Quebec Writers' Federation

Montreal Reading with Dutch poet Erik Lindner
2024-11-28 19:00 (America/New_York) | Librairie Bertrand, 430 Rue Saint-Pierre, Montréal, Quebec, H2Y 2M5, Canada
Thursday, November 28, 2024, 7pmLibrarie Bertrand (430 Rue Saint-Pierre, Montreal)

Véhicule Press, Librarie Bertrand, and the Dutch Foundation for Literature invite you to a poetry reading by Erik Lindner, with special guests Derek Webster and Sarah Wolfson.

Erik Lindner is a Dutch poet who published seven books of poetry and two novels. He will be reading from Words Are the Worst, his selected poems, translated by Francis R. Jones, and nominated for the Derek Walcott Prize for Poetry 2022. Born in The Hague, The Netherlands, in 1968, Lindner lives in Amsterdam and works as a freelance writer, teacher and critic. Apart from English and German, several books of his translated poetry appeared in France and Italy.

Special readers include:

Derek Webster, whose second book of poetry National Animal, was recently awarded The QWF A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry. His debut, Mockingbird, was a finalist for the 2015 Gerald Lampert Award for best first book of poems in Canada. He received an MFA from Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied with Carl Phillips, and was the founding editor of Maisonneuve magazine. He lives in Montreal and Toronto.

Sarah Wolfson, the author of A Common Name for Everything, which won the A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry in 2020. Her work has twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has received a notable mention in Best Canadian Poetry. Originally from Vermont, she now lives in Montreal, where she teaches writing at McGill University.

With special thanks to the Dutch Foundation for Literature for their support.

Book*hug Press Fall 2024 Translated Fiction Launch
2024-11-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Librairie Saint-Henri Bookstore, 4622 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Thursday, November 28, 20247:00-9:00 pm ET

Book*hug Press and Librairie Saint-Henri Books invite you to the Fall 2024 Translation Launch! Celebrating the launch of three new translations including Nauetakuan, a silence for a noise by Natasha Kanapé Fontaine (translated from French by Howard Scott), Not Even the Sound of a River by Hélène Dorion (translated from French by Jonathan Kaplansky), and Sugaring Off by Fanny Britt (translated from French by Susan Ouriou).

This event will feature Howard Scott, Jonathan Kaplansky, and Fanny Britt.

Thursday, November 28, 20247:00 – 9:00 pm ETLibrairie Saint-Henri Books, 4622 rue Notre Dame, Montréal, QCAdmission is free. All are welcome to attend.Books will be available for purchase, and, of course, the authors will be signing!

RSVP for Free here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/…/bookhug-press-fall-2024…

Praise for Nauetakuan, a silence for a noise:“In the face of the ongoing erasure of Indigenous languages and cultures in Canada, Kanapé Fontaine raises up Indigenous creators. Nauetakuan does not shy away from the pain left by the residential school system, but neither does it reduce the experiences of Indigenous peoples to a singular narrative of suffering. Monica’s path towards healing is filled with struggle, but also overflows with loving female relationships, art, and boisterous laughter.” —Anna Learn, Full Stop

Praise for Not Even the Sound of a River:“Hélène Dorion’s beautifully poetic novel, Not Even the Sound of a River, braids women’s stories through various generations. These women are woven into a story that finds its origins in the St. Lawrence River, and that sense of swimming through water, time, and memory is one that is powerful and resonant. Dorion asks readers to consider the value of poetry, art, and a creative life as a way to avoid sinking or suffering when we are faced with the harsh reality of our daily lives. Through grief and loss, poetry and art have ‘perhaps begun to save us’ during our most challenging trials.” —Kim Fahner, author of The Donoghue Girl

Praise for Sugaring Off:“Sugaring Off is a stunning exploration of class and privilege, and our desperate need for connection. In this deftly written story, Fanny Britt explores the dissolution of relationships, regret and grief, and how we navigate the consequences of our actions. A truly exceptional novel.” —Lindsay Zier-Vogel, author of Letters to Amelia

Bios

Howard Scott is a literary translator living in Montreal who translates fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, often with Phyllis Aronoff. He received the Governor General’s Literary Award for Translation for The Euguelion by Louky Bersianik and, with Phyllis Aronoff, won the Quebec Writers’ Federation Translation Award for The Great Peace of Montreal of 1701 by Gilles Havard. The translating duo were also awarded a Governor General’s Literary Award for their translation of Descent into Night by Edem Awumey. Scott is past president of the Literary Translators’ Association of Canada.

