Umboi Island (Book 3 in the Creature X Series)

by J.J. Dupuis The Creature X team travels to Papua New Guinea to investigate sightings of a surviving pterosaur. Laura Reagan, host of Creature X, wants to leave North America behind and step out from the shadow of her father’s cryptozoological research. She leads her team to Umboi Island, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, to shoot a cryptozoological documentary about the mysterious ropen, a bioluminescent pterosaur-like creature that has somehow survived extinction. They’re sharing a camp with a U.K.-based team of scientists, and not all of their hosts are extending a warm welcome. In a stroke of luck, Laura and some team members see a mysterious purple light above the trees. Could it actually be what they’re searching for? But the hunt for the ropen takes a drastic turn when a body turns up in the Creature X camp, and it belongs to someone from the team’s past. With walkie-talkies and satellite phones down, Laura and her team are stuck on the island with a murderer—and no chance of help. Publication: March 2022 Publisher: Dundurn Press Rights sold: North America (English and French): Dundurn Press “Dupuis’s entertaining third Creature X mystery (after 2021’s Lake Crescent) smoothly combines scientific mystery and action. Fans of Lincoln Child’s Jeremy Logan books will hope this series has a long run.” –Publishers Weekly “First and foremost a romp and an evolutionary step forward for the Boys Own Adventure genre … While writing a hunt for a mythological creature, Dupuis has managed a few blows in getting rid of other dinosaurs altogether.” –True Crime Fiction “Umboi Island is a tremendously fun murder mystery, full of savvy characters, sensory depictions of a lush jungle, and morbid lawlessness.” –Delphic Reviews

Denison Avenue

by Daniel Innes and Christina Wong —Nominated for 2023 Toronto Book Award— —Nominated for the 2024 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction— What happens when home moves further away from you? How do you find it again? Weaving memories, the past, and the present, graphic novel-novella Denison Avenue folows 71-year-old Wong Cho Sum, living in Toronto’s Chinatown-Kensington Market. Following the death of her husband Henry, she decides to take up collecting bottles and cans, as a way to deal with her grief. On her walks through Toronto, Cho Sum reflects on the life that she had with Henry and the one she must rebuild without him, all the while navigating language barriers, how seniors are viewed, and the changes taking place in her neighbourhood and community. Told in the form of a double-sided book that encompasses a graphic narrative (wordless images) on one side and a series of vignettes, on the other, Denison Avenue combines fiction with local history, weaving past and present, a poignant meditation on grief, loss, and memory. Publication: Spring 2023 Publisher: ECW Press Rights sold: World: ECW Press “In Denison Avenue, we watch a recent widow desperately tread water in a city drowning under waves of gentrification. This tender lyrical novel is an anthem of grief, a swan song to cities as we know them and the loved ones we lose along the way.” –Catherine Hernandez, author and screenwriter of Scarborough, the novel and film “Christina Wong writes from the perspective of an elderly immigrant widow who collects bottles and cans in the streets and alleys of Toronto. It’s a thoughtful account of a difficult journey in a vanishing neighbourhood, complete with time capsule illustrations of Chinatown and Kensington Market by Daniel Innes. Denison Avenue is designed for people like me who fall in between the cracks of culture. I enjoyed reading the phonetic Cantonese and Toisan dialect translations in English that connected me to familiar languages and my neighbourhood.” –Sook-Yin Lee, filmmaker, musician, and broadcaster “What is a city but its stories? In Denison Avenue, Christina Wong’s elegant prose and poetry are accompanied by beautifully rendered illustrations by Daniel Innes, bringing to life the portrait of a Chinatown that is both disappearing and emerging. Through Mrs. Wong’s eyes, we witness a rapidly changing city. We travel with her through streets with names like Nassau, Cecil, Ulster, pass familiar noodle joints and Chinese bakeries, follow her cart from bin to bin. And yet Mrs. Wong shows us with keen observation the small joy one can have by eating a doong on a park bench or the delight in bumping into an old friend at Honest Ed’s, shopping for deals. I can hear her voice in Toisan, a song of love, kinship, and a collective memory of Chinatown. What is a city but its stories? Denison Avenue is a Toronto story.” –Carrianne Leung, author of That Time I Loved You “With its intricate line drawings and poignant story, Denison Avenue transports me to a place I’ve never been, but also to a place that feels like home. From canned fried dace and butter cookie tins to the sonorous tones of the Toisanese dialect, this is the world of my ancestors — the lo wah kiu who flourished in Chinatowns all over Canada. And as we walk alongside Wong Cho Sum in her personal journey through grief, we grieve, too, for past generations and the loss of a once-thriving community.” –Teresa Wong, author of Dear Scarlet “I spent my formative years in Kensington Market. I still go to Chinatown multiple times a week to eat. I love it so much, it’s a place that truly brings me so much joy. Denison Avenue shows us the realness of how the buildings are changing, the restaurants are changing, and the love that has slowly been taken away in the process. A beautiful book that shares stories of love and loss.” –Matty Matheson, celebrity chef

