Here's a summary of this week's literary events in Toronto, including this year's Canada Council Heritage Series, which features some of Canada's best science fiction and fantasy authors.

Tuesday, April 22nd:

Michael Eric Dyson, one of the most influential Black American authors, speaks about Martin Luther King's legacy 40 years after his death. The author of 16 books, including Debating Race, Holler if You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur and Why I Love Black Women, Dyson is making a rare Toronto appearance to talk about the "Promised Land" King spoke of in his final speech. Presented by A Different Booklist & The Centre for Urban Schooling.
University of Toronto, Earth Sciences Auditorium. 6:30pm. Free.

Kelley Armstrong, the author of the wildly popular Otherworld series, will read from her latest novel, Personal Demon, the sexy, action-packed story of a half-demon tabloid journalist and her adventures in crime. Also catch a sneak preview of her next novel, The Summoning. Q&A to follow. Part of this week's ongoing Canada Council Heritage Series, presented by the Toronto Public Library.
Eatonville Branch. 7pm. Free.

Join us as world renowned authors Jhumpa Lahiri, author of Unaccustomed Earth, and Michael Ondaatje, author of Divisadero, take the stage to present their latest books. Lewis DeSoto hosts. Part of the International Readings at Harbourfront series.
Harbourfront Centre Brigantine Room. 7:30pm. $8.

This week's edition of the Art Bar Poetry Reading Series brings us Sharon Harris, Tara-Michelle Ziniuk and Doug Valleau.
Clinton's. 8pm. Donation accepted.

Come out for the Coffeehouse Cabaret Open Stage featuring music, spoken word, and comedy. Host by Shawn Sage.
Renaissance Cafe. 9pm (sign up is at 8:30pm). Free.

The Plasticine Poetry Series presents Jeff Cottrill, Carla Hartsfield, Jennifer Lovegrove, Sue Reynolds, plus an open mic session. Hosted by Cathy Petch.
The Central. 8pm. PWYC.

Wednesday, April 23rd:

Please join Kwai-Yun Li for a reading of her short story collection, The Palm Leaf Fan and Other Stories. From crumbling shops in Chinatown to decaying tanneries in Tangra, Kwai-yun Li's collection of linked short stories expose us to the sights, sounds, and smells of a marginalized community in post-colonial Calcutta.
Robarts Library (University of Toronto). 4pm. Free.

Author Marsha Skrypuch commemorates the Armenian genocide as she talks about her new book, Daughter of War, with fellow author Jessica Westhead (author of Pulpy and Midge). Light Refreshments will be served.
Another Story Bookshop. 7-9pm. Free.

Celebrate National Poetry Month with a reading from bestselling fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay's brand-new, first-ever poetry collection. Kay will also read from his latest novel, Ysabel. Followed by a Q&A session and book-signing; books for sale by Bakka-Phoenix Science Fiction Bookstore. Part of this week's ongoing Canada Council Heritage Series, presented by the Toronto Public Library.
Beaches Branch. 7pm. Free.

To celebrate the launch of her novel Stunt, which is about acts of daring and love under the big top, acclaimed playwright Claudia Dey will have a revealing on-stage conversation with celebrated novelist Michael Winter. Also on the bill is "The Stunt Wild West Eighties Show" - a circus-like extravaganza featuring 80s music and projections of old western films. A This Is Not A Reading Series event.
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom. 7:30pm (doors 7pm). Free.

Thursday, April 24th:

Called the punk laureate of post-structural lit, the controversial and colourful life and times of outlaw American writer Kathy Acker are surveyed in this provocative profile. Hot Docs presents the North American premiere of Who's Afraid of Kathy Acker?, directed by Barbara Caspar of Austria.
Royal Ontario Museum. 5pm. $10.

Join in the Gaspereau Press poetry launch featuring Karen Houle (author of During) and Johanna Skibsrud (Late Nights With Wild Cowboys). Hosted by John Terpstra.
Ben McNally Books. 6pm. Free.

Celebrate the launch for Shane Peacock's latest book, Death in the Air, his second novel starring the young Sherlock Holmes.
Nicolas Hoare Bookstore. 6-8pm. Free.

Critically acclaimed science fiction author (and marine biologist) Peter Watts will read from his latest novel, Blindsight, a dark epic about alien communication and the nature of consciousness, with space vampires. Followed by Q&A and book-signing; books for sale by Bakka-Phoenix Science Fiction Bookstore. Part of this week's ongoing Canada Council Heritage Series, presented by the Toronto Public Library.
Beaches Branch. 7pm. Free.

