A BookThug’s Guide to the Fall Literary Festival Season
The fall book season has arrived, and cities far and wide will soon be abuzz with literary festival fun. Starting this month, BookThugs will be popping up at book festivals and fairs across the country. Following, we’ve compiled this helpful guide to find your local literary event and the BookThugs who’ll be attending.
A BOOKTHUG’S GUIDE TO THE FALL 2015 LITERARY FESTIVAL SEASON
❧ Saturday, September 12, 2015—Fisher Small and Fine Press Fair
BookThug is pleased to join 16 of Canada’s finest book- and printmakers for the 2nd annual Fisher Small and Fine Press Fair. The fair will be held in the Maclean Hunter Room of UofT’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.
With five mezzanine floors of rare books overhead, the Fisher Library offers visitors and the presses one of the most dramatic backdrops in the city. Also on display will be a special exhibition celebrating 50 years of Coach House Press.
Where: Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
Address: 120 St. George Street, Toronto, ON
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Free
More info here
❧ Sunday, September 13, 2015—Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
BookThug is thrilled to be heading back to the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival. Find us in our exhibit along Publishers’ Way, and then, enjoy an afternoon of readings and book browsing in the scenic village of Eden Mills.
Where: Eden Mills, ON
Time: 12–6:00 PM
Price: At the gate $25 • Students $20 • Children under 14 free
More info here
❧ Monday, September 21, 2015—19th Annual Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival presents Mike Steeves, author of Giving Up
Each September, the Thin Air Winnipeg International Writers Festival welcomes writers from Canada and around the world for a week of readings, lectures, interviews, conversations, book launches, and other events.
Thin Air presents “An Afternoon Book Chat,” featuring Mike Steeves, author of Giving Up, and Elizabeth Hay
When: Monday, September 21
Where: McNally Robinson Booksellers – Grant Park
Address: 1120 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB
Time: 2:30 PM
Free
More information here
Thin Air also presents “The Mainstage: Everyday Treacheries,” featuring Mike Steeves, Catherine Hunter, Elizabeth Hay, Greg Hollingshead, and Guy Vanderhaeghe
When: Monday, September 21
Where: Shaw Performing Arts Centre (MTYP)
Address: 2 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg, MB
Time: 7:30 PM
Price: $12, $10 students/seniors
More info here
❧ Sunday, September 27, 2015—Word Vancouver presents Carellin Brooks, author of One Hundred Days of Rain
Western Canada’s largest celebration of literacy and reading, Word Vancouver promotes books and authors with FREE exhibits, performances, and hands-on activities at various venues throughout the city.
Word Vancouver presents a reading with Carellin Brooks (One Hundred Days of Rain)
When: Sunday, September 27
Where: Authors’ Words Tent, Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch), Vancouver, BC
Time: 3:30 PM
Hosted by Jerry Wasserman
Free
More info here
❧ September 26–27, 2015—Kingston WritersFest presents Lesley Battler, author of Endangered Hydrocarbons, and Wanda Praamsma, author of a thin line between
Kingston WritersFest, a charitable cultural organization, brings the best of contemporary writers to Kingston to interact with audiences and other artists for mutual inspiration, education, and the exchange of ideas that literature provokes.
Kingston WritersFest presents “Big Idea: Think Tank on the Environment,” featuring Lesley Battler (Endangered Hydrocarbons), Diane Ackerman, Ed Struzick, and Andrew Nikiforuk. Moderated by Carol Off. Sponsored by The Walrus.
Where: Islandview Room, Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront
Address: 2 Princess Street, Kingston, ON
Time: 7–8:30 PM
Price: $15, $13.50 seniors (65+)
For more information, visit here
Kingston WritersFest also presents “Personal to Universal: Poetry,” featuring Lesley Battler (Endangered Hydrocarbons) and Wanda Praamsma (a thin line between), Lorna Crozier, Carolyn Smart, and Ulrikka Gernes. Hosted by Helen Humphreys.
Where: Islandview Room, Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront
Address: 2 Princess Street, Kingston, ON
Time: 12:30–1:30 PM
Price: $15, $13.50 seniors (65+)
More info here
❧ Sunday, September 27, 2015—The Word on the Street Toronto presents Liz Worth, author of No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol
The Word On The Street is a national celebration of literacy and the written word that takes place in 5 Canadian cities: Halifax, Saskatoon, Lethbridge, Kitchener, and Toronto. It is also Canada’s largest FREE book and magazine festival. Participate in hundreds of author readings, discussions, and activities, and shop in a marketplace that boasts the best selection of Canadian books and magazines you’ll find anywhere. This year, The Word on the Street Toronto invites you to celebrate reading at its new Harbourfront Centre location.
The Word on the Street Toronto presents “Mixed Media: Combining Art’s Past and Present,” featuring poets Liz Worth (No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol) and Keith Garebian. Hosted and moderated by Anna Fitzpatrick.
