Reimagining Our History - DD at Doors Open

Upcoming Event: Reimagining our History – DD at Doors Open

On Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 I’ll be reading excerpts from Shade at the Diaspora Dialogues’ Doors Open TO event.

The event, titled “Reimagining our History,” invites attendees to reimagine our great country’s history through a more diverse and inclusive lens with readings by writers, poets, and playwrights from around the GTA. I’m honoured to be reading amidst a lineup of amazing writers such as Priscila Uppal and Pratap Reddy as we explore a moment or figure in Canadian history.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1696593990583105/

For more info or to RSVP, check out the event’s Facebook page (linked above) or Eventbrite page here.

I hope to see you there!

Inanna Spring Book Launch No. 1

Coming Up: Shade’s Book Launch

 

Join us on May 5 for the launch of four great books (including Shade!)

Hey all, It’s almost time! In less than a month, Shade will officially launch.

If you’re free Thursday, May 5, come out for the official launch of Shade and three other amazing Inanna books. It will be a great evening of readings from all four of us authors as well as appetizers, drinks, some live music, and the chance for Q&A.

Where: Women’s Art Association of Canada, 23 Prince Arthur Ave, Toronto, ON

When: Thursday, May 5 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

You can also RSVP to the event on Facebook.

I hope to see you all there!

Readings Made Simple: A workshop with Andrew J Borokowski

Last month I attended the Readings Made Simple workshop hosted jointly by The Writers Union of Canada and Diaspora Dialogues and led by Andrew J Borokowski. The event was a fun one, held in four parts:

  1. Andrew asking us about our public reading experience and sharing insights from his own experience
  2. An opportunity for us to read our work in a circle and get feedback
  3. A brief break followed by general stage/mic set up information and stretching
  4. An opportunity for us to read our work on stage through a mic

The workshop was insightful – an afternoon well spent. Key takeaways from the event for me included the following pointers from Andrew:

  • The challenge [with readings] can be how to get the poet out of the way – to let the words sing themselves” (so true!)
  • A reading is intended to convey the gist or flavour of a story, chapter, or book, and hopefully encourage your audience to buy what you are reading. As a result, material needs to be
    • Introduced (think about how you will do this/think about your introduction in advance)
    • Bridged (if you are reading from separate sections of the work)
    • Relative (think of how separate components of the reading relate to one another)
  • Control your gestures. Let your voice speak. Deliver your reading with honesty and conviction and “lift it up” (look up at the audience to bring your work to life)
  • If you’re extra nervous, invite a friend to be part of the audience and tell them the story
  • Ultimately “it’s telling the story, not giving a reading

My absolute favourite part of the workshop: the gentle reminder that readings are often central to an author’s promotional strategy and, though many authors may dread the public speaking aspect of it, the reading is not about the author – it’s about the work.

Thanks to Andrew, TWUC and DD for hosting a great event!

Cappuccino at the Supermarket

Recap: Inanna Publications Spring Book Launch No. 2

Every cry in the vortex
Is the search for terra firma

Every repetition the desire
For new earth, as it were

A firmer future, a newer here;
Sand castles that do not disappear

– travel tips by Adebe DeRango-Adem

 

Yesterday I attended Inanna Publications Spring Book Launch No. 2. The event was to launch four books – all of which I would recommend:

  • Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You by Donna Decker
    A novel about the imagined lives of three women as they approach the date of the Montreal Massacre
  • Terra Incognita by Adebe DeRango-Adem
    A collection of poems that “explore various racial discourses and interracial crossings buried in history’s grand narratives”
  • Moments of Joy by Cecilia Frey
    A novel that explores how a dysfunctional family comes to terms with “the capricious workings of fate and the human heart” as the patriarch of a family dies of cancer
  • A Hero by Charlotte Mendel
    A novel that entwines the stories of a state war with familial conflict

I must admit that I have never before felt like more of a country mouse than I did at the beginning of Wednesday evening. I left work early for the almost-two-hour drive to the city, tried my best to find parking, and then hunted up some dinner. I know all of this together doesn’t sound like it should be such an ordeal, but I was particularly mortified when I entered a small cafe and ordered “anything on the menu with meat,” only to be told I was in a vegan establishment (surrounded on all four corners by other vegan/vegetarian establishments) – a far cry from the selection of Swiss Chalet/Harveys/Pizza Hut that I am used to in my town. It’s not that I am opposed to vegan food – I quite enjoyed my vegan pizza – but it did hit home how out-of-my-element I was.