Meet Bob Harper, world-renowned fitness coach on the hit TV show "The Biggest Loser" and author of Are You Ready? Whether your goal is losing ten pounds or a hundred, you will find Harper's message inspiring and his methods a proven path to finally achieving your dream of weight loss and fitness. There will be a question and answer segment followed by a book signing.
Indigo Eaton Centre. 7pm. Free.

Helen Humphreys and Shauna Singh Baldwin will read from collections of their new short stories, The Frozen Thames and We Are Not in Pakistan. The first contains forty vignettes based on actual events that took place each time the Thames River froze between 1142 and 1895. The second is a collection of ten stories migrating from Central America to the American South, from Toronto to the Ukraine, with an unforgettable cast of characters. Question and answer period after both readings. Part of the TPL's Downtown Author Series.
Toronto Reference Library, Beeton Auditorium. 7pm. Free.

Encounter new works by two poets investigating the poetic potential of documents at "Moving Documents: A Reading of New Works". Rachel Zolf will read from Shoot & Weep, the first section of a new body of work investigating competing knowledges in Israel and Palestine. M. NourbeSe Philip will read from Zong!, a retelling of the unspeakable violence that marked a slave ship's passage to the Americas.
Friends House, Meeting Room. 7:30pm. Free.

Friday, April 25th:

The League of Canadian Poets invites you to experience the absence of borders at this special reading featuring Penn Kemp and Bill Bissett. Twelve members of Workman Arts will also be invited to participate in four workshops being offered as part of Workman Arts' Spring Training Session and as part of The April Poetry Workshop series.
Clarke Auditorium (CAMH College Street Campus). 12pm. Free admission.

Toronto Public Library presents the 2nd annual June Callwood Lecture honouring the life, work and legacy of journalist-author-social activist June Callwood (1924-2007). Callwood helped found more than 50 social organizations, including Nellie's women's shelter, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Casey House, Canada's first AIDS hospice. Hosted by Linden MacIntyre. Music by Jon Brooks.
Toronto Reference Library. 7pm. Free.

Christopher Doda (author of Aesthetics Lesson), Penn Kemp and Nathan Whitlock (A Week of This) will be featured at this week's IV Lounge Reading Series.
IV Lounge. 8pm. Free.

Sunday, April 27th:

1968 was a watershed year in the United States: the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, and the election of Richard Nixon. For a variety of reasons, many young men and women left their native land and emigrated to Canada. Canadian publisher Seraphim Editions announces the launch of Crossing Lines: Poets Who Came to Canada in the Vietnam War Era.
Revival. 2-5pm. Free.

Monday, April 28th:

Award-winning French language author Jean-Louis Trudel will read from his recent works as part of the library's Canada Council Heritage Series. Enjoy a reading and Q&A session en Francais. Followed by a book-signing; books for sale by Librarie Champlain.
Beaches Branch. 7pm. Free.

Piggybacking off of the 2004 award-winning, best-selling Brooklyn Noir, Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies. Each book is comprised of all-new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Now, the series moves fearlessly north of the border! Celebrate the launch of Toronto Noir, edited by Janine Armin and Nathaniel G. Moore, and featuring new stories by local authors such as RM Vaughan, Nathan Sellyn, Ibi Kaslik, Peter Robinson, Heather Birrell, Sean Dixon, Raywat Deonandan, Christine Murray, Gail Bowen, Emily Schultz, Andrew Pyper, Kim Moritsugu, Mark Sinnett, George Elliott Clarke, Pasha Malla, and Michael Redhill. Presented by Pages TINARS.
Gladstone Hotel Ballroom. 7pm. Free.

Join us as Gordon Ramsay, star of "Hell's Kitchen" and "Kitchen Nightmares", signs copies of his latest cookbook. Inspired by "The F Word", the hit UK show coming to Food Network Canada this fall, Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food shows how to get a great meal on the table in less time than it would take to have takeout delivered. A select number of wristbands will be handed out at the store on the day of the event with a limit of one per person. Proof of purchase from Indigo, Chapters, Coles or chapters.indigo.ca for Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food will be required. Wristbands will ensure access to event area and signing. If you do not have a wristband, you can still view the signing, but an autograph will not be guaranteed.
Indigo Eaton Centre. 7pm. Proof of book purchase from Indigo/Chapters required.