In the blistering summer of 1971, four strangers take a chance on a new psychological treatment. What seems like a good idea quickly spirals out of control as the four connect outside the sessions in unexpected and catastrophic ways, each locked into an escalating crisis. Widow Beata is ensnared in a parallel life that’s increasingly out of step with reality. Deeply closeted Simon is tormented at work at the same time as he develops feelings for a neighbour. Tightly wound Claire struggles to keep her head above water and avoid a repeat psych admission. Drop-out Paul, with a ham-fisted propensity to blur professional lines, runs the sessions – his own life in perilous freefall. Funny and heart-breaking, Back to the Garden is a love letter to Toronto at a pivotal point in its coming of age – the folk scene in full throttle, disenchantment over Vietnam brewing and social forces pressing for change.

MEGAN WYKES wrote freelance for many years, including a stint at ARTNews Magazine, and worked as an editor for 15 years at Oxford University Press, Harcourt Brace and Canadian Scholars' Press. Her first poetry volume, Colour Theory, was published in 2016 (Guernica Editions). Her writing has appeared in arts and literary magazines, including The Antigonish Review, The Dalhousie Review, The Frequent & Vigorous Quarterly, Geist, Hamilton Arts & Letters Magazine, The Maynard Magazine, Misunderstanding Magazine, The Nashwaak Review, paperplates, Qwerty and The Toronto Quarterly. Back to the Garden is her first novel.

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