I CAN’T FIND THE WORDS…
A couple of weeks ago, the Toronto Small Press Group held their semi-annual fair at the JCC at Queen and Spadina. There were a surprising number of presenters there! The gymnasium was filled with tables of wee chapbooks and budding authors eagerly made eye-contact with potential purchasers as they leisurely strolled through the aisles, browsing the wares.
It is understandable that, given the average price of $3, that those who had produced their dyi booklets for the fair, would need to be assertive in reaching out to potential readers in order to make up the $15 fee for table renting with any sort of profit after the fact. But it was surprising to have writers be so assertive with their work. A couple of times I was warned by my companion to avoid certain tables, as the retailer was a bit too aggressive in pushing their publication.
Still, it was interesting and inspiring to see so many different kinds of small books on site. There was so pretty amazing artwork and inventive ways of presenting work. We left with a collection of pieces that drew our attention, these are the highlights:
MOOSEMEAT FIFTH ANNIVERSARY EDITION: FLASH IN THE PAN $3
The local writers group annual publication of members’ works, features short fiction.
AN OVERWORKED ELOCUTIONIST by Carolyn Wells $5
Iron Rabbit Bindery, a subsidiary of Arnott and Riedel, annotates published works in wee, carefully handbound additions. They were handing out chocolate chip cookies!
KITTY CORNER MAGAZINE by Bronwyn Kay, Age 9, 2008. $2
This handcoloured zine was produced through Radio Free School, an all-volunteer weekly radio show by, for and about un-schoolers. It features cat drawings, poetry, and jokes!
MISUNDERSTANDINGS MAGAZINE $3
Launch of volume 9 – features some poetry and words by some of Gadzooks! favourite writers.