In NOTES FROM THE WARD (Gordon Hill Press), poet Steffi Tad-y confronts the realities of bipolar disorder and psychotic break, drawing from lived experience to strip away the medicalized narratives that often dominate. Read two poems from the book here: alllitup.ca/two-poems-notes-from-the-ward/

"When a poem isn’t working, sometimes I introduce a new image that may be unrelated to the work." Joanna Streetly tells us about her writing process and reads from her new collection ALL OF US HIDDEN (@caitlinpress.bsky.social) alllitup.ca/poetry-in-motion-joanna-streetly-all-of-us-hidden/

For Under the Cover, @jenwinsorauthor.bsky.social reflects on journaling, finding her voice, and the stories that led to her memoir SHIP MOMS (@breakwaterbooksltd.bsky.social) about the women who became mothers while working at sea. alllitup.ca/under-the-cover-with-jen-winsor-author-of-ship-moms/

Today, Gail Sidonie Šobat answers our #writersblock questionnaire: about dream collaborations, early writing affirmations, and her new novel set in Canada and Central Europe, SONGS FROM THIS AND THAT COUNTRY (@greatplainspress.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

Today we're celebrating All Lit Up's 11th birthday with cake and a 10% discount on ALL BOOKS site-wide! (Promo code ALU11 at checkout.) www.alllitup.ca THANK YOU! We literally wouldn't be here with you.

A Canadian restaurateur in 1959 Vilnius finds himself running a Soviet café, where absurdity and suspicion share the menu. Read an excerpt from Antanas Sileika’s comic Cold War novel THE SEASIDE CAFE METROPOLIS (@cormorantbooks.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/excerpted-th...

Guy Elston's debut collection of poems THE CHARACTER ACTOR CONVENTION (The Porcupine's Quill) offers a playful, surreal chorus of voices to explore shifting identities. Guy reads two poems from the book at the click: alllitup.ca/poetry-in-mo...

"The modern queer voice is broad and dynamic." In his new novel WE ARE ALL OF US LEFT BEHIND (Freehand Books), Bradley Somer writes a story that celebrates a life that's queer, not just a queer life. Read his essay about queer representation in literature here: alllitup.ca/under-the-co...

Written as a "mob novel from the moll's perspective," Lisa de Nikolits's new novel MAD DOG AND THE SEA DRAGON (Inanna Publications) contains a cast of wild characters embroiled in a twisty plot. Hear Lisa's #mixtape of songs that embody her characters at the click: alllitup.ca/mixtape-mad-...

Poet @paulvermeersch.bsky.social ch.bsky.social is today's #PoetryInMotion artist with his new collection NMLCT (@ecwpress.bsky.social), an exploration of our relationship between organic and artificial existences. Watch Paul read "On Monstrosity" from the book here: alllitup.ca/poetry-in-mo...

"Any strength, in excess, becomes a weakness." @anncavlovic.bsky.social shares her personal and painful journey to publishing her novel COUNT ON ME (@guernicaeditions.bsky.social) in #UndertheCover: alllitup.ca/on-persistence-and-the-courage-to-lie-down-under-the-cover-with-ann-cavlovic/

We got a special behind-the-scenes peek at @breakwaterbooksltd.bsky.social's snazzy new office space in Downtown St. John's and a little history of the press. alllitup.ca/in-house-with-breakwater-books-a-storied-history-and-a-new-home/

"It worked out well for us...but I always toyed with the thought of 'what if…?'" MS Berry tells us about a fateful family trip to Germany that inspired her new domestic thriller THE TENANT (Turnstone Press). Read our full #writersblock interview here: alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

We peeked some dreamy and breezy reading spots where Canadian authors love to read. Patios, library corners, balconies aplenty! Plus: a look at some of the books keeping them company. alllitup.ca/hot-days-cool-spots-where-and-what-authors-read-this-summer

We're looking ahead to fall: crunching leaves, spiced coffees, and the six books on our 2025 Fall Preview list, chosen by ALU staff and ready to be added to your TBR: alllitup.ca/the-all-lit-...

What’s it like to unexpectedly find yourself working in your family’s publishing house? Assistant publisher Phoebe Finbow of @renegadeartsent.bsky.social shares her path into small press publishing, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. alllitup.ca/in-house-wit...

