Admirers and connoisseurs of adult films mark this down on your calendar: Ron Jeremy, the “hardest working man in showbiz” brings his, er, talents, to Toronto tomorrow evening. This Is Not A Reading Series presents the Canadian launch party for Ron Jeremy’s memoir, The Hardest (Working) Man in Showbiz, published by HarperCollins. Over the past two decades, Jeremy, known as The Hedgehog, has appeared in more than 1700 porn films and directed 250 of them.... [continue]

Wednesday evening, join This Is Not A Reading Series, musical guests Stella Panacci and The Michael Brennan Band, and Toronto Star books columnist Phil Marchand as they celebrate the launch of Brad Smith’s newest novel, Big Man Coming Down The Road. The novel concerns the last will and testament of Everett Eastman, who laves each of his children one of his companies: Ben receives an auto parts company, Ethan takes charge of a distillery, and... [continue]

Now that we have your attention, let us explain. Toronto filmmaker/photographer Ryan Hughes launches his newest project Makeout! this Saturday, March 3, at the Ryerson University Business Building at the corner of Bay and Dundas Street West. Makeout! is both an event and a film. 125 couples will fill up the room to your left and “lock lips for the camera in what will be one of the largest displays of affection this city has... [continue]

Although it may be Valentine’s Day – don’t worry, there’s still time to buy flowers or chocolates - Christopher Moore still thinks you suck. Join This Is Not A Reading Series tonight as they celebrate the launch of the cult writer’s latest novel, You Suck. The prolific American author – he splits his time between San Francisco and Hawaii – is probably best known for the novel Lamb. His books often merge horror and comic... [continue]

CS Richardson is a prize-winning book designer who has worked in publishing for over two decades. His work has been showcased at both the Leipzig and Frankfurt Book Fairs. Richardson's awards include being the recipient of numerous Alcuin Awards, the highest honour for book design in Canada. You've no doubt seen his work on the shelves on your favourite neighbourhood bookstore: his award-winning designs include Wayne Johnston's The Navigator of New York and Wayson Choy's... [continue]

Tomorrow night promises to be a great time for book lovers in Toronto. This Is Not A Reading Series presents what is perhaps their most anticipated event of the season as author Vendela Vida comes to town. Vida is in town to launch her new novel, Let The Northern Lights Erase Your Name. The book concerns a young woman who learns the man she thought was her father really wasn't. She embarks on a journey... [continue]

If you happened to read The Toronto Star on Sunday, you may have seen a short excerpt from novelist, historian, and journalist Lawrence Hill’s new novel, The Book of Negroes. Tonight, This Is Not A Reading Series invites you to the Gladstone Hotel to celebrate the book’s launch. The novel concerns Aminata Diallo, who is sent to South Carolina to work as a slave, eventually wins her freedom – signing her name in the Book... [continue]

Toronto native Jeremy Podeswa has directed for both television and cinema. His previous films include Eclipse and The Five Senses, and he’s directed such shows as Six Feet Under, Rome, Queer as Folk, Nip/Tuck, and Carnivale. He is also the director of the upcoming movie Fugitive Pieces, the cinematic adaptation of Anne Michaels' classic Canadian novel. Podeswa will be speaking tonight at his Alma Mater, Ryerson University, as part of The Kodak Lecture Series. Podeswa... [continue]

With the National Bridal Show just around the corner, there have been a number of literary tie-ins in the city this month. Tomorrow night, This Is Not A Reading Series helps Siri Agrell launch her new book, Bad Bridesmaid: Bachelorette Brawls & Taffeta Tantrums, What We Go Through for Her Big Day, published by HarperCollins Canada. The book is billed as “part memoir…and part cultural analysis” and chronicles Agrell, a National Post reporter and columnist,... [continue]

Fancy yourself an expert on Canadian fiction? Even if you don't, here's a chance to do some sleuthing and win a couple of books, courtesy of Random House. What do you need to do? Just name two of the three short stories written by Neil Smith that have been nominated for the Journey Prize and send your answers in to Torontoist. The winners will receive a copy of Neil Smith's debut collection of short stories,... [continue]

