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alllitupcanada.bsky.social
All Lit Up
@alllitupcanada.bsky.social
360 followers 120 following 250 posts
An independent online bookstore and blog showcasing and selling Canada's best in indie books. Visit us at alllitup.ca
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alllitupcanada.bsky.social
James Cairns reminds us we’re not alone in times of crisis. In his book IN CRISIS, ON CRISIS (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social) he offers thoughtful essays that provide a sense of connection in our existential times.

James reads a passage from the book for #ALUCozyFest:

alllitup.ca/cozy-fest-ja...
A graphic with the text "Now Reading on Cozy Fest: James Cairns, In Crisis, On Crisis" featuring the cover of the book and an inset photo of the author.
December 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Kicking off #ALUCozyFest is Dina Del Bucchia coming to us from a cozy spot in her home to read a passage about friendships, group texts, and perfect days from her book YOU'RE GONNA LOVE THIS (@talonbooks.bsky.social).

alllitup.ca/cozy-fest-di...
A graphic with the text: "Now Reading on Cozy Fest: Dina Del Bucchia, You're Gonna Love This" featuring the cover of the book and an inset photo of the author.
December 2, 2025 at 3:32 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Love a literary festival but don't want to leave your house? Cozy Fest has entered the chat!
December 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Wrapping up this year’s #ALUGiftGuide, author & educator Lindsay Zier-Vogel highlights 4 thoughtful, holiday-ready reads.

From essays & short stories to nonfiction, these picks blend humour, culinary flair, insight, and heart—perfect for almost everyone on your list!

alllitup.ca/gift-guide-w...
A graphic reading "Gift Guide Week with Lindsay Zier-Vogel." There is an inset photo of Lindsay and her four book picks: Living Expenses by Teri Vlassopoulos; Hearty by andrea bennett; Good Mom On Paper: Writers On Creativity And Motherhood edited by Stacey May Fowles and Jen Sookfong Lee; Encampment by Maggie Helwig.
November 28, 2025 at 3:18 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Author Greg Rhyno is today's #ALUGiftGuide recommender with five standout book picks for gifting.

alllitup.ca/gift-guide-w...
A graphic reading "Gift Guide Week with Greg Rhyno." There is an inset photo of Greg and his five book picks: Widow Fantasies by Hollay Ghadery, Revolutions by Hajer Mirwali, Heat Wave by Maureen Jennings, RIP Scoot by Sara Flemington, and Skin by Catherine Bush.
November 27, 2025 at 4:12 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Searching for the perfect bookish gift? Calgary short story writer @beingkirti.bsky.social shares four thoughtful titles to round out your holiday shopping list in our latest #ALUGiftGuide.

Read her picks: alllitup.ca/gift-guide-w...
A graphic reading "Gift Guide Week with Kirti Bhadresa" There is an inset photo of Kirti and her four book picks: The World So Wide by Zilla Jones; All Our Ordinary Stories by Teresa Wong; Contraband Bodies by Jide Salawu; The Years Shall Run Like Rabbits by Ben Berman Ghan.
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Looking for books to gift (or to read)? Writer and reviewer @selenamercuri.bsky.social has you covered with six fantastic book recommendations in this year's #ALUGiftGuide.

alllitup.ca/gift-guide-w...
A graphic reading "Gift Guide Week with Selena Mercuri" There is an inset photo of Selena and her six book picks: There Is No Blue by Martha Baillie; Starry Starry Night by Shani Mootoo; Speech Dries Here on the Tongue by Hollay Ghadery, Resiqra Revulva, & Amanda Shankland; from time to new by Lydia Kwa; Skin by Catherine Bush, and This Report Is Strictly Confidential by Elizabeth Ruth.
November 25, 2025 at 5:24 PM
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Michael Mirolla’s latest novel HOW ABOUT THIS…? (@atbaypress.bsky.social) tells the story of partners Elspeth & Marybeth who find their lives upended after discovering abandoned twins and a warning not to return them.

Read an excerpt from this winding narrative at alllitup.ca/excerpted-ho...
A background of washed, dark green with the cover of "How About This...? on top of it. The cover also features a light green background with marble texture. There is an illustrated pram in the bottom left corner, wth two bright yellow circles surrounding it. The title of the text is in the top centre of the cover in between square brackets in a dark blue sans serif font.
November 21, 2025 at 4:36 PM
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Our final #ALUGiftNext haul are for the readers who like their prose tight: here are six short story collections we think your giftees will love.

Shop our short fic recommendations (+ more!) here: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Indie publishers @pressassembly.bsky.social & Brick Books merged operations a month ago. Today, they share a little about what led to their decision and how the early days of working as one have taken shape.

alllitup.ca/teamwork-mak...
A graphic labelled "In House with Assembly Press" featuring the two presses logos at the top. The text is overlaid on a photo of a bookshelf lined with books in the Assembly Press office.
November 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
These #ALUGiftNext picks are perfect for the young (and young-at-heart) readers on your list. From romances and shape-shifting fantasies to mechanical monsters and coming-of-age stories, there's a book for every craving.

