Announcing the Fall Season of Toronto Lit Up
We are excited to announce the 15 new titles selected for the Fall season of Toronto Lit Up 2025-2026. The programme is a joint initiative with Toronto Arts Council that spotlights Toronto writers through supporting and promoting their book launch celebrations, bringing together communities of readers across the city.
The Fall season will take place between October 2025 and March 2026. This season will feature non-fiction books about mental health to personal finance, books of poetry for all ages, and fiction titles by icons in the Toronto literary scene. Discover the stories that capture the iconic character of Toronto’s neighbourhoods and the wealth of cultures that meet on our streets. From bookstores to bars, clubs to coffee shops, Toronto Lit Up has a book launch for everyone’s TBR needs.
The following new books will be featured:
- Marianne Apostolides – Go/No-Go: A Journey Into the Research and Treatment of Mental Health Disorders (Book*hug Press)
- Ellie Arscott – Levi's Gift (words by Kathy Stinson) (Nimbus Publishing)
- bill bissett – th book uv lost passwords 1 (Talonbooks)
- Myra Bloom – Shelter in Text (University of Alberta Press)
- Shannon Bramer – Nightmare Jones (Groundwood Books)
- Jessica Campbell – Hot or Not: 20th Century Male Artists (Drawn & Quarterly)
- Kate Cayley – Property (Coach House Books)
- Alison Gadsby – Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive (Guernica Editions)
- Heidi von Palleske – The Lost Queen (Dundurn Press)
- Terese Mason Pierre – As The Earth Dreams (House of Anansi)
- Nadia Ragbar – The Pugilist and the Sailor (Invisible Publishing)
- Howie Shia – Ra! Ta! Ma! Cue! (Annick Press)
- Renée Sylvestre-Williams – The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo Earners (ECW Press)
- Zenia Wadhwani – Fly in the Chai (Tundra Books)
- Ashraf Zaghal – Seven Heavens Away (House of Anansi)
Events to launch and celebrate these titles will take place in person across Toronto from October 2025 to March 2026. All events will be free to attend and open to the public. Stay tuned for dates and details to come at FestivalofAuthors.ca.
Between April 2016 and September 2025, Toronto Lit Up has presented over 200 events featuring over 250 Toronto authors and illustrators.
- From the Toronto Arts Council
“Partnering with TIFA to amplify the work of Toronto authors and illustrators is something we are very proud to do. Toronto Lit Up not only generates excitement for published work, but it promotes and further strengthens our city’s rich literary community. Congratulations to the authors and illustrators who are taking part in this season of Toronto Lit Up!”
– Kelly Langgard, Director & CEO, Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation.
The Committee
Each submission is reviewed by the Toronto Lit Up Committee, composed of Ian Keteku (Creative Writing Instructor, OCAD U), Samia Madwar (Senior Editor, The Walrus), Hazel Millar (Co-Publisher, Book*hug) and Roland Gulliver (Director, Toronto International Festival of Authors).
How to get involved:
To keep up to date on announcements, upcoming events and submission periods, follow us on social media at @festofauthors and subscribe to our e-newsletter.