CBC interviews Gandhar Chakravarty at the TIFA 2023 panel in Toronto

In case you missed it, here's the CBC interview of the TIFA panel, "Bengalis in CanLit with K. Gandhar Chakravarty, Arif Anwar, Laboni Islam and Subrata Kumar Das", featuring 8th House author Gandhar K. Chakravarty. 

 CBC Interview: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-193-fresh-air/clip/16011476-two-bengali-canadian-poets-discuss-push-pull-born-one

Broken Pencil Reviews Rolli's "Plumstuff" 

Broken Pencil a mega-zine dedicated to exploring independent creative action, from the best of the underground press, interviews, original fiction and commentary on all aspects of the indie arts. From the hilarious to the perverse, reviews Rolli's "Plumstuff".

 Charles Anderson, is one of those playful polymaths who wins you over with his humour and whimsical line-drawings then bludgeons you with gleeful irreverence and wordplay.

Read the full review here.

Coming soon: The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane

Steve Schlam’s Debut Novel “The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” set to captivate readers with its unique approach to storytelling and exploration of deep existential themes.

We are proud to announce the official release date of Nov. 15, 2023 for "The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane". 

“The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” is a powerful and accomplished literary work that is set to captivate readers with its unique approach to storytelling and exploration of deep existential themes. 
The novel follows the story of Herschel Cain, known as Haystacks Kane, a reluctant professional wrestler and passionate butterfly collector who has been exploited by ruthless promoters, managers, and even his own wife. After suffering a severe injury in the ring, Haystacks lies in his hospital bed, unable to speak and struggling to uncover the deeper truths of his existence.
Schlam’s masterful use of stream-of-consciousness narrative technique brings a remarkable plasticity to the literary form, immersing readers in Haystacks’ innermost thoughts, emotions, and memories. Through a series of flashbacks and introspections, the novel explores the existential aspects of Haystacks’ life, including his search for meaning, identity, and ultimate liberation from the pain and suffering of his past.
“The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” is a profound and insightful work that delves into the spiritual and philosophical dimensions of the human experience, and offers readers a deeply moving and unforgettable journey into the heart of the human condition.
Schlam’s exceptional talent as a writer shines through in this novel, as he skillfully weaves together a tapestry of voices, perspectives, and emotions to create a powerful and thought-provoking literary work that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Haystacks Kane is a 607-pound professional wrestler and dedicated butterfly collector. He’s been preyed upon, his innate kindness and gentle good nature harvested by unscrupulous promoters and conniving managers; an ex-wife who keeps him on the hook for alimony; fellow denizens of the sordid netherworld he inhabits; and the raucous ravenous crowds with a thirst for violent cheap thrills.  
  Now, gravely injured and unable to speak in the wake of his disastrous encounter in the ring with his archrival and nemesis Valentino, he lies motionless in his hospital bed (indeed, two beds lashed together), immobilized, his body broken. Fighting for his very life, he drifts in and out of consciousness seeking to uncover the deeper truth of his existence, rummaging through the trunk of his memories to discover exactly what it is--the it that has deprived him of his wife, taken every member of his family from him, laid him low, and the it that will release him from the bonds of his history and transport him to the Eden he dreams of: Greece, Rhodes, the Valley of the Butterflies known as Petaloudes, where he can live as his true self at last, in peace and tranquility amid “the sound of butterflies.”

About the Author:
Steve Schlam was born in New York City and has lived in cities and towns across the United States and in Mexico. An actor as well as a writer, he has performed on stages in all the places he has called home and earned a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and English under the tutelage of “Catch-22” author Joseph Heller. “The Harvesting of Haystacks Kane” is his first published novel.

For more information about the author and his work, please visit us at www.8thHousePublishing.com.

8th House at 2023 Toronto International Festival of Authors 

The World in Other Words : Bengalis in CanLit Event

Join 8th House author K. Gandhar Chakravarty at the The World in Other Words: Bengalis in CanLit event: 

1:00pm ET, Sunday, September 24, 2023, Brigantine Patio, 60 mins. More information can be found here.

We're excited to announce an exceptional literary gathering at the upcoming 2023 Toronto International Festival of Authors. "The World in Other Words," an enlightening author reading event that spotlights the invaluable contributions of cross-cultural influence in CanLit, is celebrating authors of Bengali origin in Canadian Literature this year. Celebrating the rich diversity within CanLit, this event showcases the significance of Bengali writers on the esteemed stages of Canadian literary awards, such as the Scotiabank Giller Prize and the Griffin Poetry Prize. Join us on Sunday, September 24, 2023, at the scenic Brigantine Patio, as we engage in a thought-provoking dialogue featuring distinguished 8th House author K. Gandhar Chakravarty, the insightful Arif Anwar, and the talented Laboni Islam. Facilitating the discourse is the renowned writer and curator Subrata Kumar Das. This session promises to be a compelling exploration of literary heritage and cross-cultural narratives. The event commences at 1:00pm ET, offering you an enriching 60-minute experience. We're excited to welcome everyone to this FREE and open-to-the-public event, where words and worlds seamlessly converge. Don't miss this unique opportunity to be part of a literary exchange that transcends borders and bridges hearts.

From the 2023 TIFA organizers:

"Canadian Literature encompasses the contributions of writers and poets of many different language origins. Bengali origin writers are no less significant in the expansive canon of CanLit. Many of whom, such as Bharati Mukherjee, are represented on the short and long lists of Canada’s major literary awards, including the Scotiabank Giller Prize, Griffin Poetry Prize and others. Meet a few of these English-language writers of Bengali origin at this exciting talk session, including (8th House Author) K. Gandhar Chakravarty, Arif Anwar and Laboni Islam. Noted writer and curator Subrata Kumar Das will moderate the conversation."