On the occasion of World Book and Copyright Day 2023, this webinar will give an overview of the copyright landscape in Canada – addressing the history, reform, and proposed changes surrounding the Copyright Act, and its impact on Canadian publishers. Read more
The Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ), the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF), and Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore are pleased to return to the Salon du livre de Montréal, November 23–27 at the Palais des congrès. Find us under the “Get Lit!” banner, kiosk #725, where we will have books for sale by over 125 Quebec writers and 40 publishers. Read more
This year, the Holiday Book Fair is back, in person! After two years of virtual and hybrid book fairs in 2020 and 2021, we’re thrilled to return to the Concordia McConnell Building Atrium. Produced by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ) in partnership with the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF), the Holiday Book Fair presents exciting new works from local publishers, authors, and translators, a full program of hybrid literary events, and multiple author signings. Read more
NOTA is a literary conference for English-language writers, publishers, events organizers, and literary professionals to discuss the changing context for literature and to explore how writing careers are developed, supported, and sustained in Quebec in 2022. Read more
This free celebration of Quebec English-language books is back, in-person and online! Read more
Looking for some stimulating conversation about literature, from the comfort of your home? Want to discover and read Quebec books? Join the club! Read more
Presented by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec
The public often turns to trusted media sources to help them choose their next read; having a book covered by a national or international outlet can give a huge boost to publishers and writers. In this panel discussion, three media professionals will speak to their visions for their outlets, as well as what gets books noticed, and what publishers and writers can do to give their books an edge. Join us for a lively panel discussion and Q&A.
With Erin Balser (CBC Books), Jade Colbert (The Globe & Mail), and Cevin Bryerman (Publishers Weekly). Moderated by Christopher DiRaddo.
Erin Balser is the senior producer for CBC Books, which includes cbcbooks.ca, The Next Chapter, Writers & Company, Canada Reads, the CBC Literary Prizes and the Scotiabank Giller Prize.
Jade Colbert is an editor and journalist who has reviewed books for the Globe and Mail since 2013. Her work primarily focuses on Canadian and Indigenous literary writing, including works in translation. A graduate of Ryerson’s publishing program, she lives in Toronto.
Cevin Bryerman is the publisher and executive vice-president of Publishers Weekly, the international news platform of the book publishing industry. He has been in the publishing business for more than 30 years, working at the helm of both trade and consumer magazines in strategic planning, business development and strategic partnerships.
Christopher DiRaddo is the author of two books: The Geography of Pluto (2014) and If We Were Fathers, out next year from Véhicule Press. He produces and hosts the Violet Hour reading series, as well as programming Violet Metropolis, the LGBTQ leg of Montreal’s Blue Metropolis Literary Festival. He is the current president of the Quebec Writers’ Federation and an evaluation committee member on the Conseil des arts de Montréal.
There are two flights of stairs to access the auditorium; we regret that the Atwater Library does not yet have an elevator (though it is currently under construction!). There is a gender-neutral single-stall washroom on the second floor, and a multi-stall women’s washroom. Please contact admin [at] aelaq [dot] org for other accessibility queries.
November 20-25, 2019
Place Bonaventure, 800 De La Gauchetière St. W.
Opening Hours
Entrance Fees
Map of the Salon du Livre
We’re back! AELAQ and the Quebec Writers’ Federation, in collaboration with Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore, will once again be at the Salon du livre de Montréal! Visit us at Stand 208, where you’ll find English-language books from local publishers and writers, including fiction, memoir, poetry, graphic novels, and more. There will be author signings happening throughout the fair–see below for full schedule.
In addition, we’re presenting a series of six events, conceived as a shared space for writers and translators from diverse backgrounds and communities, both English- and French-speaking, to read, perform, and exchange ideas around themes that are meaningful in today’s society: identity, diversity, and culture. All events take place on Wednesday Nov. 20th (admission to the Salon is free that day!) and Saturday Nov. 23rd.
Paige Cooper; Rana Bose; Lindsay Nixon; David Clerson; Natalia Hero
Wednesday Nov. 20th:
◊ Translation Grand Slam, 6 – 6:45 PM, Agora
Two pairs of literary translators head into a bookish battle of words. How does each translation choice bend meaning and tone to create the final effect? Authors and translators explore the nuances inherent to literary translation, then engage the audience in a Q&A.
Melissa Bull and Natalia Hero will translate short fiction by David Clerson from French to English. Rachel Martinez and Éric Fontaine will turn the tables, translating short fiction by Paige Cooper from English to French. Katia Grubisic will host in French and English.
◊ The Violet Hour, 7:15 – 8 PM, Grande salle
This event, on the opening night of the Salon, is dedicated to short readings and performances in French and English by LGBTQ+ artists. It will be hosted by the curator of the popular Violet Hour reading series, Christopher DiRaddo, and featured writers include Erín Moure, Denis-Martin Chabot, and Malek Yalaoui.
