This Week in Book Events: October 12-18th

WAKE UP from that Turkey-coma: there’s literary events to be had. If you’re in Toronto, be sure to celebrate the LPG’s 40th Anniversary with us at Ben McNally this Thursday. And if you’re not, there’s tons of great things going on Canada-wide, like WordFest in Calgary!Are you hosting an event featuring an author whose titles are available on All Lit Up? Send the event details, including author, book, date, time, and address to hello@alllitup.ca to be included in our listings.

Tuesday, October 13th

Toronto

BookThug Fall 2015 Book Launch Party at The GarrisonWhere: The Garrison, 1197 Dundas St W, Toronto, ONWhen: 7pmMore information: Celebrate with BookThug on Tuesday October 13 as we kick off our Fall 2015 season by launching spectacular new books by Jess Taylor, Jean Marc Ah-Sen, Josh Massey, Liz Worth, Shannon Maguire, Brian Dedora, Samuel Andreyev, Steven Ross Smith and Chantal Neveu. Free. Books will be for sale.Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/965606286844793/

Book Launch: The Afterlife of BirdsWhere: AVIV Restaurant, 328 Dupont St. Toronto, ONWhen: 8:30pmMore information: Celebrated poet Elizabeth Philips will launch her debut novel, The Afterlife of Birds, with a reading, discussion and book signing.  Books will be available for purchase, courtesy of Ben McNally Books. The Afterlife of Birds is a gorgeous, deeply felt novel about obsession, loneliness, and the surprising ways we find to connect with each other. It’s also about bones.Calgary

Calgary WordFest: Christian BokWhere: Arts Commons — Big Secret Theatre 205 8th Ave SE, Calgary, ABWhen: 9pmMore Information: Christian Bok reads from his new collection, The Xenotext: Book 1, alongside a reading from Lawrence Hill. $20.Link: http://wordfest.com/speaker/christian-bok

Wednesday, October 14th

Calgary

Calgary WordFest: Andre AlexisWhere: Pages Books in Kensington, 1135 Kensington Rd NW and Arts Commons — Big Secret Theatre 205 8th Ave SE, Calgary, ABWhen: 5-6pm and 7-8:15pmMore information: Toronto Book Award, Giller Prize, and Rogers Writers’ Trust Finalist for his novel, Fifteen Dogs, Andre Alexis presents two events at Calgary WordFest: a free Reading and Q&A at Pages Books in Kensington, and the event For The Love of Animals, $20, at the Big Secret Theatre.Link: http://wordfest.com/speaker/andre-alexis

Thursday, October 15th

Picton, ON

Lindy Mechefske Talk at Macaulay Heritage ParkWhere: Macauley Heritage Park, 23 Church Street, Picton, ONWhen: 11amMore information: Join Sir John’s Table author and food blogger Lindy Mechefske for a wonderful journey through the culinary history and life of Canada’s first prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald. The talk will be held at Macauley Heritage Park on Thursday, October 15th.Toronto

LPG40 Celebration: Toronto EditionWhere: Ben McNally Books, 366 Bay St, Toronto, ONWhen: 6pmLink: https://www.facebook.com/events/1640286326238563/Calgary

Calgary WordFest: Damian RogersWhere: Calgary Public Library (Main Branch) — Main Floor 616 Macleod Trail SEWhen: 8:30pmMore information: Poet Damian Rogers reads from her new collection, Dear Leader, at Calgary WordFest’s Poetry Cabaret. $20. Note: Damian is also teaching a poetry workshop on October 16th. Details at the link below.Link: http://wordfest.com/speaker/damian-rogersGuelph, ONThe Bookshelf: Jess Taylor/Kevin Hardcastle Double Book LaunchMore information: The Bookshelf, in partnership with BookThug and Biblioasis, presents a double book launch for Jess Taylor, author of Pauls, and Kevin Hardcastle, author of Debris (Biblioasis).Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/535773333251121/St. Catharine’s, ONBorder Blur Reading Series Where: Niagara Artists Centre, 354 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ONWhen: 7:00 PMMore information: Border Blur Reading Series presents Liz Worth, author of No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol, and David Goldstein, author of Laws of Rest. Also reading: Adam Sol and Karen Solie. Free.Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1478756269121721/