Lake Crescent (Book 2 in the Creature X series)

by J.J. Dupuis A TV documentary crew explores murky waters in search of legendary lake monster Cressie, only to dredge up a body instead. Laura Reagan, host of the cryptozoological documentary series Creature X, and her team are in Newfoundland shooting an episode about Cressie, a legendary giant eel. Things don’t start off great: scientific evidence is scarce, stories keep changing, and the locals are throwing a wrench into the production. But what began as a simple TV shoot takes a drastic turn when the crew pulls a body from the depths of Lake Crescent. For Laura, unravelling the cold case means unearthing long-buried secrets about the most prominent citizens of the remote town of Robert’s Arm. With time running out, she and her team must put the pieces together and expose the killer before more blood is spilled. Publication: July 2021 Publisher: Dundurn Press Rights sold: North America (English and French): Dundurn Press “What starts as a hunt for the lake monster Cressie, quickly turns into an enjoyable whodunnit with a plot that brings to mind both Raymond Chandler and Neil Gaiman.” –Eduard Habsburg-Lothringen, writer, diplomat, and cryptozoology fan “Set against the stunning and mercurial backdrop of rural Newfoundland, the book is part zoological expedition, part murder mystery, all while deliciously delving into local Canadian lore—a thoroughly gripping read from the first page to the last.” –Vivian Lin, screenwriter, Hudson and Rex, Killjoys, Carter “A mysterious and interesting romp into Canadian cryptid history!  Readers—especially Atlantic Canadians—will enjoy this ‘deep dive’ into the legend of Cressie, the mythical eel-like serpent that supposedly inhabits Lake Crescent in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Lake Crescent:  A Creature X Mystery by J.J. Dupuis will keep you guessing until the end.”   –Timothy S. Johnston, author of Fatal Depth “J.J. Dupuis crafts a mystery that’s atmospheric and layered, where myth and legend clash with real-world stakes. Lake Crescent pulled me under and kept me eager to know more.” –Samantha K. Garner, author of The Quiet is Loud “Murder, pirate treasure and lake monsters—how can you go wrong? This smart and atmospheric mystery explores the murky depths where science and legend collide.  Laura Reagan navigates through a world of small-town treachery, trying to unravel age-old secrets of monsters and men alike. The mysteries keep coming the deeper she goes.  With beautifully written descriptions, Dupuis plunges the reader right into the heart of the action. Laura Reagan is hunting monsters but it’ll be the reader who gets hooked.” –A.G. Pasquella, author of The Jack Palace series

