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SUMMARY:Flame Arrow Publishing Triple Launch
DESCRIPTION:Join us at Joie de Livres in Montréal on November 24\, from 6 to 9 p.m.\, for a triple event from Flame Arrow Publishing: the launch of the bilingual Montréal SFF anthology Unréal\, the 20-year anniversary of the French-language speculative magazine Brins d’éternité\, and the reprint of Talhí Briones’s sapphic western romance\, Mrs. Victoria Buys a Brothel! \nAdmission is free. Come celebrate the richness of Montréal’s genre community with us!
URL:https://qwf.org/event/flame-arrow-publishing-triple-launch/
LOCATION:Joie de livres\, 5163 St Laurent Blvd\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2T 1R9\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Bilingual/Multilingual,Book Launch,Reading
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261124T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261124T220000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122321Z
CREATED:20260723T205536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122321Z
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SUMMARY:Getting Elemental: Fundamentals of Short Fiction
DESCRIPTION:Open to all \nLimited to 12 participants \nHybrid workshop* \n  \nWorkshop Description: Getting Elemental: Exploring the Fundamentals of Short Fiction is a two-month long\, weekly 2-hour workshop that focuses on a different element of style each week. These topics include; setting\, character development\, dialogue\, description\, voice\, theme\, point of view\, and structure. \nIn a satisfying short story\, all the elements of fiction listed above are working in concert to create an immersive world populated with complex characters. Of course\, all of these elements are overlapping and influencing each other. However\, by focusing on one element per week\, we can try to understand how to make sure each element is in harmony with the others. \nOver the course of the workshop\, participants will submit one full-length story (2500-3000 words) to the group for discussion. In addition to the full-length story\, participants will have opportunities to share scenes generated in response to weekly prompts. \nThe critique of short scenes will focus on the elements of short fiction discussed in the exercises as well as on sentence-level decisions about diction and rhythm. By flipping between critiques of full stories and shorter pieces\, we will be able to have conversations that both delve deep into sentence level concerns and address big-picture structural questions. This format also allows participants multiple opportunities to share their work with the group. \nThis workshop centers on delivering and receiving feedback. Isolating what is and isn’t working in other people’s work is crucial to honing your own craft. Further\, learning to give incisive and compassionate feedback is a valuable skill that will help you build a writing community. \nParticipants should have a short story of 2500-3000 words prepared in advance of the first session of the workshop. \n  \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nEva Crocker is a writer and editor based in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). She is the author of two critically acclaimed novels\, Back in the Land of the Living (House of Anansi Press 2023) and  All I Ask (House of Anansi Press 2020)\, which won the BMO Winterset Award. Her debut short story collection\, Barrelling Forward (House of Anansi Press 2015)\, won the Alistair MacLeod Prize for Short Fiction and the CAA Emerging Writer Award\, was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ Emerging Writers and the NLCU Fresh Fish Award for Emerging Writers\, and was a National Post Best Book. Her new short story collection\, Bargain Bargain Bargain\, will be published by McClelland & Stewart in 2027. \n  \nEva holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Concordia University.
URL:https://qwf.org/event/getting-elemental-fundamentals-of-short-fiction/2026-11-24/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261124T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261124T220000
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SUMMARY:The Art of the Braided Essay (Tuesdays)
DESCRIPTION:Eight Tuesdays\, Oct 6–Dec 1\, 5:45–7:45 p.m. (no meeting Oct 13)\nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants \n  \nCreative nonfiction thrives on surprising connections and shocking twists. The essay in particular is a form that often seeks to find truth by bringing together disparate narratives. Creating depth and tension through unexpected juxtaposition of themes\, images and even styles\, it allows us to examine a subject anew from multiple angles–personal\, historical\, cultural\, whatever catches your imagination! \n  \nBut how do you find those different threads\, and once you’ve got them\, how do you structure your thoughts? How do you go from a mass of disparate observations to a cohesive\, powerful and surprising work of creative nonfiction? \n  \nThat’s where braiding comes in. As essayist Nicole Walker writes\, “radical braiding is a foundation of creative nonfiction.” It exists in almost every mode\, from personal essay to literary journalism. It even pops up in fiction. Braiding narratives can bring breadth to a personal story\, intimacy to a scientific subject\, and drama to the mundane. As with the hairstyle\, a braid can be neat or messy\, simple or endlessly complex\, with a pattern that breaks apart only to come together in the end as a fascinating\, unexpected whole. \n  \nWhether you’re starting a new project or looking to bring fresh complexity to a work in progress\, this eight-week workshop will offer a deep dive into the craft of braiding. Through readings\, writing activities and peer and instructor feedback\, participants will learn from writers who use the form with great skill and apply that knowledge to their own work. Participants should be prepared to complete the session with a draft of a braided essay. \n  \nBefore our first meeting\, please read “The Braided Essay as Social Justice Action” by Nicole Walker and come prepared to write! \n  \nErika Thorkelson is the author of two forthcoming books of creative nonfiction: How to Look at a Volcano\, an essay collection that explores the intimate effects of large-scale instability and disaster\, both human made and natural (Book*Hug Press 2027)\, and Clumsy\, a memoir about growing up poor and nerdy on the prairies at the end of the 20th Century (NeWest Press 2028). Her work has appeared in local and national publications including Geist\, Prairie Fire and The Walrus. Her essay “A Girl Needs a Mech Suit” will appear in the Best Canadian Essays 2027. \n  \nhttps://linktr.ee/ethorkel
URL:https://qwf.org/event/the-art-of-the-braided-essay-tuesdays/2026-11-24/
LOCATION:Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261125T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261125T193000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122321Z
CREATED:20260724T134342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122321Z
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SUMMARY:Narrative Non-Fiction: Creating Scenes
DESCRIPTION:Eight Wednesdays\, Oct 7–Dec 2\, 5:45–7:45 p.m. (no meeting Oct 28) \nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants\nHybrid Workshop* \nNarrative non-fiction took off in the 1960s\, when writers like Tom Wolfe\, Joan Didion\, and Gay Talese started using the techniques of fiction writers to tell true stories. Sometimes called New Journalism\, the genre exploded when fiction writers like Truman Capote and Norman Mailer switched over to non-fiction\, attaining major critical and popular success. The ever-increasing demand for non-fiction writing highlights readers’ desire to connect with stories that make sense of their surroundings. \nNarrative non-fiction blends reporting\, research\, and storytelling. In this workshop we’ll learn about how to write scenes that are true to life. Instead of simply stating what\nhappened\, or recounting events chronologically\, we’ll explore how to create a scene\, as a screenwriter or novelist or non-fiction author might. Your task will be to impose a narrative on reality – and make it interesting to readers. We’ll talk about the techniques behind writing about your own experience\, and about documenting other people’s lives. We’ll discuss what constitutes non-fiction – and what doesn’t. We’ll also speak about mining rich veins of source material from dusty old books\, or weird scientific studies\, or unusual academic treatises. \nEach of you will be asked to present one piece of writing to the group\, which will be workshopped by the group. (Participants will read and discuss each other’s writing.) I will also hand out some examples of narrative non-fiction to illustrate what it is we’re speaking about. These will also inform and inspire your own work in the workshop. No advance work is required for the workshop\, but do have an idea of what you’d like to work on in our time together. In our second session\, we’ll be discussing what each student plans on workshopping. \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nAdam Leith Gollner is the author of The Fruit Hunters (a New York Times Editors’ Choice) and The Book of Immortality (recipient of The QWF’s Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction)\, as well as several collaborative books on nature\, art\, and literature. A contributing editor at Vanity Fair\, and the former editor of Vice Magazine\, his work has been published by The Paris Review\, The New Yorker\, GQ\, and The New York Times. His forthcoming non-fiction book is the story of an amateur art sleuth who tracks down lost masterpieces—and who cracked one of the most confounding art heists in American history. \nsocial media: @adamgollner
URL:https://qwf.org/event/narrative-non-fiction-creating-scenes-2/2026-11-25/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261126T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261126T193000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122320Z
CREATED:20260724T133622Z
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SUMMARY:Expanding Our Poetic Range Through Memory\, Place\, and the Senses
DESCRIPTION:Eight Thursdays\, 5:45–7:45 p.m.\nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants\nHybrid workshop* \n  \nHow\, as writers\, can we break the surface of the everyday and go deep? This workshop is for poets of any level of experience who are seeking to expand the range of their subject matter. Over the eight sessions of the workshop\, we will take some time to dwell in the places our writers’ sensibility can travel when we tune into our senses and journey into memory and place. \n  \nThe aim of the workshop will be to generate a rich pool of new material\, from which our best work can emerge. Workshops will consist of in-class writing exercises\, weekly writing assignments\, and time for participating poets to receive constructive feedback from the workshop leader and their peers. As a group\, we will also perform close readings of works by a range of published writers that constellate around a series of themes selected to help us mine our own memories and sensory experiences of the world around us. Some proposed themes include: a child’s-eye view: writing through the lens of childhood; lost and found: orienting through poetry; (re)mapping our world: a sense of place; entering the myth: poetic exchanges with mythology; and mapping the landscape of the body. \n  \nYou will be encouraged\, for the duration of the course\, to “apprentice” yourself to the work of a published poet of your choice\, whose voice will be a steady and nourishing guide as you work on your own material. You will also have the opportunity (though it is by no means obligatory) to read your own work aloud\, both as a practice tool for giving future poetry readings\, and to “lend an ear” to the editing process. The workshop will be a safe and friendly space\, with an emphasis on diving into the messiness of creation and getting excited about new ideas. \n  \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nKelly Norah Drukker is a Montréal-based poet and nonfiction writer. Her poetry collection Small Fires (McGill-Queen’s University Press) won the A.M. Klein Prize for Poetry and the Concordia University First Book Prize\, and was a finalist for the Grand Prix du livre de Montréal. Petits feux\, the French-language translation\, was published by Le lézard amoureux in 2018. Most recently\, Kelly’s work has appeared in The Goose: A Journal of Arts\, Environment\, and Culture in Canada\, The Temz Review\, Burning House Press (UK)\, and Rabbit Poetry (Australia). Kelly holds an MA in English and Creative Writing and a PhD in interdisciplinary Humanities from Concordia University.