Friday, October 16th

TorontoNaked Heart: An LGBTQ Festival of WordsWhere: Glad Day Bookshop, Yonge Street, Toronto, ONWhen: Various events from October 16-18More information: This October, Glad Day Bookshop is proud to present NAKED HEART – The LGBTQ Festival of Words. This 3 day event in the Church & Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto includes workshops, panels, readings & discussions for writers and lovers of words. We hope this will be the first of a yearly tradition. Including readings from Sarah Liss, Wayson Choy, Kaleigh Trace, Dani Couture, Ben Ladouceur, Vivek Shraya, Sky Gilbert, and many, many more.Link: http://nakedheart.ca/panels/Whistler, BC

Whistler Writers’ Festival Opening Night Literary CabaretWhere: TBAWhen: 8-10pmMore information: Katherine Fawcett (The Little Washer of Sorrows) will be reading at the Whistler Writers Festival, running Oct 15-18, at the Opening Night Literary Cabaret.Link: http://whistlerwritersfest.com/reading-event-4-opening-night-literary-cabaret/Kelowna, BCBook Launch for Mix HartWhere: Bohemian Cafe & Catering Company, Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BCWhen: 7pmMore information: Book Launch for Mix Hart (Queen of the Godforsaken) at the Bohemian Cafe, Kelowna. NOTE: Mix Hart will also be doing a signing at Kelowna’s Mosaic Books on Sunday, 1:30pm.Saskatoon, SKBook Launch: Sandy Marie Bonny, Harold Johnson, RP MacIntyreWhere: GSA Commons Building University of Saskatchewan, Emmanuel & St. Chad 1337 College Dr., Saskatoon, SKWhen: 7pmMore information: Book Launch for Sandy Marie Bonny (Yes, and Back Again), Harold Johnson (Corvus), and RP MacIntyre (Mahihkan Lake). Note: if you’re in Prince Albert, head over to the Prince Albert Public Library on Saturday to catch these authors read from their books at 3pm, or at La Ronge Public Library on Sunday, also 3pm.

Saturday, October 17th

TorontoBroken Pencil Magazine presents Canzine TorontoWhere: Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ONWhen: 1-7pm, reading at 6pmMore information: Featuring the Radical Reading Series with Liz Worth, author of No Work Finished Here: Rewriting Andy Warhol. Also reading: Ted Rall, Lindsay Gibb. Free! Comes with the fall issue of Broken Pencil: Magazine of zine culture and the independent arts.Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/643945272412172/ Whistler, BCWhistler Writers’ Fest: Katherine Fawcett ReadingWhere: Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Chateau Boulevard, Whistler, BCWhen: 3-4pmMore information: Katherine Fawcett Reads from The Little Washer of Sorrows at Whistler Writers’ Fest, as part of Writing What you Know: Cruising the Fact-Fiction Continuum. Also featuring Carellin Brooks, Michael Christie, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, and C.C. Humphreys.Link: http://whistlerwritersfest.com/reading-event-9-writing-what-you-know-cruising-the-fact-fiction-continuum/Montreal

Joshua Trotter reads at D&QWhere: Librairie Drawn & Quarterly, Rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, QCMore information: Poet Joshua Trotter reads from his new collection, Mission Creep, at Librarie D&Q in Montreal.

Sunday, October 18th

OttawaPlotline Bomber of Innisfree Ottawa LaunchWhere: Perfect Books, 258A Elgin Street, Ottawa, ONWhen: 6-8pmMore information: Perfect Books, in partnership with BookThug, presents the Ottawa launch of The Plotline Bomber of Innisfree by Josh Massey. With special guest N.W Lea, author of Understander (Chaudiere Books). Hosted by Cameron Anstee. Free.Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1210727338954048/