In this week's roundup of Toronto's literary events: A whole lotta screaming going on as the Scream Festival kicks off this week.

Tuesday, July 1

Yolanda T Marshall invites everyone to her launch party, A Poetic Journey into the Mind of Miss Marshall, which features readings, dances, and performances by Cloud 9 Co-op. The launch will be followed by an afterparty hosted by DJ MelBoogie from CKLN. It all goes down at Nile Bar & Lounge at 7pm.

Also on Tuesday:

• Tanya Davis, Ronda Eller, and Klyde Broox feature at the Art Bar Poetry Series at Clinton's at 8pm.
   

Pride Week often makes me think of everything from the somewhat clichéd rainbow-coloured flags, to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, to guys so ripped they make me question my own sexuality. The literary event Proud Voices, in partnership with Word on the Street, was a great way to experience the best of both worlds.You haven't heard storytelling until you've heard it like this - with colour and a contemporary twist.

Hosted by Toronto Poetry Slam veteran Arianna Pozzuoli, there was a stellar line-up of Toronto's literary scene, coupled with crowd-favourites such as Yukon golden child Ivan E. Coyote as well as Christina Starr, activist and queer parent who took us on an adventure through topics covering gender, femininity and fairytales.

Pride Toronto 2008 is under way, and while a lot of attention goes to the parade, the big stage shows, and the late night revelry, there's also something for the bookworms out there tomorrow.

Once again Proud Voices is hosting a reading series featuring upcoming authors and distinguished veterans.

Presented in partnership with everyone's favourite Toronto magazine and book festival Word on the Street, Proud voices is a Saturday afternoon of free readings by local, Canadian, and international writers.

blogTO has a prize pack to give to a lucky reader, consisting of four books from the reading series. Continue reading for contest entry details, and Proud Voices' descriptions of the works.

In this week's roundup of Toronto's literary events: The unseen side of Gandhi, falling in love with Lake Erie, celebrating Banff, and winning a lot of money in competitive spoken word.

Tuesday, June 24

You may not have thought that Gandhi was a character rife with controversy, but it turns out that not everyone thinks that the legendary Indian was all the movies make him out to be. Dr. Timothy Watson will be launching his new book, Gandhi: Under Cross-Examination at Conspiracy Culture tonight at 7pm, and will put the famous historical figure under a critical lens.

Also on Tuesday:

• Travel writer Robert Ward reads from his new book, All the Good Pilgrims: Tales of the Camino de Santiago at TPL's North York Central Branch at 7pm.
• Lauren Weisberger, bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada, will be at the Indigo Bay & Bloor to read from her new novel, Chasing Harry Winston at 7pm.
• Spoken word artists Sky Gilbert, Tara-Michelle Ziniuk, Kate Leadbeater and d'bi young anitafrika take the stage as part of Pride Voices at the Gladstone Hotel at 8pm.
• David Day, Lee Maracle, and Mel Sarnese feature at the Art Bar Poetry Series at Clinton's at 8pm.
   

In this week's roundup of Toronto's literary events: Party in Parkdale, Slamming for Spoken Word Supremacy, Scintillating Sex Stories, and other alliterations.

Tuesday, June 17

Paul Polak, founder of Colorado-based non-profit International Development Enterprises, visits OCAD tonight to deliver a talk on why current poverty-alleviation strategies might not be working, and what can be done to make them more effective. He will also be launching his book Out of Poverty: When Traditional Approaches Fail. The talk and launch take place at the OCAD Auditorium at 6:30pm tonight.

Also on Tuesday:

• Lien Chao reads from her short story collection The Chinese Knot and her other works at TPL's Locke Branch at 2pm.
• Michael Knox launches The North End Poems at The Supermarket at 6:30pm.
• James Deahl, Laura Pasol, and Pier Giorgio Di Cicco feature at the Art Bar Poetry Series at Clinton's at 8pm.
   

In this week's roundup of Toronto's literary events: Canadian sonnets, more Luminato, poetry in the park, and Book Expo Canada.

Tuesday, June 10

Straight from Norway, acclaimed cartoonist JASON will be at The Central in Toronto to launch his new work Pocket Full of Rain. JASON's work can be currently seen in the New York Times Magazine, and will be interviewed on his process and inspirations by The Beguiling's Peter Birkemoe.

Also on Tuesday:

• Launch for Sailor Girl by Sheree-Lee Olson @ 6pm - Ben McNally Books
• Jeff Fuchs at This is Not a Reading Series @ 7:30pm - Gladstone Hotel
• Monty Reid, Phlip Arima, and Yannick Marshall at Art Bar Poetry Series @ 8pm - Clinton's