Jonathan Kaplansky won a French Voices Award to translate Nobel Prize winning author Annie Ernaux’s La vie extérieure (Things Seen). His translation of Frank Borzage: The Life and Films of a Hollywood Romantic by Hervé Dumont was a finalist for the Wall Award from the Theatre Library Association. Recent translations include Jonathan Bécotte’s Like a Hurricane, Hélène Rioux’s The End of the World is Elsewhere, and the libretto of an opera by Hélène Dorion and Marie-Claire Blais entitled Yourcenar: An Island of Passions. He has also translated Dorion’s Days of Sand. Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Kaplansky now lives in Montreal.

Fanny Britt is a playwright, writer, and translator. She is the winner of multiple Governor General’s Literary Awards, a Libris Award, a Joe Shuster Award, and was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award for Children’s Literature. Faires les sucres won the Governor General’s Literary Award for French-language Fiction in 2021. Britt has written a dozen plays and translated more than fifteen works by many American, Canadian, British, and Irish playwrights. Born in Northern Quebec, Britt lives in Montreal.

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Pursuing the Erotic
2024-11-28 20:00 - 22:00 | Online via Zoom
This is an expanded version of the three-hour workshop “Identifying (with) the Erotic” offered in July 2022. It progresses from initial references to erotica by old hands (Anaïs Nin), incidental practitioners (James Baldwin) and newer writers (Ruel Johnson) to consider other select works in prose, poetry, and comics. You do not have to have attended the 2022 workshop to enroll in this one.

The workshop continues the exploration of what makes the erotic not only a sensual genre but a life-affirming one with participants contributing their own writing as well as sourcing that of other practitioners. While creating sexy characters and scenes with stimulating language is part of the process, and knowing your audience is crucial (there is a difference between romance, erotica and pornography), the emphasis remains on craft and telling a story that engages readers’ imagination, exciting not only the body but all of the senses. And this without apology.

Robert Edison Sandiford is the author of several books, among them the award-winning The Tree of Youth & Other Stories, And Sometimes They Fly (a novel) and Sand for Snow (memoir). He has also written graphic novels for NBM Publishing. In 2003, he and the poet Linda M. Deane founded the Barbadian cultural resource ArtsEtc Inc. He has worked as a publisher, teacher and, with Warm Water Productions, producer. His fiction and non-fiction have appeared in journals, magazines and anthologies. Currently working on another novel,his most recent titleis Fairfield from DC Books.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (In Person)
2024-11-29 12:30 - 15:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Friday, November 29, 2024, 12:30 pm–3:00 pmFree, In PersonQWF Office (Room 3, 1200 Atwater Ave., Westmount)

Register for the session by filling out the RSVP form below.

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Join us for an in-person Shut Up & Write session at the QWF office!

Do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do, and meet a few of your fellow QWF members. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

12:30–12:55: Writing 112:55–1:00: Break1:00–1:25: Writing 21:25–1:30: Break1:30–1:55: Writing 31:55–2:00: Break2:00–2:25: Writing 42:25–2:30: Break2:30–2:55: Writing 5

To register, RSVP below.

Getting to the QWF Office

Our office is located on the top floor of the Atwater Library and Computer Centre, in Room 3.

Address: 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3Westmount, QC H3Z 1X4

Closest Metro: Atwater Station

Closest Bus lines: 24, 63, 90, 104, 138, 144, 150

Accessibility:

The QWF Office is fully accessible by wheelchair from the side entrance on Tupper Street. Once inside, there is an elevator to the second floor, where the QWF office is.

Learn more about the office location and accessibility.

Of Crows and Aunties: A Conversation with Jessica Johns
2024-11-29 18:00 - 20:00 | L’Euguélionne Bookstore, 1426 Rue Beaudry, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 3E5, Canada
Friday, November 29, 20246:00-8:00 pm ET

With Catherine Leroux and Éric Fontaine

As part of the Salon dans la ville, Catherine Leroux meets Jessica Johns, author of the acclaimed Bad Cree, with her translator Éric Fontaine, to discuss translation, crows, dreams, evil entities and the extraordinary power of aunties. This hour-long conversation will be conducted in English and French and will be followed by a signing session with the author.

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Kabir Centre Poetry Meet
2024-12-01 13:30 | Maison Chaïshaï, 2005 Bishop Street, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 2E9, Canada
December 1, 20241:30 pm ET

You’re invited to the next Kabir Centre Poetry Meet!

