Biblioasis welcomes fall

By Loren Mastracci

A local publishing company, Biblioasis, held the last chapter of its 2017 Fall Reading Tour at its flagship store in Walkerville.

The book tour was held on Sept. 20 and featured five prominent authors who read excerpts of their novels to an enthusiastic crowd.

The two-hour event hosted more than 50 guests who enjoyed appetizers and drinks while leafing through Biblioasis’ new releases.

Attendees had the unique opportunity of meeting Canadian authors Pino Coluccio, Cynthia Flood, Kevin Hardcastle, David Huebert and Alejandro Saravia.

Casey Plett, Biblioasis’ publicity and marketing coordinator, said the event brings readers into the publishing experience.

“Writing is a pretty solitary activity,” said Plett, adding that authors spend a couple of years on a book, so literary events help them connect with readers. “When you hear authors saying the words and signing books for people and intermingling with folks around the community, it’s great for the authors and the community.”

From Coluccio’s poem collection to Saravia’s novel, Biblioasis’ reads for the fall reflect the company’s commitment to Canadian literature.

Pino Coluccio’s Class Clown celebrates love, death, and clowning around. The poet’s work appeared in The Walrus and received positive reviews.

Cynthia Flood’s What Can You Do uses the short story format to explore the delicate theme of adult deception. Highlighted by The National Post as “a highly accomplished stylist, whose technique is tightly calibrated and precise,” Flood’s prose earned her the Journey Prize for short fiction.

Kevin Hardcastle’s debut novel In the Cage follows the story of an MMA cage fighter and his descent in the criminal underworld.

David Huebert is also making a name for himself in the literary scene. His first collection of short stories Peninsula Sinking is the winner of the CBC Short Story Prize, the Sheldon Currie Fiction Prize and the Dalhousie Review’s short story contest.

Translated from Spanish, Alejandro Saravia’s Red, Yellow, Green brings an international dimension to the condition of exile forced upon his characters.

All books are available at Biblioasis, which is located at 1520 Wyandotte St. E.