Let’s be honest – I’m a writer. My element is being alone, in a quiet room, with a notebook for company. I’m not always the best at meeting new people, networking, or being in social situations in general, which is maybe why it’s been so many months since the last book launch I attended. BUT… when the readings started…

I was enthralled. Taken in by the dry humour of Cecilia Frey, the passion of Charlotte Mendel, the intensity of Donna Decker, and sheer poetry of Adebe DeRango-Adem.

There’s something to say about getting out of your comfort zone, only to find it again. I might like being alone, but I also like to hear beautiful, beautiful writing just as much. I was able to find the latter at Inanna’s second book launch event. And, at the end of the night, I left feeling rejuvenated – the part of me that maybe doesn’t get out that often refreshed, ready to move about my day-to-day life again.

I left the event remembering that writing is my way of searching for terra firma – to find new earth. And sometimes, when I’m lucky, I do.

Inanna Publications Spring Book Launch No. 2 Event Info

Inanna Publications Toronto Spring Book Launch No.2

Inanna Publications Spring Book Launch No. 2 Event Info

Inanna Publications Spring Book Launch No. 2 Event Info

Next Wednesday, May 27, I will be attending Inanna Publications Second Spring Book Launch featuring readings by Donna Decker, Adebe DeRango-Adem, Cecilia Frey and Charlotte Mendel. The free event is being held in Supermarket in Kensington Market (268 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON).

Since moving further up north, I haven’t been out and about in Toronto as much as I used to be, and I’m really looking forward to this event. It will be even better with a few familiar faces around to catch up with, so I encourage all my writing, arts, and literary pals to come out and attend 🙂

Speaking of Inanna and book launches, I may have some exciting news to share in a little while. But, until then, all I can say is… stay tuned and I hope to see you all there!

Reading at the Writers from the Underground event

My Second Reading: Writers from the Underground

Reading at the Writers from the Underground event

Reading at the Writers from the Underground event

On Saturday, May 24, I read an excerpt from a banned book and an excerpt from my novel Shade for Doors Open Toronto. Hosted in the Heritage Room of the Metropolitan United Church, the event titled Writers from the Underground featured writing that was banned or “driven underground” in a quite literally underground space.

It was thrilling to read amongst a lineup of authors such as Farzana Doctor – who I had interviewed for a feature article just three short years ago – and Karen Connelly – who had provided both writing insight and guidance to me more than five years ago, when she was Writer-in-Residence at the University of Toronto and I was still trying to figure out where to go after graduation. Even more amazing was hearing from my talented fellow mentees – Deepa Shanakaran and James Papoutsis, among so many others.

The room, though tiny, had great ambiance. And now I can say that I’ve read at an event with standing room only!

For the censored book, I chose Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal. It was surreal reading my work – set in the Philippines – right after one of the most defining Filipino texts of all time. As I mentioned during the reading, no matter how much time has passed or how much space is between Canada and the Philippines, some things remain quintessentially Filipino – the big families, vibrant conversations, and meddlesome nature of everyone who loves each other and is involved in each other’s business!

After the reading, a woman approached me outside and said she really liked the excerpt from my novel. She browsed through the piles of books available on the table and asked where mine was. I had to tell her it wasn’t there… yet! Hopefully it will be soon.

My parents and my brother attended as well, and that was perhaps the best and most terrifying part of the afternoon. I read a quote from Rita Mae Brown that said, “Writers will happen in the best of families.” Somehow I happened to mine and, while it may not always make sense, it’s nice to know I have people rooting for me in the crowd.

Thanks once again to DD for organizing an amazing event.

TOK: Writing the New Toronto, Book 7 Launch

On Wednesday, May 9, the latest (and last) installment of the TOK series launched at Gladstone Hotel. The night was a great success, featuring readings by my fellow emerging writers, James Papoutsis, Zalika Reid-Benta and Yaya Yao, as well as a panel discussion involving mentors Moez Surani and Olive Senior. The turnout was huge, the beer ice cold, and finger foods great. Despite the fact that I drove (read: sat) in traffic for literally 2 ½ hours to get there (Grrr, I hate driving downtown), I’m happy I attended the TOK launch. Such events are always inspiring for me as a writer, not to mention the amazing sense of accomplishment it offered to finally see “Next Time” in print. Some kindly man even asked for my autograph, which was a definite first!

As always, thank you once again to Diaspora Dialogues staff – Helen, Natalie, Jordan and Holly – for organizing everything from the program to the anthology to the launch, and offering an amazing support network for emerging writers. The Diaspora Dialogues experience is one that keeps giving.