URL:https://qwf.org/event/expanding-our-poetic-range-through-memory-place-and-the-senses-2/2026-11-26/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261126T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261126T220000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122320Z
CREATED:20260724T164925Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122320Z
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SUMMARY:Writing for Games and Interactive Media
DESCRIPTION:Eight Thursdays\, Oct 8–Nov 26\, 8:00–10:00 p.m.\nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants\nHybrid workshop* \n  \nInteractive storytelling isn’t just for videogames\, tabletop or board games. Immersive theatre\, public art installations\, museum exhibits\, and educational experiences can all spring to life from narrative techniques that place the audience at the centre of the experience. \nIn this workshop\, we’ll develop foundational storytelling skills that you can use in your own interactive projects\, or to build your knowledge to work as a storyteller in interactive media\, including games. \nWe’ll begin with evergreen writing skills\, like character\, worldbuilding and dialogue\, and then consider the audience as a character\, branching narrative and stories that respond to audience inputs and actions\, and what all of this means for plot and structure. \nFinally\, we’ll discuss how to collaborate with other disciplines to make each part of an experience tell one great story. \n  \nEach session will include: \n\nA lecture and discussion of the topic of the week\nA participant-led analysis of an interactive story\nA generative writing exercise for hands-on practice\nTime for advice and Q&A about personal interactive projects\n\n  \nNotes:  \nSharing in-session writing is optional. Given the collaborative nature of interactive media\, occasional group work will be encouraged. \nNo special equipment is necessary. Please bring a notebook\, pen\, and all the curiosity and enthusiasm you can muster. You may bring a laptop or tablet if it’s your preference\, but all exercises can be completed with a pen and paper. \nThis is a human-led workshop about human-made experiences for human audiences. While we may employ technology in the pursuit of this goal\, this is not an appropriate space to use AI (like LLMs) or to undertake AI projects. \n  \nRecommended Reading: \nThe Game Narrative Kaleidoscope\, collated by Jon Ingold (https://www.inklestudios.com/kaleidoscope/) \nThis anthology of over 100 current narrative practitioners\, writing about the topics that move them also has a free podcast\, in which contributors are interviewed. \nEmily Short’s Interactive Storytelling: Narrative and games and new media (https://emshort.blog) \n  \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nFormer theatre kid Jill Murray has designed and written for videogames since 2011. She has over 25 games to her name\, from AAA titles (Shadow of the Tomb Raider) to big indie games (Subnautica: Below Zero)\, and small ones (The Big Con). Her art games have been showcased at the Young V&A museum\, and poetry festivals in the UK. She previously published two young adult novels and is now completing her MFA in Creative Nonfiction. She has taught game design and writing in workshops and classes to writers of all stripes and is excited to do it again. \n  \nSocial Media: Bluesky: @jillmurray.bsky.social\, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-murray/
URL:https://qwf.org/event/writing-for-games-and-interactive-media/2026-11-26/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261128T070000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261128T220000
DTSTAMP:20261016T205048Z
CREATED:20261016T205048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261016T205048Z
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SUMMARY:Romel Sylne Jr presents i.am.the.rain
DESCRIPTION:i.am.the.rain — A One-Man Poetry Show \nSome things only make sense in the rain. \nWhat happens when the storms we spend our lives running from become the very things that teach us who we are? \ni.am.the.rain is an intimate and emotionally charged one-man poetry show by award-winning poet and spoken word artist Romel Sylne Jr. \nBlending spoken word poetry\, storytelling\, music\, and immersive visuals\, this deeply personal production takes audiences on a journey through love\, loss\, identity\, family\, immigration\, faith\, and the courage it takes to heal. \nTold in three acts—The Gathering Clouds\, The Downpour\, and After the Storm—the performance explores the moments that shape us\, the battles we fight in silence\, and the beauty of finding light even in our darkest seasons. \nMore than a poetry show\, i.am.the.rain is an invitation to feel\, reflect\, remember\, and rediscover the strength within our own stories. \nBecause sometimes\, the rain doesn’t come to destroy us. \nSometimes\, it comes to remind us that we can grow.
URL:https://qwf.org/event/romel-sylne-jr-presents-i-am-the-rain/
LOCATION:Salle L’horizon\, 155 Boulevard Sainte-Rose E\, Laval\, QC\, H7H 1P2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Performance,Slam,Storytelling
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261128T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261128T190000
DTSTAMP:20261106T203906Z
CREATED:20261106T203906Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T203906Z
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SUMMARY:i.am.the.rain — A One-Man Poetry Show
DESCRIPTION:Join Romel Sylne Jr. for i.am.the.rain\, a one-man poetry show exploring love\, loss\, family\, identity\, faith\, healing\, fear\, and everything that comes with becoming. \nTo learn more\, follow @romelsylnejr on Instagram; DM “Rain” for tickets.
URL:https://qwf.org/event/i-am-the-rain-a-one-man-poetry-show/
LOCATION:Salle Horizon\, 155 Boulevard Sainte-Rose E\, Laval\, Quebec\, H7H 1P2\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Performance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261129T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261129T160000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122319Z
CREATED:20260724T165151Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122319Z
UID:10005242-1795959000-1795968000@qwf.org
SUMMARY:From Lived to Told: A Storytelling Workshop
DESCRIPTION:Two Saturdays\, Nov 14 & 21\, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m (plus a live showcase on Nov 29\, 1:30–4:00 p.m.—see below for details)\nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants\nHybrid workshop* \nYou’ve lived the story. Now learn how to tell it! \nWhether you’re an aspiring storyteller\, hoping to perform at storytelling events such as Confabulation\, The Moth\, or community storytelling showcases\, or simply looking for a meaningful way to shape and share your lived experiences\, this workshop will help you transform a personal story into one that resonates with an audience. \nOver two interactive days\, you’ll develop a true personal story of seven minutes or less through guided writing\, editing\, discussion\, peer feedback\, and performance coaching. Together\, we’ll explore what makes audiences lean in: a compelling narrative arc\, vivid details\, emotional honesty\, and a clear sense of purpose. \nYou’ll leave with a polished personal story\, practical storytelling tools you can use again and again\, and the confidence to share your work with an audience. \nThe workshop culminates in a live storytelling showcase\, where participants will perform their finished stories before an invited audience of family\, friends\, and members of the community. The showcase will take place on Sunday\, November 29\, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.\, in Room 2 of Centre Sanaaq in Downtown Montreal\, giving participants a little over a week after the workshop to continue refining and rehearsing their stories. \nWhat You’ll Learn\nBy the end of the workshop\, participants will: \n\nDiscover the heart of a personal story and why it matters.\nShape lived experience into a compelling narrative with a clear beginning\, middle\, and end.\nEdit for clarity\, pacing\, and emotional impact without sacrificing authenticity.\nLearn techniques that strengthen audience engagement and connection.\nDevelop greater confidence telling stories aloud.\nReceive constructive feedback from peers and the facilitator.\nPrepare a polished seven-minute story for the live storytelling showcase.\n\nWorkshop Schedule\nDay One — Discovering and Crafting Your Story\n10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. (including a 20-minute break) \nWe’ll begin by exploring the stories participants have brought with them before identifying the heart of each narrative. Through discussion\, examples\, and guided exercises\, participants will learn how to shape lived experience into a compelling story by strengthening structure\, pacing\, detail\, and emotional impact. The afternoon will focus on peer workshops\, constructive feedback\, and revision strategies. \nBetween sessions\, participants will revise their stories independently. \nDay Two — Bringing Your Story to Life\n10:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. (including a 20-minute break) \nThe second day shifts from the page to the audience. Participants will refine their stories through coaching on voice\, pacing\, pauses\, presence and audience connection while preserving authenticity. We’ll conclude with practice performances\, individual feedback\, and rehearsal strategies to prepare participants for the live storytelling showcase\, which will take place on a separate date following the workshop. \nWho Should Apply?\nThis workshop welcomes writers\, performers and anyone interested in transforming lived experience into meaningful storytelling. No previous storytelling or performance experience is required. \nPlease arrive with one true personal story you would like to develop. This may be: \n\na complete story of seven minutes or less; or\napproximately three typed pages describing a lived experience with a clear beginning\, middle and end.\n\nStories should be based on lived experience. \nParticipants should expect to share their work aloud\, offer thoughtful feedback to fellow participants\, and revise their stories between the two workshop dates. \nSuggested Preparation\nBefore the workshop\, participants are encouraged to watch a few live storytelling performances—such as Confabulation or The Moth—and reflect on a personal experience they feel ready to explore. \n  \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nAfreina Noor is a storyteller\, performer and communications professional whose work explores identity\, belonging\, and lived experience. She has performed with Confabulation\, Throw Poetry\, Montreal Improv Theatre\, and other storytelling venues\, and is Vice President of Storytellers of Canada – Conteurs du Canada. Professionally\, she leads storytelling initiatives that help individuals and communities translate personal experience into social change through organizations including Unsinkable. She was the QWF’s 2025 Mairuth Sarsfield Mentorship recipient. Afreina is passionate about helping people discover\, craft\, and confidently share stories that connect with audiences. \n 
