Leslie Shimotakahara
BOOK LAUNCH for Red Oblivion on September 25, 2019, 6 to 8 pm, at Ben McNally Books (366 Bay Street, Toronto). Author reading at 6:30, followed by a book signing. Refreshments will be served. This event is part of Toronto Lit Up. For more information, click here.
Panel Discussion on Japanese-Canadian Literature -- January 12, 2017 at 7:00 pm at St. David's Anglican Church in Toronto.
BOOK LAUNCH for After the Bloom at the Japan Foundation, on May 18, 2017, 6:30-8:30 pm. Reading and book signing. Wine and refreshments will be served. The Japan Foundation is located at 2 Bloor Street East, Suite 300 (3rd floor of the Hudson's Bay Centre) in Toronto.
gritLIT -- April 6-9, 2017, Hamilton, ON. Reading from After the Bloom at 8:00 pm on April 6. Participating in panel discussion on "Identity and Self-Identity" at 8:00 pm on April 7.
Diaspora Dialogues' Interview with Leslie Shimotakahara & Rebecca Fisseha, as part of the TOK Toronto Symposium, on September 21st, 2019, 12:30-1:30 pm, at Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto). Panel will be moderated by journalist Aparita Bhandari. For more information, click here.
Guest Author at "From Pen to Published Mini Series: Mentor Lunch and Learn" on July 13, 2019, 12 to 2 pm, at Milestones Dundas Square in Toronto. For more information and to register, click here.
Ontario Library Association Super Conference -- Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Book signing for my new novel After the Bloom, February 2nd, 2017.
RBC Pongapalooza in Support of First Book Canada -- May 16, 2017 at 6:30 at Spin Toronto. I will be participating as a table host at this literacy fundraising event.
Mississauga Library Book Club Author Visit -- September 6, 2017, 6:30-8:00 pm. Lakeview Library, 1110 Atwater Avenue, Mississauga.
LiterASIAN Festival -- September 22-24, 2017, Vancouver, BC.
American Booksellers Association Winter Institute -- January 29-30, 2017. Minneapolis, MN. Book signing at Authors Reception.
Time Travel in Narrative panel at Word Vancouver on September 25th, 2020, 7-8 pm. I will be discussing Red Oblivion on this Zoom panel with fellow authors Kawika Guillermo and Jack Wang; the panel will be moderated by Anna Ling Kaye. For more information, click here. A video of the panel can be viewed here.
Guernica's Fall Flash Fiction Reading Series, September 2020. After reading a new piece of flash fiction, I'll be interviewed on Zoom by Michael Mirolla about my writing practice. A video of our conversation can be viewed here.
Past Events
Draft Reading Series -- May 26th, 2019, at St. Matthew's Clubhouse (450 Broadview Ave in Toronto), 3 pm. I will be reading from a new literary work in progress.
Upcoming Events
Reading with Steve Burrows and Brenda Chapman -- April 15, 2017, 3-5 pm, at Sleuth of Baker Street Bookstore in Toronto. I will be reading from After the Bloom with these two other novelists.
Remembering Redress Celebration and Dinner, with keynote address by Ed Broadbent, on October 5th, 2019, 5:30 to 9 pm, at Church of the Holy Trinity (19 Trinity Square, Toronto) -- Leslie will be at the book table, with other Japanese-Canadian authors, to sign books. For more information about this event, click here.
Guest author at The Word On The Street's Amazon.ca Bestsellers Stage, on September 22nd, 2019, 11:00-11:45 am, at Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto). Leslie will be interviewed about Red Oblivion by the hosts of semi-prose Podcast. For more information, click here.
Toronto Public Library's Asian Heritage Month Author Series -- Reading from After the Bloom at Pape/Danforth branch on May 10th, 2017 from 7-8 pm, and at S. Walter Stewart branch on May 24th from 7-8 pm.