Brockton Writers Series: July 8, 2026

An evening of reading with J. Marshall Freeman, Greg Frankson, Antanas Sileika, Sky Gilbert, and guest speaker Dafna Izenberg
About this Event

The Brockton Writers Series (#BWS) is a bi-monthly literary reading series, hosted on the second Wednesday of every second month, funded by the Ontario Arts Council. The reading is PWYC (suggested $3-$5) and features a Q&A with the writers afterward. Books are available for sale. Join us for an exciting hybrid event: in person at Glad Day Lit on Lisgar St in Toronto, ON, Canada, or virtual over livestream. This is a must-attend gathering for all literature enthusiasts!

Guest Speaker: Dafna Izenberg on "How to Write a Great Book Review"

Readers: J. Marshall Freeman, Greg Frankson, Antanas Sileika, Sky Gilbert

Dafna Izenberg is a magazine editor with more than 20 years experience, currently working at the The Walrus as a features editor.

J. Marshall Freeman is a writer of fiction and poetry. His queer-hero YA novels include THE DUBIOUS GIFT OF DRAGON BLOOD and BARNABAS BOPWRIGHT SAVES THE CITY. Freeman has released two chapbooks of his poetry and co-hosts the monthly Poetry Open Mic at Buddies in Bad times Theatre.

Greg Frankson is a former national poetry slam champion and on-air poetic commentator on CBC Radio One. He is currently the artistic director of BlackLit Durham / Canadian Black Literary Festival. Greg’s first book of creative nonfiction, Alphabet Soup: A Memoir in Letters, was published by Dundurn Press in January 2025.

Antanas Sileika is the author of seven books of fiction and two memoirs; he's been long-listed for Canada Reads and short-listed for the Leacock and Toronto book awards. He has been translated into three languages and had his work made into a fifteen-part radio drama and a European feature film.

Sky Gilbert is a poet, novelist, playwright, filmmaker, theatre director, and drag queen extraordinaire. He was co-founder and artistic director of Toronto’s Buddies in Bad Times Theatre -- one of the world’s largest gay and lesbian theatres -- from 1979 to 1997. He has had more than 40 plays produced, and written 10 critically acclaimed novels and three award winning poetry collections.