Janet Torge’s latest book, I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M OLD (Linda Leith Publishing), brings her renowned comic voice to the discussion of how today’s senior citizens—herself included—are handling the transition into life's upper reaches. Read an excerpt from the book at: alllitup.ca/excerpted-i-...

We've rounded up six standout backlist titles from @ecwpress.bsky.social that deserve another look. Find them all here! alllitup.ca/press-playba...

If you were a fan of the Icelandic TV series TRAPPED, you may love the isolated northern setting & compelling murder mystery in @jkdegen.bsky.social's SELDOM SEEN ROAD (@latitude46pub.bsky.social). Learn more about this 1st installment of the Burnt River series at: alllitup.ca/if-you-liked...

It's the first day of #ALUBookClub, and we're reading Lynn Hutchinson Lee's NIGHTSHADE. We spoke with @pressassembly.bsky.social publisher Leigh Nash about discovering this gem in the slush pile and why she knew she had to publish it. alllitup.ca/alu-summer-b...

Summer reading, but make it campfire-lit. #ALUBookClub is back with the Summer of Strange, where we're reading & talking about two hauntingly good books from @pressassembly.bsky.social and @renegadeartsent.bsky.social. Follow along with us here: alllitup.ca/summer-book-...

In WHERE THE EFF IS MY RED TENT (@caitlinpress.bsky.social), Heather Hendrie blends memoir & cultural critique to explore life with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Read our chat with Heather where she shares a bit about her journey and the role of writing in her life: alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

@talonbooks.bsky.social is one of Canada's first literary publishers and is dedicated to publishing works of the highest literary quality by diverse Canadian and Indigenous authors. Check out 6 must-read titles from their backlist: alllitup.ca/press-playba...

We're featuring an excerpt from Bridget Canning's new book TAKING DOWN NAMES (@breakwaterbooksltd.bsky.social), a darkly funny literary thriller about grief, vengeance, and a journalist drawn into a mystery of vigilante justice. Click to read a passage: alllitup.ca/excerpted-ta...

We sorted these books using the most rigorous classification system: internet slang. Starting off with these titles from Freehand Books & Baraka Books.

If you've ever missed the thrill of curating your own story through a Choose Your Own Adventure book, INHERITANCE (@talonbooks.bsky.social) is just the read you’re looking for. Learn more about the book and read an exclusive excerpt at: alllitup.ca/if-you-liked...

We’re exploring some can’t-miss titles from @renegadeartsent.bsky.social, a family-run small press championing new & established storytellers from Canada & beyond since 2007. Check out 5 titles from their backlist at: alllitup.ca/press-playba...

Read an excerpt from CHILDREN OF FIRE (@bookhugpress.bsky.social), a hybrid work that brings together interviews, poetry, photographs, personal essays, & a play script inspired by Shahrzad Arshadi's & Anna Chatterton's time w/ Kurdish female freedom fighters in Kurdistan: alllitup.ca/excerpted-ch...

SEEING THINGS (Signature Editions) is the latest poetry collection from award-winning author & poet George Amabile. Through clarity and distortion, this collection invites readers to pause & observe the beauty in daily life. Read two poems from the book: alllitup.ca/two-poems-se...

Wherever you're reading this summer, we've got recommendations at the click! alllitup.ca/a-beach-read...

Brent van Staalduinen's new novel THE PEACE THIEVES (@thistledownpress.bsky.social) is a compelling and ambitious novel about the search for peace during a civil war and through its complicated aftermath. Read an excerpt from the book: alllitup.ca/excerpted-th...

Emma McKenna’s latest poetry collection, GOLD STAR (@bookhugpress.bsky.social) uses memory, textures, and sensations to examine the many forms of power and what it means to hold it. Listen to a reading from the collection and learn more about Emma’s writing process at: youtu.be/x_wrxbGQyXo

If you took comic book superheroes and gave them a literary twist, you’d get SUPERCANUCKS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF SMALL-TOWN SUPERHEROES (@latitude46pub.bsky.social). Today, co-editor Matthew Del Papa gets us in the spirit of vigilante justice and caped heroes: alllitup.ca/if-you-liked...

