"Bookstore on Queen" by Trachsi from the Torontoist Flickr Pool.

Since August is perennially the quietest literary month, LitTO will take the rest of it off. We look forward to the fall launches, and are planning book reviews, author interviews, contests, and more coverage of lit news.

Did you hear? In October, Open Book: Toronto will launch its first annual celebration of new books by Ontario publishers, with events and “special initiatives” geared to “introduce Torontonians to authors and new books being debuted by our province’s Canadian-owned publishers.” Sweet! Their new website will go live in late August. Open Book Executive Director Amy Logan Holmes reasons,

There is a wonderful movement in this city to discover and support what’s ‘fresh and local’ in the food world. Toronto chefs and the public alike seek out Ontario-produced food at markets and in their grocery stores, and they realize the huge benefits of supporting the Ontario food industry. Open Book encourages everyone to do the same with reading.

Sounds like our kind of festival! In other website news, the Ontario Arts Council recently presented a new online resource for artists, with a section dedicated to writing and publishing. Check out Ontarioartist.ca for info about sources of funding, professional development opportunities, copyright, marketing, and legal assistance.

Til the fall, y’all! We really must commend reading series like the Art Bar, the I.V., and This Is Not for keeping things cooking during the summer months. And everyone please be extra nice to our fine librarians (don't get us started on the recent cuts to the TPL).

Check out August’s high-lit listings after the leap.

Toronto's Literary Listings: August 13–31

Monday, August 13

TRAMPOLINE HALL, curated by Erica Kopyto. Misha Glouberman hosts features Vicki Stroich, Joanna Falck, Marcus Bornfreund. 8:00 p.m. $5. Sneaky Dee's, 431 College Street. www.trampolinehall.net.

Tuesday, August 14

ART BAR READING SERIES presents Blaise Moritz, Sandra Kasturi and Kate Marshall Flaherty. 8:00 p.m. Free. Clinton's, 693 Bloor Street West. www.artbar.org.

Wednesday, August 15

WILDSound Screenplay Reading Series features a reading of a Rae Dawn Chong script. 7:00 p.m. $10. NFB Mediatheque, 150 John Street. www.wildsound.ca.

DIAMOND CHERRY READING SERIES. Misunderstandings Magazine launches its new issue with readings by Mike Freeman, Edward Nixon, Sandy Pool and Claire Sharpe.It's Not A Deli,
986 Queen Street West (between Shaw & Ossington). 8:00 p.m. PWYC.

KYLDE BROOX, dub poet and writer, performs at The Meeting Place, 588 Queen Street West. 6–8:00 p.m. Free.

Friday, August 17

TOK: Writing the New Toronto—Book 2 celebration with readings by Michele Chai, Catherine Hernandez, Evan Placey and Devyani Saltzman. Diaspora Dialogues invite you to an evening of readings from stories and poetry by new and emerging writers. Toronto Women’s Bookstore, 73 Harbord Street, 7:00 p.m. Free. www.womensbookstore.com.

Tuesday, August 21

ART BAR READING SERIES features readers Chris Banks, Teresa Dunat Banks and Chris Michalski. Clinton’s Tavern, 693 Bloor Street West, 8:00 p.m. Free. www.artbar.org.

Thursday, August 23

THIS IS NOT A READING SERIES presents André Loiselle in conversation with filmmaker Michel Brault to celebrate the release of Loiselle’s book, Cinema As History: Michel Brault and Modern Quebec. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen Street West, 7:30 p.m. Free. www.pagesbooks.ca.

Friday, August 24

I.V. LOUNGE presents fiction by Mark Anthony Jarman and poetry by Sharon McCartney and John Lofranco. Hosted by Alex Boyd. I.V. Lounge, 326 Dundas Street West (across from the AGO), 8:00 p.m. Free. www.alexboyd.com.

Tuesday, August 28

ART BAR READING SERIES presents Theme Night hosted by Cynthia Gould: Sex, Drugs, and Rockin’ Poetry … an exploration of rock lyrics as poetry. Clinton’s Tavern, 693 Bloor Street West, 8:00 p.m. Free. www.artbar.org.

Thursday, August 30

THIS IS NOT A READING SERIES launches Barbara Klunder’s Other Goose:Recycled Rhymes For Our Fragile Times, with DJ Billy Bryans and funky dance music courtesy of Kobo Town. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen Street West, 7:30 p.m. Free. www.pagesbooks.ca.