Friday August 17th, 2018 7pm
Tartan Turban Secret Readings
The 12th session of The Tartan Turban Secret Readings was curated by the fabulous Terri Favro and marvelous Maria Meindl at Barrett and Welsh, a knock out, award-winning marketing and advertising agency that focuses on multiculturalism - be still my beating heart! Go mosaic! Go diversity! In other words, the world I dream of (everyone looks different, everyone has varied beliefs and lifestyles, everyone lives together in peace) is the world they make and pitch and produce. Because screw fascism, and the nationalist rhetoric that makes people lose their common sense and forget their humanity. Yes, folks, I'm tired of terrible politicians. Anywhoooo. This event has an open mike component: THAT's FRESH! And features Adom Acheampong, moi, Maria Meindl and Terri Favro. The evening's theme is Journeys.

Saturday March 3rd, 2018 at 2 to 3:30pm
Writers Workshop at the University of Guelph
Spiritual Memoir 2.0
There are unicorns and then there.are.unicons. Susan Scott, the editor of the forthcoming Body & Soul: Creative Nonfiction for Skeptics and Seekers and a superb writer to boot, is the latter. I know, people throw the word unicorn around a lot these days. Or maybe that's just me. Still, I know when I've met one. And because random acts of immense kindness happen (especially when Susan is around), she's invited me to participate in offering this workshop with her! You wanna come. I went last year, took copious notes and gathered some courage too. And you'll want to pick up a copy of Body & Soul when it comes out. Trust me, I've had a sneak preview read. Brilliant: it's the book we've been waiting for, the book we've been missing from our shelf, the book that will keep us company on those long dark nights of Canadian winter. Hallelujah.

​Wednesday February 14th, 2018 at 7pm
Queen Books
The fine editors of the Love Me True anthology, Fiona Lam & Jane Silcott, accepted my proposal to write an essay about my disastrous forays into married life for this book. And now I get to spend Valentine's night in a bookstore, reading out loud to adults before their bedtime. ❤️! I'm showing up with a big box of Baci® Perugina chocolates to share.

Sunday February 26th, 2017 at 3pm
Draft Reading Series at The Flying Pony Cafe
I will be reading with a incredible writers I have long admired including Clem Martini, Djanet Sears and meeting Jijo Quayson. The folks at Draft asked, "What shaped you as a writer?" Excellent question. My reply: "The many opportunities I had that generations of women in the family before me didn’t receive—all led to this life of chasing words: Time as a reader. A local library. A feminist father. A new country. Archie Comics. YA novels. An English teacher in middle school. A guidance counsellor who encouraged me in grade eight. Translated works. Plays. Poems. Films. Pop culture. Graphic novels. Star Trek. Lit Mags. A love of language. Malapropisms. My friends. Difficult gatekeepers. Gifted instructors. Angels with editorial ability. Generous writers. And most importantly—Pixie dust."

Thursday August 11th to Saturday August 14th, 2016 - Various Events
Association of Italian Canadian Writers 16th Biennial Conference in Padula, Italy
Italian-Canadian Literature: Departures, Journeys, Destinations
Travel & Transcultural Identity (Reading: Something is Lost and Can't Be Found); Book Launch of Exploring Voice (Reading: Scribo Ergo Sum); Family Ties (Chair).

​Saturday May 7th, 2016 from 9:30 to 10:50am
Festival of Literary Diversity, PAMA Council Chambers
Panel Chair: Faith & Fiction
How does faith influence the creation and the shape of our stories? Do traditions and beliefs inspire or inhibit the words that arrive on the page? Is there a place for faith in the telling of stories? Canadian authors Vivek Shraya, Zarqa Nawaz, Ayelet Tsabari, and Cherie Dimaline discuss the development of plot, character, and stories — addressing the inspiration behind their work and the challenges and opportunities that arise from a faith-based perspective.

​Thursday February 18th, 2016 from 1 to 4pm
University of Guelph, McLaughlin Library, 3rd floor
Elephants in the Living Room & Skeletons in the Closet: Writing about Family
Many writers draw inspiration from the people in their lives to create believable characters. For those interested in crafting a memoir or a work of creative nonfiction, writing about family is an obstacle that can delay putting pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard. The simple act of telling stories from our past can feel like a betrayal. This will be an interactive workshop with time devoted to discussion, readings of selected texts and in-class writing exercises. Participants are asked to come with a pen and notebook and prepared to engage in hands-on writing activities.

