New collection of queer rural stories to launch at Brant Pride event

Mabe Kyle poses on their family farm with a copy of Queer Country Crossroads, an anthology of eclectic and universal experiences.

Rubyyy Jones

Cultural Correspondent 

Paris’s literary community is about to welcome a fresh voice with the launch of Queer Country Crossroads, a new anthology of nonfiction stories and poems by and for rural 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. The collection is edited by Paris resident and writer Mabe Kyle, adding to the town’s growing reputation as home to vibrant authors and publications.

Mabe Kyle is a disabled, queer, creative professional with a passion for healing and self expression who has practiced and honed their skills in six countries; with a strong foundation in social justice and leadership experiences, their open mindedness and active engagement in continued learning, enables them to have a unique perspective to problem solving and the development of communities.

Two years ago, Kyle was in the Nowly Press Start CoLab program, an innovation accelerator for young Canadian social entrepreneurs, and they were exploring routes and ideas around addressing and supporting the mental health crisis in Canada. Kyle’s vision stemmed from the power of sharing experiences through a queer rural lens. That idea gained momentum with an $8,000 grant, which helped bring the project to life. In exploring publishers across Canada, Kyle found a natural fit with Caitlin Press, whose commitment to rural stories, queer literature, and diverse voices aligned with the anthology’s mission. Since then, the press has partnered closely on submissions, publishing, and now the launch of this remarkable collection. 

Queer Country Crossroads features 52 writers, poets, and artists from across Canada, each sharing personal stories that explore themes from coming of age, and isolation, to community, and home. Each person’s story is unique: some reflect on growing up in rural locales while others detail their experiences of moving to the countryside later in life. Together, these vibrant voices bring diverse perspectives and important insights into the strengths and hardships that come with living at the intersection of being rural and 2SLGBTQIA+. 

Some contributors were invited, some replied to a call out for submissions and all of them wrote from their unique experience. The anthology contributors have a range of experience, as writers, and one of the essay writers, Tea-Lynn Van Dyk of Simcoe, Ontario shared their experience. 

“I wrote my essay over a year ago. I didn't write it to be shared, or to be read, and certainly not to be included in a book! I wrote it because my heart was bursting with love for who I am, and passion for how far I've come. I'm very thankful now to Mabe Kyle who invited me to share some of my writing, and I hope my story gives hope to others who have worn my shoes.”

While Queer Country Crossroads highlights voices from across Canada, Kyle’s own commitment to amplifying queer stories is equally visible at home. As co-chair and co-founder of Brant Pride, they continue to build spaces for connection and celebration in the County of Brant.

Brant Pride and Queer Country Crossroads will collide at this year’s Brant Pride JOY celebration on Sunday September 28th from 11 am to 3 pm in Lions Park in downtown Paris. Queer Country Crossroads will launch at this grassroots event and a great selection of writers will read their pieces live on the Walter Williams Amphitheatre. This anthology serves as a beautiful reminder of people’s resilience, love and strength, and so does a Pride celebration, so this is a perfect way to officially debut this poignant publication. 

When asked who Queer Country Crossroads is intended for, Kyle said the anthology speaks to a wide audience. “It’s for rural folks who want to learn about the queer experience, queer people who want to learn more about the rural experience, and rural queers who want to connect with each other’s experiences. It’s for anyone and everyone, really,” they explained.

Reflecting on the milestone of publication, Kyle admitted the experience still feels surreal. “It was such a dream to publish a book, that it doesn’t feel real that it’s actually happening,” they said. Kyle added that launching the book at Brant Pride was a natural fit. “We always like to feature writers at Brant Pride events, and Caitlin Press was able to push ahead the publishing timeline to make it possible to debut the book there.”