FREE SPEECH Season Finale Tuesday Dec 15

The final edition of FREE SPEECH for 2009 presents another fabulous line-up of Parkdale/High Park-based wordsmiths. The season finale on Tuesday December 15 features novelist Ray Robertson, short (& long) story writer Heather Birrell and Globe & Mail cultural commentator Robert Everett-Green. Songwriter of the month is the honey-voiced Rosemary Phelan.

As usual, FREE SPEECH is hosted and curated by Johan Hultqvist.

Tuesday Dec 15, 7pm. Show at 7:30 sharp. PWYC.
Tinto (89 Roncesvalles)
http://www.tinto.ca


About the artists:

Ray Robertson is the author of the novels Home Movies, Heroes, Moody Food, Gently Down the Stream, What Happened Later, and, most recently, David. He has also written a collection of non-fiction, Mental Hygiene: Essays on Writers and Writing. Ray is a graduate of the University of Toronto with High Distinction with a B.A. in philosophy and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Southwest Texas State University. Ray is a contributing book reviewer to the Toronto Globe and Mail, appears regularly on TVO's Imprint and CBC's Talking Books, and teaches creative writing and literature at the University of Toronto.
http://www.rayrobertson.com

Heather Birrell is the author of I know you are but what am I? (Coach House Books, 2004), a collection of stories. Her stories have been shortlisted for both the Western and National Magazine Awards and have appeared in numerous Canadian literary journals, including The New Quarterly, Matrix, Descant, Prism international and the online magazine bookninja. I know you are but what am I? was also longlisted for Canada's ReLit Award. New work appears in the anthology Toronto Noir “BriannaSusannaAlana” (Akashic Books) and the American journal Hobart. Heather's third story to be included in the annual Journey Prize Anthology, was awarded The Writers' Trust of Canada/McClelland & Stewart 2006 Journey Prize in February 2007. Heather is now busy with a new collection and a novel about a tire factory, Cuba, teenaged love and a draft dodger.
http://www.heatherbirrell.com

Robert Everett-Green grew up in Alberta, famous for its dinosaurs. On a recent visit, he was surprised to find these great beasts stampeding through the tar sands. He has had short fiction published in Geist and Queen's Quarterly, is working on a novel, and writes about music and other things for the Globe and Mail.

Rosemary Phelan: A community nurse by profession, in 2007 Rosemary Phelan quietly ventured into the Toronto roots music scene. In the three years since, she has completed a commissioned play soundtrack, was awarded “Song of the Year” at the 2008 Porcupine Awards, is included on the 2009 Canadian Songwriter’s Anthology CD, and has performed with some of North America’s most respected songwriters. In addition, she is featured in an upcoming CBC documentary for her work with music and the dying, was short-listed for the 2009 Colleen Petersen songwriting award, and has released 2 full-length albums. She is also in demand as a session singer and workshop facilitator. Currently Rosemary is working on a collection of songs and short essays, “a fire of roses”, and a new recording project, both scheduled for release in 2010.
http://www.rosemaryphelan.com


About the host:

Johan Hultqvist is a performer, activist, community organizer and the lead singer of JUNO-nominated Toronto band Mr. Something Something. He is also the co-creator, host and curator of the proudly Parkdalian literary salon Free Speech.


FREE SPEECH is produced with generous support from Mill Street Brewery, New Moon Kitchen and Envoy Business Services on Roncesvalles.

Tinto carries a selection of beers from local brewer Mill Street and offers a choice of Red Chilean and White Argentinean wines, along with a menu of Latin American flavoured Fair Trade/Organic goodies. http://www.tinto.ca