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- CBC Canada Reads (October) The Amazing Absorbing Boy named one of “The Top 10s” on CBC Canada Reads.
- Northwords (October) aired on CBC.
- Northwords anthology of stories available as an e-book from House of Anansi Press. Click here to learn more/purchase. Each story also sold separately as an epub file. Find Robin’s story “Samuel’s New Voyage” here.
- CBC Books (October) “Rabindranath Maharaj reflects on how his visit to the Torngats affected his writing“.
- Reading (October) Rowers Pub Reading Series in Toronto. Robin joined Dani Couture, Sky Gilbert, and Steve Noyes.
- Interview (September) Toronto Reference Library Elizabeth Beeton Auditorium. Robin discussed the writer’s life and his books.
- Toronto Screening of Northwords (October) PLANET IN FOCUS FILM FESTIVAL, TIFF Bell Lightbox – Toronto, ON. After the screening, hosted by Shelagh Rogers, Robin joins Alissa York for readings from work inspired by their trip. More info here.
- Screenings of Northwords. Visit http://filmcan.org/screenings/ for more. View trailer on Media page.
- Award (May) In Trinidad, Robin received the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) Indian Arrival Day Award for his work.
- Teaching (May) At UofT’s School of Continuing Studies.
- Winnipeg Visit (May) at McNallyRobinson books.
- “An Amazing Boy from Tableland” (May) Article in the Trinidad & Tobago Guardian. Read it here.
- Interview – Read “One on One with Rabindranath Maharaj” from 2012 Bocas Lit Festival in Trinidad.
- 25th Trillium Awards Anniversary Reading (May) In Toronto, ON, the landmark 25th Trillium Anniversary Reading Series, with readings by Trillium Award winners Mark Frutkin, Thomas King, Rabindranath Maharaj, and Pasha Malla. Watch the reading, now posted on the Media page.
- ‘Toronto the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ Event (April) Through Diaspo
ra Dialogues, Robin read at the Toronto Reference Library.
- ‘Keep Toronto Reading’ Event (April) Robin appeared at Toronto Public Library Malvern Branch to discuss The Amazing Absorbing Boy.
- Bocas Lit Festival (April) Robin was a judge at the 2012 festival in Trinidad.
- CBC’s Canada Writes Literary Smackdown (March) Joëlle Anthony vs. Rabindranath Maharaj: “Write in private/Write in public”. Read their arguments here.
- The Book Lover’s Ball (February) Toronto, ON.
- Pan-Asia Cultural Showcase appearance (January) Hart House Music Room, University of Toronto, as a guest author.
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- Reading (December) With Olive Senior and Rabindranath Maharaj. Special appearances by Tessa McWatt, Karen Lord, and Jason Phillips.
- Northward Bound podcast rebroadcast on CBC radio. Click here.
- Town of Ajax Council (November) Robin recognized for recent achievements, with a
presentation at the Council Meeting.
- ArtsView: Writers & Friends (Nov) Robin appeared with Farley Mowat, Stevie Cameron, and others at Horizons of Friendship’s 17th annual Writers & Friends literary evening at Trinity College School in Port Hope, ON. View photo in the Gallery.
- The Amazing Absorbing Boy Wins 2011 Toronto Book Awards. At right, Robin accepts the award from Toronto City Councillor Gary Crawford at the October 13 ceremony. Click photo, or link in sidebar, or in Torontoist , to read more.
- International Festival of Authors (October) Robin hosted the “Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize Finalists” event at Harbourfront Centre.
- Author Talk & Luncheon (October) At Ajax Public Library, Robin discussed his recent awards and experience writing The Amazing Absorbing Boy, plus current projects.
- Fall Courses. Robin taught Writing the Novel: Introduction and Writing the Novel II at University of Toronto’s St. George campus.
- Festival of South Asian Literature and the Arts 2011. (September & October) Robin participated in FSALA with readings.
- Toronto Book Award Events (September) Word On The Street; (October) author readings at Yorkville Program Room, and at Toronto Reference Library: Toronto Book Awards Gala.
- Award Finalist. The Amazing Absorbing Boy named a finalist for the 2011 Toronto Book Award. The winner of the award was announced October 13 at the Toronto Reference Library. For more, click here.
- East of the City magazine. Robin featured in the Sept-Oct Arts issue. Read “A Trillium Grows in Ajax” by Heather O’Connor.
- Trip to North. Robin travelled in summer with FilmCAN deep into the heart of Torngat Mountains National Park, to visit the fjords, icebergs, and ancient rock of Labrador for the new project, “Northwords,” with Shelagh Rogers, Alissa York, Sarah Leavitt, Joseph Boyden, and Noah Richler. (Robin and Sheila pictured at right, courtesy of NPP.) If you’re on Facebook, visit the National Parks Project.
- Film Festival (
Sept) The short film “Malini” (a still from the film shown at left), based on a story by Robin and directed by Errol Sitahal, appears at the 2011 Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival.
- Celebration (July) An evening of celebration & reflections, hosted by the Ajax Public Library. Visit the Media page to view some of the event.
- Reprint (July) “The Interloper“, title story from the collection of the same name, reprinted in National Post.
- Essay (June) “My Waterfront Haven”
featured in the Globe and Mail.
- The Amazing Absorbing Boy wins the Trillium Book Award (June) (At left: Robin at the awards ceremony). Details here and on the OMDC site. View more on the Media page.
- Readings (June) Trillium Book Award author readings & reception at the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon of the Toronto Reference Library.