As always, we welcome a mix of different languages and age groups. As a policy, we recommend avoiding religious and political extremism. If you would like to attend as an audience, please RSVP by emailing kabirpoetryclub@gmail.com.

Poets are welcome to recite an original poem in any language. To do so, please email kabirpoetryclub@gmail.com stating your interest by 27th November.

Chai and samosa will be served during the meet.

If you know someone who would like to recite or attend the meet, please feel free to share the information.

Geneviève Robichaud Book Launch
2024-12-01 14:00 - 16:00 | Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore, 2220 McGill College Ave, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3P9, Canada
Sunday, December 1, 2024, 2:00-4:00 pm ET

Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore and McGill-Queen’s University Press present a book launch for The Poetics of Translation by Geneviève Robichaud.

Join us as author Geneviève Robichaud discusses and signs her new book The Poetics of Translation at Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore.

Admission is free.Refreshments will be served.

About the Book

Translation is a vital method of not just reading but writing and forms the basis of an exciting range of critical, artistic, and literary opportunities.

Combining close readings of literary texts alongside astute critical observations from works by Avital Ronell and Walter Benjamin, amongst others, The Poetics of Translation re-examines key translation studies concepts, challenging our sometimes pragmatic understanding of translation and asking what it is that the discipline can make visible. By highlighting the possibilities of translation as an art form in contemporary innovative writing practices, Geneviève Robichaud reveals translation’s creative and critical potential, arguing that even those literary works that are not exactly translations gain in being apprehended as such. The Poetics of Translation values oblique, even unfinished sources of meaning, dwelling in the speculative spaces of texts and drawing attention to translation as poiesis, as creating that which is tangible and valuable.

Situated at the juncture of translation poetics and literary studies, the book celebrates the uncertainty of translation, the plasticity of language and ideas, and the desire to interpret rather than reiterate.

About the Author

Geneviève Robichaud is an independent scholar in Acadian studies. She lives in Sackville, N.B.

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Maybe Magazine Issue 2 Launch
2024-12-01 19:00 | Brasserie Beaubien, 73 rue Beaubien Est, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
December 1, 2024, 7:00 pm ET

Maybe Magazine invites you to the launch of their second issue in print, featuring readings from emerging and established writers in Montreal, accompanied by a performance from psychedelic rock musician Holly McLachlan. Maybe Magazine curates the cutting-edge of Montreal literature, featuring voice-driven and experimental work drenched in the influence of the internet and kept warm with wide-eyed sincerity. Join us for a night of poetry, prose, and music in the punky & beloved Brasserie Beaubien.

Magazines as well as chapbooks from the readers will be available for purchase with cash.

Maybe Magazine is edited by Gwen Aube and Simina Banu, and Issue 2 features work from Maya Chambers, Danielle Douez, Lucy Earle, Bronwyn Garden-Smith, Shelby Kersey, Katia Lo Innes, Khashayar Mohammadi, Kat Mulligan, Jade Palmer, Dimana Radoeva, and Nat Raum.

Cactus Press Triple Launch
2024-12-01 20:00 | Bar La Marche à Côté, 5043 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec, H2J 2L8, Canada
Sunday, December 1, 20248:00 pm ET

Join us December 1st at the Accent Reading Series for a momentous triple launch of Cactus Press chapbooks with April L. Ford, Lou Vani and Patrick O’Reilly. Theme: Frills. Sign up for the open mic at door.

Artefacts: Poetry Soirée and Book Launch
2024-12-02 19:30 - 21:00 | Morrin Centre, 44 Chaussée des Écossais, Quebec City, Quebec, G1R 4H3, Canada
Monday, December 2, 20247:30-9:00 pm ET

Calling all poets and poetry enthusiasts!

Join us on Monday, December 2 for a special evening to celebrate the Quebec City launch of two poetry books: ice, dove, parachute by Loch Baillie and Spade Work by Line Dufour.

An open mic will follow—come to read your poetry or come to listen. This event is free and all are welcome! If you have any questions, please contact library@morrin.org.

Originally from Worcester, Massachusetts, LOCH BAILLIE (he/il) is a queer poet and writer living on the south shore of Quebec City. He is the author of two poetry chapbooks, ice, dove, parachute (Cactus Press) and Citronella (Anstruther Press). His writing has additionally appeared in magazines such as Maclean’s, Font, Society Pages, and yolk literary. Loch is currently pursuing his MA in English literature at Université Laval and serves as Poet-in-Residence for Canada’s Jarislowsky Chair of Undergraduate Teaching Excellence. You can find him online @lochbaillie or by visiting www.lochbaillie.com.

