SATURDAY, JUNE 6
Books and Biscotti with writers Licia Canton, Lucia Cascioli, Domenic Cusmano, Terri Favro, Antonino Mazza and Rene Pappone; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Italian Canadian Historical Centre (Villa Marconi), 1026 Baseline Rd. Hosted by the National Congress of Italian Canadians and the Dante Alighieri Society. Free admission. Refreshments. Info: 819-684-4803.
Prose in the Park: An initiative of Ottawa’s writing community, this is the first major open air literary festival/book fair in Ottawa, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Parkdale Park. Big, medium and small publishers will be displaying and selling their wares, and a number of authors will be reading throughout the day. Info: www.proseinthepark.com
A B Series presents Wayde Compton and Kaie Kellough; 8 p.m. at Raw Sugar Café, 692 Somerset St. W. Info: abseries.org
Meet Jeff Storm, the author of Petrified World; 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Chapters Kanata, 400 Earl Grey Drive, Unit 1 (Kanata Centrum). Info: 613-415-2590, info@jeff-storm.com or www.jeff-storm.com
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
ChiSeries Ottawa: Celebrate summer with readings by authors James Moran, Melissa Yuan-Innes and Kate Story; 7 p.m. at Maxwell’s Bistro, 340 Elgin St. Info: chiseriesottawa@gmail.com, http://chiseries.com/node/16353
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Octopus Book Club discussion on Rawi Hage’s Cockroach, a finalist for the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and a winner of the Paragraph Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction, presented by the Quebec Writers’ Federation; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please email events@octopusbooks.ca if you would like to join us.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
span-o (the small press action network — Ottawa) presents The Factory Reading Series pre-small press book fair reading featuring Marilyn Irwin, Dean Steadman, Alicia Cumming and Stuart Ross, hosted by rob mclennan; doors 7 p.m., readings 7:30 p.m., The Carleton Tavern, 223 Armstrong St. at Parkdale, upstairs. Info: http://www.abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2015/05/the-factory-reading-series-pre-small.html
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
The spring 2015 edition of the semi-annual Ottawa small press book fair; noon to 5 p.m. at the Jack Purcell Community Centre. Come by and see some of the best of the small press from Ottawa and beyond. Info: www.smallpressbookfair.blogspot.ca
Workshop: Kristan Higgins will give a workshop on writing dialogue; 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the RA Centre, Canada Room, 2451 Riverside Dr. Cost: $40. Info:613-868-7067, julie.doner@gmail.com, or ottawaromancewriters.com/events/workshops/index.html
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
An Evening with Thomas Hübl: Join international spiritual teacher Thomas Hübl for an evening of relevant conversation, timeless wisdom and enlightened understanding of the challenges of personal spiritual practice in today’s world; 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Ben Franklin Place (Centrepointe Theatre), 101 Centrepointe Dr.. Tickets $25 advance (before May 24), $30 (after May 24) and $35 at the door, available at www.thomasinottawa.info. Seating is limited. Info: Valerie Yersh at valerie@thomasinottawa.info
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
David Suzuki will launch his book, Letters to My Grandchildren, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Centretown United Church, 507 Bank St. Tickets: $10 for general admission or $5 for students and low-income, available at Octopus Books (116 Third Ave. or 251 Bank St., second floor), online (octopusbooks.ca) or at the door. Info: octopusbooks.ca
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
Join Perry Prete as he signs and discusses his mystery novels set in Ottawa; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coles Carlingwood, 2121 Carling Ave. Info: 613-349-4091, talia@sandspress.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
A presentation by forensic anthropologist Debra Komar, who tackles a dark mystery at the heart of Hudson’s Bay Company history in The Bastard of Fort Stikine: The Hudson’s Bay Company and the Murder of John McLoughlin Jr.; 7 p.m. at the Ottawa Public Library, 120 Metcalfe St. This event is free.