URL:https://qwf.org/event/from-lived-to-told-a-storytelling-workshop/2026-11-29/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261130T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261130T200000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122319Z
CREATED:20260723T202938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122319Z
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SUMMARY:The Playwright's Toolkit: Transferable Skills for Creative Writers
DESCRIPTION:Whether or not you’ve caught the theatre bug\, certain skills from the world of playwriting can serve you well in multiple forms of literary creation: well-developed characters; crisp yet believable dialogue; a sense of a story in forward motion….  With a blend of craft talks\, readings\, and viewings\, and hands-on exercises in every class\, veteran playwright and translator Leanna Brodie will unpack what writing for the stage can teach us about writing for the page. \n\nTime\, Space\, Bodies: What Makes a Play? – After a brief introduction\, we will dive right into exploring the basic elements of theatre. What separates playwriting from other kinds of creative writing\, and what do they have in common?\nBuilding Character – How do playwrights think about character? How is our thinking shaped by our relationship to actors and directors? When approaching character in your written form of choice\, how might you benefit from an actor’s skill set as well as a playwright’s?\nFiring Up Action – How do playwrights (and our screenwriting cousins) set up narratives that propel the audience forward? Where do our methods differ? And how can you adapt our best strategies to tell stories through the written word?\nCrafting Dialogue – How do dramatic character\, action\, and dialogue shape each other\, and how do poetry and humour influence them all? What’s the relationship between text and subtext? What does writing dialogue for actors have to teach us about writing dialogue for readers?\nWrapping Up – Final thoughts and questions. Writers will have an opportunity to share a 10-minute section of a piece they have been working on during this class\, whether a dramatic scene or a literary form that makes use of theatrical elements such as characters and dialogue. We will also discuss resources for further exploration.\n\nOnce you have registered for this workshop\, please send the following by email to john@qwf.org: \n\nA brief writing-focused bio or resumé.\nA brief description (around 100 words) of what you are working on these days… or would like to be working on.\n\nThe subject line should read “For Leanna Brodie.” \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you.  \nLeanna Brodie is an award-winning\, nationally-produced playwright. Salesman in China\, co-written with Jovanni Sy\, premiered in 2024 at the Stratford Festival and the  National Arts Centre to great acclaim: the Globe and Mail called it “a brilliant new play\, fully ready to take the world’s stages by storm.” Her modern Canadian classic\, Schoolhouse\, just received a major revival at the 4th Line Theatre. Brodie is also a leading translator of Québec and Franco-Canadian plays. She has taught playwriting at UBC\, Concordia\, and in workshops across the country. Awards: Playwrights Guild of Canada’s Tom Hendry Award (twice); Dora Mavor Moore Award; QWF Prize for Playwriting. www.leannabrodie.com \n 
URL:https://qwf.org/event/the-playwrights-toolkit-transferable-skills-for-creative-writers/2026-11-30/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261130T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261203T210000
DTSTAMP:20261014T164512Z
CREATED:20261009T174613Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261014T164512Z
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SUMMARY:The Writer's Coven: Writing Session | Séance d'écriture
DESCRIPTION:Calling writers and creatives of all kinds! \nWhether you’re a budding novelist\, a published poet\, a nomadic screenwriter\, or a confounded composer. Come join us every Monday evening to mingle with your peers\, get some work done\, and then take the opportunity to discuss the craft and your progress\, all over some of the La Boîte Gourmande’s (just next to Laurier station) various offerings. \n5:45 – 6:15 : Arrival and mingling\n6:15 – 7:45 : 90 minutes uninterrupted work\n7:45 – 9:00 : debrief\, discuss\, and wrap up \nThis group is first and foremost an established community of creatives supporting creatives\, creating a bilingual third space (FR/EN) of like-minded individuals where we can make some progress on our projects in good company. We’re currently open to new membership!\nThere are no obligations to share or engage with others’ work\, but you can expect curiosity\, good vibes\, and maybe a morsel of cake (to support our gracious patrons). \n—————————————————————————————————— \nAvis aux écrivain·e·s et créatif·ve·s de tous horizons ! \nQue vous soyez romancier·ère en devenir\, poète publié·e\, scénariste nomade ou compositeur·rice un peu déboussolé·e\, rejoignez-nous chaque lundi soir pour rencontrer vos pairs\, avancer sur vos projets\, puis prendre le temps d’échanger sur le métier et votre progression\, le tout autour des différentes offres de La Boîte Gourmande (juste à côté du métro Laurier). \n17 h 45 – 18 h 15 : Arrivée et discussions\n18 h 15 – 19 h 45 : 90 minutes de travail ininterrompu\n19 h 45 – 21 h 00 : Débrief\, échanges et clôture \nCe groupe est avant tout une communauté établie de créatif·ve·s qui soutiennent des créatif·ve·s\, un tiers-espace bilingue (FR/EN) où des esprits proches peuvent avancer sur leurs projets en bonne compagnie. Nous acceptons actuellement de nouveaux membres!\nAucune obligation de partager ou de commenter le travail des autres — mais attendez-vous à de la curiosité\, de bonnes ondes\, et peut-être une part de gâteau (histoire de soutenir nos hôtes généreux).
URL:https://qwf.org/event/the-writers-coven-writing-session-seance-decriture/2026-11-30/
LOCATION:La Boite Gourmande 445 Laurier Ave E\, 445 Laurier Ave E\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2J1E5\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Bilingual/Multilingual
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261130T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261130T220000
DTSTAMP:20260910T214720Z
CREATED:20260724T170224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T214720Z
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SUMMARY:The Art of the Braided Essay (Mondays)
DESCRIPTION:Eight Mondays\, Oct 5–Nov 30\, 8:00–10:00 p.m. (no meeting Oct 12)\nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants \n  \nCreative nonfiction thrives on surprising connections and shocking twists. The essay in particular is a form that often seeks to find truth by bringing together disparate narratives. Creating depth and tension through unexpected juxtaposition of themes\, images and even styles\, it allows us to examine a subject anew from multiple angles–personal\, historical\, cultural\, whatever catches your imagination! \n  \nBut how do you find those different threads\, and once you’ve got them\, how do you structure your thoughts? How do you go from a mass of disparate observations to a cohesive\, powerful and surprising work of creative nonfiction? \n  \nThat’s where braiding comes in. As essayist Nicole Walker writes\, “radical braiding is a foundation of creative nonfiction.” It exists in almost every mode\, from personal essay to literary journalism. It even pops up in fiction. Braiding narratives can bring breadth to a personal story\, intimacy to a scientific subject\, and drama to the mundane. As with the hairstyle\, a braid can be neat or messy\, simple or endlessly complex\, with a pattern that breaks apart only to come together in the end as a fascinating\, unexpected whole. \n  \nWhether you’re starting a new project or looking to bring fresh complexity to a work in progress\, this eight-week workshop will offer a deep dive into the craft of braiding. Through readings\, writing activities and peer and instructor feedback\, participants will learn from writers who use the form with great skill and apply that knowledge to their own work. Participants should be prepared to complete the session with a draft of a braided essay. \n  \nBefore our first meeting\, please read “The Braided Essay as Social Justice Action” by Nicole Walker and come prepared to write! \n  \nErika Thorkelson is the author of two forthcoming books of creative nonfiction: How to Look at a Volcano\, an essay collection that explores the intimate effects of large-scale instability and disaster\, both human made and natural (Book*Hug Press 2027)\, and Clumsy\, a memoir about growing up poor and nerdy on the prairies at the end of the 20th Century (NeWest Press 2028). Her work has appeared in local and national publications including Geist\, Prairie Fire and The Walrus. Her essay “A Girl Needs a Mech Suit” will appear in the Best Canadian Essays 2027. \n  \nhttps://linktr.ee/ethorkel
URL:https://qwf.org/event/the-art-of-the-braided-essay/2026-11-30/
LOCATION:Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261201T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261201T193000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122320Z
CREATED:20260724T164508Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122320Z
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SUMMARY:The Secrets of Writing Hit TV Series
DESCRIPTION:Eight Tuesdays\, Oct 13–Dec 1\, 5:45–7:45 p.m.\nOpen to all (application required—see below)\nLimited to 12 participants\nHybrid workshop* \nDo you have a brilliant idea for a TV show but no clue how to write a standout pitch document? \nDo you have a strong pilot script but don’t know how to flesh it out into a long-lasting series? \nDo you secretly think you’re the next Aaron Sorkin or Shonda Rhimes\, if only you knew the keys to writing hit TV shows? \nThen this workshop is for you. \nMost TV writing courses focus on writing a pilot script. Mine starts one step earlier—because before you can write a great pilot\, you need a great series concept. \nDrawing on my 20+ years in the TV and film industry and my work as a writer\, showrunner\, development executive\, creative consultant and mentor\, I will teach you the essential building blocks of television writing and guide you through the process of developing your own original series. \nTopics include: \n\nStory engine\, logline & hook\nSeries concept & theme\nCharacters & world\nPitching your show: on the page and in the room\nTips for writing a standout pilot\nBuilding or advancing a career in television\n\nThroughout the workshop\, you’ll apply what you learn to your own project and you’ll receive ongoing feedback and guidance from me to strengthen your concept\, sharpen your story engine\, and create a professional pitch document—the blueprint for your series and an essential tool for pitching your show. \nApplying & Preparing \nTo apply\, please submit a logline and synopsis (1 page max) for the TV series you’d like to develop during the workshop. \nThere is no required reading for this workshop. However\, I strongly encourage you to read a few articles on writing effective loglines. A logline is one of the most important tools in television development\, yet it’s often overlooked or underestimated. \nBy the end of the workshop\, “logline” will probably become your favourite—and most dreaded—word! \n  \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nCynthia Knight is a writer\, story editor\, and showrunner with over 20 years of experience in film and TV. The co-creator and showrunner of the critically-acclaimed\, award-winning comedy series Mohawk Girls (CBC GEM / Peacock)\, Cynthia was recently a consulting producer on the show My Dead Mom for Crave\, a writer on the animated series By Bunny for Sphere Media\, and she wrote the international co-production feature film The Otter Club\, which just wrapped production in July\, 2026. A former development executive for Attraction Images and Muse Entertainment\, Cynthia is also a creative consultant and teacher who offers courses\, talks\, and workshops on TV writing in the US and Canada. \nWebpage: https://cknightfilms.com \nSocial media handles: \n  \nhttps://www.facebook.com/cynthia.knight.393 \n  \nhttps://www.instagram.com/cynthiaknightfilms/
