Alison Gadsby (she/her) is the host/curator of Junction Reads. She is a first-generation Canadian writer and literary chatterbox, living in a multigenerational home that includes several dogs. Author of story collection Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive (Guernica Editions, 2026), other short fiction appears in failbetter, Literary Heist, Blank Spaces, The Temz Review, The Ex-Puritan, Blue Lake Review, and more. Her novel, Dreams of the Weary is forthcoming (Palimpsest Press, 2027-28). She holds an MFA from the UBC, and a degree in English Literature & Creative Writing from York University.
Cayley Brightside (they/them) is JRs fantastic Event Coordinator, a Senior Publicist at Simon and Schuster Canada, and all around literary genius. They are our fun and friendly behind the scenes show runner! They are fluent/proficient/comfortable in a number of languages, including American Sign Language. A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Cayley holds a degree in Conflict Studies and Human Rights., so don’t pick a fight, their calm and pleasant demeanour will win you over. Cayley graduated at the top of their class in Humber College Creative Publishing Certificate Program.
Heather J. Wood (she/her) was the Artistic Director of the Rowers Reading series for almost a decade. She is a writer and a freelance book publicist. She is the author of two novels and her work has appeared in various journals and anthologies, most recently in the League of Canadian Poets’ chapbook, On the Storm / In the Struggle edited by Adebe DeRango-Adem. In 2016, Heather was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for her work on the international Gods, Memes and Monsters anthology. Heather was a 2018 Sunburst Awards juror, TWUC National Council Second Vice-Chair (2018-21), and TWUC Equity Task Force Co-Chair (2015-18).
Our events always happen on a Sunday (except The First Thirty, which are on Thursday evenings). Doors open at TYPE Books in the Junction at 6:00pm, event starts at 6:30pm. Check out our Upcoming Schedule for more information. Online events start at 6:00pm ET.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and Follow us on any of our social media platforms to stay up to date with future events. Consider donating to the series in support of our authors and help us cover admin costs.
This is what it sounds like when we host reading in person:
Our readings are open to emerging and established prose writers, traditionally published. Contact us today to secure your spot in our schedule, but we recommend you come to an in-person event, follow us on social media, and/or somehow show you have supported the series and our authors before reaching out to ask for our support. We are a community of authors and book workers, not just a place for you to promote your work. We ask that attendees pay what they can when they attend our events. 100% of our proceeds go to our readers. Our joyful Event Coordinator, Cayley, will greet you and should you wish to share questions about writing or reading for our authors, but are too shy to ask, we will have pen and paper for you (or currently, zoom chat). If you would like to join us, but require ASL interpretation, please reach out and we can book an ASL interpreter for the event.
Do you want to read at Junction Reads or talk about writing at The First Thirty? Are you a published writer who’d like to host one of our events? Join our community long before your book comes out.
Contact us today.
Junction Reads 