The Quiet is Loud

by Samantha Garner —Nominated for 2022 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize— The perfect marriage of literary and speculative fiction for readers of Kazuo Ishiguro and NK Jemisin. When Freya Tanangco was ten, she dreamed of her mother’s death days before it happened. Freya’s life since has been spent in hiding: from the troubled literary legacy created by her author father, and from the scrutiny of a society that is hostile to vekers—people who, like her, have enhanced mental abilities. When her prophetic dreams take a dangerous turn, Freya finds herself increasingly forced to sacrifice her own anonymity—and the fragile safety that comes with it—in order to protect those around her. Interwoven with themes of Filipino Canadian and mixed-race identity, fantastical elements from Norse and Filipino mythology, and tarot card symbolism, The Quiet Is Loud is an intergenerational tale about the consequences of secrets and what happens when we refuse to let others tell our stories for us. Publication: May 2021 (Canada) September 2021 (U.S.) Publisher: Invisible Publishing Rights sold: World: Invisible Publishing (K2 selling translation, UK, ANZ rights) Germany: Piper Verlag “The Quiet is Loud is a zeitgeist zirconia, a choker of sparkling speculation for Gen Z readers whose reading tastes are migrating toward adult literary spec fic. For her debut novel, Toronto writer Samantha Garner pours her curiosity into an approachable, recognizable narrative…. Garner wears her spec fic, geek, and SF influences on her sleeve, and The Quiet Is Loud is a warm welcome to the more literary part of that universe.” –Understorey Magazine “Complex and vulnerable, The Quiet is Loud, is a wonderful stepping stone for those who love magical realism but might find the likes of One Hundred Years of Solitude or Love in the Time of Cholera a bit intimidating, or for readers looking to explore magical realism for the first time.” –Ruchika Gothoska, Hamilton Review of Books “Rather deftly, Garner layers and weaves details throughout the book that draw you in … It’s definitely worth the read.”–Megan Amato, Cloud Lake Literary “The novel contains compelling characters, an engrossing story, lots of stuff to unpack and lots of Filipino food descriptions to enjoy, and I absolutely loved it.” –Literary Treats “The Quiet is Loud made me believe wholeheartedly in the paradextrous powers of its characters and their world, so wholeheartedly that at times I forgot that what I was reading was not possible. Garner’s is an exciting new voice.” –Liz Harmer, author of The Amateurs and Strange Loops “The Quiet is Loud is a novel about the mystical and supernatural, a genre tale about people with unbelievable powers beyond their own understanding. But it’s also a deeply thoughtful book about identity and the quest for true acceptance—especially in a world that encourages us to hate, hide, and fear who we are.” –Stacey May Fowles, Open Book Ontario “The Quiet is Loud explores the grey areas between what we say and what we conceal and the stakes of keeping one’s identity hidden.… It’s a fearlessly unique book.”–Maria Cichosz, Broken Pencil “The Quiet is Loud is highly aware of its surroundings within time and culture, demonstrating that one can be present and engaged with the story while also thinking critically.”–Margaryta Golovchenko, Canthius “Samantha Garner’s rich prose deftly weaves together family politics, estrangement, and finding one’s own place in the world. A lovely exploration of friendship, and identity, and what it means to be truly accepted.” –Lindsay Zier-Vogel, author of Letters to Amelia “In The Quiet is Loud, Garner builds a world where dream visions, tarot readings, and the existence of the paradextrous are a natural part of day-to-day life. Written in clear-eyed prose that effortlessly weaves in Filipino and Norse mythology, The Quiet is Loud is an exciting and sensitive look into the mind of a young woman grappling with the consequences of family secrets, while also coming to terms with her unique talents. It is a powerful debut.” –Teri Vlassopoulos, author of Escape Plans “In The Quiet is Loud, Samantha Garner has deftly crafted a world that left me breathless. Getting to know Freya Tanangco’s story, watching her weave together the strands of her Norwegian Filipino identity and the unexpected power she wields, was both suspenseful and filled with quiet illumination. At the heart, the novel is a gripping journey of self-discovery and the family bonds that hold us all together.” –Julia Zarankin, author of Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder “The smallest, most personal details give the novel its viscerality. Garner’s touch is subtle and effective: I could sense the coolness in the air, hear the rustle of the trees opening up to a steely blue-tinged sky. I could smell the longsilog cooking in the kitchen, taste the sweet-and-sour bite into a crispy boot-shaped chicken nugget. I could shuffle Freya’s tarot deck, run my finger along the cards’ edges and corners frayed by the passage of time, hold in my hands the comforting heft of promised answers. All of these details braid together into a story that at once feels so easily real and also glimmers with possibility, that fantastical tug of and yet.” –Maria Bolaños  

Season of Smoke (Book 3 in the Jack Palace series)

by A.G. Pasquella It looks like ex-con Jack Palace’s troubles will never end when he is pressured by the mob to kill one of his best friends. Jack Palace is trying to go legit with his own security company—but his old life keeps trying to pull him back in. A mobster named Sammy DiAngelo wants revenge for a killing that happened in Jack’s past. DiAngelo blames Jack’s friend Grover for the murder and gives Jack an ultimatum: kill Grover or be killed himself. Meanwhile, Grover has plans of his own. He wants to rip off the mob, and he needs Jack’s help to do it. Jack is desperate to start a new life with Suzanne, a woman from his past … but is he desperate enough to kill? Publication: February 2021 Publisher: Dundurn Rights sold: North America (English and French): Dundurn