I am extremely fortunate to have experienced Diaspora Dialogues’ short form mentoring program, especially since I managed to sneak into its last year running. From now on, Diaspora Dialogues is offering a long form mentoring program, which I hope to apply for, that will offer emerging writers greater in-depth opportunities to hone their craft and ready a book-length project for publication. If you’re an emerging writer with a book in the desk drawer, this program is certainly one to consider.

If you have time, be sure to check Diaspora Dialogues out. Any support for the organization would be greatly appreciated, whether through donation or through purchasing a TOK book, so the organization can continue its support of emerging writers. The seventh edition of TOK contains the recurring theme of hope. The book submerges readers into a world of complex and compelling characters, offering greater insights into the dynamics men face in our society. I’m honoured to be among the authors in TOK 7. Trust me, the book is well worth the read.

My First Reading Ever

Glowing with relief with my parents after my reading at Diaspora Dialogues’ “Toronto the Bad” event was done.

On Friday, April 20 I participated in my first reading ever. There’s a million things I could say about the event, from my anxiety in the face of public speaking, to my worry about what my parents would think, to the seeming serendipity of reading at an event I had been an awed witness of only a few years earlier. I could even touch on the way my voice shook from terror during my introduction, the way I zoned into the story halfway through, my failure to properly adjust the mic and therefore my need to talk into it through the side of my mouth, or that one annoying piece of hair that kept falling into my eyes. Perhaps I could even recap the fear I had when the reading was done, during which I realized I was in front of about 100 people reading my personal thoughts, and I just ran off stage.

But three weeks later, it still feels fresh enough to frighten, awe, and amaze me. Three weeks later, I’m still too shy to watch the video my Dad discreetly taped of me (against my wishes!), too high from the idea that I actually got paid for fiction, and too grateful to fully grasp the fact that one of the readers on stage was me and this week I’ll be published in this year’s TOK anthology.

Perhaps, when it all boils down to it, all I’d really like to say is, Thank you. To Diaspora Dialogues for the opportunity, to Olive Senior for the mentorship, to my fellow emerging writers for coming out and showing support at the event, and to my lovely boyfriend and family for witnessing me freak out, advising me to breathe, and allowing me to break their hands while I squeezed it out of fear and nervousness.

If you’re interested in finding me much more calm and composed at another awesome event, feel free to visit the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom at 7:30pm this Wednesday night (May 9). TOK: Writing the New Toronto, Book 7 will be launched – the book in which my short story, “Next Time,” is published. Accompanying the launch are readings by my fellow emerging writers, James Papotsis, Zalika Reid-Benta, and Yaya Yao, and a panel discussion between Moez Surani and Olive Senior.

Short Story: “Next Time”

Great news! I recently received word that my short story, “Next Time,” will be published in this year’s TOK Anthology. The TOK series books are traditionally released in April, and I can’t wait to see the finished product.

I will be reading the same story at the Toronto Reference Library this April 20th for Keep Toronto Reading 2012 as part of the Friday Nights with Diaspora Dialogues series. It seems like only yesterday when I was nearly moved to tears by the MAD Poet’s spoken word at Friday Nights with Diaspora Dialogues in 2009, and now I will be one among the presenters.

It’s a mind-blowing opportunity that I’m still too giddy to wrap my head around. The sheer head rush that resulted from hearing both these things was enough to last me for a long time. I’m still buzzing from excitement!

For an excerpt of the short story, please feel free to read beyond the cut.

Continue reading

My Internet Highlight of the Week

August 3rd, 2009 marked a memorable occasion: The day Penguin acknowledged me on Twitter. At the time, being acknowledged by Penguin on Twitter was like shaking a celebrity’s hand for me. It gave me a euphoric, giddy high. Over the past couple of years, there have been a few other times where I have had the same exciting feeling of going out in the world and rubbing shoulders with people I admire.

I received a similar thrill a couple of weeks ago when I visited Diaspora Dialogue’s website. I’ve been an avid follower of this Toronto-based arts organization since I happened upon it a couple of years ago. Imagine my surprise when I visited their site and saw they linked to one of my YorkScene articles. I was shocked and giddy. I print-screened it and saved it. It made my day.

How awesome is it to admire an organization for so long, only to find your name on the top of their homepage one day? Very awesome!

To read the YorkScene article, check it out here. The article also appears on Live in Limbo and Nerd Girl Pinups, so if you’re into Ontario talent or like books as much as hot chicks who dig Star Wars, check the article out on those platforms, too!