Author Archives: Quattro

Join us in congratulating the 3 writers chosen to be in Q’s Best New Poets in Canada Series. The first edition is coming out Fall 2018, showcasing Sarah Kabamba, Tara Borin, and Georgia Wilder! Thank you to the many who submitted and … Continue reading →

Come and join John Calabro Saturday, December 2 at 11 am, at the Salon du Livre de Toronto. He will be with Librarie Mosaique Bookstore, at stand 239, signing copies of Un homme imparfait. Venez rejoindre John Calabro samedi 2 … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Dan K. Woo and his brilliant, satirical novella, Learning How To Love China. “A young female factory worker in a city near Shanghai tries to free herself from the pressures of work and her parents. With disastrous results.” … Continue reading →

Are you an emerging Canadian poet with a 48-60 page manuscript that you want to get published? Do you dream of being recognized as one of Canada’s best new poets? Quattro Books proudly introduces our “Best New Poets in Canada … Continue reading →

SUMMER 2017 Read Alec Butler’s Rough Paradise reviewed by Jane Eaton Hamilton! And then read a review in Broken Pencil Magazine! Check out “Today’s Book of Poetry” and Michael Dennis’ review of The Resumption of Play by Gary Geddes. JANUARY 2017 Thank you @miramichireader for this review of Laura Swart’s Blackbird … Continue reading →

As of June 1, 2017, Quattro Books’ HQ is: 12 Concord Ave, 2nd Floor Toronto, Ontario M6H 2P1 Our phone number remains 647-748-7484. The best way to reach us is info@quattrobooks.ca!

Dear Friends, As of May 1, one of our founders, Allan Briesmaster, will be retiring from Quattro Books. After 10 ½ years of dedicated work with many of our authors, he is looking forward to travelling more and focusing his … Continue reading →

DECEMBER 2016 Sanita Fejzić’s Psychomachia reviewed in the Ottawa Review of Books! Quill & Quire review of Barbaric Cultural Practice by Penn Kemp! Danila Botha’s Too Much On The Inside wins a 2016 Book Excellence Award! **** SEPTEMBER 2016 The 2016 Ottawa Book Awards and Prix du livre d’Ottawa finalists … Continue reading →

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 2017 Ken Klonsky Award Winner The 2017 Ken Klonsky Award Winner is Marc Labriola for Dying Behaviour of Cats. Thank you to all the authors who submitted. It was a very competitive list! Dying Behaviour of Cats was chosen because it probes many of … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Jesse Gilmour and Elizabeth Copeland for making the shortlist for the ReLit Award! Quattro Books’ Danila Botha interviewed on That Channel. “The poetry is most vivid when Garebian (is) trying to sketch — or snap — the inner lives of his … Continue reading →

I can’t pretend that Halloween is anything other than my absolute favourite holiday, and this year it couldn’t be more exciting. When I was swimming to work the other day (that rain was incredible!), I had a chance to reflect … Continue reading →

“The evening’s last poet, Ian Burgham, blasts on to the podium in a flurry of different books. He wants to read from all of them and so he switches erratically between his collections. His darkest and newest collection of poems … Continue reading →

Word on the Street is always a lot of fun for us. This year we relocated from Queen’s Park to Harbourfront and had a great time in our spacious new booth! This year was an especially exciting year since Keith … Continue reading →

Author drew inspiration from chance encounter Times & Transcript (Moncton) Fri Sep 4 2015 Page: C4 Section: Features Byline: LINDA HERSEY Too Much on the Inside has garnered rave reviews. Released in May 2015, it is the second book from … Continue reading →

In his debut novella, Robert Eisenberg tells the story of a Roma boy, Tomas, who is adopted by Canadian parents and brought to live in Toronto. He, like most children in unfamiliar surroundings, is shy and introverted. It doesn’t help … Continue reading →

  Danila Botha and Richard Rosenbaum rocked Montreal this week with some stellar readings, which were met by a fantastic and excited crowd! Check out Danila Botha’s Queen West this week with All Lit Up’s “Where in Canada” Feature !

Danila Botha, author of “Too Much on the Inside” has been touring the maritimes and making new friends (and fans!) See more below.  

“This is one of the cruelties of the theatre of life; we all think of ourselves as stars and rarely recognize it when we are indeed mere supporting characters.” – Robertson Davies, Fifth Business “… however fashionable despair about the … Continue reading →

For those who were unable to attend or missed out, here are some really nice pictures which captured this charming literary moment!  

  Quattro attended the Small Press Book Fair last weekend in Ottawa and launched three fantastic poetry titles and a new young adult fiction title to a warm reception. It’s always wonderful to see poets and authors having a great … Continue reading →

It has been a very exciting week for Quattro. We had our second Spring launch, which was well attended and a lot of fun (obviously). The readings were poignant, performative and in some cases, laugh out loud funny. It is … Continue reading →

Quattro was given an extraordinary opportunity last month to go the London Book Fair and meet some new people (international presses) and see a bit of London. We stayed for a week and had a wonderful time (see photos).  After … Continue reading →

It was another action-packed year for our press. The 16 remarkably varied books we produced represent a continued fulfillment of the vision Quattro has had since its beginnings, over eight years ago. They brought our total output to 109. Keeping … Continue reading →

I didn’t know quite what to expect at the “Inspire!” Book Fair, but five minutes after arriving, I felt like the proverbial kid in the candy store.  Here was a site set up like a cozy lounge.  Over there was … Continue reading →

It’s an interesting world we live in today – every opinion we have, every moment of clarity (or angst), every meal we eat, can be instantly disseminated and shared with people all over the world. We are a generation without … Continue reading →

On Tuesday October 7th, Christopher Levenson author of Night Vision was shortlisted for the 2014 Governor General’s Literary Awards for achievement in poetry. Quattro Books is very grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts for this nomination. This nomination is a great honour, both … Continue reading →

Recently, heated discussions have arisen regarding Amazon and its negotiating practices (or tactics?). People seem polarized believing that Amazon is either the enemy of the publishing world, or conversely, the savior of authors. After much reading on the subject, I … Continue reading →

For an absolute novice when it comes to poetry, I was delighted to find that Phlip Arima’s Pin Pricks was utterly relatable. His poems, while short and concise (sometimes just a single statement) are so perfectly apt that I couldn’t … Continue reading →

Recalling Jack Layton’s state funeralWho can believe it’s been three years since Jack Layton’s statefuneral on August 27, 2011….  Tributes are still ringing. Quattro’santhology of 300 pages about his contribution is available; HERE To honour Canada’s favourite politician on the third … Continue reading →

by Natasha David Day, of Emperor’s Panda fame, has been busy spending the last few months updating his YouTube channel with brilliant and informative videos on the same “lost animals” he describes in Nevermore: A Books of Hours and The … Continue reading →

by Taylor Berman I do a lot of reading. A lot. I also do a lot of free editing for my friends, and most of them it seems, don’t even bother to edit themselves before they send their drafts off … Continue reading →

In a society where gender is often still considered a binary divide, people identifying themselves by unique definitions often fall through the cracks. Enter Terry Tomey, protagonist of Rough Paradise, who is an intersex teen born as Theresa but longing … Continue reading →

Last Wednesday, May 28 Quattro Books had our second Spring 2014 Book Launch at District Oven in Toronto’s Little Italy. Over fifty literature enthusiasts including supportive friends, family, and fellow writers gathered to hear readings from first time novella-ists Alec … Continue reading →

As a preview of our Second Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Rough Paradise by Alec Butler. The first day I met Darla and spoke to her, I was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. I was not … Continue reading →

In the past month, the literary community bid farewell to three authors who produced a lifetime of critically acclaimed and universally recognized work. First Columbian novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and journalist Gabriel Garćia Márquez died at the age of … Continue reading →

Did you know that Latin has shaped sixty percent of all English words? Or that today there are over 800 million native speakers worldwide of Romantic languages derived from Latin? Neither did I until I had the pleasure of reading … Continue reading →

As a preview of our Second Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Pin Pricks by Phlip Arima. Pin Prick 1 As each illusion fades I know less than I thought and am more than I was. Pin Prick … Continue reading →

As a preview of our Second Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Look at Me by Robert Shoub. So, my happy family. My mom – her name’s Lauren – works as an upscale real estate agent – only handles properties … Continue reading →

As a preview of our First Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Sweet Nothing by Carmela Circelli. excerpt from Chapter 2: SPRING, AIR AND MIND Despite my commitment to the task of recovering the importance of … Continue reading →

As a preview of our First Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Cleopatra at the Breakfast Table: Why I Studied Latin With My Teenager and How I Discovered the Daughterland by Peter O’Brien. Excerpt from “Chapter One: … Continue reading →

Night Vision is not for the faint of heart. For anybody seeking honest, compelling images of living through the Blitz, working in war torn and flood-ravaged countries, and striving for political change, Levenson has produced a masterpiece of narrative whose … Continue reading →

By Ashley Gerling On May 30, 2014 Chapters former flagship store at John and Richmond Streets will close its doors to the public, making it the sixth in a chain of bookstore closures in the GTA this year alone. This … Continue reading →

As a preview of our First Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Travels by Night: a memoir by George Fetherling. “I checked into the YMCA on 20th Street where a friend of mine lived who was talking … Continue reading →

As a preview of our First Spring Launch, Quattro would like to share an excerpt from Night Vision, a collection of Christopher Levenson’s poetry. excerpt from “Fifteen Nocturnes” 1 Evening lies fallow: afternoon’s harvest of noise has been gathered in, sheaves … Continue reading →

by Ashley Gerling April 2014 marks the 16th National Poetry Month in Canada, and this year’s theme is Poetry City. What began in 1998 as a means of celebrating poetry and its place in Canada’s vibrant literary culture has now … Continue reading →

Book Review The Emperor’s Panda By David Day Illustrated by Eric Beddows I really enjoyed this book. I really liked it. Yes, I am an adult, and yes this is an original fairy tale by the beyond talented David Day. … Continue reading →

Reading Traitors’ Gate was definitely an adventure. The biggest surprise was how much I learned by reading it. It was smart, and fast paced and I feel like I learned about relationships between Israel and Palestine in a way I … Continue reading →

An offhand comment by American comic author Gary Shteyngart raises the question of censorship in Canadian literature. Shteyngart, when discussing whether or not fiction writing should be subsidized, claimed “Let me say this. I was the judge of a Canadian prize, and it’s subsidized, … Continue reading →

Take a look at this fantastic interview by Canadian Poetries, with Karen Connelly,  Check out the link to the full interview at the bottom! “SL: How difficult is it to continue to give voice to those who are unable to … Continue reading →

Dear Quattro friends, It is with mixed feelings that I announce that after four years with Quattro Books, I am leaving my position as Assistant Publisher to pursue another opportunity. While the new challenges ahead excite me, Quattro is not … Continue reading →

2013 GG winner Lynn Coady*   – by Hufsa Tahir This year, Lynn Coady’s Hellgoing took the Scotiabank Giller Prize, and Stéphanie Pelletier’s Quand les guêpes se taisent (“When the Wasps are Silent”) was awarded best work of French-language fiction in the Governor General Awards. What do both of these books … Continue reading →

– by Hufsa Tahir Jean-Paul Daoust’s The Sandbar is, at its heart, delightfully amusing. Nonchalant in its doleful foretelling at the end of every tale, this collection of short stories follows a refracting path showcasing the lives of the crew of The … Continue reading →

– by Hufsa Tahir When I first picked up award-winning poet Karen Connelly’s Come Cold River, one thing was apparent—this poetry collection is unequivocally honest about its grim subject matter. It sheds light on the topics nobody wants to talk about: … Continue reading →

– by Hufsa Tahir Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter have been popular in many avenues of entertainment –game development, new technology, charity drives, even tuition fees – but this practice has taken its time getting to publishing. Now that it has, … Continue reading →

On Oct.24, the Supermarket was packed to the rafters with an eager audience, excited to hear from the first round of our Fall 2013 List. With theatrical performance, musical accompaniment and a wide-range of genres, it was a night to … Continue reading →

– By Hufsa Tahir Binnie Brennan’s Harbour View, a collection of shorts, explores the bittersweet tang of nostalgia inside the quiet little world of a nursing home. Simultaneously touching and melancholy, it is not a book I’d normally pick up … Continue reading →

The world of Beatriz Hausner’s poetry in Sew Him Up is a surreal place. For those who enjoy a little critical thinking in their free verse, I recommend this book. This isn’t your average, straightforward poetry collection. At times nostalgic, … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Elizabeth Copeland, who has won the 2014 Ken Klonsky Novella Contest for her novella, JAZZ. Elizabeth’s award is publication with Quattro, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our family. We’d like to also recognize the writers … Continue reading →

Congratulations to Claudio Gaudio: his novel,

Last month the industry was abuzz with word of a new-and-improved book fair that could come to Toronto. On August 8, “A Re-Imagined Book Fair” feasibility report was publicly released, detailing the need for and structure of a national book … Continue reading →

– by Hufsa Tahir Aquin’s The Invention of Death is an emotional ride that treads through the murky rapids of one man’s depression and his eventual contemplation of suicide. The reason I enjoyed this book is simple: I flipped to … Continue reading →

Fall brings with it a return to the daily grind of work and school, but we’ve managed to find a group of people who refuse to look anything but fantastic as they head out for a busy weekday. Lincoln Clarkes’ … Continue reading →

What better way to celebrate the glorious coming of fall in stunning Northern Ontario but with the launch of a new poetry book?! Join us as we launch Rob Rolfe’s third poetry collection, Beyond Mudtown. When: Thursday, Sept.19th, 7pm Where: … Continue reading →

Join us on August 15th, 4-9 pm at Oz Studios (134 Ossington Avenue) for the official launch of Cyclists by Lincoln Clarkes! From August 15-21st, this will be a Pop-Up Shop Exhibition: Cyclists and other Works by Lincoln Clarkes.

Quattro Books Inc. and The Association for Art and Social Change (AASC) are  seeking interns! Each internship requires a commitment of 15 hours a week by the intern and lasts for three months. After the completed internship, an honorarium of … Continue reading →

As many of our friends already know, Beatriz Hausner, one of the four founders of Quattro Books, who was with us since we began in 2006, has left our partnership to pursue other opportunities. Beatriz was a vital contributor to … Continue reading →

2013 marked the fifth year that Quattro has run its annual Ken Klonsky Novella Contest. The contest is now open for 2014. We invite submissions from Canadian citizens from coast to coast; the competition is fierce, with winners being awarded … Continue reading →

  – by Kristen Blank The Extraordinary Event of Pia H., who turned to admire a chicken on the Plaza Mayor is by far one of the most intriguing novellas (and compelling titles) I’ve read in a while. The dark … Continue reading →

As any savvy writer knows, there is a world of self-promotion opportunities available to you in social media: you’re tweeting and re-tweeting, thumbs-upping, page managing, and Tumblring around. But the sea of social media is vast and unwieldy. It’s easy … Continue reading →

It may only be July but we’re getting some fantastic fall titles ready for you. You can check them out on our site today, and even pre-order! We’re releasing two works of poetry, Come cold river by Karen Connelly and … Continue reading →

By Q Cafe guest contributor, Tom Wyndham Good Evening, Central Laundromat by Jason Heroux is a well-paced, poetic and entertaining novella published by Quattro Books, telling the story of a man, a mystery, and the strange phenomena accompanying the two … Continue reading →

Congratulations, Isa Milman! Something Small to Carry Home has won the 2013 Canadian Jewish Book Award for Poetry! This is the Victoria poet’s third time winning this prize. If you’re in Toronto, be sure to come out for the 2013 … Continue reading →

Simultaneously with our Toronto launch of Jack Layton: Art in Action, we are launching the book in Vancouver! When: May 2nd, 6:30-9pm. Where: Peter Kaye Room, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver BC . MC:: Renée Saklikar. As consulting editor and partner … Continue reading →

After a beautiful and satisfying day at work (Wintern-ing) OR making delicious coffee and espresso beverages at Q Space (not unlike my favorite alternate personality Hannah in Girls) I enjoy looking at the books that line the shelves in the … Continue reading →

by Kim Hesas What do you get when you combine a diabolical beaver school mascot, The Wizard of Oz, Robbie Burns, and Dante? Why, you get Surrender, the debut novella by Peter Learn, the tale of a defunct school mascot … Continue reading →

by Monica Georgieff To jump on the bandwagon of the spike of self-publishing, Barnes and Noble has introduced their own self-publishing service called Nook Press. The intention is to compete with Amazon’s Kindle DIrect Publishing and is based on technology … Continue reading →

by Kristen Blank “What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by? Unless it be to think that she is by And feed upon the shadow of perfection” -Shakespeare This quote … Continue reading →

Imagine this: An intern. New York. The intern has been working for the (insert artsy organization) for a year, unpaid and has just been cut off financially by her parents. Sounding familiar yet? She can barely pay her bills and … Continue reading →

The Toronto Public Library has steadily been initiating changes in their system that will allow them to cover their costs and make up a $3.9-million budget shortfall. By next month, when you take out a library book and get your … Continue reading →

Saugeen By Rob Rolfe Reading Saugeen was like visiting the cottage of a close friend. I was invited to stay awhile, and explore the area dense with history and natural beauty. It felt like taking a small but necessary vacation … Continue reading →

“At that moment, on the last day of filming, the sound director shouts, ‘Quiet, everyone. Quiet on the set. Complete silence please. Room Tone.’” The practical application allows for re-recording with a room unaltered by other sounds; simultaneously, it is … Continue reading →

If you’re an addicted Amazon shopper and ‘online shopping’ means books, not clothes then you must be thrilled that Amazon Prime has been made available in Canada! Amazon Prime is Amazon’s paid service which gives you VIP perks like unlimited … Continue reading →

 Join us for another edition of the Toronto WordStage. *Please note: This event is on Thursday, not the usual Wednesday!* TIM CONLEY: Tim Conley is the author of two collections of short fiction entitled Whatever Happens (2006) and Nothing Could … Continue reading →

Industry attendance is an important part of being involved in the social scene which encompasses the publishing community. There are always events taking place around the city and deciding which ones to attend takes some careful planning. It is important … Continue reading →

Check out Terri Favro entertaining the crowds.