LINE DUFOUR has been a professional artist for the last thirty years, exhibiting internationally. She has taken creative writing courses at the University of Toronto since 2016 during which time she also completed the Humber School for Writers program and obtained a Masters with Distinction in Creative Writing and Critical Thinking from University of Gloucestershire. In 2024, she obtained her Certificate in Creative Writing from the School of Continuing studies from the University of Toronto. Her short story “Exile” has appeared in two anthologies: Raconter ton histoire, published by La Maison de la Littérature in Quebec City, and A World of Difference, published by the University of Gloucestershire. Several of her poems were also included in the former publication. Queen’s Quarterly published her poem “Finding the Words,” along with the accompanying artwork, in its April 2024 issue. Her short story, Asylum, was longlisted for the 2023 CBC Nonfiction short story prize. Besides writing fiction, short stories, and poetry, she has written non-fiction articles, such as book reviews and interviews, that were published in textile (art and craft) magazines for the last fifteen years.

View event: Morrin.org

Cory Lavender, Jesse Eckerlin, and Nyla Matuk
2024-12-03 18:30 | Librairie Saint-Henri Bookstore, 4622 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 6:30 pm ET

Cory Lavender launches Come One Thing Another (Gaspereau Press) and Jesse Eckerlin launches Almost Nothing (Anstruther Press), with readings from both and special guest Nyla Matuk, author of Stranger (Véhicule Press).

Please RSVP (Free) below: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/an-evening-of-poetry-with-cory-lavender-and-guests-tickets-1081026211499?aff=oddtdtcreator

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Hooked: Writing Compelling YA Fiction
2024-12-04 18:00 - 20:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
Get ready to unveil the gripping storyteller within you and keep readers turning those pages! Dive into an exciting eight-week workshop focused on techniques to captivate young adult readers. We’ll look at everything from crafting vibrant characters and heart-pounding conflicts to honing structure and pacing in YA fiction.

For our first session, bring along a favorite YA novel to share with the group. By week two, be sure to have the first chapter of your work-in-progress (up to 10 pages) for some feedback exchange. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a roadmap to your story, completed scenes, and an inciting hook for your novel-in-the-making.

Each session will incorporate a mix of writing prompts, critique sessions, exploration of writing techniques, sneak peeks into YA literature, and lively group discussions. We’ll be reading various writing styles, structuring vibrant dialogue, and feeling all the YA vibes. We’ll even take a sneak peek into the Canadian publishing world.

Valuable feedback from both the workshop leader and your fellow writers on your opening chapter will keep you motivated and inspired. Together, we’ll work at captivating readers.

Don’t forget your writing tools for each session. All writers, whether seasoned pros or fresh faces, are welcome! Short story, graphic novel and prose writers, you’re invited too!

The following Suggested readings will sharpen your writing skills, but are not necessary for the workshop:

Corner-Bryant, Helen, and Kathryn Price. On Editing: How to Edit Your Novel the Professional Way. John Murray Learning, 2018.

Prose, Francine. Reading like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them. HarperCollins, 2009.

Strunk Jr, William. The Elements of Style: Classic Edition. Spectrum Ink, 2018.

Truby, John. The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps to Becoming a Master Storyteller. Faber and Faber, 2008.

Lea Beddia is the author of Take Off! (Rebel Mountain Press) and Outta Here (Lorimer). She is also a storyteller, appearing regularly on stage with Confabulation. Born and raised in Montreal, she now teaches in Joliette, Quebec, where she lives with her husband and three children. With a passion for supporting literacy among young adults, especially for striving readers, Lea is releasing two fresh YA novels set to hit bookshelves in 2025 and 2026. Find out more at www.leabeddia.com, or say hi to Lea Beddia on Facebook or Instagram @BeddiaLea.

Writers Read presents: BRICK Literary Magazine
2024-12-04 19:00 | QC
Wednesday, December, 20247:00 pm ET

Brick, A Literary Journal celebrates the launch of its winter issue with a special event featuring magazine editors and contributors at Concordia’s Writers Read series on Wednesday, December 4.

Hosted by Montreal-based, award-winning writer and Brick editor, Madeleine Thien, alongside poet and Brick publisher Laurie D. Graham. There will be readings from winter-issue contributors: internationally renowned novelist and critic Lucy Ives and Governor General’s Literary Award-winning author Kyo Maclear, followed by a discussion including writer and Concordia professor Sina Queyras.

