Canadian literary event roundup: Feb. 10-16

It’s another busy week for literary events. Here’s a sample of what’s going on across the country:

• Asim Hussain launches Khadijah Goes to School, Toronto Women’s Bookstore (Feb. 11, 3 p.m., free)
• Sarah Ellis shares her experiences as a writer and librarian, Lillian H. Smith Library, Toronto (Feb. 11, 2 p.m., free)
• Vivek Shraya releases the second edition of God Loves Hair, Ryerson University Thomas Lounge, Toronto (Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m., free)
• Leslie Shimotakahara launches her memoir The Reading List, The Japan Foundation, Toronto (Feb. 14, 5:30 p.m., free, RSVP to info@jftor.org)
• Alan Lightman reads from his latest novel Mr g, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto (Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m., free)
• Ben Ehrenreich, Grace O’Connell, and Hal Niedzviecki share their stories about god, 61 Ossington, Toronto (Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m., free)
• Spoken word performer and motivational speaker Dwayne Morgan reads poetry, Danforth/Coxwell Library, Toronto (Feb. 15, 10 a.m., free)
• Saint Mary’s Reading Series presents poets Tammy Armstrong and Nick Thran, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax (Feb. 16, 7 p.m., free)
• Robson Reading Series presents Steve Burgess, author of Who Killed Mom? and Daniel Griffin, author of Stopping for Strangers, UBC Bookstore, Vancouver (Feb 16, 7 p.m., free)

Quillblog is looking for photos from literary events across Canada. Send your photos to scflinn@quillandquire.com

Canadian literary event roundup: Feb. 3-9

It’s another busy week for literary events. Here’s a sample of what’s going on across the country:

• Dinner and reading with Pico Iyer, Grano, Toronto (Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m., $100)
• Ron Stevens signs Much Ado About Squat, McNally Robinson, Winnipeg (Feb. 4, 2:00 p.m., free)
• Debbie Hanlon and Grant Boland sign The Adventures of Gus & Isaac: Backyard Bullies, Chapters, St. John’s (Feb. 4, 1 p.m., free) and Coles (Feb. 5, 1.p.m., free)
• Lorenzo Reading Series presents an evening with Alexander MacLeod, University of New Brunswick, Saint John (Feb. 6, 7 p.m., free)
• Sue Goyette reads from her poetry collection Outskirts, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax (Feb. 7, 7 p.m., free)
• Kathy Dobson, author of With a Closed Fist, speaks about poverty, Algoma University, Sault Ste. Marie (Feb. 9, 7 p.m., free)
• CBC Canada Reads: True Stories, CBC Broadcast Centre, Toronto (Feb. 6-9, 9a.m., free)
• Susan Dodd discusses her new book, The Ocean Ranger: Remaking the Promise of Oil City, University of King’s College, Halifax (Feb 9., 7 p.m., free)
• David Rotenberg launches his new book, The Placebo Effects, Runnymede Library, Toronto (Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m., free)
• Pivot Readings presents readings with Meira Cook, Dani Couture, and Sarah Pinder, Press Club, Toronto (Feb. 8., 8 p.m.)

Quillblog is looking for photos from literary events across Canada. Send your photos to scflinn@quillandquire.com.

Canadian literary event roundup: Jan. 20-26

It’s a busy week for literary events. Here’s a sample of what’s going on across the country:

• Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild presents “Writing North: Writing the Extraordinary,” University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (Jan. 20–21, free, www.skwriter.com)
• Poet Tanya Davis leads Stanzas in the Stacks: Poetry in the Library after Dark, Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library, Halifax (Jan. 20, 8 p.m., free)
• Dragnet literary magazine launches its fourth issue, Academy of the Impossible, Toronto (Jan. 21, 9 p.m., pay what you can)
• Third annual Sparks Literary Festival, Memorial University, St. John’s (Jan. 22, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free)
• William Gibson discusses his new book, Distrust that Particular Flavor, Bolen Books, Victoria (Jan. 23, 7 p.m., free)
• Robbie Burns marathon poetry reading with haggis and shortbread, Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre, Vancouver (Jan. 25, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free)
• CBC Radio and McNally Robinson host 5 Readers, 5 Writers, 5 Minutes, Winnipeg (Jan. 25, 8 p.m., free)
• Brian Brennan, author of Writing My Way From Ireland to Canada, and Frances Hern, author of Yip Sang and the First Chinese Canadians, read from their work and discuss the Canadian immigrant experience, Central branch, Calgary Public Library (Jan. 26, 12 to 1 p.m., free. Call 403-260-2620 to register)
• Ottawa Independent Writers presents “How to Write a Winning ‘How-To’ Book” with business author Dr. Denis Cauvier, Library & Archives Canada (Jan. 26, 7 p.m., $10, www.oiw.ca)
• Reading and book signing with UPEI writer-in-residence Michael Crummey, Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Charlottetown (Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., free)

Quillblog is looking for photos from literary events across Canada. Send your photos to scflinn@quillandquire.com.