Radioland

by Matt Cahill —Nominated for 2023 Foreword INDIES (Thriller category)— Kris is an alt-rock musician who abruptly drops out of his popular band to rake over an unprocessed trauma from his childhood; Jill is an outcast who operates in the shadows of the city, cursed with a dangerous type of magic that draws mysterious strangers to her. By chance, they start a correspondence with each other and a strange relationship begins—one that coils around their lives like a macabre spell. As they share their stories with one another, they each approach the source of their misery and risk losing themselves, even their lives, in a darkness that seems destined for them. Everything Jill senses tells an intense story, so she numbs herself with alcohol to keep her head clear, hoping she’ll meet someone who can tell her how she came to be the way she is. Kris struggles to maintain his grip on reality as he pulls apart the threads that make up his identity. Working through fallen mentors, splintered identities, and substance dependency, the two of them try to help each other make sense of their lives, though it may ultimately reveal one of them as a serial murderer. Radioland explores the absurdity of fame, the toxicity of trauma, and the morbid dangers unearthed as we seek a greater understanding of ourselves. Publication: Fall 2022 Publisher: Wolsak & Wynn/Buckrider Books Rights sold: North America: Wolsak & Wynn/Buckrider Books “It has magic. It has murder. It has music. It has everything I was looking for and it is a literary thriller you are definitely not going to want to miss.” –Emily Breitkopf, The Ampersand Review “I loved the compellingly visceral descriptions and the fabulously rich prose. A triumph in psychological-disaster storytelling, Radioland blasts across the airwaves with an enviable power and originality.” –Lisa de Nikolits, The Minerva Reader “Twisting and turning between rock musician Kris and ‘house cleanser’ Jill, Radioland serves up a terrifying, dangerous and electrifying tale that pinpoints where we belong and who we belong to. A wildly weird look at an off-kilter world full of crime and fear, Matt Cahill’s new novel will keep you up at night wondering what’s real and what isn’t.” –Michelle Berry, author of Everything Turns Away and The Prisoner and the Chaplain

Roanoke Ridge (Book 1 in the Creature X Series)

by J.J. Dupuis Laura Reagan ventures into the Oregon woods in search of her mentor, who vanished amidst a rash of Bigfoot sightings. When Bigfoot researcher Professor Berton Sorel goes missing in the temperate rainforest of Roanoke Ridge, Oregon, help is summoned in the form of his former star pupil, Laura Reagan, online science populist and avowed skeptic. But what begins as a simple search-and-rescue operation takes a drastic turn when a body is discovered—and the body isn’t the professor. Caught in the fallout of the suspicious death, perplexed by a sudden wave of Bigfoot sightings, and still desperately searching for Professor Sorel, Reagan reluctantly admits two things: one, that her old mentor was right about there being secrets hidden in Roanoke Ridge, and two, that it’s up to her to uncover them. Publication: Spring 2020 Publisher: Dundurn Press Rights sold: North America (English and French): Dundurn Press “A fun, engaging read, written with lots of informed insider insight on a fascinating field—and with some neat cameos from the real world of Sasquatch research and investigation.” –Dr. Darren Naish, palaeozoologist, University of Southhampton “With Roanoke Ridge, J.J. Dupuis gives us a mystery centring around that primal human need to believe that something is out there. The book is mischievous, zany, and fast-paced, and it skewers our pop-culture lust the whole way through.” –Jeff Parker, author of Where Bears Roam the Streets “Brilliant … indeed an excellent book.” –Maureen Jennings, author of the Murdoch Mystery series

Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder

by Julia Zarankin —A Globe and Mail bestseller— —A BC Books bestseller— When Julia Zarankin saw her first red-winged blackbird at the age of thirty-five, she didn’t expect that it would change her life. Recently divorced and auditioning hobbies during a stressful career transition, she stumbled on birdwatching, initially out of curiosity for the strange breed of humans who wear multi-pocketed vests, carry spotting scopes and discuss the finer points of optics with disturbing fervour. What she never could have predicted was that she would become one of them. Not only would she come to identify proudly as a birder, but birding would ultimately lead her to find love, uncover a new language and lay down her roots. Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder tells the story of finding meaning in midlife through birds. The book follows the peregrinations of a narrator who learns more from birds than she ever anticipated, as she begins to realize that she herself is as a migratory species: born in the former Soviet Union, growing up in Vancouver and Toronto, studying and working in the United States and living in Paris. Coming from a Russian immigrant family of concert pianists who believed that the outdoors were for “other people,” Julia Zarankin recounts the challenges and joys of unexpectedly discovering one’s wild side and finding one’s tribe in the unlikeliest of places. Zarankin’s thoughtful and witty anecdotes illuminate the joyful experience of a new discovery and the surprising pleasure to be found while standing still on the edge of a lake at six a.m. In addition to confirmed nature enthusiasts, this book will appeal to readers of literary memoir, offering keen insight on what it takes to find one’s place in the world. Subjects: Memoir/literary, nature Publication: September 2020 Publisher: Douglas & McIntyre Rights sold: North American (English): Douglas & McIntyre “Life-affirming, thoughtful, and thoroughly delightful, this book celebrates self-acceptance and the joy of living an unexpected life.” –Kirkus “Julia Zarankin is a delight, and so is her witty, charming, self-deprecating memoir, Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder. By turns hilarious and moving, it traces Julia’s journey—almost against her will—into the world of birds and birding, where she ultimately finds a reflection of herself in the feathered migrants to which she becomes enthralled.” –Scott Weidensaul, author of Living on the Wind “Everyone who loves birds has arrived at their interest by a unique route, but few can describe their journey with the eloquence that Julia Zarankin brings to this sparkling memoir. With humor and poignancy, she tells a deeply personal story that manages to shine a light on universal themes.” –Kenn Kaufman, author of Kingbird Highway “This moving, quirky memoir isn’t about birds so much as falling in love with the world, its everyday wonders and absurdities. With refreshing candour and curiosity, Julia Zarankin shows us how to pay attention—to what we hope to see, and above all, to the unexpected.” –Kate Harris, author of Lands of Lost Borders “A love song to the beauty of birding and a reminder that we should all spend more time looking up.” –Anne Bokma, author of My Year of Living Spiritually

