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Book Launch: What the Poets Are Doing

  • 914 Queen Street East Toronto, ON, M4M 1J5 Canada (map)

Queen Books - 914 Queen Street East, Toronto

Please join us on March 28 for the Toronto launch of “What the Poets Are Doing: Canadian Poets in Conversation,” featuring readings and conversations with Linda Besner, Karen Solie, Rob Taylor, Phoebe Wang and special guests. Bring your friends!

This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase.


The Queen Books' front entrance is wheelchair accessible and has a StopGap. The door is not automated, but staff will be happy to assist folks. The reading will take place in the lower level of the store. There is a single stall bathroom that is up 3 steps at the venue. There is a fully accessible washroom at the Starbucks two doors down, and they are happy to let QB customers use it without charge as needed throughout the event.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with Queen Books here, or at 416-778-5053, if you have any questions. The nearest transit stop is at Queen & Logan and the store is a 1 minute walk from the 501 Queen streetcar. Queen Books endeavors to be a low scent space.


About the Book:

In 2002, Nightwood published “Where the Words Come From: Canadian Poets in Conversation,” a successful first-of-its-kind collection of interviews with literary luminaries like Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Avison, Patrick Lane, Lorna Crozier and P.K. Page, conducted by “the younger generation” of poets of the day. Sixteen years later, “What the Poets Are Doing” brings together two younger generations of poets to engage in conversations with their peers on modern-day poetics, politics and more. Together they explore the world of Canadian poetry in the new millennium: what's changed, what's endured and what's next. An exciting “turn of the century” has evolved into a century characterized by social and digital media, the Donald Trump presidency, #MeToo empowerment and scandal, and Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation.

What the Poets Are Doing includes conversations between:

Elizabeth Bachinsky and Kayla Czaga

Tim Bowling and Raoul Fernande

Dionne Brand and Souvankham Thammavongsa

Marilyn Dumont and Katherena Vermette

Sue Goyette and Linda Besner

Steven Heighton and Ben Ladouceur

Sina Queyras and Canisia Lubrin

Armand Garnet Ruffo and Liz Howard

Karen Solie and Amanda Jernigan

Russell Thornton and Phoebe Wang

with an afterword co-written by Nick Thran and Sue Sinclair

Earlier Event: March 28
URBAN FOLK ART SALON
Later Event: March 28
Hart House Open Mic Night