220317_115222.jpg Books - The Burning Alphabet - Brick Books, 2005. Edited by Don McKay. Click here to purchase a copy or reach out through the Contact page to request. Price: $17.95 + shipping Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/thewordswantingout monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647719257186-3EFSLN7H7OXEP6Q82OID/20220317_115234.jpg Books - The Words Wanting Out - Nightwood Editions, 2003. Click here to purchase a copy or at Indigo Books and Music. https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/the-ascension-of-jesse-rapture monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647726582548-SFS9APCU8HLEQ48VYG9F/20220317_115256.jpg Books - The Ascension of Jesse Rapture - Quarry Press, 1993. Archived. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/globe-doubts monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647727702922-01YVY3GTCGICRA3RVCD0/20220317_115415.jpg Books - Globe Doubts - Quarry Press, 1983. Archived. https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/ivans-birches monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647726944330-W9ADJ3E6TR0JCLF2Q9TE/20220317_115306.jpg Books - Ivan's Birches - Pedlar Press, 2009. Edited by Don McKay. Archived. Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/theoutsideworld monthly 0.5 2022-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647707459369-WJBHY7CHKI2EGCBLM7W8/20220317_114853.jpg Books - The Outside World - Pedlar Press, 2013. To purchase a copy, reach out through the Contact page to request. Price: $19.95 + shipping Goodreads Page https://www.barrydempsterauthor.com/books/beinghere monthly 0.5 2026-01-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6233497e607ab01a592c5e1f/1647632410717-8U20LPAW3WBL0VAR2ES8/Screen+Shot+2022-03-18+at+3.32.30+PM.png Books - Being Here: the Chemistry of Startle - Frontenac House, 2022. Click here to purchase a copy.