John Barton's twelve previous collections of poetry include Lost Family: A Memoir, a nominee for the 2021 Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry. Coeditor of the landmark anthology, Seminal: Canada's Gay Male Poets, he also wrote a book of essays, We Are Not Avatars: Essays, Memoirs, Manifestos and was the guest editor of Best Canadian Poetry 2023. A three-time winner of the Archibald Lampman Award as well as a recipient of a National Magazine Award and a CBC Literary Award, he was made a lifetime member of the League of Canadian Poets in 2021.