Almost a decade ago, Montreal author Christopher DiRaddo began building Violet Hour, a community that fosters discussions of queer literature wherever it goes, be it a bookstore, videoconference, reading room, or even a strip club. Founded during a precarious time for queer literary spaces in Montreal, DiRaddo’s Violet Hour continues to provide underrepresented voices with a platform, a microphone, and an audience.

With a degree in Communications and Journalism from Concordia University, DiRaddo has formerly worked for CBC, been the president of the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF), and recently returned from a writing residency at Dentro la Terra in Abruzzo, Italy, an initiative of Espace de la diversité. What originally led him to create Violet Hour was the publication of his first novel, The Geography of Pluto (Véhicule Press, 2014). In the quiet period following his book launch, DiRaddo felt the need for greater visibility – having been published by an independent press, he wasn’t receiving as many invitations to read at events as initially expected, and he observed that other writers in his peer group (many of whom were also queer authors published by independent presses) had been met with a similar fate. At that time, the phenomenon – though not widely talked about – was dubbed by the late writer R.M. Vaughan as the “lavender ceiling,” a callback to the second-wave feminist concept of the “glass ceiling,” where marginalized individuals are limited in how far they can rise in their professional success by barriers that, while intangible themselves, have tangible consequences. Facing this situation, DiRaddo’s response was: “Challenge accepted.”

Over Tim Hortons coffees at Casa d’Italia, DiRaddo tells me about the early days of Violet Hour, the name of which was inspired by the Violet Quill, a queer author group from 1980s New York. Since there was no queer bookstore in Montreal, DiRaddo partnered up with Fierté Montreal for the first Violet Hour reading series, inviting authors on stage at Stock Bar, a gay strip club in The Village, where they would read in front of the dance pole – a perfect backdrop for discussing sex and sexuality. At the bar, he wanted to create the social environment of a literary salon where writers could connect and share their work with other like-minded individuals, in addition to providing a space for them to sell their books. Plus, gathering in The Village made a clear political statement, and in episode 8 of What’s Literacy? by Literacy Quebec (“LGBTQI2+ communities sharing stories and creating community spaces”), DiRaddo explained that holding the series at Stock Bar was a form of “literary outreach,” since it was a place you wouldn’t normally go to hear readings.

Over the years, DiRaddo has had to overcome numerous obstacles, such as limited resources, time constraints, bringing authors to Montreal from out of town, and getting word out to the public. In addition to Fierté Montreal, Violet Hour has collaborated with other festivals, including Blue Metropolis, FringeMTL, and ItalfestMTL, further expanding its platform. Most recently, in November 2023, it took part in the Read Quebec Book Fair, courtesy of the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ) and QWF. At the fair, Violet Hour was a co-sponsor for a live broadcast of the sixtieth episode of Dr. Linda Morra’s Getting Lit with Linda – The Canadian Literature Podcast, and also teamed up with IMAGE+NATION for a screening of the film adaptation of Catherine Hernandez’s novel, Scarborough.

Another recent achievement in the Violet Hour community was the fifth anniversary of the Violet Hour Book Club (VHBC), an endeavour launched by DiRaddo back in November 2018. A broad smile crosses his face as he shares the story of what led to its inception, how in the 1990s, he used to frequent Montreal’s queer bookstore, L’Androgyne, a place where he had found community as a young writer and avid reader. Unfortunately, after almost thirty years of business, L’Androgyne closed down in 2002, and its closest successor would not open until February 2017 – L’Euguélionne, a queer-owned, feminist bookstore located in The Village. With the VHBC, DiRaddo was able to recreate and share the queer bookstore experience with others, and while the loss of L’Androgyne had also partly inspired the reading series, the book club took things one step further by creating an environment that could bring together multiple generations of readers from different walks of life for critically engaged discussions. The monthly meetups persisted online throughout the long and uncertain months of COVID-19; post-pandemic, the club now uses a hybrid model, allowing members to continue to connect online. Currently, the in-person location for the VHBC is the reading room of Les Archives Gaies de Quebec, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving 2SLGBTQIA+ history in Quebec.