◊ Rapid-Fire Reading, Ricochet Writing, 8 – 9 PM, Grande salle
Eighteen of the province’s hottest writers and spoken word performers will keep things hopping by reading from their most engaging work—for only 90 seconds each!—Then, still on stage, each will sit down at a laptop to contribute on the spot to a collaborative text that will be read aloud at the end of the show—with élan! This event is primarily in English, with some French.
Participating authors/performers include Kym Dominique-Ferguson, Serge Lamothe, Ann Lambert, Jonathan Lamy, Nora Loreto, Kama La Mackerel, Ross Murray, Mark Paterson, seeley quest, Greg Santos, Neil Smith, Gillian Sze, and 6 others. The event will be hosted by Maria Schamis Turner.
Saturday Nov. 23rd:
◊ LOGOS Readings, 4:10 – 4:55 PM, Espace littéraire
This event will feature readings and performances by two Francophone and two Anglophone authors from diverse backgrounds. Co-hosted by Maguy Métellus and H. Nigel Thomas, and featuring Jason Selman, Gloria Macher, Natacha Odonnat and Jean-Claude Martineau.
◊ 2019 QWF Award Winners, 5:05 – 5:50 PM, Espace littéraire
A discussion with the freshly named winners of the 2019 QWF Awards for fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translation, children’s and young adult literature and first book. The event will be hosted by Malek Yalaoui.
◊ Literary Covers Night, 7 – 7:45 PM, Espace littéraire
Local writers “cover” the work of other local writers whose writing they admire. An evening of bilingual readings, hosted by Sean Michaels (author of Us Conductors and 2019’s The Wagers). Authors will take the stage to read their coups de cœur from Quebec’s repertoire of poetry and prose, delivering a stellar set list of literary covers. Featuring Clara Dupuis-Morency, Julie Delporte, Maude Veilleux, Lindsay Nixon, Michael Nardone, and Rana Bose.
Schedule of writers who’ll be signing at Stand 208:
Thursday Nov 21
10 AM – 12 PM: Denis Coupal, Blindshot
Friday Nov 22
6 PM – 7 PM: Jeanne Painchaud, ABC MTL
Saturday Nov 23
11 AM – 12 PM: Martin Lukacs, The Trudeau Formula: Seduction and Betrayal in an Age of Discontent
12 PM – 1 PM: Rita Pomade: Seeker: A Sea Odyssey
1 – 2 PM: Susan Doherty, The Ghost Garden
2 – 3 PM: Jeanne Painchaud, ABC MTL
3 – 4 PM: Louise Carson, In Which: Being Book One of the Chronicles of Deasil Widdy
4 – 5 PM: Ann Lambert, The Birds That Stay
5 – 7 PM: Mary Ann Lichacz-Karwatsky, My Father’s Store
6 – 7 PM: Lindsay Nixon, nîtisânak
8 – 9 PM: Sean Michaels, The Wagers
Sunday Nov 24
10 AM – 12 PM: Katia Grubisic, ABC MTL (translator)
12 – 1 PM: Allan Globensky, A Little Knock Won’t Hurt Ya!, My Life As a Hockey Enforcer
1 – 2 PM: David Homel, The Teardown
2 – 3 PM: Denis Coupal, Blindshot
3 – 4 PM: Steve Luxton, The Dying Meteorologist
4 – 6 PM: Ariela Freedman, A Joy to be Hidden
This free, two-day celebration of Quebec English-language books is back! Read more
Monday October 7th, 5-7 PM
Atwater Library Auditorium
1200 Ave. Atwater, 2nd Floor
Free and open to the public; please RSVP to admin [at] aelaq [dot] org
From providing entertainment on long drives to making literature more accessible to those with print disabilities, audiobooks are an exciting format with far-reaching potential. According to the Audio Publishers Association (USA), downloadable audiobooks are the most dependably growing format in the industry. If you’re curious about this booming business and wondering what you need to do to make the move from text to sound, Intro to Audiobooks is for you. This seminar will cover all aspects of licensing and producing books as audiobooks, including audiobook publishers, basic contract terms, narrators, studios, distribution, and marketing. While primarily aimed at publishers, writers, producers, and other members of the public are welcome to attend.
About David Caron
After spending much time with grandparents in Greenfield Park, David Caron is happy to be back in Québec to talk about audiobooks. He is the president and co-publisher of ECW Press in Toronto, and current president of the Ontario Book Publishers Organization. His two decades of work in book publishing and a decade of work in theatre are finding a convergence in the work on audiobooks in the last four years.
There are two flights of stairs to access the auditorium; we regret that the Atwater Library does not yet have an elevator. There is a gender-neutral single-stall washroom on the second floor, and a multi-stall women’s washroom. Please contact admin [at] aelaq [dot] org for other accessibility queries.