Poet and essayist Kenneth Sherman helps the reader understand the profound connection between disease and creativity -- how we write out of our suffering. Without being stridently political or blame-laden, he honestly articulates what is good and bad in Canada's health-care system and wonders if it can be made more efficient and more humane.

Kenneth Sherman is the author of ten books of poetry and two collections of essays. His most recent books are the highly acclaimed long poem Black River (2007) and the award-winning book of essays What the Furies Bring (2009). He lives in Toronto, where he conducts poetry writing workshops.