Attendees will learn about Brick’s newest issue, which features a formidable collection of work by Amitava Kumar, Deborah Levy, Robert Bringhurst, Joanna Biggs, Victoria Chang, and others; and interviews with Claire Messud, Natalie Diaz, and Claire Keegan. Attendees will also have an opportunity to get deals on subscriptions and Brick merch.

Location: EV 1.605 – York Amphitheatre, Concordia University, Pavillion EV Building, 1515 rue Sainte-Catherine, Montreal

About BRICK

Brick is an international literary journal published twice a year out of Toronto, featuring literary non-fiction—as well as the odd story or poem—from the world’s best-loved writers alongside fresh up-and-coming voices. Brick was founded in London, Ontario, in 1977 by Stan Dragland and Jean McKay, and from 1985 until 2013, Michael Ondaatje and Linda Spalding led the magazine and helped to establish its international reputation, leaving a legacy of intellectual curiosity and passion for the written word. “Each issue is as purposely crafted as a good novel,” writes John Irving. The current editors of Brick are Dionne Brand, David Chariandy, Laurie D. Graham, Michael Helm, Liz Johnston, and Madeleine Thien.Event details and registration here.

Event contact: Rachael Riley, writersreadconcordia@gmail.comMedia contact: Laurie D. Graham, Publisher, laurie@brickmag.com

The Vivid and Continuous Dream: A Short Story Workshop
2024-12-04 20:00 - 22:00 | QWF Office, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Room 3, Westmount, QC, H3Z 1X4, Canada
In March, in 1918, an Olympic swimmer accepts a job rehabilitating the Polio-ravaged legs of a rich young woman, not knowing the mess of love and wreckage that await their future selves; in Western Australia, a bullied adolescent watches his high school tormentor drown beneath the surface of an aquifer—he expects reprieve, but all his life he will sense the boy, resinous, in the mist and the warm wet air; in Spokane, a man embarks on a strange, galvanizing quest to reclaim an heirloom headdress that once belonged to his grandmother, and the journey leaves him wondering who he is, or who he used to be, or who he might yet become.

The best stories ask questions but don’t dare give all the answers; they take the reader on a journey and leave them with a brief sliver of enlightenment. Yes: love is worth the cost to body and soul, in 1918 as much as now. No: there is no easy escape from regret, and good people will suffer if they stoop to the level of their abusers. Perhaps what matters is not to complete the task or reclaim our past, but to reassure ourselves that we tried.

This workshop is a guided discussion about the plot, characters, point of view, structure, and language (the mechanics or “craft”) of participants’ short stories, as well as an investigation of each story’s aboutness, patterns, emotional plot, and central question(s)—that is, all those hard-to-define elements that make fiction what it is.

Additionally, the workshop aims to foster community among the attendees, to bring together writers of similar skill and drive, and to encourage the kind of creative energy that crackles between new practitioners.

Some Learning Objectives

Critical reading, and the ability to identify the roots of a story’s problems, particularly with regard to dramatic structure and conflict. Conversely: the ability to identify the roots of a story’s successes, especially when it seems intangible or difficult to pin down.

Close reading, even of your own work, for strongest-possible sentences. (They are, after all, the building blocks of fiction.)

To immerse yourself in, and engage with, literature among a cohort of people who are similarly immersed and engaged in literature; to enjoy it.

In our first meeting, we will establish a schedule, review workshop etiquette, spend some time meeting each other, and do a few writing exercises. From then on, each session will consist of detailed discussion and feedback on participants’ stories. The goal, always, is to offer the writer of each story constructive suggestions to help them improve the story and their craft. We are, I always say, in this together.

In preparation: Please bring a short story of no more than 2500 words to the first session.

D. W. Wilson is the author of Once You Break a Knuckle, a collection of short stories, and Ballistics, a novel. His work has appeared in lit mags across the globe, and in 2011 he won the BBC National Short Story Award for “The Dead Roads.” Since then he has been shortlisted for numerous fiction prizes, and has won the CBC Short Story Prize and the Manchester Fiction Prize. He taught creative writing at the University of Victoria and Brandon University and is currently a fiction mentor for the University of King’s College’s writing MFA.

Black Rose Books Radical Book Sale
2024-12-05 16:00 - 20:00 | QC
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 4:00-8:00 pm ETCo-op Bar Milton-Parc3714 avenue du Parc, Montreal

Join us for discounted prices and panel discussions at the beautiful Co-op Bar Milton-Parc as we bring you boundary-pushing books that dig deep and stand out. This is your chance to gift something meaningful (or treat yourself) while supporting independent voices and a small independent nonprofit publisher.

