My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors!

Toronto has many wonderful, accessible opportunities for aspiring writers to learn more about their craft and to meet published authors.

At Word on the Street this past September, the Humber School of Writers led a series of panels and discussions that were free mini-courses full of tips and advice on topics like how NOT to get published, mining family history, publishing in perilous times and writing for young adults.

The IFOA at Harbourfront attracts authors from around the world for readings, interviews and panel discussions. For the past three years, the festival has featured a Found in Translation series, to highlight works in other languages. This year, Bengali poet Subodh Sarkar read from In My Bustard English.

But the best part is the chance to hang around and chat with authors at the book signings or in the Festival Hub. Farzana Doctor told us about the lecture series she’s running as Writer in Residence at Toronto Public Library. http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?N=4294952185  As the Moxy Fruvous song goes, “What a sight ’cause it’s authors’ night and the place looks like a who’s who!” Ondaatje didn’t start a food fight, but he was very gracious about being reminded of our long-ago meeting on the set of Bruce McDonald’s Elimination Dance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc0OumPMeTs