Tuesday February 3rd, 2015 at 6pm
Ben McNally Books
The Best Place on Earth: in Conversation with Ayelet Tsabari
Get this, I'm going to be touting one of my best friend's horns. That's right, my perfect night out in February involves a beautiful bookstore, talking to this brilliant writer friend and being in the audience while she reads from her superb book. The book will be available for purchase at the event, but no doubt you've already bought it, unless you've been living under a rock. The official invite (with minor edits) is this: Join IFOA (International Festival of Authors) for a special evening with Ayelet Tsabari, who will be reading from and discussing her short story collection, The Best Place on Earth. Tsabari will be interviewed by yours truly. Right? I love my lucky duck life. This FREE event is presented with Koffler Centre of the Arts and Ben McNally Books. A part of Spotlight on Israeli Culture festival.

Tuesday November 18th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Windup Bird Cafe
This was my big night out in November (after many weeks of being house-bound and marking papers. So many papers...) In terms of self-promotion, I would rather clean out the Sumatran tiger's cage at the Toronto Zoo with the big cat still inside, so it was superb to be on the bill with these fine folks. PLUS the food. My God, the meal. You know that part in Eat, Pray, Love where Elizabeth Gilbert goes to that specific pizza place in Naples because her Italian teacher tells her she must, and that if she doesn't make it there, she should lie and tell him she did? So whaddya still reading for? Shake a tail-feather and get down to the Windup Bird Cafe. Order the Pulled Pork Hot Stone Bowl Bibimbap (or an Avocado Tofu Gratin for the veggie crowd). You're welcome. I am in awe of the delicious comfort food created by Chef Yumiko Kobayashi, in love with the space Sang Kim has built, in seventh heaven to have finally found my restaurant home in Toronto, after years of missing Rhizome in Vancouver. Watch Sang Kim's moving Tedtalk - it's brilliant.

Friday May 23rd, 2014 at 7 pm
Planet Earth Fiction Night
Kathy Para (talk about Lucky...I read with her two nights in a row!) We were joined by Katrin Horowitz, and several local poets. A fantastic end to a fabulous tour.
The Moka House, 1633 Hillside Avenue, Victoria, BC

Thursday May 22nd, 2014 at 7 pm
Salt Spring Island Library
I teamed up with the peachy Kathy Para for this reading. She's the lovely writer who won Mother Tongue Publishing's second Search for the great BC novel contest with her excellent book, Lucky.

Wednesday May 21st, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Incite Reading Series
I don't even know where to start with this. Incite! This combined two of my favourite things, The Vancouver International Writers Festival and the central branch of the Vancouver Public Library: a place I dearly missed once I left the city. I would wake up and think "I have to go to the library today" picturing this gorgeous Colosseum-inspired building, then I'd remember where I was and ache with longing for my friends, the city, and this magnificent home to many books. Guess who I got to read with? Okay, Ill just tell you: Lynn Coady and Nancy Lee! Seriously, does life get any better? Add free chocolate to this event and it would have been my idea of Heaven. I took Nancy Lee's Fiction Clinic class years ago through TWS and am a fan of both their work. As Perry Como would say, Hot diggity dog ziggity boom. It was a wonderful night.

May 1st to 4th, 2014, Montreal
Association of Italian Canadian Writers Biennial Conference, Writing and Translating Culture: Bridging Differences Together
I read from A Recipe for Disaster and took part in a panel discussion on graphic novels with my friends Terri Favro and Ron Edding. This was the road trip to end all road trips, only by train. This was the first instalment of Favro & Fantetti Taking Their Show on the Road with Ringmaster Ron, but so successful we'll just see what flaming hoops we jump through next. Grey Borders publishes Ron & Terri's Bella books, and I happily blurbed Waiting for Mario Puzo.

Friday, April 18th, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Making a Racket at the Rocket
1364 Danforth Avenue (east of Greenwood)
I'm excited to be part of a special edition of the reading series at The Red Rocket Cafe on the Danforth. We will be celebrating host and organizer Sandra Cardinal's birthday.

Tuesday, April 15th, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
My friend, the fabulous Kathy Friedman, has been teaching a Creative Writing from Life class at CAMH. The students will be reading from their work and I'm thrilled to be invited as a guest reader.

Sunday February 16, 2014 at 3 pm
Draft Reading Series
Laisy Daisy's Cafe
1515 Gerrard Street East
Draft always puts together a delicious group. Cushy chairs. Fine drinks. A little stage. What's not to love?

