Esi Edugyan, Calgary-born daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, was awarded the $50,000 Giller Prize — Canada’s richest literary award — at a gala ceremony in Toronto Tuesday night for her second novel, Half-Blood Blues.

Literature for Life’s Third Annual Black, White and Read All Over Fundraising Gala was held October 26, on the 40th floor of the posh RBC Tower downtown Toronto.

The Journalism graduate-turned author discusses his disappointment with mainstream news coverage and how the experience of teaching abroad in China led to his career change.

Nearly 300 people attended the two-hour book launch held at Ontario Institute for Studies Education (OISE), for Sister Souljah’s fourth work Midnight and the Meaning of Love, originally released in November 2010.

The Jamaican born child advocate, who spent 39 years as a teacher and school principal in Canada, Jamaica and the Bahamas, is also the author of Transformational Leadership taking Responsibility for Successful Schools: a guide for educators that offers a fresh perspective on how to lead people so that they can view their work as a calling instead of a job.

For this month, group member Shawnette has chosen Half of A Yellow Sun by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Sharon Ennis shares with brutal honesty the experience of caring for a daughter diagnosed with the most severe form of spina bifida, a birth defect caused by an improperly formed spinal cord.

For the month of August, group member Carlene has chosen The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

A Different Booklist serves the literary interests of the African and Caribbean community, but it is more than just an interesting bookstore, it’s also a community space with a political conscience.

Sway introduces Soulful Expressions, a new Toronto-based club for book lovers to gather, discuss and support the great talents of black literature.