A Talk by Kai Cheng Thom
Moderated by Helen Chau Bradley
Monday May 6th, 6 PM
La Petite Librairie Drawn + Quarterly, 176 Bernard West
Free & Open to the Public; Please RSVP to admin@aelaq.org
Presented by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec and the Quebec Writers’ Federation
Writers are often told to follow the adage “write what you know”. But what happens when your writing takes you somewhere outside your experience and knowledge? How can writers and publishers make sure the texts they’re putting into the world reflect different communities and experiences in a way that’s fair and accurate, and is this even an achievable goal? What does a sensitivity reader do, and (when) should you hire one? Join author and consultant Kai Cheng Thom for a presentation on these topics and more, followed by a conversation with writer and critic Helen Chau Bradley. There will be opportunities for audience questions as well, so come equipped with all your queries about venturing into the literary unknown.
Kai Cheng Thom is a writer, performer, lasagna lover and wicked witch based in Toronto, unceded Indigenous territory. She is the author of several award-winning works, including the novel Fierce Femmes and Notorious Liars: A Dangerous Trans Girl’s Confabulous Memoir (recently selected for Emma Watson’s book club); poetry collection a place called No Homeland; the children’s book From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea, and the forthcoming essay collection I HOPE WE CHOOSE LOVE: A Trans Girl’s Notes From the End of the World. Kai Cheng is the winner of the 2017 Dayne Ogilvie Prize for Emerging LBGT Writers and a two-time Lambda Literary Finalist. She has been published widely in print and online, and has performed in venues across the country. Kai Cheng provides sensitivity reading and manuscript consultation services to organizations and artists.
Helen Chau Bradley is a queer mixed-race writer, musician & arts administrator. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in carte blanche, Cosmonauts Avenue, and the Montreal Review of Books. She plays in the band Heathers, works for POP Montreal, and hosts the Strange Futures book club at Librairie Drawn + Quarterly. Find her reading recommendations at @notesofacrocodile on Instagram.
La Petite Drawn and Quarterly Accessibility information:
– Our event space uses StopGap.ca ramps in an effort to encourage accessibility. Both the step at the entrance, followed by a half step and a door have StopGap ramps. The door opens inward and is not automated. Once inside, there are no additional steps.
♥ Please email events@drawnandquarterly.com if you have any accessibility needs we can accommodate (for example, saving you a seat if you have mobility needs) for you to be able to enjoy our events, worry-free, and feel free to contact us for any concerns you may have ♥