For Under the Cover, Théodora Armstrong dives into her debut novel, WELCOME TO SUNNY TOWN (Freehand Books), discussing the inspirations drawn from her own experiences & the disorientation of navigating early adulthood as a foreigner in a new country. Read more at: alllitup.ca/under-the-co...

We know...it's definitely a summer Friday 🫠

We're sharing our Pride Month book picks, which include 8 new and recent books by LGBTQ+ authors, spanning fiction, poetry, memoir, and drama. Find them all here: alllitup.ca/8-fabulous-b...

Hitting shelves June 16, Cordelia Strube's AT SEA IN A SIEVE (@ecwpress.bsky.social) follows level-headed single mother Ray as she tries to keep her family afloat through the unruly, unpredictable seasons of life. To read an exclusive excerpt from the novel, visit: alllitup.ca/excerpted-at...

"I wanted to write a story about anti-heroes and outlaws within the context of reconciliation and reconnection [...]" Tyson Stewart talks to us about his novel THE RETURN OF THE NISH (@cormorantbooks.bsky.social), an Anishinaabe noir thriller about anti-heroes. alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

June is #NationalIndigenousHistoryMonth! Check out our roundup of 12 new(ish) and notable books showcasing Indigenous voices and stories (+ many more): alllitup.ca/book-list/bo...

“As the first act in looking out for Larry is to find him, I start looking around for him, hamstrung by the realization I’m not sure what he looks like...” Read more from Aaron Cully Drake's new novel WHEN THE WORLD WAS TWICE AS BIG (@nightwoodeditions.bsky.social) at: alllitup.ca/excerpted-wh...

For Writer's Block, we chat with @mmburton.bsky.social about her first short fiction collection, A TEMPORARY GRACE (@breakwaterbooksltd.bsky.social), why she writes, & the importance of representing rural voices. Read the full interview at alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

"I count the galaxy of vinyl supernovas, wait for your subtle, consistent snore before making my exit." Blair Trewartha reads “Light Show for Osker,” a poem for his son from HALF-EARTH (@palimpsestpress.bsky.social), a collection exploring climate crisis & digital life. alllitup.ca/poetry-in-mo...

EVENT HORIZON (@bookhugpress.bsky.social) is the latest release from bestselling Swedish author Balsam Karam. Translated by Saskia Vogel, the novel depicts rebellion & a young heroine's belief in a better future. Read an exclusive excerpt from the novel at alllitup.ca/excerpted-ev...

"It made me feel as if I had a continuous self; it made me think it’s possible that nothing is lost." In her essay “Being Young Again,” Connie Gault (A STUDY IN RED, @thistledownpress.bsky.social) reflects on the joy of imagining youth as a 70-something writer. alllitup.ca/being-young-...

For Writer’s Block, we chat with @davidlywrites.bsky.social about his debut fantasy novel, NOT ALL DRAGONS (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social), & the ways mythological creatures can guide the exploration of belonging, memory, and identity. Read the full interview at: alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

We're revisiting some old favourites and new-to-some titles from Freehand Books, an award-winning publisher of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction by celebrated authors and exciting new voices. Check them out here: alllitup.ca/press-playba...

The fantastic meets realism in Hollie Adams’ soon-to-be-released short story collection, DEAR HUMANS (@newestpress.bsky.social). Read an exclusive sneak peek from the collection at alllitup.ca/excerpted-de..., and look out for it on shelves or online on June 1.

In her memoir LATE BLOOMER (Inanna Publications), Mary Lou Dickinson reflects on single motherhood, activism, & finding her voice later in life. Today, she shares how her grandmother—a food editor at the Toronto Telegram—helped shape that journey from the very beginning. alllitup.ca/under-the-co...

@michellewillms.bsky.social' debut memoir NORTHERN GIRLS (Baraka Books) is a collection of 9 true stories navigating generational trauma, parental addiction, & resilience. For Writer's Block, Michelle speaks to writing as a means to heal & overcome fear. Read more at: alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

"We can direct the reader’s imagination with pictures, but we can also let them fill in the blanks with words that inspire their imagination." We chat with Stefano Jun about his slice-of-life graphic novels MODERN ASIAN FAMILY from @renegadeartsent.bsky.social alllitup.ca/from-web-com...