URL:https://qwf.org/event/the-secrets-of-writing-hit-tv-series/2026-12-01/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261201T200000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261201T220000
DTSTAMP:20260910T214538Z
CREATED:20260909T181100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260910T214538Z
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SUMMARY:The Art of the Braided Essay (Tuesdays)
DESCRIPTION:Eight Tuesdays\, Oct 6–Dec 1\, 5:45–7:45 p.m. (no meeting Oct 13)\nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants \n  \nCreative nonfiction thrives on surprising connections and shocking twists. The essay in particular is a form that often seeks to find truth by bringing together disparate narratives. Creating depth and tension through unexpected juxtaposition of themes\, images and even styles\, it allows us to examine a subject anew from multiple angles–personal\, historical\, cultural\, whatever catches your imagination! \n  \nBut how do you find those different threads\, and once you’ve got them\, how do you structure your thoughts? How do you go from a mass of disparate observations to a cohesive\, powerful and surprising work of creative nonfiction? \n  \nThat’s where braiding comes in. As essayist Nicole Walker writes\, “radical braiding is a foundation of creative nonfiction.” It exists in almost every mode\, from personal essay to literary journalism. It even pops up in fiction. Braiding narratives can bring breadth to a personal story\, intimacy to a scientific subject\, and drama to the mundane. As with the hairstyle\, a braid can be neat or messy\, simple or endlessly complex\, with a pattern that breaks apart only to come together in the end as a fascinating\, unexpected whole. \n  \nWhether you’re starting a new project or looking to bring fresh complexity to a work in progress\, this eight-week workshop will offer a deep dive into the craft of braiding. Through readings\, writing activities and peer and instructor feedback\, participants will learn from writers who use the form with great skill and apply that knowledge to their own work. Participants should be prepared to complete the session with a draft of a braided essay. \n  \nBefore our first meeting\, please read “The Braided Essay as Social Justice Action” by Nicole Walker and come prepared to write! \n  \nErika Thorkelson is the author of two forthcoming books of creative nonfiction: How to Look at a Volcano\, an essay collection that explores the intimate effects of large-scale instability and disaster\, both human made and natural (Book*Hug Press 2027)\, and Clumsy\, a memoir about growing up poor and nerdy on the prairies at the end of the 20th Century (NeWest Press 2028). Her work has appeared in local and national publications including Geist\, Prairie Fire and The Walrus. Her essay “A Girl Needs a Mech Suit” will appear in the Best Canadian Essays 2027. \n  \nhttps://linktr.ee/ethorkel
URL:https://qwf.org/event/the-art-of-the-braided-essay-tuesdays/2026-12-01/
LOCATION:Online via Zoom
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261202T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261202T193000
DTSTAMP:20260731T122321Z
CREATED:20260724T134342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T122321Z
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SUMMARY:Narrative Non-Fiction: Creating Scenes
DESCRIPTION:Eight Wednesdays\, Oct 7–Dec 2\, 5:45–7:45 p.m. (no meeting Oct 28) \nOpen to all\nLimited to 12 participants\nHybrid Workshop* \nNarrative non-fiction took off in the 1960s\, when writers like Tom Wolfe\, Joan Didion\, and Gay Talese started using the techniques of fiction writers to tell true stories. Sometimes called New Journalism\, the genre exploded when fiction writers like Truman Capote and Norman Mailer switched over to non-fiction\, attaining major critical and popular success. The ever-increasing demand for non-fiction writing highlights readers’ desire to connect with stories that make sense of their surroundings. \nNarrative non-fiction blends reporting\, research\, and storytelling. In this workshop we’ll learn about how to write scenes that are true to life. Instead of simply stating what\nhappened\, or recounting events chronologically\, we’ll explore how to create a scene\, as a screenwriter or novelist or non-fiction author might. Your task will be to impose a narrative on reality – and make it interesting to readers. We’ll talk about the techniques behind writing about your own experience\, and about documenting other people’s lives. We’ll discuss what constitutes non-fiction – and what doesn’t. We’ll also speak about mining rich veins of source material from dusty old books\, or weird scientific studies\, or unusual academic treatises. \nEach of you will be asked to present one piece of writing to the group\, which will be workshopped by the group. (Participants will read and discuss each other’s writing.) I will also hand out some examples of narrative non-fiction to illustrate what it is we’re speaking about. These will also inform and inspire your own work in the workshop. No advance work is required for the workshop\, but do have an idea of what you’d like to work on in our time together. In our second session\, we’ll be discussing what each student plans on workshopping. \n*This workshop will take place at the QWF Office (Room 3\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Westmount\, Quebec) with up to 2 virtual spots for participants who are unable to attend in-person because of distance or disability. By default\, all workshop registrations are for in-person spots. If you would like to request a virtual slot\, contact John at john@qwf.org stating the reason for which you would need the virtual spot\, then wait for a response before registering. Please do not register until you receive confirmation of a virtual spot for you. \n  \nAdam Leith Gollner is the author of The Fruit Hunters (a New York Times Editors’ Choice) and The Book of Immortality (recipient of The QWF’s Mavis Gallant Prize for Non-Fiction)\, as well as several collaborative books on nature\, art\, and literature. A contributing editor at Vanity Fair\, and the former editor of Vice Magazine\, his work has been published by The Paris Review\, The New Yorker\, GQ\, and The New York Times. His forthcoming non-fiction book is the story of an amateur art sleuth who tracks down lost masterpieces—and who cracked one of the most confounding art heists in American history. \nsocial media: @adamgollner
URL:https://qwf.org/event/narrative-non-fiction-creating-scenes-2/2026-12-02/
LOCATION:QWF Office\, 1200 Atwater Avenue\, Room 3\, Westmount\, QC\, H3Z 1X4\, Canada
CATEGORIES:QWF Workshops
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261205
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261207
DTSTAMP:20261106T172631Z
CREATED:20261106T171040Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172631Z
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SUMMARY:2026 Read Quebec Book Fair
DESCRIPTION:The Read Quebec Book Fair returns to Casa d’Italia December 5-6\, 2026! Join us for special events\, author signings\, and the latest releases from Canadian writers and publishers. \nProduced by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ)\, the Fair celebrates the vibrancy of English-language writing\, publishing\, and translation in Quebec. \nTaking place in the historic Casa d’Italia\, the Fair will present a full weekend of programming\, including a Lightning Round with local poets\, an event with graphic novelists Lee Lai and Arizona O’Neill\, and a conversation with Everyday Reconciliation authors Derek Aronhie:nens Montour and Elin Sandberg Miller. We’ll also be hosting another edition of Speed-dating for Writers and Editors\, where up-and-coming and seasoned wordsmiths will have the opportunity to deliver their pitches directly to publishers\, as well as a panel discussion on publishing in translation. \nThe Fair will offer plenty of fun for young booklovers in the cozy\, book-filled Babar Kids’ Nook both days\, and a storytime reading with Gillian Sze. \nStick around for our 5 à 7 opening cocktail on Saturday for delicious hors d’oeuvres and a chance to connect with Montreal’s vibrant literary community. \nCasa d’Italia is located at 505 Jean-Talon East\, and is fully accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. The Fair takes place on the second floor\, accessible via stairs or elevator. Take the entrance on Berri Street\, across the street from Jean-Talon metro (exit Jean-Talon Nord). \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/2026-read-quebec-book-fair/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T123000
DTSTAMP:20261106T160543Z
CREATED:20261106T160438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T160543Z
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SUMMARY:Shut Up & Write! with QWF (Virtual)
DESCRIPTION:Free\, open to QWF members \nRegister for the session by filling out the RSVP form below. \nLooking for some dedicated\, quiet writing space? \n\n\n\nRegister 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. \n\n\n\nThis event is for QWF members only. Not a member? Learn about becoming a member.  \n\n\n\nThe Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before the session. \n\n\n\nPlease note that these sessions are designed for silent writing\, rather than discussing or getting feedback on work. \n\n\n\n10:00–10:25: 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 \n\n\n\nTo receive the Zoom link\, RSVP below. You will receive the Zoom link a few days before the session. \n\n\n\nNote: RSVPs for virtual Shut Up & Write! sessions close 24 hours before the session begins. If there is no option to RSVP\, RSVPs are closed. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\nIf you are registered but can no longer attend\, please email john@qwf.org. \n\n\n\n 
URL:https://qwf.org/event/shut-up-write-with-qwf-virtual-74/
LOCATION:Online – Please RSVP to receive a Zoom link
CATEGORIES:Shut Up & Write!
