Well folks, we’ve powered through an intense April full of poetry and unpredictable weather, and now it’s on to (hopefully) springtime freshness. On to chirping birds (in the early a.m., no doubt), blooming crabapple trees in the backyard, coffee breaks on the patio. On to new releases and New Book Smell ^TM. Deep breaths, everyone. Let’s suck in all that fresh air and opportunity.

*sneezes*

Warning: Side effects of spring may include headache, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and lack of sleep due to infernal avian chirping and supreme book event awesomeness.

I have a love-hate relationship with the spring. I’m a sucker for good weather, and in addition to the new releases that continue to trickle out, I love the events that always seem to crop up as soon as the snow clears. Launches, a couple of literary festivals, trade events and, of course, Book Expo America are all on the horizon. The trick is to survive the seasonal allergies and sinus headaches. Lend me strength, Quill Friends!

What’s happening this month?

At PQL.

At the shop in Erin, Tim and Elke are finishing up the printing and binding of Fabulous Fictions & Peculiar Practices, the unique, original and completely epic collection of poetry, prose and artwork. If you’ve been following along with this project, you know that wacky and wonderful isn’t even the half of it. For more on the book, check it out here. For more on the larger project, click here.

In Toronto.

Joe Rosenblatt is all set to launch The Bird in the Stillness! The book launch will happen alongside the opening reception for his art exhibition, “Angels, Demons and Spirits,” at yumart gallery. Be sure to stop by on May 7 for some art appreciation, plus a reading and signing.

Also in Toronto is the annual celebration of graphic narratives, the Toronto Comic Arts Festival. We’ve got not one, not two, but four authors on the exhibitors roster, including Marta Chudolinska, Jarrett Heckbert, Steven McCabe and George A. Walker. Visit the Toronto Reference library on May 14 and 15 to get in on the action.

In Brampton.

Speaking of Fabulous Fictions above, we are pleased to invite you all to attend the launch of the book on May 8 at PAMA in Brampton. The event is planned as part of the Festival of Literary Diversity. And seeing as we promise that Fabulous Fictions is unlike anything you’ve seen before, it fits right in!

In Brantford.

And finally, don’t forget to check out The Grand River Suite at the Glenhyrst Gallery in Brantfort. The exhibition, which contains the engravings from The Grand River, runs until May 22.

In the world.

May 13 is Friday the 13th. If you’re a superstitious sort, may I suggest you stay home that day? And away from black cats and ladders and such.

May 25 is National Wine Day. Do I need to explain how this one works? I think not.

May 27 is Sunscreen Day. Although if you’re me, pretty much any day (even those with cloud cover) ought to be Sunscreen Day because my blindingly white skin takes about 2.5 seconds to burn.

From the porcupette’s corner.

Guys, guys, guys. We need to talk about Wayzgoose.

Tim Inkster, Stephanie Small and Elke Inkster at the 2016 Grimsby Wayzgoose. Photo by Don McLeod.

As a virtual porcupette living far from the GTA, it’s not always easy to get myself to all of the wonderful bookish events in Toronto and the surrounding area, particularly when said surrounding area is off the beaten path. (The beaten path being the VIA corridor trains.) Needless to say, for the past several years, I’ve contented myself with experiencing the Grimsby Wayzgoose vicariously, through pictures wheedled from DA editor and photographer extraordinaire Don McLeod.

But this year was different. This year, I had wheels, and a strong determination to finally see what the fuss was all about. So I packed an overnight bag, hopped in my car, and became intimately familiar with the pleasures of highway driving, including the (dubious) joys of police car-laden 400-series highways and the nerve-wracking and cruise-control-incompatible QEW.

But all jokes aside, the event was brilliant. The venue was nice (although to be honest, I was a tad bit jealous that we weren’t able to get a table in lovely new library and art gallery building) and the crowd was steady and suitably interested in our wares. There is nothing more gratifying than attending an event full of like-minded people, and I loved meeting up with some old friends, not to mention making a few new acquaintances as well.

The moral of the story—get thee to Grimsby next year! You won’t regret it.

Hope you enjoyed this peek of what’s hot and happening at the Porcupine’s Quill. Stay tuned for an exciting month of events and new releases!

Cheers,