reading – Page 2 – A. M. Matte

Upcoming Public Readings

ammatte Uncategorized 20 August 201320 août 2013A.M. Matte, Café, excerpt, Free, library, public, reading, short stories, Times, Toronto, TOWC, writers 1 commentaire

I confess: I’m one of those writers who loves to read her stuff out loud. Preferably when other people are around to listen, absorb, critique, discuss.

That’s why I’m very fortunate to have three opportunities to read excerpts of my short stories in the next few months.

On September 5, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., thanks to the Toronto Writers’ Cooperative, I get to read an excerpt of my short story Where Pigeons Roost at a literary event starring award-winning Canadian author Terry Fallis.

Then, on September 15, 2013, at 1:45 p.m., the Toronto Writers’ Cooperative is once again providing a reading opportunity, thanks to the launch of its Voices 2013 anthology, a perfect-bound anthology of co-op members’ work, in a range of genres.

Both events are held at the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium on the first floor of the Toronto Reference Library, and are free.

Finally, on October 3, 2013, at 7:30 p.m., another conglomerate of writers will gather to share a range of work – from short fiction to creative non-fiction to poetry – under the theme Who You Calling Crazy? While this event, held at the Free Times Café in Toronto, is free of charge, donations to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health will be gladly accepted.

I’ve been practicing and timing (and even editing) the excerpts I plan to read, and am excited about these opportunities to share my writing live. If you happen to be in town, come on by and let me know what you think of my performance.

Exchanging Notes and A Reading in September

ammatte Uncategorized 15 August 201316 août 2013A.M. Matte, Co-operative, Exchanging Notes, interview, john miller, John Warren, library, pigeon-thwacking, public, reading, T.O., Terry Fallis, Toronto, TOWC, writers 1 commentaire

I’m excited to be reading as part of the Toronto Writers’ Co-operative literary evening, called Exchanging Notes, next month. On September 5th, 2013, the TOWC has invited award-winning author (and my one-time mentor) Terry Fallis to chat at the Toronto Reference Library.

Prior to the interview with Terry, two TOWC members will read their work – yours truly is one of them. It all goes down at the Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. I’ll be reading an excerpt of my short story Where Pigeons Roost, about a woman who becomes obsessed with the underground game of pigeon-thwacking.

See you there!

Exchanging Notes: the interviews

with Terry Fallis

Host John Miller converses about the writer’s life and craft with Terry Fallis. Terry is the author of The Best Laid Plans (Leacock Medal for Humour, 2008) and The High Road. In 2011, The High Road won CBC Canada Reads as the “essential Canadian novel of the decade.” TBLP is currently in development as a CBC-Television mini-series. Terry’s continuing publisher, McClelland and Stewart, published Up and Down in 2011. It debuted on the G&M bestsellers list. Terry’s 4th novel, No Relation, will be published in May, 2014. His 5th novel is currently underway.

Terry has extensive experience in provincial and federal politics, and communications consultation with the agency he co-founded, Thornley Fallis.

A.M. Matte and John Warren of the T.O. Writers’ Co-op will read from their work.

Exchanging Notes: the interviews

with Terry Fallis

6:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium

Toronto Reference Library

789 Yonge Street

Info: towc@live.com

Writer’s Shorts Challenge

ammatte Uncategorized 15 April 201315 avril 2013Alicorn 2108, compétition, fiction, reader, reading, sci-fi, science, short stories, short story, vote, Writer's Shorts 1 commentaire

One of my sci-fi short stories, Alicorn 2108, is competing in an online indie authors competition this month. While the rules state that I can’t encourage people to vote directly for my story, I can encourage you to read the stories and vote.

It is all up to you, the readers. Each reader may only vote once. Read the Writer’s Shorts Challenge contenders here: http://indieauthorsandbooks.wordpress.com/writers-shorts-challenge/writers-shorts-challenge-april-2013/

My story is the last one posted, right before the voting buttons. Happy reading!

Afterwards, no matter how you voted, feel free to leave a comment about the story on this page. It’s appreciated!

