While others were bingeing Tiger King, Like-ing livestreams, and mastering sourdough, novelist Jeffrey Dupuis and editor Sheeza Sarfraz were getting lit. During the pandemic, the married couple have solicited fiction, non-fiction, poetry, reviews, and art from their circle of Toronto artist friends to launch The Quarantine Review, a digital literary journal to be published by Dundurn. The premiere issue will launch June 6.

“A lot of writers right now aren’t able to promote their work in a way they normally would,” says Dupuis, whose debut novel, the supernatural mystery Roanoke Ridge (written under the name J.J. Dupuis) was published March 7, just before COVID-19 forced many bookstores in Canada to close. “This gives me an opportunity to invite other writers who I know are in the same predicament to contribute something, promote themselves, and stay active.” The first issue includes such diverse material as poetry by Paul Vermeersch, a reflection on a baseball-free summer by Stacey May Fowles, and a personal essay from Lindsay Zier-Vogel about her experience during the first month of the pandemic, which included a friend contracting COVID-19.

The co-founders are already soliciting material for the third issue – poetry and fiction of 3,000 words or less can be sent to [email protected] before June 21. Dupuis and Sarfaz spoke about launching a literary magazine that pointedly speaks to the shared experiences of the moment.

Many people are finding the pandemic to be so distracting they can’t focus on anything else. How was your reaction different?
Jeffrey Dupuis: I’m not good at not filling empty hours. Our social calendar pretty much went extinct and I thought, we have so many talented friends who I’m sure would want to contribute. Let’s see if there’s any interest and what we can put together.

What were some of the responses that you received?
Sheeza Sarfraz: There are lots of opportunities for creativity. We are all going through the days blending together. We are all going through not dying our hair or our hair getting long.

A.G. Pasquella contributed a very fun article on giving yourself a haircut. It’s not a “how to do it,” it’s more humorous. It was nearly 40 days when Lindsay Zier-Vogel submitted her piece [about] her friend contracting the virus. We have a piece by Shajia Sarfraz, who is in Pakistan, writing about life there and how it has exposed class differences.

As we take some baby steps towards a new reality, how do you think that changes the concept of the project?
Dupuis: Baby steps I think is a good term because a lot of people are not comfortable returning to their previous habits. We’ve been exploring what it means to have to go back to work but to no longer be able to dine out at restaurants, to no longer go out and enjoy museums or concerts the way we used to, or parents wanting to stay in, but you can’t reason with small children about that. We are awakening from a hibernation and the magazine is going to try to explore that the best we can.

Sarfraz: This has impacted and will continue to impact so many other aspects of our lives, from our finances to our fashion choices, how we shop for groceries or clothes. Those habits have shifted now, but will continue to shift. We are potentially living with this virus for quite a few years, if not forever. One thing we are exploring in the second issue is how we think of social safety nets.

Dupuis: As we emerge from quarantine, we might see this project change into a continuing literary magazine for Dundurn.

How did Dundurn get involved?
Dupuis: We were invited by [publisher] Scott Fraser because he is in our social circle. There are a lot of writers and poets in the east end of Toronto and we all kind of hang out. He could get involved as the platform to put this magazine out.

What has it been like to work on this project together?
Dupuis: You know your spouse, but it’s different to work with your spouse and be constantly exchanging ideas. We would like to be each other’s bosses. I would like Sheeza to be my boss and Sheeza would like me to be her boss. That’s a great compliment that your partner not only wants to work with you but trusts your instincts enough to have you take the lead. And I feel the exact same way.

The Quarantine Review launches June 6. The epub or pdf are available for $1.99 through Dundurn.