If you loved our Aug. #alubookclub pick WHERE THE JASMINE BLOOMS (@fernpub.bsky.social) by @zslong.bsky.social, try these four follow-up reads from @nightwoodeditions.bsky.social, @llpmtl.bsky.social, Baraka Books, and Inanna Publications next. alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

Take a poetry minute! Read two poems from ARABIC, BETWEEN LOVE AND WAR (@tracepress.bsky.social), a collection of poems from Iraq, Palestine, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia and their diasporas with English translations, right here: alllitup.ca/two-poems-arabic-between-love-and-war/

In today's #underthecover, award-winning Irish-Canadian author Caroline Pignat takes us on a tour of the Irish locations and lore that feature into her new book for middle-grade readers, THE DISCOVERY OF FINNEGAN WILDE (@thistledownpress.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/under-the-co...

Today's Mixtape is from author Coltrane Seesequasis who found the perfect writing inspiration in atmospheric video game soundtracks. Check out what helped shape his forthcoming YA fantasy novel THE THREADS OF TIME (@kegedoncepress.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/mixtape-the-...

The team met up for our #alubookclub discussion of @zslong.bsky.social's WHERE THE JASMINE BLOOMS (@fernpub.bsky.social) and praised the book for its ability to bring geopolitical conflict to level of the individuals experiencing it. For more highlights from our chat: alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

"How am I supposed to show my son how to make friends, how to be a friend, if I myself do not know how?" Read a longer excerpt from Shane Neilson's essay collection on fatherhood and neurodivergence WHAT TO FEEL, HOW TO FEEL (@palimpsestpress.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/excerpted-what-to-feel/

Artist and poet Zachari Logan merged his art forms when, during a sketchbook project that only utilized green pens and pencils, he started to see a confluence between the drawings and his writing. The two became his new collection, GREEN (@radiantpress.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/beautiful-bo...

Poet Richard-Yves Sitoski shares a post-read playlist for his new collection A CURRENT THROUGH THE FLESH (Ronsdale Press). alllitup.ca/mixtape-a-current-through-the-flesh/

"I really hope that this book gives readers a taste of what life and society is like in Lebanon." We interviewed @zslong.bsky.social, author of our Aug #ALUbookclub pick WHERE THE JASMINE BLOOMS (@fernpub.bsky.social), about swapping POVs, smashing stereotypes, & more: alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

"scrolling through instagram feeds screen-fed narratives and wanting to be noticed" Tawahum Bige reads from their second collection STAGES OF TANNING WORDS AND REMEMBERING SPELLS PART 1: SCRAPING LUNGS LIKE HIDE (@nightwoodeditions.bsky.social) alllitup.ca/poetry-in-mo...

We got a sneak-preview of @natalieporter.bsky.social's forthcoming book GIRL GANGS, ZINES, AND POWERSLIDES (@ecwpress.bsky.social). Learn about her important work developing an archive of women skateboarding history (and preorder the book here): alllitup.ca/under-the-co...

Unpublished writers! If you’re getting ready to submit your manuscript, this guide from our friends at @bookhugpress.bsky.social breaks down what to expect, from pitch to publication. alllitup.ca/in-house-dem...

Our August #alubookclub pick is @zslong.bsky.social's debut novel, the historical fiction / political thriller / Muslim romance WHERE THE JASMINE BLOOMS. To kick things off, we chatted with @fernpub.bsky.social to share our excitement about this read. alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

"But who’s to say what a person is or can be. Am I right, F.F.? Who knows what a person is . . . In their heart." Read a ~chilling~ scene from GG award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen's ICEMEN (@playcanpress.bsky.social) for today's #excerpted, right here; alllitup.ca/excerpted-ic...

"I write because I have to." Sky Gilbert talks to us about writing & his forthcoming novel THE BLUE HOUSE (@cormorantbooks.bsky.social), which poses questions about artistic failure, obsession, and whether artificial intelligence can ever truly create art. alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

"Imprisoned bound hands, cuffed wrists fingers clenched and outstretched clenched again" We share #twopoems from Susan Wismer's new collection, HAG DANCES (@atbaypress.bsky.social), an unrelenting examination of the self in an attempt to heal and change. Read the poems: alllitup.ca/two-poems-ha...

Loved Suzy Krause's I THINK WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE (@radiantpress.bsky.social)? We put together a list of four follow-up reads for when you're in the mood to feel a little unsettled (in a good way). #alubookclub alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

"It’s hard to mail your cosmic address into space when none of your recipients know what a postal code is." Teenage writer / space expert Nathan Hellner-Mestelman explains pulsar maps in his book THE LANGUAGE OF THE STARS (@llpmtl.bsky.social), in today's #excerpted. alllitup.ca/excerpted-th...