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T121500
DTSTAMP:20261106T172714Z
CREATED:20261106T171242Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172714Z
UID:10005715-1796469300-1796472900@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Linda Leith Publishing Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \nWith: \n\nToula Drimonis\nAlex Costa\nDon Macdonald\nRebecca Morris\nMichael Foy\nOren Safdie\nJanet Torge\nDavid Homel\nNatalie Southworth\n\nModerated by Linda Leith \nLinda Leith Publishing will present their local authors of the season\, along with some recent stars. Short readings from a variety of genres will be followed by mingling and book signing. \nAlex Costa has degrees in biology and dentistry from McGill University. Born and raised in the neighbourhood of North Toronto\, she grew up near the ravines that inspired this story. She now lives in Montreal with her husband Mark\, also a dentist\, her two sons\, and a big shaggy dog named Rookie who has excellent teeth. The first in a planned trilogy\, The Roughling is her first novel. www.alexcosta.ca \nThe author of the 2022 bestseller We\, the Others\, Toula Drimonis is a Montreal-based opinion columnist\, writer and news producer. A former news director for TC Media\, she has reported and written on politics\, social justice\, and women’s issues for national and international publications. She has worked in television\, radio\, and print in all three of her languages\, and has appeared on TV as both panelist and contributor to English and French-language current-affairs and cultural news shows. \nMichael Foy was born and raised in Surrey\, British Columbia. He holds degrees in psychology and education from Simon Fraser University. His fiction has appeared in Grain Magazine\, The Nashwaak Review\, QWERTY\, Literally Stories\, Blank Spaces\, Canadian Shorts II\, and other journals and anthologies. His story “The Questions Run” received an Honourable Mention in the Riddle Fence Fiction Contest. He lives in Montreal with his wife and two daughters. www.michaelfoy.ca \nDavid Homel was born in Chicago in 1952 and left the city in 1970 for Paris\, living in Europe the next few years on odd jobs. He has published ten novels\, from Electrical Storms (1988) to The Teardown\, which won the Paragraph Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction in 2019\, and most recently\, Private Number (2025). He has also written young adult fiction with Marie-Louise Gay\, directed documentary films\, worked in TV production\, been a literary translator\, journalist\, and creative writing teacher. He has translated four books for Linda Leith Publishing: Bitter Rose (2015)\, The Last Bullet Is For You (2016)\, Nan Goldin: The Warrior Medusa (2017) and Taximan (2018). Lunging into the Underbrush (2021)\, also with LLP\, was his first book of non-fiction. He lives in Montreal. \nDon Macdonald worked for over 20 years as a journalist in Winnipeg\, Montreal and Quebec City. His first novel\, Omand’s Creek\, was an Amazon bestseller that the Montreal Gazette praised as “the best Canadian crime debut in recent memory.” He lives in Montreal. www.donmacdonald.ca \nOriginally from Guelph\, Rebecca Morris lives in Montreal. She earned an M.A. in French from Dalhousie\, had three children in three years and taught high school before turning to writing full time. Rebecca’s short stories have won several awards\, including the Malahat Review Open Season Award and the Humber Literary Review Emerging Writers Fiction contest. She is a Banff Centre alumna\, recipient of a Canada Council Arts grant and an active member of the Quebec Writers’ Federation\, where she has taught workshops on short fiction and narrative structure. Other Maps is her first novel. \nOren Safdie was born in Montreal where he attended St George’s School and Marianopolis College. Following graduate studies in Architecture and Creative Writing at Columbia University\, Oren has worked as a playwright\, screenwriter\, and professor of Dramatic Writing & Literature. Five of his plays were New York Times Critic’s Picks. Beyond Ken Dryden\, which is his first book\, was produced as a play in Montreal in 2024 and Toronto in 2025. He divides his time between LA and Montreal. \nNatalie Southworth’s award-winning stories have appeared in literary journals in Canada\, the UK and the US\, including The North American Review\, The Moth Magazine\, The New Quarterly\, Canadian Notes & Queries\, The Brooklyn Review and more. She lives in Montreal. \nJanet Torge lives in Montreal and is always looking for new adventures. She’s been a television documentary producer\, a prenatal teacher and Birth Doula\, an overnight talk-show host at CFCF Radio\, traffic reporter and Radio Noon host at CBC Montreal\, a columnist at the Montreal Gazette\, and co-founder of the first rape relief centre in Canada. She recently trained as a Death Doula and is also the author of Dear Sam\, a book about the death of her son. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/linda-leith-publishing-showcase/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/LLP-Showcase.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T133000
DTSTAMP:20261106T172705Z
CREATED:20261106T171419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172705Z
UID:10005716-1796473800-1796477400@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Everyday Reconciliation with Derek Aronhie:nens Montour and Elin Sandberg Miller
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \n\n  \nWith: \n\nDerek Aronhie:nens Montour\nElin Sandberg Miller\n\nModerated by Lisa Byer-de Wever \nMany of us are committed to the idea of Reconciliation – but what can we do about it? Derek Montour\, is an Indigenous man who grew up on the Kahnawà:ke Kanien’kehá:ka Territory. Elin Sandberg Miller is an immigrant from Sweden who\, with her outsider view of Canadian society\, brings a fresh perspective to the issues. Together they share their conversation between friends\, bringing warmth and insight on how Reconciliation can be part of our everyday lives. \nDerek Aronhie:nens Montour joined the armed services after high school—first the Canadian Royal Montreal Regiment and later the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the services\, he moved back to Kahnawà:ke to work with the Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takehnhas Community Services\, and today he is the organization’s executive director. He also serves on the board of directors for the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Health and Social Services Commission and has assisted at the national level on the Child and Family Services Reform National Advisory Committee. He also served on the Minister of National Defence’s Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination\, which submitted their final report in December 2021. Derek grew up in Kahnawà:ke and has two children and a grandchild. \nBorn and raised in Tiotià:ke\, otherwise known as Montreal\, Lisa Byer-de Wever is a Diaconal Ministry in the United Church of Canada. As someone who has navigated the many worlds of colour\, culture\, gender\, religion\, spirituality and language her whole life\, she is passionate about creating space for dialogue\, learning and deep listening where everyone can share their authentic self. \nShe identifies as having mixed West Indian and Indigenous heritage. She has served as the minister for Kahnawake United Church\, as the Executive Director to Saint Columba House\, and more recently Merging Waters United Church on the West Island of Montreal. \nShe co-chairs the United Church’s Regional Right Relations Circle and has facilitated the Kairos Blanket Exercise for about 15 years. She has long been a social justice activist\, involved in issues around Indigenous and LGBTQ2sIA+ justice\, food insecurity and Gaza. \nIn a world where siloed narratives and resistance to the “other” is the norm\, she believes we have the opportunity and responsibility to not only foster coexistence but co-resistance. Not only because our faith invites us to do so but our humanity compels us to. \nElin Sandberg Miller hosted the podcast Everyday Reconciliation in 2021–22\, which she created and co-produced with the think tank Canada 2020. Her work has been published in various newspapers and magazines\, including the Montreal Gazette. She spent most of her working life in the Swedish Foreign Service and more recently at Global Affairs Canada\, working on issues of international law\, human rights\, gender equality\, conflict resolution and peacebuilding. She immigrated to Canada in 2008\, currently lives in Ottawa\, has three children and a grandchild\, and is a dual Swedish-Canadian citizen. \n\n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/everyday-reconciliation-with-derek-aronhienens-montour-and-elin-sandberg-miller/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Panel,Read Quebec Book Fair
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Everyday-Reconciliation.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T134500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T150000