In the future, DiRaddo is planning to develop his own literary podcast to reach an even wider audience, inviting more people to listen to the conversations that take place at Violet Hour events. These discussions offer a wealth of knowledge, from interviews with authors and translators at the reading series to a diverse range of perspectives from book club members, with some hailing from different corners of the globe and others having lived through major milestones in 2SLGBTQIA+ history. Furthermore, the VHBC discussions regularly include the expertise of scholars, publishers, psychologists, and educators, providing listeners with a better understanding of critical theories as well as the everyday challenges that surround queer identity. DiRaddo is also set to collaborate more with the Équipe de recherche en études Queer au Québec (ÉRÉQQ), exploring more books for the VHBC selection that are available in both English and French, and in Spring 2024, there will be some Violet Hour events taking place in Sherbrooke, QC, the details of which are still being finalized.

As we finish up our conversation, DiRaddo explains to me that, “seeing the fruits of [this] labour, the connections, friendships, shared learning, and professional opportunities created by Violet Hour has made it all worthwhile.” And, looking at Violet Hour and all of DiRaddo’s accomplishments, it’s clear that his efforts have allowed queer authors’ stories to resonate well beyond the page.

Brooke Lee (she/her) is a writer and freelance editor based in Montreal. She holds an M.A. in Education and Gender & Women’s Studies from McGill University, and writes fiction under the pen name River Lee.

Illustration by Emmanuel Aubert.

The post Violet Hour: a reading series, a book club, a literary community appeared first on Read Quebec.

The panel will be followed by 90-minute workshops with Nour Abi-Nakhoul and Leigh Nash for pre-registered participants. Workshops are free, but pre-registration is required. Each workshop will be limited to 10 participants. A waiting list will be created if needed.

Sign-Up Instructions

Please email Riley Palanca at the QWF to register, including the following:

• Your name
• Which workshop you would like to attend
• For the magazine workshop, please include a draft non-fiction pitch, maximum 500 words, see details below
• For the book proposal workshop, please include a 300-word synopsis of one non-fiction project and a 200-word bio, see details below. 

Workshop Descriptions

Magazine Pitches with Nour Abi-Nakhoul 

In the world of magazine journalism, crafting a pitch that’s succinct, relevant and compelling is necessary for getting your story idea out of your head and onto the page. Over 90 minutes, you’ll obtain personalized, in-depth feedback on your pitch from Maisonneuve Magazine editor Nour Abi-Nakhoul. Participants will learn about proper pitch structure, finding the right publication, email etiquette and how to effectively showcase your writing ability. Participants will be asked to submit a draft pitch prior to the workshop in order to receive feedback. Pitches should be around 3-4 paragraphs long; no more than 500 words.

Nour Abi-Nakhoul is a Montreal-based writer and editor. She’s written for a variety of Canadian and American publications, and is currently the associate editor of Maisonneuve Magazine. Her debut novel, Supplication, is coming out next spring from Penguin Random House. Photo credit: Olivia Gough.

Non-Fiction Book Proposals with Leigh Nash

A solid proposal is essential when it comes to pitching book-length non-fiction projects to traditional publishing houses. On the one hand, it’s great: you don’t have to write a whole book before you begin submitting! On the other, you can’t rely on a stellar manuscript to win over agents and editors. This 90-minute workshop with Assembly Press publisher Leigh Nash will help you pull together the pieces you need to craft a full book proposal that’s tailored to your publishing goals. Participants will be asked to prepare a 300-word synopsis of one non-fiction project and a 200-word bio and submit them in advance; these will be used as the basis for in-workshop exercises. 

Leigh Nash is the publisher at Assembly Press. Prior to that, she was publisher at House of Anansi Press and Invisible Publishing, where she expanded the publishing program and shaped an editorial identity that has been met with significant critical acclaim and major literary award nominations. She has also worked for Coach House Books, served on the boards of eBOUND Canada and the Association of Canadian Publishers, and has taught book publishing courses at Humber College and York University. She has an MFA in Creative Writing and has published one poetry collection, Goodbye, Ukulele.