"I have started to understand time as a being friend, not a bully, to the blank page." Nick Thran talks to us about writing and his new poetry collection EXISTING MUSIC (@nightwoodeditions.bsky.social), which explores the "sad song." alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

"When I first looked up at the midnight sky, I saw points, not constellations When I was a child, the stars rained down on my imagination" @kyleflemmer.com reads from his new, cosmic collection SUPERGIANTS (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social) for today's #poetryinmotion. alllitup.ca/poetry-in-mo...

On the third week of #alubookclub we chat about our July pick I THINK WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE by @suzykrause.bsky.social (published by @radiantpress.bsky.social). We all agreed: this book made us emotional in the very best way. alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

On the eve of the 30th anniversary of Clueless, our #fridayreads pick is Veronica Litt's UGH! AS IF! (a pop classics from @ecwpress.bsky.social) - specifically, this featured excerpt on the "ditz" figure that Cher Horowitz so perfectly embodied in the film. alllitup.ca/excerpted-ug...

Here's Shadowpaw, resident cat of sci-fi, fantasy & literary publisher @shadowpawpress.bsky.social. Today, Publisher Edward Willett tells us about the surprising evolution of the press & how a podcast & Kickstarter laid the groundwork for a full-fledged publishing house. alllitup.ca/in-house-how...

"brother I don’t go looking anymore in the dark closets of memory" Today, we're featuring #twopoems from Lynda Monahan's latest collection, the mental health-themed THE DOOR AT THE END OF EVERYTHING (@shadowpawpress.bsky.social). Read the poems here: alllitup.ca/two-poems-th...

If you like thinking about time, déjà vu, and whether anything actually means anything, you’ll love our #ALUbookclub interview with @suzykrause.bsky.social, author of I THINK WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE (@radiantpress.bsky.social). alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

Our #fridayreads pick is @alicefitzp.bsky.social's newest instalment of her Meredith Island Mystery series, A DARK DEATH (Stonehouse Publishing). Read our featured excerpt – of some archaeology students making a chilling discovery – and learn more about the book here: alllitup.ca/excerpted-a-...

"am I or am I not the Steve Buscemi of Canadian poetry" @unfamiliarweather.bsky.social reads from his new collection LOST SIGNAL (@palimpsestpress.bsky.social) for today's #poetryinmotion. Watch the reading here: alllitup.ca/poetry-in-mo...

In FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY (@thistledownpress.bsky.social), Elizabeth J. Haynes shares thoughtful and engaging stories from a lifetime of exploring the world. We chat with Elizabeth about travel writing, the role of food, and the ethics of writing about other cultures. alllitup.ca/i-kind-of-li...

"This book is exactly the type of story we want to publish." We talk to publisher @radiantpress.bsky.social about our July #ALUbookclub pick I THINK WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE by @suzykrause.bsky.social alllitup.ca/alu-summer-book-club-intro-to-i-think-weve-been-here-before/

Our #fridayreads pick is @karensmythe.bsky.social's new novel A TOWN WITH NO NOISE (@palimpsestpress.bsky.social) - read a sneak-peek on today's #excerpted, right here: alllitup.ca/excerpted-a-...

In today's #writersblock, Lindsay Zier-Vogel describes her new novel THE FUN TIMES BRIGADE (@bookhugpress.bsky.social) as exploring "the challenges of reconciling being an artist with being a mother, and the circuitous paths we must take to find our place in the world." alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

It's #alubookclub time! Join us this month and next as we read and discuss I THINK WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE by @suzykrause.bsky.social (@radiantpress.bsky.social) & WHERE THE JASMINE BLOOMS by Zeina Sleiman (@fernpub.bsky.social). Read about our picks + get 15% off! alllitup.ca/summer-book-...

This Canada Day long weekend, we're taking a #fieldtrip to the sunny shores of Nottawa, ON, where Poetry Night at The Artists' House takes place once a month. Read our interview with series curator Lory MacDonald here: alllitup.ca/field-trip-p...

"At its core, I wanted to create an inequitable world where demons like to roam and slurp up all those desperate people. Yum." We interview artist @scarletwingskaili.bsky.social about her HALFSOUL series, which depict mental health struggles in a magical setting: alllitup.ca/im-intereste...