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LitTO: May 6–14
Photo by petite corneille.
Torontoist’s lit pick this week? On Thursday award-winning Winnipeg author Chandra Mayor is in town to launch her short story collection, All The Pretty Girls, at Toronto Women’s Bookstore. The evening is a bonus triple bill, as Mayor will be joined by two local femme favourites—Debra Anderson (Code White), and Zoe Whittall (Bottle Rocket Hearts). Rumour has it Whittall will be reading from a draft of her latest, currently untitled novel-in-progress, so this free event is a rare chance to get a first taste long before it hits the shelves.
This week also offers up the anniversary celebration of the widely popular I.V. Lounge Reading Series, a cozy and comfortable event that has brought Toronto the best writing talent for ten years. Beloved series curator and host Alex Boyd recently had a few things to say about the history of the event and his life as a successful poet in an interview for Pages Books revamped website. It’s also worth noting that this milestone birthday will be marked via an anthology. The book, I.V. Lounge Nights (Tightrope Books), features twenty-nine of the best writers the series has featured and will be launched later this month. Friday’s event is free and offers a huge list of performers, including series founder Paul Vermeersch, Colin Carberry, Karen Press, Jacob Scheier, Adrienne Weiss, Rabea Murtaza and John McFetridge. Things kick-off at 8 p.m. at—of course—the I.V. Lounge. [Full disclosure: Stacey May Fowles a contributor to I.V. Lounge Nights.—Ed.]
Finally, Fiery First Fiction, an excellent national campaign promoting first-time fiction writers across the country, is hosting readings by seven writers at Supermarket on Monday at 7:00 p.m. The event is jam-packed with fresh talent, and also a great chance to catch Nathan Whitlock and Claudia Dey if you missed them at their launches last month.
Full listings after the fold.
Toronto Literary Listings: May 6–14
Tuesday, May 6
Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with the Toronto Public Library with an event featuring the recently published Reel Asian: Asian Canada On Screen (Coach House Books). Agincourt Branch (155 Bonis Avenue). 6 p.m. Free.
The Art Bar Poetry Series presents Keith Garbian, Gianna Patriarca, and Jacob McArthur Mooney. Clinton’s Tavern (693 Bloor Street West). 8 p.m. Free.
Wednesday, May 7
The Rowers Pub Reading Series presents Stephen Cain, Gale Zoë Garnett, and Olive Senior. Harbord House (150 Harbord Street). 7:30 p.m. Free.
Thursday, May 8
The Toronto Public Library presents a workshop by Emily Pohl-Weary and Willow Dawson, creators of the comic Violet Miranda: Girl Pirate. Q&A to follow. Centennial Branch (578 Finch Avenue West). 5 p.m. Free.
Chandra Mayor, Debra Anderson, and Zoe Whittall reading at The Toronto Women’s Bookstore (73 Harbord Street). 7 p.m. Free.
The Japan Foundation presents the launch of Joy Kogowa’s Naomi’s Tree. Toronto Event Hall (131 Bloor Street West). 7 p.m. Free.
This Is Not A Reading Series presents Alan Broadbent. Gladstone Hotel Ballroom (1214 Queen Street West) 7:30 p.m. Free.
Toronto Wordstage presents Jessica Westhead, Stephen Cain, and Monica Rosas. Cervejaria (842 College Street). 7:30 p.m. Free.
Friday, May 9
IV Lounge Reading Series presents its 10th anniversary celebration, with readings by Elyse Friedman, Paul Vermeersch, Matthew Fox, Colin Carberry, Karen Press, Rick Crilly, Jacob Scheier, Adrienne Weiss, Rabea Murtaza, and John McFetridge. IV Lounge (326 Dundas Street West). 8 p.m. Free.
Monday, May 12
Fiery First Fiction presents first-time fiction writers Tricia Dower (Silent Girl), Pamela Stewart (Elysium), Nila Gupta (The Sherpa and Other Fictions), Lien Chao (The Chinese Knot), Shari Lapena (Things Go Flying), Nathan Whitlock (A Week of This), and Claudia Dey (Stunt). Supermarket (268 Augusta Ave). 7 p.m. Free.
Tuesday, May 13
Anansi presents the launch of My Life As a Dame: The Personal and the Political in the Writings of Christina McCall. Victoria College (73 Queen’s Park Crescent). 5:30 p.m. Free.
CKLN 88.1 FM presents “In Other Words,” an interview of poet Jacob Scheier by Myna Wallin. 2 p.m. Listen live at www.ckln.fm.
The Art Bar Poetry Series presents Halli Villegas and Myna Wallin, aka Ms. Kitty and Miss Kitty, respectively. Clinton’s Tavern (693 Bloor Street West). 8 p.m. Free.