Canadian literary event round-up: Dec. 9-15

Even the cold can’t stop the literary scene, with events in full swing across the country next week. Here’s a sample of what’s coming up:

• Derek Beaulieu, Kevin McPherson Eckhoff, and Jake Kennedy read from their new poetry collections, Pages on Kensington, Calgary (Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., free)
• Small Press of Toronto winter book fair, Hart House (Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free)
• Michael Smith signs Chef Michael Smith’s Kitchen, Bookmark, Charlottetown (Dec. 10, 2 p.m., free)
• Douglas Gibson discusses Stories About Storytellers, Burlington Performing Arts Centre, Burlington, Ontario (Dec. 10, 7 p.m., $10)
• National Ballet of Canada dancer Sonia Rodriguez signs T is for Tutu: A Ballet Alphabet, Indigo Manulife Centre, Toronto (Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m., free)
• The Field Stone Poets read from Whistle for Jellyfish and David Groulx launches Rising with a Distant Dawn, Collected Works, Ottawa (Dec. 11, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., free)
• Actor and musician Jody Richardson performs dramatic reading of Bella’s Tree, a picture book by Janet Russell, The Rooms, St. John’s (Dec. 11, 2:30 p.m., $5)
• Michael Morpurgo reads from War Horse with music by John Tams, Panasonic Theatre, Toronto (Dec. 12, 7 p.m., $15)
• Esi Edugyan and Jen Sookfong Lee read from Half-Blood Blues and The Better Mother, respectively, UBC Bookstore at Robson Square, Vancouver (Dec. 15, 7 p.m., free)

Reading meets romance at Vancouver Public Library

Canadian literary event round-up: Nov. 11-17

Here are just a few of the literary events happening across the country in the next week:

• Maria Meindl reads from Outside the Box, Type Books, Toronto (Nov. 12, 5 p.m., free)
• Hal-Con sci-fi, fantasy, and comic convention, World Trade & Convention Centre, Halifax (Nov. 12–13, tickets at hal-con.com)
• CBC’s Carol Off interviews Jeffrey Sachs, author of The Price of Civilization: Economics and Ethics After the Fall, Toronto Reference Library (Nov. 14, 7 p.m., free)
• Neil Pasricha signs The Book of (Holiday) Awesome, Indigo Manulife Centre, Toronto (Nov. 14, 7 p.m., free)
• Readings from Somebody’s Child: Stories About Adoption by contributors J. Jill Robinson, Bonnie Evans, Dale Lee Kwong, Raquel Schneidmiller, Elaine Hayes, and Judith Hope, Memorial Park Library, Calgary (Nov. 15, 7 p.m., free)
• Helen Humphreys presents at Heart of Niagara Fall Reading Series, Pelham Public Library, Fonthill, Ontario (Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., $8)
• Tightrope Books launches How to Get a Girl Pregnant, a memoir by Karleen Pendleton Jiménez; Onion Man, a poetry collection from Kathryn Mockler; and Prick, a novel by Ashley Little, Slack’s Restaurant, Toronto (Nov. 17, 6 p.m., free)
• Local authors K.L. Denman, Christy Goerzen, Cristy Watson, and Nikki Tate launch new YA titles, Kidsbooks, Surrey, B.C. (Nov. 17, 7 p.m., free)
• Beverley Brenna launches Falling for Henry, McNally Robinson, Saskatoon (Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., free)
• Kathleen Winter reads from Annabel, Killam Library, Halifax (Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m., free)

Canadian literary event round-up: Nov. 4-10

Here are just a few of the literary events happening across the country in the next week:

• BookFest Windsor holds readings, discussions, and workshops, Art Gallery of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario (Nov. 4–5, tickets at bookfestwindsor.com)
• Toronto Public Library hosts Human Library, various branches (Nov. 5, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., free)
• Anne Emery launches Death at Christy Burke’s, Durty Nelly’s, Halifax (Nov. 5, 3 p.m., free)
• Andrew Nikiforuk signs Empire of the Beetle as part of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, Willock & Sax Gallery, Banff (Nov. 5, 6 p.m., free)
• David Sedaris reads from his collected works, The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (Nov. 5, 8 p.m., from $45)
• Don Ferguson, Georges Laraque, Will Ferguson, and David Berlin discuss their writing at Books and Breakfast, Paragraphe Bookstore, Montreal (Nov. 6, 10 a.m., $32)
• Wade Davis discusses Into the Silence, Metro Toronto Reference Library (Nov. 7, 7 p.m., free)
• Scotiabank Giller Light Bash, various locations across Canada (Nov. 8, tickets at gillerlightbash.ca)
• Allan Levine launches King, Laurier House, Ottawa (Nov. 9, 6 p.m., free)
• Barbara DeLory launches Three Centuries of Public Art, Nova Scotia Archives, Halifax (Nov. 9, 7 p.m., free)