The post Perfect Your Pitch Workshops appeared first on Read Quebec.

Following the book fair events in the 4TH SPACE, attendees are invited to attend a wine and cheese reception to mingle with fellow book lovers, peruse and purchase books.

Explore other 2023 Read Quebec Book Fair events here, and discover more English-language books written, published, or translated in Quebec at ReadQuebec.ca.

The post Read Quebec Book Fair Opening Cocktail appeared first on Read Quebec.

We’ll explore the basic building blocks to get you started on drawing and writing a (mostly silly!) comic strip featuring fun characters we’ll create together. Close up faces, word balloons, sound effects and more! For kids 5 to 9. 

Vasilios Billy Mavreas (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist and creativity workshop leader specializing in jumpstarting inspiration through collaborative creative play. The author of four graphic novels and director of gallery boutique Monastiraki (1998 – 2021), he has been involved in the Montreal arts community since the 1980s.

Explore other 2023 Read Quebec Book Fair events here, and discover more English-language books written, published, or translated in Quebec at ReadQuebec.ca.

The post Create Your Own Comic Strip! appeared first on Read Quebec.

In a pre-festival special event, Image+Nation Queer Culture, Montreal’s long-running queer film festival, will join the Violet Hour to co-sponsor this moving film, an adaptation of Catherine Hernandez’s novel of the same name.

Explore other 2023 Read Quebec Book Fair events here, and discover more English-language books written, published, or translated in Quebec at ReadQuebec.ca.

The post Scarborough Screening appeared first on Read Quebec.

Mail a message to your older self. We’ll be designing with words and pictures a double sided postcard with a message you’d like your future self to know. It could be serious or playful or both, you decide what the adult version of you should know! For kids 10 and up.

Vasilios Billy Mavreas (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist and creativity workshop leader specializing in jumpstarting inspiration through collaborative creative play. The author of four graphic novels and director of gallery boutique Monastiraki (1998 – 2021), he has been involved in the Montreal arts community since the 1980s.

Explore other 2023 Read Quebec Book Fair events here, and discover more English-language books written, published, or translated in Quebec at ReadQuebec.ca.

The post Postcards to the Future! appeared first on Read Quebec.

Together we’ll SLOWLY build a weird and wonderful bunch of monster heads that we can only create as a team! For all ages.

Vasilios Billy Mavreas (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist and creativity workshop leader specializing in jumpstarting inspiration through collaborative creative play. The author of four graphic novels and director of gallery boutique Monastiraki (1998 – 2021), he has been involved in the Montreal arts community since the 1980s.

The post Making Monster Heads – An Exercise in Slow Group Drawing appeared first on Read Quebec.

Produced by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ) in partnership with the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF), the Read Quebec Book Fair celebrates the vibrancy of the English-language literary scene in Quebec, with local publishers displaying their titles, and Librairie Paragraphe selling books from Quebec writers and translators published elsewhere. The Fair will offer fun for young booklovers, with a cozy, book-filled Kids’ Nook both days, and creative activities on Saturday afternoon. There will be a wine-and-cheese reception on Friday and coffee on Saturday morning.

The fair is open Friday and Saturday November 3-4, 2023, from 11 am – 6 pm, in the Atrium of the McConnell Building at Concordia University, 1400 De Maisonneuve Boulevard W. The building is accessible directly from Guy metro and fully accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. In accordance with public health guidelines, mask wearing for in-person events is optional, though encouraged, with hand sanitizing stations available at all locations.

Find below the full Read Quebec Book Fair Events Calendar, as well as author signing schedules. 

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Montreal Review of Books – Fall Issue Launch
Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 7 pm.
La Petite Librairie Drawn & Quarterly (176 Rue Bernard O) In-person and livestreamed.  Free, no registration required.
Join us for the launch of the Fall Issue of the Montreal Review of Books, featuring Sean Michaels (Do You Remember Being Born?), Chris Bergeron (Valid) and Mostafa Henaway (Essential Work, Disposable Workers). Hosted by Montreal Review of Books editor, Malcolm Fraser. RSVP on Facebook.