Shop our YA recommendations (+ more!) at: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Read two poems from Gillian Sze's AN ORANGE, A SYLLABLE (@ecwpress.bsky.social), this year's A.M. Klein Prize-winning collection of prose poems about motherhood and language.

alllitup.ca/two-poems-an...
The cover of An Orange, A Syllable by Gillian Sze features an open window with sheer curtains drawn to one side.
November 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Today's #ALUGiftNext haul is for the curious readers on your gift list. Here are seven thoughtful non-fiction books to consider.

Shop our recommendations here and get 10% off: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 18, 2025 at 4:37 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Our latest #WritersBlock features @thesunnydhillon.com on his debut memoir, HIDE AND SIKH (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social), how writing helps him make sense of the world, & the stories of growing up with racism he hopes will prepare others who share his experience.

🔗: alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...
The image is a "Writer's Block" graphic with the series title in the upper right corner and the All Lit Up logo in the upper left. The graphic's image is a black and white author photo of Sunny Dhillon. The cover of his memoir "Hide and Sikh" is in the bottom left corner. The cover is a gradient of vibrant purple and orange tones, and the title of the text takes up the entire cover in large, slightly transparent, sans serif white text.
November 18, 2025 at 3:11 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Our next #ALUGiftNext picks are for readers who love stories as bold as they are. Explore 6 graphic novels that provide laugh-out-loud humour, supernatural twists, and dystopian dives into identity and mental health.

Shop our graphic novel recommendations (+ more) here: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
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Carissa Halton’s debut novel REVOLUTION SONGS (@newestpress.bsky.social) tells the powerful story of divided loyalties, dangerous politics, and the women who stood firm in a 1930s Rocky Mountain town on the brink.

Read an excerpt from the novel at:
alllitup.ca/excerpted-revolution-songs/
The cover of Revolution Songs features a red background with two tone black and beige mountains at the bottom. There are black birds flying up the cover. The title is in bold yellow sans serif text across the cover.
November 14, 2025 at 8:26 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
This round of #ALUGiftNext picks are those on your gift list who crave a little more excitement this holiday season, here are five thrillers brimming with mystery, small-town tensions, and psychological suspense.

Shop our thriller recommendations (+ more!) here: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
"SYNCOPATION is doing a lot to underscore Black histories, Black geographies, and also to highlight ways of telling our tales."

We chat w/ Whitney French about her speculative novel-in-verse SYNCOPATION (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social) & how Black futurism informs her work.

alllitup.ca/it-was-poetr...
A photo of Whitney French. She is a Black woman with chin-length dreadlocks. She is standing in front of a wall and smiling into the camera.
November 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
In the latest edition of #UndertheCover, award-winning author Brad Smith reflects on BILLY CRAWFORD’S DOUBLE PLAY (@wolsakandwynn.bsky.social) where baseball meets politics in a character-driven story about passion, ambition & the love of the game.

Read more at: alllitup.ca/under-the-co...
An author photo of Brad Smith with the "Under the Cover" series logo in the upper left corner. In the bottom left corner, and cover of BILLY CRAWFORD'S DOUBLE PLAY has been superimposed.
November 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Today's #ALUGiftNext picks are for the poetry devotee: six collections to gift wonder, reflection, and a little rebellion.

Shop our poetry recommendations (+ more!) here: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
Today @benzalkind.bsky.social talks to us about writing inspirations, world-building, and his new dystopian novel HONEYDEW (@radiantpress.bsky.social), which pits a band of hapless rebels against a megacorporation and its celebrity CEO.

alllitup.ca/writers-bloc...
A photo of Ben Zalkind and an inset photo of his book Honeydew. Ben is a light-skin-toned man with a short brown beard. He is wearing a yellow t-shirt with a small graphic.
November 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
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Today’s #ALUGiftNext haul bends time, space, and genre for your favourite speculative fiction reader.

Shop our spec fiction recommendations (+ more!) here: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 11, 2025 at 6:48 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
We're here to help you find your giftee’s next favourite book.

Our first #ALUGiftNext recommendations are for the person on your list who savours language as much as plot.

Shop our lit fic recommendations (+ more!) here: alllitup.ca/gift-their-n...
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
"LONG EXPOSURE” is a book-length poem that fluidly reflects on tragedy, depictions of thoughts & feelings, & uncomfortable spaces between self and other.

Stephanie Bolster reads from her newest work w/ @palimpsestpress.bsky.social at:
alllitup.ca/poetry-in-motion-stephanie-bolster-long-exposure
The cover of LONG EXPOSURE features the author's name in capitalized sans serif white text along the top, and the title in the same font, bolded, right aligned in the bottom right corner. The cover image is of a corner of a decrepit, abandoned home. In this graphic, cover of the book has been superimposed on top of a long exposure photo that matches the colour tones of the cover image.
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
alllitupcanada.bsky.social
"“We can return to the poem, but we don’t live there.”

We chat with @margolapierre.bsky.social about her new book AJAR (@guernicaeditions.bsky.social), a collection exploring the intersections of womanhood, bipolar psychosis, and gendered trauma.

alllitup.ca/we-can-retur...
A graphic labelled "Interview with Margo LaPierre" with a photo of Margo, a light-skin-toned woman with wavy blonde hair looking off into the distance. There is an inset photo of her book Ajar.
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM