I felt like I should be in a play at least once in my life, so I joined the Inglewood Schoolhouse Performers. Over the past half a year or so, we gathered weekly to pull together a fun and exciting murder "mystery" play that packed the Inglewood community centre for four engagements. Plus, I got to shoot someone in the first scene!

I'm officially hooked on this acting business. (Now taking calls from Hollywood producers!)

I did a reading at the Windup Bird Café with the marvelous Mary Corkery, the stunning Stephanie McKechnie and none other than the Poet Laureate of Toronto George Elliot Clarke. 
He has City of Toronto business cards!


Good thing they were there to save the night after my thirty-page sonnet cycle about the writing of technical manuals for staplers and related paper fastening hardware. 

More stuff here and here.

Broken Pencil reviewed the zine! It is soundly in the resourceful hands of editor Sarah Varnum and she's getting noticed.

Pick up a copy of Broken Pencil (it's weird and has comics and art) and check it out.

JUNE 23rd

I was supposed to read at one of these but then I got so sick I elected to watch an entire season of Adventure Time in one sitting because it was easier than getting up to find the remote. One day I'll get up on the stage here...

Anyway, it's a great time. Mucho lovely. This month's readers are Niki Koulouris, Rudyard Fearon and JC Bouchard. I don't know who they are either but you barely know who I am and look at how much fun you're having. 

Right? Fun? 
Well it's close enough to fun.

Here are some deets:


"Blue Coffee is a poetry and fiction reading series in Toronto since June 2013. We are always looking for writers to come and read.

Past readers include Nik Beat, Denise St Marie, Julie Cameron Gray, Nathaniel G. Moore, Liisa Ladouceur, Rocco De Giacomo, Kelly Paoli, Shawn Nolan, Mindi St.Amand, Spencer Butt, Liz Howard, Spencer Gordon, Leigh Beadon, Fenn Stewart, Eric Schmaltz, Lindsay Cahill, Jimmy McInnes, Patrick Connors, Mat Laporte, Jim Johnstone, Bänoo Zan.

For more information, please contact me by email: mindistamand@gmail.com

Or follow the Blue Coffee Reading Series Facebook Page."


Event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/275522682622181/

JUNE 17th

The thing about literary events and journal launches is that everyone is always laid back and people like to drink. In this case, there'll also be food.

I'm currently interning as the production editor at Descant, working on the next issue, and the departing p.e. is super good. Her event should be fun and there will be famous people. CanLit famous, but still.

"Celebrate summer and great literature at the launch of Descant's 165th issue.

Join us for food, prizes and readings. Listen to wonderful work by some of the best of Toronto’s established and emerging writers. Pick up discounted issues and subscriptions. Mingle with authors, artists, editors and friends. And while you’re at it, be sure to grab a cool drink at the warm and inviting Pauper’s Pub.

Featured readers include: Heather Babcock, Mary Corkery, Stevie Howell, Mark Kingwell and Assia Messaoudi."

https://www.facebook.com/events/288924381276680/

JUNE 7th

"The third issue of The Quilliad will soon be in print, and we'd love it if you'd join us to celebrate. There will be readings to listen to, art to enjoy, and both writing and art for sale. Come out and have a drink with us. $5 cover includes your copy of the issue (if you are a contributor to the issue, you get in free, of course)."

I will be giving a reading of a poem I wrote (see the publications page for a bit more info) and we'll all be having a merry time. Come on down and taste the delicious new writing. Much inky. So yum.


https://www.facebook.com/events/1432319977023637/