DTSTAMP:20261106T172656Z
CREATED:20261106T171619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172656Z
UID:10005717-1796478300-1796482800@qwf.org
SUMMARY:How I(t) Work(s): Literary Translation
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \nWith: \n\nChloé Savoie-Bernard\nRachel Martinez\nPablo Strauss\n\nModerated by Katie Grubisic \nQuebec is a hotbed of literary translation. Many of our best translators are also writers\, and many of our writers want to see their books translated\, hopingwanting to reach their fellow Quebecers who read in the other official language. But how does it work? If you have a translation project in mind\, how do you get it onto the page? And how do you get your new book\, published in English\, translated and published in French? Winner of the Governor-General’s Literary Award for French-to-English Translation\, local poet and editor Katia Grubisic will lead a discussion with three established translators working from French to English (Pablo Strauss) and English to French (Rachel Martinez and Chloé Savoie-Bernard). Learn how the business of translation works\, and the art of translation as well. Bring your curiosity to the Q&A. \nKatia Grubisic is a writer\, editor\, and translator. Her work has won the Gerald Lampert award\, the Cole Foundation Prize for Translation\, and the Governor General’s Award for translation\, and been shortlisted for the A.M. Klein Prize. \nRachel Martinez worked for many years in the fields of arts and communications before devoting herself exclusively to translation. A polyglot\, she has translated (from English\, Spanish\, and Italian) more than 130 works in a variety of genres for renowned French-language publishers\, including novels\, short stories\, non-fiction\, arts catalogues\, biographies\, essays\, and children’s literature. She has organized events and served on numerous literary prize juries\, roundtables\, conferences\, and translation residencies both in Canada and abroad. Rachel Martinez represented the Literary Translators’ Association of Canada on the advisory committee of the Banff International Literary Translation Centre from 2018 until its dissolution in 2020. Among other awards and honors\, she was a two-time finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award in French Translation\, which she won for Glenn Gould\, une vie (Boréal) in 2005. \nChloé Savoie-Bernard occupe un poste de professeure de littérature à l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Chercheuse\, autrice et traductrice\, elle a entre autres\, publié Des femmes savantes (Triptyque\, 2016) et Sainte Chloé de l’amour (Hexagone\, 2021). Parmi ses traductions\, notons Voix/Éclairs/Tonnerres\, de Myriam Chancy (Remue-ménage\, 2023)\, de même que Sister Love\, une correspondance entre Audre Lorde et Pat Parker\, (Points\, 2024). Sa dernière traduction est la pièce de Ntozake Shange\, Aux filles de couleur qui ont déjà pensé au suicide (Payot\, 2026). \nPablo Strauss’s many translations from Quebec include novels\, personal essays\, nonfiction\, and comics. He is a three-time finalist for the Governor General’s Award for translation\, and has published book reviews\, shorter translations\, and personal essays in Harpers\, Geist\, Granta\, and the Montreal Review of Books. Pablo grew up in Victoria\, B.C.\, and has now lived in Quebec City for two decades. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/how-it-works-literary-translation/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Panel,Read Quebec Book Fair
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/How-It-Works-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T160000
DTSTAMP:20261106T172700Z
CREATED:20261106T171744Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172700Z
UID:10005718-1796481000-1796486400@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Tomorrow\, but Tonight: Experiments in Flash Fiction 
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Salle des célébrations\, Casa d’Italia \nA 90-minute workshop for writers ages 14 to 20 with Jen DeLeskie\, fiction writer and Editor-in-Chief of Quist\, the youth literary journal of the Quebec Writers’ Federation. \nEven the shortest stories need a turn: a moment when something changes. Flash writers have tricky ways of getting there fast. Although technically a poem\, Laura Gilpin’s “The Two-headed Calf” pivots on “tomorrow” and “tonight” and shows one way to capture a full arc in a few lines. We’ll discuss Gilpin’s poem and a few other very short pieces\, borrow forms like recipes and lists\, and write our own flash fiction using prompts. No experience necessary! Bring a notebook or a laptop. You’ll leave with a draft\, some new tools for writing flash\, possibly some new friends\, and an invitation to submit your work to Quist. Limited to twelve participants. \nJen DeLeskie (she/her) is a writer based in Tiohtià:ke (Montréal). Her work\, which spans literary\, horror\, science fiction\, and fantasy\, has appeared in Prairie Fire\, The Globe and Mail\, Beneath Ceaseless Skies\, The Dalhousie Review\, and elsewhere. Her debut novel\, Everclear\, a YA adventure set in near-future northern Quebec\, was published by Flame Arrow in 2026. She edits Quist\, the Quebec Writers’ Federation youth literary journal. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/tomorrow-but-tonight-experiments-in-flash-fiction/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair,Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Quist-Workshop-1.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T170000
DTSTAMP:20261106T172936Z
CREATED:20261106T172936Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172936Z
UID:10005720-1796486400-1796490000@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Guernica Editions’ Montreal Book Launch 2026
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \nWith: \n\nMarie-Josée Poisson\, Blood Bound: Unlacing Secret Ties\nRobin Blackburn McBride\, River of Dreams\nJay Quint\, Village Dreams\nH. Nigel Thomas\, And Then Again Begin\nHélène Rioux / Jonathan Kaplansky\, The Love of Man\n\nModerated by Connie Guzzo-McParland \nJoin us for a vibrant literary celebration at the Read Quebec Book Fair for Guernica Editions’ annual Montreal Book Launch. Enjoy lively readings from our authors\, browse and buy fresh new titles\, and enter our book‑bag raffle. After the event\, join us for a friendly AELAQ‑ and QWF-sponsored cocktail\, where writers\, publishers\, and book lovers gather to mingle\, toast\, and celebrate Montreal’s literary scene. \nConnie Guzzo McParland\, President and Co-director of Guernica Editions\, holds a BA in Italian Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Concordia University. She is the author of the novels The Girls of Piazza d’Amore (2013) and The Women of Saturn (2017)\, the latter translated into Italian as Le donne di Saturno (2019). Her nonfiction work includes the biography An Opera in 3 Acts\, translated into French as Un opéra en 3 actes (2021). She also translated The Twelfth Room\, the English edition of La Dodicesima Stanza. Her latest work\, Stitch by Stitch\, Punto per punto\, De fil à aiguille\, launching in March 2027\, is a collection of stories and testimonials about Italian immigrant women who laboured in the garment industry in Quebec. \nHer writing has been recognized with numerous distinctions\, including the Concordia University David McKeen Award in Creative Writing (2008) for her thesis Girotondo; a shortlist nomination for the Quebec Writers’ Federation First Book Award for The Girls of Piazza d’Amore (2013). \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/guernica-editions-montreal-book-launch-2026/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Guernica-Showcase.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261205T180000
DTSTAMP:20261106T172718Z
CREATED:20261106T172233Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T172718Z
UID:10005719-1796490000-1796493600@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Opening Cocktail
DESCRIPTION:Presented in partnership by QWF and AELAQ \nJoin us for a special edition of our annual Book Fair Opening Cocktail\, introducing and celebrating the Quebec Writers’ Federation’s new Executive Director and Operations Manager\, Remy Attig and Zac Remple. \nThe Book Fair Opening Cocktail is a chance for the publishers\, writers\, and booklovers to rub elbows and make connections – where better to introduce two very important new members of our literary community? Come for a drink\, an hors d’oeuvre\, and friendly conversation. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/opening-cocktail-2/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Opening-Cocktail.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T123000
DTSTAMP:20261106T173152Z
CREATED:20261106T173111Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T173152Z
UID:10005721-1796554800-1796560200@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Speed Dating for Writers and Publishers!