This Monday night, January 22, head down to the Gladstone Hotel and join Broken Pencil Magazine founding editor and publisher (and journalist and author) Hal Niedzviecki as he hosts the self-professed “best games night in the city (on a Monday night anyway).” The occasion? Monday night marks the launch of BP’s newest issue, which is, fittingly, the games issue. There will be an assortment of classic board games, games of hide and seek, and, everyone's... [continue]

The International Readings at Harbourfront Centre unveiled the line-up for their 2007 winter season yesterday. A horde of authors, journalists and poets – some established and some intriguing young talent – will be coming to Toronto over the next few weeks. Book nerds, grab your pens and mark these dates down on your calendars. On February 5, The Globe and Mail’s Ian Brown will be interviewing New Yorker writer Calvin Trillin about his new book,... [continue]

The Sweet Hereafter. Exotica. Ararat. Where The Truth Lies. What is the link that ties all these films together? Atom Egoyan, of course. If you consider yourself a cinephile, an Atom Egoyan fan, a lover of Canadian cinema, or all of the above, then we'd suggest that tomorrow night - January 18 - you make your way over to Camera (1028 Queen W) for the launch of a new book: Image and Territory: Essays on... [continue]

Sure, the National Bridal Show might not be starting for another couple of weeks (and Canada's Bridal Show has already ended), but that’s not stopping Random House from holding their own wedding-themed event on Monday evening. Join some of the editors and contributors of the brand-new anthology, My Wedding Dress: True Life Tales of Lace, Laughter, Tears and Tulle at Nicholas Hoare – 45 Front St. E. – for the Toronto launch party of the... [continue]

Fresh from their holiday break, the fine folks at This Is Not A Reading Series kick off the Winter/Spring 2007 season with…a film? Well, partly. This evening, join TINARS at the Royal Cinema as they celebrate the launch of Annabelle Gurwitch’s new book, Fired! Tales of The Canned, Canceled, Downsized & Dismissed. As the title would suggest, the book is comprised of tales of getting the axe from a host of contributors, from Bill Maher... [continue]

One of Toronto’s newest literary series, Toronto Wordstage (which is run by Allan Briesmaster, John Calabro, Beatriz Hausner, and Lucianno Iacobelli) celebrates its 13th edition this evening with a stellar line-up of writers. Tonight’s event will feature novelist and playwright Michael Wex (Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All Its Moods); poet Rafi Aaron (Surviving the Censor: The Unspoken Words of Osip Mandelstam); Sonia D’Agostino; and poet a. rawlings (pictured, and author of... [continue]

Yes, the malls are packed, people are getting antsy about finishing all of their Christmas shopping, and sometimes it seems to be simply the season of consumerism gone amok, but the holidays are also about remembering and helping those who are less fortunate. In that spirit, here’s a great event on Thursday featuring many of the city’s best singers, songwriters and musicians. On December 21st, head on over to the Tranzac Club (292 Brunswick) for... [continue]

Award-winning Toronto author (and emergency physician) Vincent Lam will give his first public reading since winning the Scotiabank Giller Prize this Wednesday as Diaspora Dialogues teams up with the Harbourfront Centre’s International Reading series. Diaspora Dialogues, which is about to enter its third year, is joining forces with Harbourfront's International Readings series to host a slew of events in 2007, including a mini-festival in June right before Book Expo. While the chance to hear Vincent... [continue]

Heather O’Neill’s debut novel Lullabies for Little Criminals has been garnering rave reviews since it’s release this past October. Cementing her reputation as one of Canada's break-out authors of 2006, O'Neill's book has been included in the 2007 Canada Reads competition, held by CBC Radio, having been nominated by John Samson of The Weakerthans. The book is one of five finalists. To celebrate her nomination, HarperCollins is throwing a party tomorrow night (December 7) at... [continue]

For poets Stephen Cain (American Standard/Canada Dry), Jay MillAr, and Sharon Harris, Christmas is coming early this year. The Mercury Press is holding a holiday-themed book launch to celebrate two new books: Harris’s first collection of poems, AVATAR; and Cain and MillAr’s Double Helix, a series of 52 “micro-fictions.” The event promises “literary-friendly goodies,” free bookmark-making kits, cookies and an appearance by Santa Claus himself. The party takes place December 6, at 7 p.m., at... [continue]