This year, the Read Quebec Book Fair turned ten.
Held December 6–7 at the historic Casa d’Italia, the Fair felt like stepping into a book-filled birthday party—complete with authors, publishers, a coffee shop, and a reading nook for kids.
Produced by the Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ), the Fair has always celebrated the vitality of English-language writing in the province.
And this time, publishers from across Canada joined the festivities.
The Fair in Full Swing
The programming was packed.
Upstairs, graphic-novel lovers gathered for Art and Life in Graphic Novels, featuring Julie Delporte, Pascal Girard, and D. Boyd.
I especially enjoyed Delporte’s work, Portrait of a Body, which masterfully married the raw, the poetic, and the visual.
I also attend the popular Acquiring Editors at Work, a lively conversation about how books get chosen for publication.
Moderated with grace by poet and multidisciplinary artist Tawhida Tanya Evanson, the panel brought together three accomplished editors—Leila Marshy (Baraka Books), Curtis John McRae (Véhicule Press), and Yash Kesanakurthy (Simon & Schuster Canada)—each offering a candid look into the mysterious world of acquisitions.
Together, they broke down what happens behind the scenes: the balance between artistic instinct, editorial vision, and the realities of the publishing market.
Enter: Speed Dating for Writers and Publishers
December 7, 2025 — 2 to 3 p.m., Archives Room, Casa d’Italia
But the real adventure for me came on Sunday, at the Fair’s first-ever Speed Dating for Writers and Publishers.
I arrived a half-hour early, but almost missed the cut!
Spots filled fast on a first-come, first-served basis, and I was initially crushed to be second on the waitlist.
After a few nerve-racking minutes—which felt like hours—I was bumped up (to my luck, there were two no-shows), and ended up the last person to be admitted!
Lucky number 21.
It was “meant to be.” Or so I saw it.
At 2pm, I made my way to the basement Archives Room, pitch in hand and nerves executing a dozen pas de bourrées.
A snaking line of writers clutching notebooks, index cards, and the ideas in their heads, made its way from the door to the first publisher’s table.
Each “date” lasted two minutes—just long enough to introduce ourselves, explain our project, and answer a rapid-fire question or two.
Then a bell sounded, and we shuffled.
I was suddenly brought back to 11-year-old-me.
It felt like ballet recital all over again: the long wait backstage. The smell of pastries and plastic. The constant practicing, stretching.
The excitement, almost edible.
The knowing that I will soon have to step on the stage and perform in front of judging eyes…
Except this time, I wasn’t armed with a flexible body and painful point shoes. I was armed with English words, a strong stumble, and an immense drive.
Why was I doing all of this? (“Always remember your why,” as Heather Smith once advised.)
Because of my belief in stories: how they can heal, bring us closer.
Keep us human. Change everything.
I was doing this for that greater good (insert more poetic words).
I was also doing this for 11-year-old-me who would’ve been so proud. Who rooted for me from behind the curtain of côté jardin—I saw her.
I was doing this for my son who loves stories.
And for all the children who are born believing. Dreaming. Trusting.
As Leila Marshy said in her panel (and I paraphrase): at one point, the story is no longer you: it’s out there.
It belongs to the world.
The pitch for this story wasn’t me; I was just its messenger. And I need to get the message across and complete that chassé.
Fingers crossed it worked…
The Publishers
I got to sit with an incredible lineup, including:
- Yashaswi Kesanakurthy (Simon & Schuster Canada), whose work championing marginalized voices made her table a magnet.
- Firoze Manji (Daraja Press), who brought decades of activism, scholarship, and global perspective.
- Leila Marshy (Baraka Books), whose editorial insight and political experience gave the conversation depth.
- Curtis McRae (Véhicule Press) generous and full of encouragement for writers.
- Shannae Nitti (CrackBoom! Books), a powerhouse of marketing and reader-savvy insights.
- Dave Dufour (Flame Arrow Publishing), representing the world of speculative fiction with a sharp vision.
The session was moderated by Lori Schubert of the Quebec Writers’ Federation, who guided the event with the calm confidence of someone who has shepherded writers for over two decades.
My Takeaways
Did I find a “match”? Or an “incredible publishing contract,” as one of the writers jokingly asked?
Only time will tell…
But I did find:
- Conversations I can use to strengthen my pitch and refine my manuscript.
- Contacts I never would have met otherwise.
- Confidence—because after the third table, something shifted, and it began to feel less like a performance and more like a conversation.
Talking to editors and publishers with such distinct passions and priorities made the industry feel less like a maze and more like a community.
Why I’ll Be Back
Between the panels and the publisher showcases, the Read Quebec Book Fair managed to be both celebratory and intimate, bustling yet deeply welcoming.
I left with a new picture book, a notebook full of ideas, and the smallest, brightest spark of momentum in my writing life.
Happy 10th, Read Quebec Book Fair. See you next year.
brankapetrovic.com 
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