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Gallery\, Casa d’Italia \nWriters\, bring your pitch and get ready to present it to a range of local publishers. This edition will focus on poetry\, fiction and nonfiction. Introduce yourselves\, and then you’ll have three minutes to tell your publisher “date” what your book is all about. Don’t forget to leave time for questions or a little discussion. When the bell dings\, move to the next available seat and do it again. Whether you find a home for your manuscript or not\, you’ll make contacts and gather information that may serve you now and in the future. \nWith: \n\nFiona Jeffries\nLis McLoughlin\nConnie McParland or Michael Mirolla\nManahil Bandukwala\n\nModerated by Remy Attig \nRemy Attig\, PhD\, is the executive director of the Quebec Writers’ Federation. Prior to joining QWF\, Remy worked as an associate professor of sociolinguistics and translation\, where their research focused on minority/minoritized language communities. In a pre-academic life\, they worked as the senior director of operations at the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)\, the operations manager of the David Suzuki Foundation\, and the executive director of Projet 10 / Project 10\, Montreal’s longest-running organization supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Through their research\, teaching\, writing\, and activism\, Remy demonstrates that the way people tell their stories\, and the language(s) they choose to use\, are often as important as the message they share with the world. \nManahil Bandukwala is the author of Heliotropia (Brick Books 2024; shortlisted for the Pat Lowther Award\, the Raymond Souster Award\, and the Ottawa Book Award\, and winner of the Archibald Lampman Award) and MONUMENT (Brick Books 2022). She was selected as a Writer’s Trust of Canada Rising Star in 2023. She is currently Managing Editor for Brick Books. See her work at manahilbandukwala.com. \nConnie Guzzo McParland\, President and Co‑director of Guernica Editions\, holds a BA in Italian Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Concordia University. She is the author of the novels The Girls of Piazza d’Amore (2013) and The Women of Saturn (2017)\, the latter translated into Italian as Le donne di Saturno (2019). Her nonfiction work includes the biography An Opera in 3 Acts\, translated into French as Un opéra en 3 actes (2021). She also translated The Twelfth Room\, the English edition of La Dodicesima Stanza. Her latest work\, Stitch by Stitch\, Punto per punto\, De fil à aiguille\, launching in March 2027\, is a collection of stories and testimonials about Italian immigrant women who laboured in the garment industry in Quebec. \nHer writing has been recognized with numerous distinctions\, including the Concordia University David McKeen Award in Creative Writing (2008) for her thesis Girotondo; a shortlist nomination for the Quebec Writers’ Federation First Book Award for The Girls of Piazza d’Amore (2013). \nFiona Jeffries (she/her) is an Acquisitions and Development editor at Fernwood Publishing\, a worker-run independent book publisher that focuses on critical perspectives across a range of subjects and voices. In keeping with Fernwood’s mission\, her editorial work is wide ranging and informed by her academic training and activist commitments. \nLis McLoughlin\, PhD is the founder and director of NatureCulture® www.nature-culture.net\, a publishing company through which she directs the Writing the Land® Project www.writingtheland.org\, which pairs poets with conserved lands\, and creates anthologies sold for land conservation. Lis has degrees in Civil Engineering\, Education\, and Science and Technology Studies. She lives off-grid in Northfield\, Massachusetts and part-time in Montréal\, Québec. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/speed-dating-for-writers-and-publishers-2/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Networking,Panel,Read Quebec Book Fair
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Speed-Dating.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T121500
DTSTAMP:20261106T173319Z
CREATED:20261106T173319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T173319Z
UID:10005722-1796555700-1796559300@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Space Cases: Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau and Francis Desharnais in Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \nModerated by François Vigneault \nFeaturing author Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau and illustrator Francis Desharnais\, this treat for fans of comics and history alike will spotlight Conquest of the Cosmos\, a withering satire of politics\, ideology\, and human ambition that couldn’t be more relevant to our current moment. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/space-cases-alexandre-fontaine-rousseau-and-francis-desharnais-in-conversation/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Panel,Read Quebec Book Fair
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Pow-Pow-Event.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T130000
DTSTAMP:20261106T174343Z
CREATED:20261106T173443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T174343Z
UID:10005723-1796558400-1796562000@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Ah-Ma’s Home with Gillian Sze
DESCRIPTION:Located at Babar Books Kids Nook\, Casa d’Italia \nPoet and children’s book author Gillian Sze will read her beautiful new book\, Ah Ma’s Home\, to kids of all ages in the Babar Kids’ Book Nook. The story of a child whose grandmother tells enchanting stories of her childhood in China\, Ah Ma’s Home tenderly engages with immigration\, relationships bridging generations\, and the way a child’s imagination helps her understand how to fit into her world. Gillian will be available to sign books following the reading at the Babar Books table. \nGillian Sze is a poet and children’s writer. She is the recipient of the Pat Lowther Memorial Award for Quiet Night Think and the QWF’s A. M. Klein Poetry Prize for her latest book\, An Orange\, A Syllable. Her books for children have been shortlisted for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Awards and CBC Kids Read. She teaches creative writing and literature at Concordia University. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/ah-mas-home-with-gillian-sze/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/Gillian-Sze-Event.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T133000
DTSTAMP:20261106T174233Z
CREATED:20261106T173632Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T174233Z
UID:10005724-1796560200-1796563800@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Poetry Lightning Round
DESCRIPTION:With: \n\nTanya Bellehumeur-Allatt\, The Hospitality of Trees\nAlexei Perry Cox\, Space\nSabyah Seyam\, On Occasion contributor\nLeigh Kotsilidis\, Some of Us May Live\nSina Queyras\, On Occasion (ed.)\nChanel Sutherland\, On Occasion contributor\nMisha Solomon\, My Great-Grandfather Danced Ballet\nErín Moure\, On Occasion contributor\nNicole Rayiza Fong\, SUBTEXT \n\nModerated by Jason Camlot \nA wide range of local poets will share tasty snippets from their new books in a fun\, fast-paced and festive Lightning Round of the most current Quebec poetry in English. Five authors of new books and five contributors to the anthology On Occasion will give you just enough to whet your appetite for more. Stay and get your new books signed after the event. \nTanya Bellehumeur-Allatt is the author of the critically acclaimed Carrying War (Dundurn\, 2026)\, featured in the Globe and Mail as one of the 36 Best Books of Summer. Her debut memoir\, Peacekeeper’s Daughter (Thistledown\, 2021)\, was a finalist for the Mavis Gallant Nonfiction Award. Tanya has two poetry collections: Chaos Theories of Goodness (Shoreline\, 2022) and The Hospitality of Trees (Shoreline\, 2025). She lives in North Hatley\, QC. \nJason Camlot is the author of five collections of poetry including The Animal Library (DC Books\, 2000)\, What The World Said (Mansfield\, 2013)\, and Vlarf (McGill Queen’s\, 2021)\, and most recently\, a constellation of chapbooks (released by Vallum\, Apartment 9\, above/ground\, No Press\, and Turret House Press) presenting sections from the Shooky sessions\, collaboratively composed by listening and writing\, with Stuart Ross. Jason’s critical works include Phonopoetics: The Making of Early Literary Recordings (Stanford\, 2019) and the co-edited collections\, Collection Thinking (Routledge\, 2024)\, Unpacking the Personal Library (Wilfrid Laurier UP\, 2023)\, and CanLit Across Media (McGill-Queen’s UP\, 2019). He is Professor of English at Concordia University. \nLeigh Kotsilidis has written two full-length collections of poetry\, Hypotheticals (2011) and Some of Us May Live (2026)\, both with Coach House Books. Her poems have also appeared in journals and magazines\, including The Malahat Review\, Prism international\, EVENT\, The Fiddlehead\, Prairie Fire\, and Hazlitt\, as well as being anthologized in The Best Canadian Poetry in English and IV Lounge Nights\, among others. She is also an intermedia artist. Kotsilidis lives and works in Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal). \nErín Moure is a poet and translator. She has published 19 books of poetry\, and translations of more than 25 books of poetry by others from Galician\, Spanish\, French\, and Portuguese (including Nicole Brossard\, Andrés Ajens\, Chantal Neveu\, Rosalia de Castro\, Chus Pato\, Fernando Pessoa). Her most recent book is Theophylline: a poetic migration via the modernisms of Rukeyser\, Bishop\, Grimké (Anansi\, 2023)\, and her most recent translation is of Galician poet Chus Pato’s Sonora (Veliz Books\, 2026). \nSina Queyras is a Montreal/Tiohtià:ke-based writer\, professor\, editor\, and literary organizer. Recent work includes Rooms (2022)\, a blend of memoir\, poetry\, and criticism offering a peek into the defining spaces of the author as a young queer writer\, and My Ariel (2017)\, a collection riffing on Sylvia Plath’s Ariel\, reimagining\, queering\, and inhabiting its iconic poems. They are the author of multiple poetry collections\, including Lemon Hound\, which won the Pat Lowther and Lambda awards and Expressway\, nominated for a Governor General’s Award. Queyras was also a co-editor of Avant Desire: A Nicole Brossard Reader (2020)\, which traces the essential feminist poet’s innovation\, experimentation\, and activism across her body of work. They recently edited On Occasion: Poems for the People (Coach House Books 2026). \nNicole Raziya Fong (they / she) is a poet\, editor\, and painter living in Tiohtià:ke/Mooniyang/Montréal\, Québec\, Canada. They are the author of SUBTEXT (2026\, Talonbooks)\, ORACULE (2021\, Talonbooks)\, PERFACT (2019\, Talonbooks)\, and other works. Writing appears in journals including The Capilano Review\, carte blanche\, and Social Text. Their work has received support from the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts. Their work seeks to delimit and reconstruct immaterial ampoules of psychic experience\, coaxing the incorporeal into inhabiting a more muscular physique. \nSabyah Seyam is a Palestinian writer born and currently based in Tiohtià:ke (so-called Montreal). She holds a BA in Creative Writing from Concordia University\, where she is currently completing her MA in the same program. She was a poetry editor of Soliloquies Anthology. Her publications include Yolk\, Frontier Poetry\, The Malahat Review\, and Coach House’s 2026 anthology\, On Occasion: Poems for the People. Sabyah’s current writerly interests include colonized identities\, the working class\, the power of language\, and the power of privacy in a hyper-connected world. \nMisha Solomon is a homosexual poet in and of Tiohtià:ke/Montréal. His work has appeared in journals across Canada and has been anthologized in Best Canadian Poetry 2024\, 2026\, and 2027 (Biblioasis) and in On Occasion: Poems for the People (Coach House). He is a student in Concordia University’s Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program. He is the author of three chapbooks and his full-length debut\, My Great-Grandfather Danced Ballet\, was released by Brick Books in March 2026. \nChanel Sutherland is a Vincentian Canadian writer of fiction and creative nonfiction. She won the 2021 CBC Nonfiction Prize and the 2022 CBC Short Story Prize and was named one of CBC Books 30 Writers to Watch in 2022. Chanel is also the overall winner of the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She has a BA in English literature from Concordia University and lives in Montreal\, Quebec. Her first collection of short stories\, titled Layaway Child\, is out now from House of Anansi. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/poetry-lightning-round/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair,Reading
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T134500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T144500
DTSTAMP:20261106T173758Z
CREATED:20261106T173758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T173758Z
UID:10005725-1796564700-1796568300@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Véhicule Showcase: Who Gets Remembered?