Come for radical ideas, critical insights, and stories that you won’t find on any bestseller shelf.

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WRITERS ROOM #2
2024-12-05 19:00 - 23:00 | Le Depanneur Cafe, 206 Rue Bernard O, Montreal, Quebec, H2T 2K4, Canada
Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7:00-11:00 pm ET

Following on the success of WRITERS’ ROOM #1, in August, announcing WRITERS’ ROOM #2:

Come and be in a room with other writers.

No readings, no cover charge, no books for sale. Just poets, critics, fiction writers, novelists, cartoonists, literary translators, “creative non-fiction” heads, playwrights, screenwriters, writing students, etc, gathered together under one roof.

Meet people you’ve read, people you’ll one day read, other people who sit like you and try to put words in order.

Please note: there are no scheduled activities at this event, it is just a room with writers!

Écrivain•e•s français•e•s, soyez bienvenu•e•s aussi.

Thursday, December 57-11pm onlyCafé Dépanneur, 206 rue Bernard Ouest, Montreal, Quebec H2T 2K4

BYOB + snacks (nothing will be for sale)hosted by sean michaels on behalf of the Writers’ Union of Canada

Montreal launch of The Sacred Heart Motel
2024-12-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Co-Op Agenda, 6692 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec, H2S 2R9, Canada
Friday, December 6, 20247:00-9:00 pm ET

“I’m sick / of outsourcing care to desire” writes Grace Kwan in this sure-footed, arrestingly wise début, and this axis, between fantasies of belonging and the experience of being held, is perhaps at the core of the book, threaded through each poem. If “again and again I’ve abandoned my urgency / for the romance of cruelty,” how does that self in each of us return?

— River Halen, author of Dream Rooms

Join Grace Kwan for the Montreal launch of THE SACRED HEART MOTEL, taking place at Co-op Agenda in Petite-Patrie.

Featuring special guests Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch and Carlos A. Pittella

Food! Drinks! Readings! Heart-shaped key chains!

In poet Grace Kwan’s debut, they are ruthless and nimble, guiding us through the recesses of body and roadside space. The reader tours the motel through this multiverse narrative, from amenities to rooms to back alleys, through the generations of ghosts and queer love stories, until they are left alone with the heart at the centre. The Sacred Heart Motel is a disorienting, startling collection about placelessness and longing.

Grace Kwan is a Malaysian-born sociologist and writer based in “Vancouver,” the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Their recent poetry appears in Canthius, Room Magazine, and others. Find them at https://grckwn.wordpress.com/.

Eli Tareq El Bechelany-Lynch is a writer living in Tio’tià:ke. Their work has appeared in The Best Canadian Poetry 2018 anthology, GUTS, carte blanche, the Shade Journal, The New Quarterly, Arc Poetry Magazine, and elsewhere. They were longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize in 2019. Their book knot body (2020), published by Metatron Press, was shortlisted for the QWF Concordia University First Book Prize. The Good Arabs (2021), published by Metonymy Press, was the winner of the 2022 Grand Prix du livre de Montréal and received an Honorable Mention from the 2022 Arab American Book Awards for the George Ellenbogen Poetry Award.

Carlos A. Pittella (he/him) is a Latinx poet & the recipient of a Frontier 2022 Global Poetry Prize. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he lives in Montréal/Tiohtià:ke & currently teaches Poetry at John Abbott College. He completed his MA in English/Creative Writing at Concordia University, where he co-edited Headlight Anthology with the team who won the 2023 Forces AVENIR award. He also holds a doctorate in Literary Studies, having defended his thesis on the trilingual sonnets of Fernando Pessoa. His writing is haunted by borders, having recently appeared in Jacket2, The Capilano Review, & in the chapbook footnotes after Lorca (above/ground press, 2024).

Co-op Agenda is wheelchair accessible and has all-gender washrooms. We ask that attendees mask when they’re not eating or drinking. We will have air purifiers on site. There will be a lot of seating and an intermission. More detailed accessibility info coming soon.

Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
2024-12-07 10:00 - 12:30 | Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 10:00 am–12:30 pmOnline via Zoom—RSVP below to receive the Zoom link

Looking for some dedicated, quiet writing space?

Register below to do all that writing you’ve been meaning to do. Using the Pomodoro technique, participants write in 25-minute bursts, with 5-minute breaks in between.

