Chris Pannell has published six books of poetry. His collection "A Nervous City "(released in 2013) won the Kerry Schooley Book Award the following year. His latest book of poetry, "Love, Despite the Ache", won Poetry Book of the Year from the Hamilton Arts Council. He is a former treasurer and board member for the gritLIT Writers Festival and a former DARTS bus driver. He has hosted and helped the Lit Live reading series in Hamilton for more than ten years.