Canadian literary event round-up: Oct. 14-20

Here are just a few of the literary events happening across the country in the next week:

• Rob Benvie launches Maintenance with performances by the Maintenance Band and Choir! Choir! Choir!, Double Double Land, Toronto (Oct. 14, 8 p.m., free)
• Adam Gopnik delivers the first 2011 Massey Lecture in the series Winter: Five Windows on the Seasons, Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax (Oct. 14, 8 p.m., $24/$14 for students)
• LitFest non-fiction festival, various locations, Edmonton (Oct. 14–23, tickets at litfestalberta.org)
• New Brunswick WordsFall festival, various locations, St. Andrews (Oct. 15, e-mail wfnb@ns.aibn.com for information)
• Guy Vanderhaeghe reads from A Good Man with performance by musician Justin Rutledge, Banff Centre (Oct. 15, 7 p.m., $20)
• Vancouver International Writers Festival, various locations, Granville Island (Oct. 18–23, tickets at writersfest.bc.ca)
• David Bezmozgis discusses The Free World as part of the Jewish Book Festival’s Writer’s Salon, Vancouver (Oct. 19, 8 p.m., $54)
• Derek Hayes launches The Maladjusted with an art exhibition by Mike Limerick, Type Books, Toronto (Oct. 19, 9 p.m., free)
• International Festival of Authors, various locations, Ontario (Oct. 19–30, tickets at readings.org)

Ling Zhang responds to accusations of plagiarism

This week, the controversy dogging Chinese-Canadian author Ling Zhang’s second novel, Gold Mountain Blues, flared up again as prominent Chinese-Canadian authors Wayson Choy, Sky Lee, and Paul Yee signed a letter asking Penguin Canada to delay publication of its English-language translation of the book. Zhang has been accused of plagiarizing work by Choy, Lee, and Yee, as well as other well-known Chinese-Canadian writers. In their request, the trio criticize Penguin’s efforts to substantiate the accusations and they’ve asked for the delay so that an independent review might take place. (For more details on the controversy please follow the links to previous posts on Quillblog.)

In response, Zhang has issued a statement in which she claims not to have read the works from which she has allegedly borrowed, and expresses her disappointment at the recent turn of events:

Gold Mountain Blues is the result of years of research and several field trips to China and Western Canada. The research data obtained over the years is voluminous enough to allow me to write another complete novel if I chose to. A hundred and fifty years of Chinese-Canadian history is a “common wealth” for all of us to share and discover. I have not read The Jade Peony, Disappearing Moon Café, The Bone Collector’s Son, or Tales from Gold Mountain. I have a great respect for the authors who have already explored this rich territory before me: Wayson Choy, Denise Chong, Paul Yee, and Sky Lee.  I welcome and encourage authors interested in Chinese-Canadian history to do the same. When I started to write this book, I hoped it would serve to bring the Chinese-Canadian community a little more closely together, by sharing such a long and meaningful history.  I am deeply saddened to see that things do not seem to be going in that direction.

CLA kicks off Canadian Library Month

The Canadian Library Association kicked off Canadian Library Month on Tuesday. Throughout the month of October, libraries across the country will host events to raise awareness about the importance of libraries in the nation’s communities.

According to a press release from the CLA, the theme for 2011, Your Library: A Place Unbound, strengthens this message by pointing to libraries as hubs of information and personal connection in the midst of a quickly evolving world. “From coast to coast to coast, libraries are without boundaries, places of endless opportunity where Canadians have an equal right to access resources,” says CLA president Karen Adams in the media release.

Within the span of a few months, Canadian libraries have faced threats from municipal funding cuts, union strikes, devastating fires, and natural disasters — to name but a few challenges. It’s nice, then, to have some positive library-related news to report.

And in case a month of library celebrations isn’t uplifting enough, here’s a quick round up of other library-friendly news:

• The Nova Scotia Library Association names Tracey Jones-Grant winner of the 2011 Norman Horrocks Award for Library Leadership, and Rachel Crosby winner of the 2011 Emile Theriault Library and Information Technology Award for support staff
• Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries celebrates 75 years on Oct. 28
• Toronto Public Library’s Arthur Conan Doyle Room is getting a face lift
• Vancouver Public Library may have closed its Riley Park Branch last month, but Vancouver City Council has approved an increase in VPL funding for the brand new Terry Salman Branch

Happy Canadian Libraries Month!