This event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.

The Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session.

Please note that these sessions are designed for silent writing, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work.

10:00–10:25: Writing 110:25–10:30: Break10:30–10:55: Writing 210:55–11:00: Break11:00–11:25: Writing 311:25–11:30: Break11:30–11:55: Writing 411:55–12:00: Break12:00–12:25: Writing 5

To receive the Zoom link, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session.

Note: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session. If there is no option to RSVP, RSVPs are closed.

Read Quebec Book Fair
2024-12-07 12:00 - 2024-12-08 17:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
December 7, 2024, 12:00 pm-7:00 pm ETDecember 8, 2024, 12:00 pm-5:00 pm ET

Casa d’Italia (505 rue Jean-Talon E, Montreal)

The Read Quebec Book Fair is back! Join us on December 7th and 8th at Casa d’Italia (505 rue Jean Talon Est) to discover the latest releases of new works from local publishers, authors, and translators. We’re also looking forward to a full program of literary events—including an interview with author and Mohawk activist Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel on Saturday, a comics panel with a stellar lineup, and QWF’s Ian Ferrier Spoken Word Prize Showcase performances on Sunday—as well as a multitude of author signings.

Produced by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ), the Read Quebec Book Fair celebrates the vibrancy of the English-language literary scene in Quebec, with local publishers displaying their titles, and Librairie Paragraphe selling books from Quebec writers and translators published elsewhere. The Fair will offer fun for young booklovers, with a cozy, book-filled Kids’ Nook both days, and a musical performance for children by Connie Kaldor and Paul Campagne on Saturday at noon. There will be an opening cocktail Saturday evening—it is free and open to all, wine and bites will be served.

The fair is open from 12 pm-7 pm Saturday and 12 pm-5 pm Sunday at Casa d’Italia. The building is accessible directly across from Jean-Talon metro and fully accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. In accordance with public health guidelines, mask wearing for in-person events is optional, though encouraged, with hand sanitizing stations available at all locations.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

A Duck in New York City – Musical Performance for Kids of All Ages
2024-12-07 12:01 - 13:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Saturday, December 7 202412 pm–1 pm ET

20th Anniversary Celebration with Connie Kaldor and Paul Campagne, complete with anniversary cake!

Based on the Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winning musical picture book of the same name, a heartwarming children’s story and a dozen happy-go-lucky songs about self-esteem and determination. Follow a little duck from the Prairies who has a big dream: making it to New York City and doing his ducky dance on Broadway!

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel in Conversation with Dr. Samir Shaheen-Hussain
2024-12-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
December 7, 20242 pm–3 pm ET

Join Katsi’tsakwas Ellen Gabriel, longtime activist and visual artist, to hear about her new book, When the Pine Needles Fall: Indigenous Acts of Resistance. A memoir of a deeply engaged life, with an account of the siege at Oka, where she was a Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) spokesperson. In conversation with Samir Shaheen-Hussain, MD, author of Fighting for a Hand to Hold: Confronting Medical Colonialism against Indigenous Children in Canada, winner of the 2021 Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction, the 2021 Concordia University First Book Prize, and le Prix de traduction de la Fondation Cole 2022.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Create Your Own Comic Strip! A workshop with Vasilios Billy Mavreas
2024-12-07 14:00 - 15:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Saturday, December 7, 20242 pm–3 pm ET

Create your own comic strip! We’ll explore the basic building blocks to get you started on drawing and writing a (mostly silly!) comic strip featuring fun characters we’ll create together. Close up faces, word balloons, sound effects and more! For kids 5 to 9.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Workshop: Embodied Writing with Maya Khamala
2024-12-07 14:00 - 17:00 | Studio 414, 10 Avenue des Pins West #414, Montreal
Saturday, December 7th, 2-5pmStudio 414, 10 Des Pins West #414All are welcome! Limited spots.

Book here: linktr.ee/heartfire.kundalini

Writing, breathwork, meditation & optional sharing circle

Writing happens in the body. The more you engage your senses, the stronger your language. Whatever emotions you spill onto the page are deeply rooted—at the cellular level.

Get out of your head and into your body so you can write with vital presence. Doing so has the potential to be a deeply empowering and healing act. If you’ve never done breathwork or meditated before, it really doesn’t matter. If you’re not a writer, that’s ok too. This workshop is for writers wanting to enhance or expand their practice, non-writers interested in exploring their potential, and anyone who feels called to navigate the relationship between body and language.