- Interview (June)One of the “Trillium Ten”, interviewed by Open Book Ontario.
- Finalist (May) The Amazing Absorbing Boy named a finalist for the 24th annual Trillium Book Award. For more information, click here.
- Harbourfront Centre Reading (February 2010) Available online. Visit Media page.
- Appearance (April) ImagiNation 2011 Writers’ Festival in old Quebec.
- Reading (March) York University, Toronto.
- Longlist (February) The Amazing Absorbing Boy longlisted for the 2011 OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature.
- Profile (February) Trinidad Guardian. Read it here.
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- Listed. The Amazing Absorbing Boy named on Uptown and NOW magazine’s “Top Ten Books – Best of 2010” lists.
- Guest Speaker at Writers’ Community of Durham Region breakfast meeting. Homer in Flight, Robin’s first novel, was the Reading As Writers (RAW) December book choice. Read article here.
- Listing in the Durham Authors database, created and maintained by the Ajax Public Library.
- Reading (photo at right) at the Real Resident Reading Series,
Kingston, ON.
- Readings (October) ABC Life Literacy ‘Good Reads’ Author Tour stops: Toronto Public Library: Maria Shchuka Branch; Malvern Branch; Deer Park Branch; The eh List Authors Series; Edmonton Public Library; Coquitlam, Mission, and Maple Ridge Libraries. Below, watch Robin’s talk about the book at Maple Ridge Library/Fraser Valley Regional Library.
- Good Reads Official Launch in Toronto. Watch it on Life Literacy Live.
- Reading at Word on the Street Halifax. See video below, or click here.
- Good Reads Books Tour. BC tour in The Vancouver Sun.
- The Picture of Nobody mentioned on Halifax Public Library’s blog The Halifax Reader.
- Teaching “Writing the Novel”, at School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto. Visit UofT’s online calendar.
New Book. The Picture of Nobody, a novel written for ABC Life Literacy Canada’s new Good Reads programme. Click the cover image or visit the Good Reads page for more information. The May 12 press release can be found here. TOUR – Good Reads authors tour Canada in September and October 2010, visiting libraries, literacy organizations and bookstores. Click here for tour schedule.
- Appearance with other Ajax celebs in the“Ajax Get out and Vote”video encouraging residents to participate in the fall municipal election. Read article here.
- Interview on TVO’s “Allan Gregg in Conversation” (August)
Visit “Allan Gregg in Conversation” on TVOntario.
- Interview on “The Next Chapter” with Shelagh Rogers, re-broadcast on CBC. (Find original show details here.)
- Reading at A Different Booklist, Toronto.
- CanLit Canoe Trip with CBC’s Shelagh Rogers. Hear podcast here.
- Reading at Gallery on the Bay, Hamilton, with Steven Heighton, Michael Helm and Russell Smith. Sponsored by Bryan Prince Booksellers and A Different Drummer Books.
- Timeline. The First 14 Weeks For The Amazing Absorbing Boy.
- Reading at Toronto Public Library, Asian Heritage Festival.
- Appearance at Ottawa International Writers Festival. “THE WRITING LIFE: LAUGHING THROUGH TEARS” with Robin, Jessica Grant, Russell Smith and Jonathan Miles, hosted by Drew Hayden Taylor.
- Reading & Talk with students at George Brown College.
- Review. “A Terrifically Absorbing Read: Maharaj’s breakout book? It would come as no shock to this reviewer” by Craig Davidson.
- Guest Author at Bonnie Stern’s Book Club.
- Essay in The Globe and Mail. “A world of Marvel
Robin describes how The Amazing Absorbing Boy began. (Image by Michael Cho.)
- Reading at Authors at Harbourfront Centre. Other guest authors were Elizabeth Kostova and Beth Powning. Earlier in the dayRobin appeared on CTV’s “Canada AM.
- Interviews (February) on Classical 96FM Radio’s “Good Day, GTA” and CIUT Radio’s “Take Five.”
- Reviews & More about TAAB appeared in: Zoomer Magazine’s March issue; The Halifax-Chronicle Herald; The Daily Gleaner; The Ottawa Citizen; The Caribbean Camera; The National Post; The Globe and Mail; The Ajax News Advertiser; Canadian Immigrant; The Montreal Gazette, and NOW Magazine.
- Interviews onBookLounge.ca; AM640 Radio with Arlene Bynon; CHIN Radio; CBC Radio’s “The Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers”; “Book Bits; AbeBooks.com; and TVOntario’s “Gregg in Conversation”.
- Review of TAAB in the essay “Melting Plots” in The Walrus March issue.
- Book Release. The Amazing Absorbing Boy in hardcover & eBook. Purchase a copy from your local bookstore; order through Chapters.Indigo.ca, or to order from Amazon.ca, click book title or sidebar link at right.
- Review in Toronto Star: “The Amazing Absorbing Boy – Rabindranath Maharaj has another winner in his fourth novel, in which comic book culture aids a Trinidadian boy’s first year in T.O.”, by Alex Good.
- Interview with Matt Galloway on CBC Radio’s “Metro Morning” here.
- Article. “Comic Book Confidential”, about Robin and TAAB, in Quill & Quire‘s Jan/Feb 2010 issue.
- The Amazing Absorbing Boy Named one of “The Most Anticipated Books of 2010” in the National Post‘s The Afterword.
- Feature Interview in CNQ Canadian Notes & Queries Issue 76, John Metcalf’s extensive interview with Robin.
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