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \nWhat do a coming-of-age novel that takes place in Bombay\, a collection of essays on forgotten women jazz musicians\, and a novel that celebrates Montreal and a ghost have in common? All three books are amazing and entertaining acts of remembering or recovery. Come and meet Zeenat Nagree (My Summer Vacation)\, David Homel (translator of Black Satin by Stanley Péan)\, and Éric Dupont (The Colour of Time\, or the Incredible Story of Mary Gallagher) in conversation with Dimitri Nasrallah. \nWith: \n\nZeenat Nagree\nDavid Homel\nÉric Dupont\n\nZeenat Nagree is an independent writer and curator who grew up in Bombay and now divides her time between India and Canada. Having studied art history in Chicago\, she writes on contemporary art and curates exhibitions. My Summer Vacation is her first book. \nDavid Homel is the author of ten novels and a memoir\, as well as a series of books for younger readers co-written with Marie-Louise Gay. A prize-winning writer and translator\, he has worked in documentary film\, print and radio journalism. He lives in Montreal. \nBorn in Amqui\, Quebec\, Éric Dupont studied at Carleton University\, the Free University of Berlin\, the Université de Montréal and the University of Toronto. Dupont’s La fiancée américaine\, released in 2012\, won the Prix des libraires du Québec and the Prix littéraire des collégiens. Its English translation\, Songs for the Cold of Heart\, translated by Peter McCambridge\, was a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize in 2018 and subsequently published by HarperCollins outside of Canada as The American Fiancée. Éric Dupont lives in Montreal. \nModerator: \nDimitri Nasrallah is the author of four novels\, including Hotline\, a Canadian bestseller that was long-listed for the 2022 Giller Prize and was a 2023 finalist for Canada Reads. Nasrallah was born in Lebanon in 1977\, during the country’s civil war\, and moved to Canada in 1988. His previous books include The Bleeds (2018); Niko (2011)\, which won the Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction; and Blackbodying (2005)\, which won Quebec’s McAuslan First Book Prize. His books have also been nominated for the Dublin Literary Award and the Grand Prix du Livre de Montréal. Nasrallah was the fiction editor of Esplanade Books from 2013 to 2025\, and currently teaches creative writing at Concordia University. He lives in Montreal. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/vehicule-showcase-who-gets-remembered/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Panel,Read Quebec Book Fair
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T160000
DTSTAMP:20261106T174227Z
CREATED:20261106T174004Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T174227Z
UID:10005726-1796569200-1796572800@qwf.org
SUMMARY:InfiniPRESS Showcase
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Rotunda\, Casa d’Italia \nWith: \n\nZach Fraser\, Whalefall (collaborator)\nAshe Lang\, Whalefall\n\nRiley Wilson\, Whalefall (collaborator)\nMohsen El Gharbi\, Omi Mouna\n\nLeanna Brodie\, Omi Mouna (translator)\nCatherine Chabot\, Clean Slate\n\nJennie Herbin\, Clean Slate (translator)\n\nModerated by Zach Fraser. \nCome hear from InfiniPRESS\, Montreal’s young and dynamic publisher of playwrights’ new work originating in English and in translation. \nLeanna Brodie is a leading translator of Québécois and Franco-Canadian playwrights. Recent productions: David Paquet’s The Weight of Ants and The Shoe (The Cherry Arts\, Ithaca NY) and Wildfire (Factory Theatre\, Toronto ON\, Talisman Theatre\, Montréal QC\, and Upstream Theater\, St. Louis MO); Catherine Léger’s Home Deliveries (Ruby Slippers Theatre/Jericho Arts Centre\, Vancouver); Fanny Britt’s Benevolence (GCTC\, Ottawa); Sébastien Harrisson’s From Alaska (Belfry Theatre\, Victoria)\, and Rébecca Déraspe’s I Am William (Stratford Festival). Brodie is currently translating Rébecca Déraspe’s Those Who Have Vanished (The Search Party) and River Ice\, Breaking (Talisman Theatre) and Nathalie Doummar’s Sissi (Ruby Slippers). Her translations have won two PGC Tom Hendry Awards and a Dora Mavor Moore Award. She is also an award-winning playwright and performer: Salesman in China (co-written with Jovanni Sy) was staged at the Stratford Festival and National Arts Centre in 2024\, winning the QWF Prize for Best New Play. Learn more about her work at www.leannabrodie.com. \nMohsen El Gharbi defines himself as a theatre craftsman — an approach shaped by his Lecoq training at Lassaad in Brussels\, where the actor is the author of his own work. Deeply committed to the solo form\, he has created six one-man shows exploring themes of violence\, identity\, and memory. As a writer and performer\, his work has toured across Canada and Europe. For his work on Omi Mouna – A Fantastic Encounter with My Great-Grandmother\, Mohsen was nominated in the category of Outstanding Lead Performance at the Montreal English Theatre Awards (METAs). His documentary Omi Mouna’s Secret travelled to festivals on three continents. He continues to write\, perform\, and create. \nAshe Lang is a Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist specializing in handcrafted props and accessories for film and live performance. Raised near the ocean in the Dominican Republic\, Ashe developed a deep reverence for the sea from an early age. Certified as a SCUBA diver at 11\, her firsthand encounters with both the breathtaking wonder of marine life and the stark impacts of human activity have continually drawn her back to ocean conservation. Over the past decade\, Ashe has honed her craft in design\, painting\, and detailed prop fabrication for major productions\, including Cirque du Soleil (Alegría\, Kà\, The Beatles LOVE)\, blockbuster films\, and local theatre. She is also a passionate writer whose short stories have earned multiple accolades. Whalefall is her first play to be produced and published. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/infinipress-showcase/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Read Quebec Book Fair,Reading
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://qwf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/InfiniPRESS-Showcase.png
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T160000
DTSTAMP:20261106T174222Z
CREATED:20261106T174139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T174222Z
UID:10005727-1796569200-1796572800@qwf.org
SUMMARY:Seeing Things: Lee Lai and Arizona O’Neill in Conversation
DESCRIPTION:Located in the Salle des Célébrations\, Main Stage\, Casa d’Italia \nFrom spectral magpies to Frankenstein’s Monster (actually he much prefers “Frankie”)\, unsettling visions haunt the protagonists of Cannon and Opioids & Organs\, two of the most talked-about graphic narratives of the last year. Join Montreal authors Lee Lai and Arizona O’Neill for a freewheeling conversation about blurring the boundaries between the real and the imaginary\, tackling “intergenerational trauma shit” both obliquely and head-on\, and why the comic book medium is the ideal form for true stories\, invented tales\, and everything in between. Featuring short readings from both authors. Moderated by François Vigneault. \nArizona O’Neill is a Montreal author and illustrator. She is the illustrator of Nelly Arcan’s L’enfant dans le miroir and Heather O’Neill’s Valentine in Montreal. Her comics have appeared in Hazlitt\, Exclaim!\, Canadian Geographic\, and the Montreal Gazette. She has created animated videos for many outlets\, including CBC. Opioids and Organs is her debut graphic novel out with Drawn & Quarterly. \nLee Lai is an Australian cartoonist living in Tio’tia:ke (colonially Montreal). Her latest graphic novel Cannon is with Drawn & Quarterly\, Giramondo\, Sarbacane and other publishers. She lives with her two roommates and a cat called Pumpkin. \nFrançois Vigneault is an American-born cartoonist living in Québec. He is the creator of the sci-fi graphic novel TITAN (Oni Press\, 2020 / Éditions Pow Pow\, 2017)\, the illustrator of books including Le gâteau empoisonée (Éditions de la Pastèque\, 2025)\, Extraordinary Eyeglasses (Helvetiq\, 2024)\, and Orcs in Space (Oni Press 2021-22)\, and also works as a translator and designer. \n2026 Read Quebec Book Fair: See All Events
URL:https://qwf.org/event/seeing-things-lee-lai-and-arizona-oneill-in-conversation/
LOCATION:Casa d’Italia\, 505 Rue Jean-Talon Est\, Montreal\, Quebec\, H2R 1T6\, Canada
CATEGORIES:Panel,Read Quebec Book Fair
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