Rob McLennan

{{short description|Canadian writer, critic, and publisher (born 1970)}}

Rob McLennan (born 1970) is a Canadian writer, critic, and publisher.

McLennan is the author of two novels, and more than twenty books of poems, stories and essays published in Canada, the United States, England, Ireland, and Japan.{{Cite web|url=https://canlit.ca/canlit_authors/rob-mclennan-2/|title=A Quarterly of Criticism and Review|website=Canadian Literature|access-date=2018-08-17}} He has been called "arguably his generation's finest practitioner"{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/review-wild-horses-by-rob-mclennan/article4319017/|title=Review: Wild Horses, by rob mclennan|access-date=2018-08-17}} and his writing has garnered significant critical recognition, including the CAA / Air Canada Award as the "most-promising writer under 30 in Canada",{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/planetary-poetry-month-2010/article1366575/|title=Planetary Poetry Month 2010|access-date=2018-08-17}} the John Newlove Poetry Award,{{Cite web|url=http://www.bywords.ca/wm/index.php?Newlove|title=Bywords|website=www.bywords.ca|access-date=2018-08-17}} the Mid-Career Artist Award from the Ottawa Arts Council,{{Cite web|url=https://ottawaartscouncil.ca/en/our-programs/oac-events/awards-events/arts-awards-presentation|title=2014 Arts Awards Presentation {{!}} Ottawa Arts Council|website=ottawaartscouncil.ca|access-date=2018-08-17}} and being twice long-listed for the CBC Poetry Prize, in 2012 and 2017. He is notable as an interviewer of other poets, with his "12-20 Questions" interviews appearing on his own blog, and in such publications as Ploughshares.

McLennan's books have been published by Talonbooks, The Mercury Press, Black Moss Press, New Star Books, Insomniac Press, Broken Jaw Press, Stride, Salmon Publishing and others.{{Cite news|url=http://arcpoetry.ca/2018/03/14/arc-walks/|title=Arc Walks|date=2018-03-14|work=Arc Poetry|access-date=2018-08-17}} His writing style is sometimes experimental{{Cite web|url=http://www.poetsquarterly.com/2013/01/a-short-history-of-l-by-rob-mclennan.html|title=A (short) history of l. by rob mclennan {{!}} Poets' Quarterly|website=www.poetsquarterly.com|access-date=2018-08-17}} and is noted for its use of humour and the element of surprise.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebullcalfreview.ca/robmclennan.htm|title=The Bull Calf|website=The Bull Calf|access-date=2018-08-17}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books-and-media/review-wild-horses-by-rob-mclennan/article4319017/|title=Review: Wild Horses, by rob mclennan|access-date=2018-08-17}}

In his capacity as a publisher, McLennan operates above/ground press, a chapbook press that has operated since 1993 as an eclectic disseminator of new, especially experimental poetry within the North American poetry community.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/books/article-ottawas-aboveground-press-marks-25th-anniversary-and-900th/|title=Ottawa's Above/Ground Press marks 25th anniversary and 900th publication|access-date=2018-08-17}}