Michael Antman's Cherry Whip Coming Soon!
And a whirlwind trip to Toronto
Being the 60th edition of Assorted Nonsense, the official newsletter of Donovan Street Press Inc.
Cherry Whip by Michael Antman Coming Soon…
It takes a lot of work to put a novel together. Even one that’s been published before.
One that, I should add, is worth publishing again.
But we’re finally done all the editing, proofreading, layout, artwork and so on.
Which means that we can finally announce the following:
Donovan Street Press is pleased to announce that we’ll be publishing Michael Antman’s Cherry Whip: the 20th Anniversary Edition this coming September 15th, 2025.
Michael Antman’s Cherry Whip was originally published by ENC Press in 2004. It’s been out of print for quite some time.
After Michael appeared on our podcast Re-Creative, I got my hands on a copy, read it and loved it. Here’s the review I wrote for it:
“Cherry Whip is an elegantly constructed, superbly written novel about a young Japanese jazz prodigy named Hiroshi who visits New York and immediately falls ill, placing his budding career (and perhaps his entire life) in jeopardy.
Executed with precision, compassion and wit, Cherry Whip kept me turning the pages. Hiroshi lives and breathes on the page. Neurotic but charming, I enjoyed his company. His misadventures, including a tragic subplot involving his older sister, are compelling and affecting.
Antman writes beautifully on every level: prose, theme, structure, and character. Cherry Whip is out of print, which is a shame. It's a terrific book that deserves a much wider readership.”
Natually, in the course of putting Cherry Whip together for this new edition, I’ve read it again, and can attest that it was even better the second time around. Graphic artist Andrew Rogers produced an excellent new cover for us, which includes a new logo designed by my daughter Erin. Although we’ll be keeping the famous robot logo for most of our books (also based on one of Erin’s illustrations), we’ve decided to reserve this new dragon logo exclusively for any reprints we produce.
As I’ve written before, I consider the addition of Cherry Whip to DSP Inc.'s growing list of titles a gift. Thanks Michael!
Whirlwind Toronto Trip
Last week was a lot of driving. I zipped up to Toronto (well, Bowmanville, actually) to move my daughter Erin (mentioned above!) back to the maritimes. Here’s a little photo essay of the crazy little trip.
I don’t mind driving and I’ve done this particular trip tons. Some people like to do it in a single day (see Erin, above) but I prefer to break it into two, stopping in La Pocatiere to practice my French and lose laptop computer cables (a kind woman by the name of Francine is mailing it back to me; more opportunity to practise my French).
This shot was actually taken on the way back, shortly before Cornwall, where traffic ground to a halt shortly after I spied a thick plume of black smoke above the highway. I still don’t know what happened (hopefully no one was hurt) but it was enough to turn the highway into a parking lot for half an hour. I was quite impressed when a police officer came by, parked all the transport trucks on the side of the road, got the rest of us turned back around to drive back up the highway the wrong way and then cross to the other side, where we followed a detour by the lake to bypass the accident. A detour that included “detour” signs that had obviously been placed there years before, so I gather this sort of thing happens often, probably all along the 401.
I spent a day in Toronto to rest and look around, because I do love Toronto. Here’s a stunt performer hanging around on a block of melting ice in Sankofa Square (formerly Dundas Square). A statement about climate change:
I didn’t eat at the Town Crier Pub but it is one of my favourite places in downtown Toronto. I loved both the patio in the summer and the second floor, cuz no one EVER sat on the second floor, so it was always quiet and I could always get a seat by the window.
One of the last projects I was involved in with CBC Real Estate before I retired was trying to improve branding outside the Toronto Broadcast Centre. We had a lovely design picked out to replace this monstrosity below, which I think dates back to 1992. I thought someone would pick up the baton after I left and GET IT DONE! But I guess not. Hey, I’m available for consultation if you guys need help! :-)
The plaque you see there below… the Canadian Heritage Department reached out to me when I was in charge of this sort of thing. They wanted to put a plaque in front of the Broadcast Centre honouring a classic radio show called the National Farm Radio Forum. I said, “Okay!” And managed to make it happen before I retired. Maybe not my finest achievement in my 35 years with the place, but hey! It’s something. I was weirdly pleased to see it there..
I had nothing to do with this installation honouring Glenn Gould outside his eponymous studio, but I did have the great honour (along with my co-host Mark Rayner) of talking to its sculptor, Ruth Abernethy, on our our podcast Re-Creative.
And here, where I never noticed it before, is Ruth’s credit on the sculpture. It’s a great piece of work, isn’t it? Ruth has sculptures all over Canada. Look around your city! You just might spot one.
They were shooting a movie in downtown Toronto the day I was there. Bunch of cars from the early 70s, looks like. I have no idea what the movie or show was, but the camera was trailing a woman in a wheelchair across the intersection as traffic flowed. Anybody know what it could be?
Hope of the Wasteland
by Matt Watts
“This absorbing and electrifying dystopian tale will appeal to all ages.” ~ Kirkus Review
What's scarier than a post-apocalyptic wasteland? 12-year-old Huey is about to find out.
It’s been two weeks and Huey’s father still hasn’t returned from a supply run to the Square.
His dad’s Number One Rule is posted on the wall of the bunker where they live: “HUEY DO NOT GO INTO THE WASTELAND ALONE” – and Huey has no desire to break the rules because that might set off his anxiety. But he’s running out of food... and what if his father is in trouble? It’s time for him to take action.
Huey sets out into the wasteland on a dangerous adventure where he'll face new challenges like mutants, giant scorpions, and most intimidating of all: a feisty, pre-teen girl named Hope.
Hope of the Wasteland is an engaging choice for readers who enjoy science fiction, humorous narratives, and stories set in the future. Ideal for kids ages nine and up, it appeals to both boys and girls, as well as adults who appreciate a well-crafted science fiction adventure. This book offers something for anyone seeking a compelling and imaginative read.
Thanks for reading!
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This has been the 60th edition of Assorted Nonsense, the official newsletter of Donovan Street Press Inc.