When: Sunday, September 27
Where: Vibrant Voices of Ontario Tent, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON
Time: 12–12:30 PM
Free
More info here
❧ Saturday, October 17, 2015—Whistler Readers and Writers Festival presents Carellin Brooks, author of One Hundred Days of Rain
The annual Whistler Readers and Writers Festival is a multi-venue, multi-artist, multi-day event. It was founded in 2001 by the Whistler Writers Group.
Whistler Readers and Writers Festival presents “Writing What You Know: Cruising the Fact-Fiction Continuum,” with Carellin Books (One Hundred Days of Rain), Katherine Fawcett, Michael Christie, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, and CC Humphries. Hosted and moderated by Merilyn Simonds.
When: Saturday, October 27
Where: Fairmont Chateau Whistler
Address: 4599 Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, BC
Time: 3–4:00 PM
Price: $15
More info here
❧ Saturday, October 17, 2015—Broken Pencil Magazine presents Canzine Toronto
Canzine, Canada’s festival of zines and underground culture, is back! BookThug is proud to be the National Sponsor of the Radical Reading Series.
Canzine presents the Radical Reading Series with Liz Worth, author of No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol
Where: Art Gallery of Ontario
Address: 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON
Time: 1–7:00 PM. Time for Radical Reading Series TBA.
Free. Comes with the fall issue of Broken Pencil
More info here
❧ Saturday, October 24, 2015—Broken Pencil Magazine presents Canzine Vancouver
Broken Pencil Magazine presents Canzine Vancouver. Featuring the Radical Reading Series with Carellin Brooks, author of One Hundred Days of Rain
Where: Goldcorp Centre for the Arts
Address: 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
Time: 1–7:00 PM. Time for Radical Reading Series TBA.
Free with $5 suggested donation
For more information, visit here
❧ Saturday, October 24, 2015—The Vancouver Writers Fest presents Carellin Brooks, author of One Hundred Days of Rain
The Vancouver Writers Fest turns reading into a community experience, bringing people together to share thoughts, explore ideas, and witness brilliant conversations.
The Vancouver Writers Fest presents “It’s Complicated,” featuring Carellin Brooks (One Hundred Days of Rain), Trevor Cole, Farzana Doctor, and Sabrina Ramnanan. Moderated by Angie Abdou.
Where: The Waterfront Theatre
Address: 1412 Cartwright Street, Vancouver, BC
Time: 10:30 AM
Price: $20
For more information, visit here
❧ Friday, October 23–27—BookThug @ the 36th edition of the International Festival of Authors (IFOA)
Each October, the IFOA brings together contemporary writers from around the world for 11 days of special events, including readings, interviews, lectures, round-table discussions, and book signings. Every year, the IFOA devotes a number of events to authors and books within a particular focus. This year they present two themes—one on poetry and the other on the rich and vibrant literary scene of Catalonia.
The IFOA presents “Lit On Tour: IFOA Woodstock,” featuring Martí Sales, author of the forthcoming Huckleberry Finn: Poems, Lauren B. Davis, Farzana Doctor, and Terry Fallis
When: Wednesday, October 21
Where: Knox Presbyterian Church
Address: 59 Riddell Street, Woodstock, ON
When: 7:00 PM
Price: $15
More info here
The IFOA presents “Meet the Catalans,” featuring Martí Sales (Huckleberry Finn: Poems), Anna Aguilar-Amat, Flavia Company, Marc Pastor, Jordi Puntí, Toni Sala, Francesc Serés, and Teresa Solana
When: Friday, October 23
Address: 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
When: 8:30 PM
Free
More info here
The IFOA presents “At Language’s Edge: Poetry in Translation,” featuring Martí Sales (Huckleberry Finn: Poems), Anna Aguilar-Amat, Oana Avasilichioaei, and Erin Mouré
When: Sunday, October 25
Address: 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
When: 2:00 PM
Price: $18/$15 supporters/FREE students & youth 25 and under
More info here
The IFOA presents Kate Hargreaves, author of Leak, and Liz Worth, author of No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol, with Brecken Hancock, Jeff Latosik, Andy McGuire, Talya Rubin, and Zachariah Wells. Hosted by Oana Avasilichioaei.
When: Sunday, October 25
Where: Pub Hub
Address: 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
Time: 4:00 PM
Free
More info here
The IFOA presents “A Celebration of BookThug,” featuring Kate Hargreaves, Martí Sales, Mike Steeves, Jess Taylor, and Liz Worth. Hosted and moderated by Emily M. Keeler.
When: Tuesday, October 27
Where: Pub Head
Address: 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON
Time: 8:30 PM
Free
More info here
**Special Reminder**
On top of all the above festivities, BookThug will celebrate its Fall 2015 Book Launch Party
on Tuesday, October 13 at The Garrison (1197 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON).
Doors open at 7:30 PM.
We’ll launch spectacular new books by:
Jess Taylor
Jean Marc Ah-Sen
Josh Massey
Liz Worth
Shannon Maguire
Brian Dedora
Samuel Andreyev
Steven Ross Smith
& Chantal Neveu
We can’t wait to see you there!
For more info or to RSVP, click here.