Friday, November 3, 2023

Perfect Your Pitch Panel
Friday, November 3, 2023, 12 pm
4TH SPACE, McConnell Building, Concordia University
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W)     In-person and livestreamed. Free, no registration required.  
In partnership with the Quebec Writers’ Federation and the Writers Read series of Concordia University, a panel discussion on how to make successful nonfiction book and magazine pitches. Tips and feedback from the pros, followed by short workshops for pre-registered participants. With With Nour Abi-Nakhoul, Maisonneuve Magazine; Leigh Nash, Assembly Press; and accomplished journalist and author Adam Leith Gollner. Moderated by Matt Hays, Concordia University.

Perfect Your Pitch Workshops
Friday, November 3, 2023, 1:30 pm
Concordia University
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W)     In-person. Registration required.  
The panel will be followed by 90-minute workshops with Nour Abi-Nakhoul and Leigh Nash for pre-registered participants. Workshops are free, but pre-registration is required. Each workshop will be limited to 10 participants. A waiting list will be created if needed. Visit the event page for registration details.

Eight Voices: Finalists for the QWF Spoken Word Prize
Friday, November 3, 2023, 3 pm
4TH SPACE, inside the McConnell Building, Concordia University 
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W) In-person and livestreamed. Free, registration required for livestream.
In an exciting live event, the finalists for the Quebec Writers’ Federation Spoken Word Prize will showcase their talents in short performances.

Read Quebec Book Fair Opening Cocktail
Friday, November 3, 2023, 4:30 pm
McConnell Building, Concordia University Atrium
1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal.  Free, no registration required. In person.
Following the book fair events in the 4TH SPACE, attendees are invited to attend a wine and cheese reception to mingle with fellow book lovers, peruse and purchase books.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

On Saturday morning, coffee will be offered to browsers with the compliments of the Read Quebec Book Fair.

The books of the participating authors will be available for sale at the in-person events, and a curated selection of books by Quebec writers will also be available through the Read Quebec online catalogue. This is a wonderful opportunity to find the perfect holiday gift for your loved ones! 

Create Your Own Comic Strip!
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Atrium of McConnell Building, Concordia University
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal). Free, no registration required. In person.
We’ll explore the basic building blocks to get you started on drawing and writing a (mostly silly!) comic strip featuring fun characters we’ll create together. Close up faces, word balloons, sound effects and more! For kids 5 to 9.

Getting Lit with Linda: Live podcast recording featuring guests Catherine Hernandez and Eva Crocker
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 1 pm
DeSève Cinema, McConnell Building, Concordia University
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal). Free, no registration required. In person.
In a first-ever episode with a live audience, award-winning podcaster Dr. Linda Morra will interview novelists Catherine Hernandez and Eva Crocker. Both authors will be available to sign books afterward. Co-sponsored by Montreal’s queer reading series, the Violet Hour.

Postcards to the Future!
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Atrium of McConnell Building, Concordia University
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal). Free, no registration required. In person.
Mail a message to your older self. We’ll be designing with words and pictures a double sided postcard with a message you’d like your future self to know. It could be serious or playful or both, you decide what the adult version of you should know! For kids 10 and up.

Scarborough Screening
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 3:00 pm
DeSève Cinema, inside the McConnell Building, Concordia University 
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal). Free, no registration required. In person.
In a pre-festival special event, Image+Nation Queer Culture, Montreal’s long-running queer film festival, will join the Violet Hour to co-sponsor this moving film, an adaptation of Catherine Hernandez’s novel of the same name.

Making Monster Heads – An Exercise in Slow Group Drawing
Saturday, November 4, 2023, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Atrium of McConnell Building, Concordia University
(1400 Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Montreal). Free, no registration required. In person.
Together we’ll SLOWLY build a weird and wonderful bunch of monster heads that we can only create as a team! For all ages.

Thank you to our generous funders, partners, and sponsors!

The post Read Quebec Book Fair 2023 appeared first on Read Quebec.