Our practice will interweave:

Discussion

Kundalini breathwork

Stretches

Creative writing prompts/exercises

A Kundalini meditation

An optional sharing circle

Chai & a sweet snack

What to bring: your journal, a pen, & an open mind. Pens & paper will also be available.

About the Facilitator

Maya Khamala is a lifelong writer of many stripes. From poetry to grassroots journalism to creative nonfiction, word is her bond. She has also collaborated with visual artists at a loss for words, and has worked as a freelance copywriter and editor for close to a decade. She has a shiny little MA in Creative Writing to list among her credentials, and is an emerging novelist to boot. Maya has an extensive background in feminist, anti-racist and climate justice movements—work that has deeply informed the way she wields words. Aside from being a writer, she is also a Kundalini Yoga teacher in training. She got into Kundalini as a way of healing from trauma and its many lifelong manifestations in her body, as well as to counteract being a writer who sometimes forgets to step away from the keyboard…and take a breath.

Book now

The Violet Hour Book Club Reads Subterrane by Valérie Bah
2024-12-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Saturday, December 7, 20243:00 pm-4:30 pm ET

Led by founder Christopher DiRaddo, this monthly discussion group for lovers of classic and contemporary works of LGBTQ literature will hold its December meeting on the stage at Casa d’Italia. Author Valérie Bah will make a special appearance at 4 pm for the last half hour of the group discussion.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Opening Cocktail
2024-12-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Saturday, December 7 20245 pm–7 pm ET

A very special edition of the Read Quebec Book Fair’s 5 à 7. Come have a drink at the end of an exciting day of book browsing and literary events. Meet public historian, artist and educator Cassandra Marsillo, author of Dalla valigia alla tavola, an oral history of Montreal immigrants from the Italian region of Molise, complete with 40 recipes – and enjoy Molisan antipasti created from the book’s recipes. This event is also a “Super Schmoozer” bringing together members of the Quebec Writers’ Federation, the Writers’ Union of Canada, Quebec chapter, and the English-language Arts Network. Chat about books, writing, and the delicious food! Everyone is welcome.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Archives Out Loud: A Panel Discussion on Italian-Canadian Writing in English in Quebec
2024-12-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Sunday, December 8, 202412 pm–1 pm ET

Moderated by Nancy Marrelli, archivist of the Italian-Canadian Community Archives of Quebec, which are housed at the Casa d’Italia, an exchange between: Domenic Cusmano, publisher of Accenti: The Magazine with an Italian Accent; novelist and literary impresario Christopher DiRaddo, and playwright Michaela Di Cesare. Reception in the Archives office in the basement to follow.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

How I Got Published: Fiction Edition
2024-12-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Sunday, December 8, 20241:00 pm–2:00 pm ET

Looking for tips on getting your own writing into print? Writer/translator Mélissa Bull, editor of the QC Fiction imprint at Baraka Books, will moderate as panelists Rebecca Morris (Other Maps), Sofia Ajram (Coup de Grâce), and Lili Zeng (Dear Haider) recount their journeys to publication. There will be plenty of time for questions from the floor.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Postcards to the Future! A workshop with Vasilios Billy Mavreas
2024-12-08 13:00 - 14:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Sunday, December 8 20241 pm–2 pm ET

Mail a message to your older self. We’ll be designing with words and pictures a double sided postcard with a message you’d like your future self to know. It could be serious or playful or both, you decide what the adult version of you should know! For kids 10 and up.

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

Cards for Peace: A workshop with Vasilios Billy Mavreas
2024-12-08 14:00 - 15:00 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Sunday, December 8 20242 pm–3 pm ET

We’ll create holiday greeting cards with drawings and writing for family and friends around the themes of peace, gratitude and light! Every tradition welcome!

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events

The Ian Ferrier Spoken Word Prize Showcase
2024-12-08 15:30 - 16:30 | Casa d’Italia, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2R 1T6, Canada
Sunday, December 8 20243:30 pm–4:30 pm ET

QWF’s Ian Ferrier Spoken Word Prize Showcase will once again display the creative talents of the finalists for the Ian Ferrier Spoken Word Prize.

Featuring:

Moe Clark (“committing a dream/pawâkan Palestine”)

Lucia De Luca (“Congratulations”)

Emilia Malpica-Iruegas (“twenty-one”)

Roger Sinha (“Hater’s n Baiters: The Culture Collision”)

Mac van den Hoeven (“Memory Justice”)

Read Quebec Book Fair: All Events