Ontario Arts Council Grant

ammatte Uncategorized 1 April 20131 avril 2013grant, Harold Green, OAC, Ontario Arts Council, play, reading, Seven Dragon Happy-Go-Lucky Golden Garden House of Foo(d) 0 commentaire

A big thank you to the Ontario Arts Council and to Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company for supporting my work on my full-length play Seven Dragon Happy-Go-Lucky Golden Garden House of Foo(d), the story of a Jewish family running a Chinese restaurant.

This grant will enable me to host a private reading of the play, with professional actors, in order to polish and finalize it for submission to a theatre company.

I am planning the reading for mid-May, to concentrate the final rewrite in June (report to OAC due in July).

I’ll keep you posted as to the play’s progress. Hopefully on stage soon!

A Public Service Reading

ammatte Uncategorized 7 February 20137 février 2013government, Nelles, public servant, public service, reading, secrets, short stories, short story, Toronto, virages, Writing 1 commentaire

Following my Salon du livre de Toronto gig in December 2012, I was invited by public servant colleagues at the government of Ontario to host a reading and discussion next week, on Valentine’s Day.

I will read my short stories Secrets and Nelles, both from literary magazine Virages, to an audience of people who know me more as a policy advisor than as a writer.

Too often, public servants are painted as lazy, boring paper-pushers. While there may be a handful of those, most of us are dynamic workers, eager to serve our fellow citizens. We are especially, people who care. We are family people, volunteers and leaders in our communities. And some of us are even artists.

A discussion about the place of writing in my life, stuffed here and there around work and family responsibilities, will be interesting. When one has a passion, it’s a privilege to share it with others.

A Reading In Absentia

ammatte Uncategorized 28 January 20131 février 2013audience, creative connections, Maman, mother, mum, non fiction, reading, short story, Writing 0 commentaire

A few weeks ago, my mother, who coordinates a programme for seniors in Ottawa called Creative Connections, held a reading of my work for the programme’s participants.

I wasn’t there.

My mum read for me: my short story A Treat (excerpt here), and two non-fiction pieces, Maman’s Hands and Sunborrowers and Watering Cans.

The positive response is humbling; « they want more! » shares my mum by email.

They meet once a week – I better get writing.

An intimate reading

ammatte Uncategorized 22 June 201217 juillet 2012A.M. Matte, author, class, Creative Writing, Matte, reading, short story, Terry Fallis, Toronto, University, writer 2 commentaires

Fallis-class reading — A.M. Matte reading "A Treat"

I’ve heard it asked before: What if you plan a reading and no one shows up?

The answer: It’s not the quantity of people who attend, it’s the quality.

I had the opportunity to read my short story « A Treat », about a young girl who desperately wants her older sister’s approval and is willing to do anything – even buy her an ice cream treat – to get it, in Terry Fallis’ Building An Audience For Your Writing class at U of T this week.

There were only three other people in the room, but they gave me their rapt attention and insightful feedback on my writing and my performance. They asked probing questions about my characters’ motivation and gave me tips on how I can make reading excerpts of the written word more compelling.

The best thing about a small yet captivated audience? You can read more material. Case in point: we had such a great time at our reading that we’re doing it again next week.

A passion for reading, writing and theatre

ammatte Uncategorized 9 January 20129 juin 2012Creative Writing, Michel Tremblay, Molière, reading, Shakespeare, théâtre, Writing 0 commentaire

I loved books before learning to read, and reading quickly became my favourite passtime – along with writing. Before I handled a pencil, I produced plays with my little brother in our living room, where we presented our masterpieces to our parents, for the low cost of 5¢ – per ticket.

Great classical playwrights such as Shakespeare and Molière guided my first plays (Des fous et des femmes, 1992; Colour Me Mythed or The Myth of Many Colours, 1993; A Child’s View of Shakespeare, 1992; Les fourberies de Molière ou Le Molière imaginaire, 2001). Studying Michel Tremblay’s works also had an impact on my writing (Peau des ongles, 2002), as did my love for Broadway musicals (La Reine a cassé sa pipe, 2005).