To Columbia, but the British one

Posted by Jeff on Sep 6th, 2026 in News | 0 comments

I’m off to Vancouver soon, to do a couple of events.
Tell your Vancouver friends, if you got some.

First up, catch me doing a poetry set at Twisted Poets Literary Salon, on the 16th at the Britannia Library:

The event is also the launch of the anthology Sublime: Poems for Vanishing Ice.
It is a co-production of Pandora’s Collective and Word Vancouver, and my own set is funded by the Writers’ Union of Canada.

Speaking of Word Vancouver: I’m going to be one of the exhibitors at this annual book fair, at UBC Robson Square, on the 19th:

I’ll be selling and signing both of my novels, Hate Story and Performance Reviews.
Click here for the full list of exhibitors and their bios.

But wait. There’s more.

After I get home from B.C., I’m back at the annual Word on the Street festival, at David Pecaut Square downtown. Come by, say hi, buy a book.

More specific info on all of the above in the Events section.

Speaking of Toronto, here’s what our city looked like before most of you were even born.
Pierre Berton will guide you through the frivolities of the Ex. And most of the people you will see here are now dead. DEAD.

See you on the other side.

Silver and gold, at Parkland and Coles

Posted by Jeff on Jul 1st, 2026 in News | 0 comments

Hello out there in InternetLand.
Happy Canada Day. I’ve got a couple of events coming up next week, but first…

Canada Fiction Fest is still on, although my own events have already passed. I did a panel on publishing on the 22nd, and a reading from my novel Performance Reviews on the past Friday. If you missed seeing them live, never fear! You can still watch the recordings on YouTube:

* * * * *

Next Thursday, July 9, I’ll be doing another online poetry feature, this time with Parkland Poets, which I believe is based in Alberta.
I’ll perform a ten-minute set, along with fellow features Katharine Weinmann and Jamal e fatima Rafat. There’s an open mic too, so bring something of your own to read. Hosted by Scott Alderson.

The event starts at 9:00 p.m. EST, or 7:00 p.m. Alberta time.
Get the Zoom link for the event at this web page.

And then, on Saturday the 11th, I’ll be back at Coles (Toronto Beach location, 2169 Queen Street East) with copies of Performance Reviews, signing and selling the things. Drop by anytime after 10:30 a.m., say hi, buy the book if you don’t have it yet…

If you can’t drop by the store on the 11th, but you want to get a copy of Performance Reviews… never fear! It’s already on the shelf for purchase. See?

Also available at three Book City locations, as well as Queen Books…
and now, people in Worcester, England can get it at my friend Leena Batchelor’s bookstore, Script Haven, in the Crown Passage! Along with my 2022 debut, Hate Story! Go gettem.

Since it’s Canada Day, I shall end with a Canada.

Take off, eh. Hoser. (This is exactly how we talk)

Roll up, roll up for the Canada Fest!

Posted by Jeff on Jun 18th, 2026 in News | 0 comments

Back from another U.K. jaunt, during which I rocked five cities, upgraded a few more online acquaintances to IRL friends, and saw some of the best live theatre in the world.
And now, I’m back to do service to my own country.

Canada Fiction Fest is a new online literary festival featuring fiction writers from across the nation.
It starts this Sunday, June 21 and runs all the way to July 4… and I’m going to be a part of it.

First, this Monday at noon EST, I’m taking part in the panel “Small But Mighty: Canadian Perspectives on the Publishing Industry”, with Andy Taylor and Peggy Blair.

Then, on the following Friday (also at noon EST), you can see and hear me read from my most recent novel, Performance Reviews. The same showcase features Margaret Sweatman, Sheila James, and Alison Gadsby.

And it’s free! It’s all free.
Go to this link to register for these and many more events.

*****

And if you’re not bored of me by then…

On Thursday, July 9, I’m doing another online feature at Parkland Poets, a literary series based in Alberta, with both a live and an online component.

The event also features Katharine Weinmann and Jamal e fatima Rafat, plus an open mic. 9:00 p.m. EST. Click here to get the Zoom link and password.

Have you ever wondered how cool Conn musical instruments can make you?
Mr. B Natural can fill you in, with the help of our MST3K friends:

Have a neat summer, Kevin Arnold.

Beasts of England, Beasts of Scotland…

Posted by Jeff on May 30th, 2026 in News | 0 comments

My spring U.K. tour is on!

(poster by Rick Spisak)

Catch me at the following poetry events…

Aberdeen, May 31
Poetry in the Park, Union Terrace Gardens

Walsall, June 2
Voices from the Fountain, The Fountain Inn

Coventry, June 4
Fire & Dust, Priory Visitor Centre

London, June 9
Survivors’ Poetry, The Harrison

Worcester, June 11
Worcester LitFest, Boston Tea Party

And catch me online at the inaugural Canada Fiction Fest after I return home.
More info on that to come.

Here’s a Beatles.

See you in the land of lorries and lifts.. mate.

Echo Base, this is Rogue Two. I’ve found them. Repeat, I’ve found them.

Posted by Jeff on Apr 25th, 2026 in News | 0 comments

This Wednesday, I’ll be featuring at Echo Poetry and Music.
Like the poster done says.

It’s happening at The Only Cafe, and there’s an open mic too, so if you have some writing or music or comedy you’d like to share, show up at 7:30 p.m. to sign up. Show begins at 8:00ish.

More info on The Echo Collective and its monthly events at this link.

* * * * *

“Say, Jeff, I’d like to buy your new novel, Performance Reviews. But I don’t want to support Amazon, and I really don’t want to interact with you personally, if possible. Is there another option?”

If you’re in Toronto, absolutely!
Performance Reviews is still available at no less than five (5) local bookstores:

Coles
2169 Queen Street East, at Lee (east of Woodbine)

Queen Books
914 Queen Street East (near Carlaw)

Book City
You can get Performance Reviews at three Book City locations:

Midtown (1430 Yonge Street, south of St. Clair station)
Greektown (348 Danforth Avenue, near Chester station)
Beach (1950 Queen Street East, east of Woodbine)

And if you want a signed copy…
you can catch me at Coles on Saturday, May 9, or at Indigo (Bay/Bloor location) on Saturday, May 16.

Hope you had a nice Easter and stuff.
Here’s the trailer we’ve all been waiting for:

Fat’s all, smokes.