Thursday January 30th, 2014 at 8pm
Speakeasy Reading Series
Magpie Tavern, 831 Dundas Street West
Two nights out in a row? It was practically balmy by the time Speakeasy started. This the series I co-founded with Ayelet Tsabari, and emceed in second year with Naoko Kumagai. Another night in good company!

Wednesday January 29th, 2014 at 8pm
Pivot Readings
Press Club, 850 Dundas Street West
I read with Julie Joosten and David McGimpsey. I laughed so hard my abs got a work out. Best reason to go out in the freezing cold weather was to hear these two readers. Emceed beautifully by Bianca Spence, who subbed for the duo that run the series, new parents to an adorable lil' bunny of a baby boy.

Monday November 25, 2013, Noon
Humber College Writing Centre Fall 2013 Book Club
North Campus, GH 202 of the Guelph-Humber Building.
Another duet event, because that's the kind of lucky duck life I'm living! The Humber College Writing Centre presented the Fall 2013 Book Club featuring The Best Place on Earth by Ayelet Tsabari. A Recipe for Disaster & Other Unlikely Tales of Love was après lunch, like dessert that still has to be tasted, even though folks were full from Ayelet's luscious work. What made this even sweeter is that we both used to work at the centre.

Thursday November 21, 2013, 7 pm
A Recipe for Disaster & Other Unlikely Tales of Love Toronto Book Launch
No One Writes to the Colonel
460 College Street
THIS WAS IT! The Toronto launch! I am one very lucky duck: my talented friends lent a hand (and thank god, shared the spotlight!) I was deeply honoured by their willingness to participate. The amazing Ayelet Tsabari emceed; the brilliant Becky Blake and fabulous Kathy Friedman graced the audience with new writing. There was live music provided by the multi-talented Taunya Gaum. Pappy, star of a lapsed Tumblr account (http://servesspaghettisauce.tumblr.com/) was in attendance too, (even though it meant he missed Jeopardy). Everyone wanted to meet him. He left feeling like a rock star; I was left with a deep sense of community, gratitude and love.

Friday November 15, 2013, 3:30 pm
A Recipe for Disaster & Other Unlikely Tales of Love Vancouver Book Launch
Vancouver Public Library, room
Mother Tongue Publishing also launched Kathleen Para's award-winning novel, Lucky. It was fantastic to share this event with a writer of her calibre and I was surrounded by many dearly missed friends. It was simply excellent.

Sunday November 10th, 2013, 4pm
A Recipe for Disaster & Other Unlikely Tales of Love Victoria Book Launch
Sponsored by Pen-in-Hand Reading Series,
Serious Coffee, Cook Street Village
Victoria is the first place I called home. I had the best time, and met the marvelous Mona Fertig, my publisher, in person! Plus, I was thrilled that M.A.C Farrant read as well, I love her writing, and she gifted me with a copy of her memoir My Turquoise Years! Double the pleasure, double the fun.

Thursday November 7, 2013, 7:30 pm
The Writer's Studio Reading Series, Featured Reader
Cottage Bistro, 4470 Main St (at E 29th), Vancouver
I hosted this series for a year in 2009. I was so thrilled about being asked to read here, it felt like homecoming! I wanted to plan a parade, with a mariachi band, and plenty of flaming baton twirlers, but the Fire Marshall was a bit of a buzzkill.

Sunday September 15, 2013, 2 pm
Emails from India: Women Write Home Book Launch, Seraphim Editions
Women's Art Association of Canada, 23 Prince Arthur Avenue, Toronto
This was a lovely event - they had fresh baked cookies, good coffee and punch! Plus I met some fantastic female travelers. I'm a fan, waiting to read their future work.

Thursday September 5, 2013, 7pm
Stranger than Fiction
The Press Club, 850 Dundas Street, Toronto
I was a guest reader with students from Ayelet Tsabari's Advanced Creative Nonfiction class. She's an exceptional teacher (writer, editor and friend too). This was a fabulous night for lovers of Creative Nonfiction. I was so impressed by the quality of the writing, and honoured to participate.

Friday February 15, 2013
Racket at the Rocket Reading Series, Toronto, Featured Reader

Wednesday July 11, 2012
Fish 2012 Anthology Launch, Bantry Bay, West Cork, Ireland

Sunday April 22, 2012
Draft Reading Series, S. Walter Stewart Branch, Toronto Public Library

Sunday September 19, 2012
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival, MFA reading