The New Wedding Book: A Guide to Ditching All the Rules

by Karen Cleveland and Michelle Bilodeau Plan your wedding without the weight of outdated customs and get hitched in a way that is authentic, fun, and true to who you are. “But you’re getting married! You have to!” That empty statement is on the other end of everything from jaw-droppingly expensive dresses, staged proposal engagement photo shoots, and reception selfie stations. From the minute they become engaged, there’s a script that couples are pressured to follow. By breaking down the antiquated traditions of that #blessedweddingday, this book will help betrothed pairs throw the icky bridal traditions to the curb in honour of getting the wedding of their actual dreams—not the one we’ve been force-fed for decades by the wedding industrial complex. Inspiring couples to plan their wedding in a way that is meaningful to them, The New Wedding Book debunks the “traditions,” makes sense of realistic budgets, offers brilliant advice from real-life couples, and confronts the crushing pressure for weddings to be perfect. Publication: April 2021 (Canada) May 2021 (U.S.) Publisher: Dundurn Press Rights sold: North American (English): Dundurn Press   “Planning a wedding can be a nightmare. You’ve got guest-list pressure from relatives and seating arrangement drama, bills piling up from the caterer and photographers to interview, all while contending with expectations that you’ll also find the perfect venue, perfect dress, perfect flowers, perfect first dance song, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Even the most seemingly-level headed couple can get swept up in the Wedding Industrial Complex. Let this book be your armour.” –Robyn Doolittle, reporter with the Globe and Mail and author of Crazy Town: the Rob Ford Story and Had It Coming: What’s Fair in the Age of MeToo? “In a world where weddings are being reinvented out of necessity, The New Wedding Book helps you consider the meaning of the day and how to make it yours. It asks the best questions—practical and philosophical—and also serves as a guide to conflict-free communication with the ones you love. An exhale of a read for anyone planning a wedding after 2020.” –Meredith Goldstein, Love Letters columnist, The Boston Globe and author of Can’t Help Myself: Lessons and Confessions from a Modern Advice Columnist “Think of Karen and Michelle as the friends you bring to your wedding dress try-ons who actually care that your dress is you—but for your whole wedding. They’ll give you that nudge you need to ditch that stuffy tradition you never really liked, and tell you why it was probably rooted in an outdated sexist custom anyway. A must-read for anyone who doesn’t want the cookie-cutter all-white Pinterest board, The New Wedding Book is here to usher in a new era of brides (and grooms). Think less “I do” and more “you do you!” –Sara Levine, editor-in-chief, Betches Media “In a world where weddings are being reinvented out of necessity, The New Wedding Book helps you consider the meaning of the day and how to make it yours. It asks the best questions – practical and philosophical – and also serves as a guide to conflict-free communication with the ones you love. An exhale of a read for anyone planning a wedding after 2020.” –Meredith Goldsten, The Boston Globe “Weddings should be like fingerprints: a bit messy, legally-binding, and symbolic proof of who you truly are. This book beautifully captures the nuances and natural bends on the winding road towards happily ever after, forks and all. Because there is no perfect wedding, no perfect marriage, and no perfect union. I love the notion of releasing oneself from these societal pressures and instead celebrating love in all its wild formations.” –Mosha Lundström Halbert, fashion director and Vogue contributor “Relationships are not one-size fits all so why should weddings be? This book outlines the many ways you can make sure that your big day is not another generic pre-scripted event, but a dazzling reflection of your unique love.” –Cynthia Loyst, bestselling author of Find Your Pleasure: The Art of Living A More Joyful Life “This book is mandatory reading for every modern woman who wants to actually enjoy her journey to marriage. It’s the best time in history to be a woman with ambition—and society’s wedding culture has some catching up to do. You are holding a hilarious and heart-felt permission slip and guide to plan your wedding and life on your terms.” –Charreah K. Jackson, coach and author of Boss Bride: The Powerful Woman’s Playbook for Love + Success “We’re in an age of redefinition, when so many “traditional” institutions are getting a much-needed update, and the wedding business is no exception. I’ve always been cringed out by the “classic” North American wedding standard, but this book takes an industry steeped in capitalist excess, heteronormativity, and conformism and shows skeptics like me that getting married can actually be an accessible, personal, and—*gasp*—romantic process, after all.” –Amanda Montell, author of Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language and Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism “Women have rewritten every part of our lives, except how we marry.” This line—from Michelle Bilodeau and Karen Cleveland’s delightfully disruptive new book, The New Wedding Book: A Guide to Ditching All the Rules—struck me with the force of a 10-pound bouquet to the forehead. It’s just so true. The cultural conditioning implicit in what Bilodeau and Cleveland call the “wedding arms race” is both insidious and infantilizing. Thankfully, the newly engaged now have an excellent guide to navigating the minefield of restrictive, often inherently misogynistic rituals previously filed under “tradition.” The New Wedding Book’s mission is empowering and its tone is lively. Most importantly, its advice is practical: Once you’re all fired up, TNWB provides useful tools for how to shrug off the weight of other people’s expectations and actually follow your heart. My favourite part of this wonderful, modern, extremely timely book is the personal love stories so vivid that you can practically taste the spun sugar. Essential reading.” –Laura deCarufel, editor-in-chief, The Kit “The wedding industry was in need of an overhaul long before the pandemic, but as 2020’s pared-down nuptials made clear, the elaborate, expensive, and painfully orchestrated Big Day is not required for celebrating love. As they make clear in The New Wedding Book, Michelle Bilodeau and Karen Cleveland get that big time. A modern-day guide to getting hitched (and doing it your own way), The New Wedding Book is crammed with helpful advice on everything from ethical diamonds to engagement photos to why it’s totally okay to throw diamonds and engagement photos out the window. The authors understand that everyone has different dreams for their nuptials but also that these dreams can give us more stress than satisfaction. In other words, it’s a wedding book that doesn’t buy into all the wedding hype. How refreshing!” –Carley Fortune, executive editor, Refinery29Canada  

This is a Throwdown: A Toronto Hip-Hop History

by Del Cowie Drake is one of the most popular and influential artists in hip-hop, the most listened to genre of music in the world, according to streaming giant Spotify. Yet, despite Drake’s overwhelming influence beyond popular culture and his fervent championing of Toronto in his lyrics, music and album covers, very little is known or documented of Toronto’s rich hip-hop history. This is A Throwdown: A Toronto Hip-Hop History seeks to change this reality. Spanning 30 years of music history in one of the world’s most diverse and unique cities, This Is A Throwdown traces Toronto’s early, overshadowed contributions to the global phenomenon of hip-hop culture and contextualizes its present-day position as a nexus point for creatives where Drake and other Toronto hip-hop acts articulate the musical present and hint at the world’s sonic future. Publication: 2021 Publisher: ECW Press Rights sold: World rights: ECW Press