Mark Truscott is proud to announce the inaugural installment of the Test Reading Series featuring generous readings of vital works of contemporary poetry JAY MILLAR (Lack Lyrics) and RACHEL ZOLF (Human Resources) Wednesday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.

The goal of the Test Reading Series is to provide its audience with an opportunity for immersion in vital works of contemporary poetry within a context that facilitates inquiry. Held at Mercer Union, a Centre for Contemporary Art, Test also encourages mutual awareness and dialogue among members of Toronto’s various arts communities.

Each monthly installment of Test features two poets, each of whom reads for 30–40 minutes. The readings are followed by a brief question and answer period. Most readings will be recorded, and sound files will be posted on this website. This site also features contextual documentation for each reader.

Mercer Union, 37 Lisgar, Toronto. Entry is pay-what-you can ($5 recommended), all of which goes to the readers. for further information: www.testreading.org . If you would like to receive future Test announcements (no more than twice a month), please send a blank e-mail message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TORONTO, March 8—Poetry has always had an aura of passion and romance; lonely writers sitting in a garret, pouring out their hearts and souls. But the truth is working Canadian poets come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, have different jobs, experiences, attitudes and influences, and write about everything from love to politics to their daily lives. This is what is revealed in Heart of a Poet, a documentary television series in "13 verses" that airs on Bravo! every Thursday at 8pm ET, beginning April 13th.

Produced and directed by Maureen Judge and Tina Hahn in association with Bravo!, and hosted by writer/editor Angela Rawlings, Heart of a Poet is a hip half-hour show that takes viewers inside the poetry community, in all its various forms, alternate incarnations and unfettered diversity. Each week the series throws a spotlight on an individual poet and profiles their life, inspiration and performances.

The Ottawa Poetry Podcast is online. Currently uploaded to the site are audio files of original poems read by Max Middle & Stephen Rowntree. In the coming days, the voices of other Ottawa poets will be added. In addition to studio recordings, an unedited live recording, documenting a reading given by Max Middle in the Tree Reading Series on 28 February 2006, has been posted to the site.

The Ottawa Poetry Podcast features a play menu at the top right of the home page screen as well as a direct download function.

The Ottawa Poetry Podcast is seeking submissions from Ottawa area poets. Send your queries to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

March 2006 is the tenth anniversary of Small Press Month in the US. Co-founded by the Small Press Center and the PMA, The Independent Book Publishers Association, National Small Press Month is a yearly celebration of independent publishing. The celebration looks to generate enthusiasm and action on all fronts of independent publishing—from the distributors to publishers to bookstores to writers. By involving different segments of the small and independent publishing community they seek to make more of a collective effort to raise public awareness of the important work published by small presses.