WEIRD BABIES (Porcupine’s Quill) is the latest surreal short story collection from Pushcart-nominated poet & author @jaclyndesforges.bsky.social exploring just that—weird babies. Read a full excerpt from the collection at: alllitup.ca/excerpted-we...

"In genre we can make subtext into text, and we can make text weird." We chat with @inkstainedwreck.ca about speculative fiction & his forthcoming book THE LIBRARY COSMIC (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social), a collection of stories that considers the mysteries of life. alllitup.ca/dont-explain...

In our latest Writer’s Block installment, M.C. Joudrey speaks about his new novel, MARMALADE PARADE (@guernicaeditions.bsky.social), and shares the perfect cocktail of writers who have influenced his own style. Read the full interview at: alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...

For #ShortStoryMonth, short story writer @laurairock.bsky.social recommends six standout collections from @anvilpress.bsky.social, @pressassembly.bsky.social, @guernicaeditions.bsky.social, @greatplainspress.bsky.social, @invisibooks.bsky.social & @llpmtl.bsky.social alllitup.ca/afterword-6-...

We rounded up 12 new and newish books by Asian-Canadian authors for #AsianHeritageMonth + 100 more books: alllitup.ca/book-list/as...

"The time you wake up on a beach, soft sound of breath / and Pacific Ocean waves smoothing the shore— / pale-wet, pale-wet." On this last day of #ALUPoetsResist, we chat with Chelsea Coupal about her collection U ALIVE (@thistledownpress.bsky.social) & read a poem: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

“...all reading & writing is a kind of magical portal to other worlds, to imagining better worlds, & to gathering strength to resist injustice.” Read about @reneesarojini.bsky.social's modern epic, BRAMAH’S DISCOVERY (@nightwoodeditions.bsky.social), for #ALUPoetsResis: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

"We thought they would be parallel or even diverging tracks going on into the distance forever." Read a poem from Di Brandt's forthcoming collection LITTLE DRAGONS (Turnstone Press) and our interview with Di for #ALUPoetsResist here: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

Continuing #ALUPoetsResist, we speak with @mahailasmith.ca about their poetry collection, SEED BEETLE (@stelliform.press), which follows a community fighting to reclaim its agency & unlearn harmful colonial practices. Learn more and listen to a reading of a poem at alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

Today is Canadian Independent Bookstore Day! We’re grateful to indie booksellers for their support of indie Canadian publishers and creators, and for their work in building communities. Visit indiebookstores.ca/CIBD for details. #CIBD2026 #ShopLocal #IndieBookstoreDay #IndieBookstores

"One may take action or / do nothing: slowly, I / dissolve into this exterior / which doesn't exist." Nicole Raziya Fong reads a poem from their collection SUBTEXT (@talonbooks.bsky.social), which explores identity through diasporic history & memory for #ALUPoetsResist. alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

Packed with nearly 100 poems & 400 illustrations, @christianmcpherson.bsky.social’s zine-esque poetry collection SCREAMING OBSCENITIES AT THE SKY (@atbaypress.bsky.social) embraces anger & art as powerful tools to resist injustice. Read more for #ALUPoetsResist at: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

"In our poetry, we embrace and enlarge all possible categories." David Waltner-Toews shares his thoughts on the role of poetry and reads from his decades-spanning collection NEW & SELECTED POEMS (@cmupress-ca.bsky.social) for #ALUPoetsResist: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

In NEBULAS (@coachhousebooks.bsky.social), award-winning poet @meghankempgee.bsky.social looks to the stars to make meaning out of loss & sacrifice in unprecedented times. Celebrate National Poetry Month with #ALUPoetsResist & read our full interview with Meghan at alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

"Out of hope I write, and in having written, I find reason to hope." Richard Harrison is today's featured poet in our #ALUPoetsResist series w/ a poem from his book MY MOTHER JOINS THE RESISTANCE (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social). Read our interview and a poem from his book: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...

Sadie McCarney’s THE BRIGHT AFTERS is a novel-in-verse (@ecwpress.bsky.social) about anti-queer violence & queer resilience. For #ALUPoetsResist, she reflects on poetry as a way of building connection and reads a poem from the book: alllitup.ca/poets-resist...