In 1996, photographer Don Denton set out to create a photographic archive of Canadian authors that would draw attention to the writers as individuals and to their work. First Chapter collects a sampling of his project to date, including well-known writers such as Margaret Atwood, George Bowering, Karen Connelly, and Michael Turner, as well as the newer faces on the Canadian writing scene. Each of the 50 photographs is paired with a statement about the writing life from the profiled author, with advice that ranges from quirky, tongue-in-cheek quips to serious contemplations of the creative process. First Chapter shows faces of CanLit in a revealing light.

Originally from British Columbia, Don Denton has worked as a photographer and picture editor throughout Western Canada and in Europe. He taught photography at Mount Royal College in Calgary, and was the assistant photo editor at the Calgary Herald. He has worked freelance for many newpapers, and spent two years on staff as photographer/sub editor with Reuters in Brussels, Belgium. He is currently working on a series of photo projects that deal with the social and physical landscapes of the Pacific Northwest and the identity we absorb from the places we live.

Don Denton's profile page

"Writers' answers ... are in the form of poetry, some are obscure ramblings and some are straightforward. All are fascinating glimpses into the minds of writers." -Chris Campbell, The Times (Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows)
"This is a book about writers as observed by a passionate and curious reader." -Harry Vandervlist, FFWD